A Survey: Does Elitism Exist?

Does "elitism" exist?

  • Yes

    Votes: 10 100.0%

  • No

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    10
E

enlightened

New Member
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
0
I think I'm in the right forum, I'm still new to this place. If I'm wrong then feel free to move it. ;)

Anywho, I've been back and forth from forum to forum; discussing, chatting, roleplaying, debating, reporting, moderating...you name it, I've done it. But one thing I've seen on EVERY board (have yet to see it here, though, but that's because I'm still new) is this unwritten rule of a social heirerchy (sp?). What I'm talking about, mainly, is the term "elitism".

Now, this issue has been beaten to a pulp on another community I'm a member of (a roleplaying community...go figure) and it was decided that no such issue exists...according to the self-righteous zealots speaking on behalf of the 4k member-base that nearly everyone has a grudge against (yeah, that's a reliable source...). :p

wiki said:
Elitism is the belief or attitude that those individuals who are considered members of the elite—a select group of people with outstanding personal abilities, intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes—are those whose views on a matter are to be taken the most seriously or carry the most weight; whose views and/or actions are most likely to be constructive to society as a whole; or whose extraordinary skills, abilities or wisdom render them especially fit to govern.
Click to expand...

Now, even though being an elitist (or among the elite) sounds nice and glamorous, according to Wikipedia, the online society seems to turn the cheek in the other direction. Elitists seem to be the anti-thesis, if I may, of a growing a society, like a forum board. The terms "snobs" and "pomps" can also be thrown into the fire to match up with "elitist".

So, here's my question, and take note I'm surveying this, its not just out of curiosity:

Do you believe that "elitism" exists in online societies? Or is the term another attitude that just doesn't exist, regardless?
 
Hi and welcome to these pages :)

(though I cant help but feel I recognise a hint of familiarity in writing style....never been on here before? )

By the definitions given you get 2 people together and elitism is inevitable.
 
enlightened said:
Do you believe that "elitism" exists in online societies? Or is the term another attitude that just doesn't exist, regardless?
Click to expand...
No elitism does not exist. There are just those who are inconsequential and just ramble on about nothing, and then those that think they have something of value to say while all the while we just read and snicker, and then those that are so full of that lovey dovey I'm gonna fix everything and make it better when they just get in the way of discussion, and then those that are just so full of themselves that they try to use some snobbery to put others down, while actually they are just puting their foot in their mouth upto the knee.

It is a shame there is only a small group of people that really add any value to any forum, and while I am glad to be a member of that group, truth be known I have no idea why I put up with their lame discussions as they really have only a smattering of knowledge on one or two subjects.

They think they are elite but not elitists, but as I said they don't exist, they only think they exist, and they put stupid Descarte before de-equisne.
 
Yup, you just can't put Descartes before the horse :)

I haven't seen any indication of a Platonic elite in this forum so much. Oh there are the occasional few who spout off how all of us are cave dwelling choir members who simply cannot fathom the genius of Simone Weil, but other than that we have a right friendly group who respect each other enough to avoid setting themselves up as the only one who "gets it"
 
According to the Wiki page,
Elitism is the belief or attitude that those individuals who are considered members of the elite ...are those whose views on a matter are to be taken the most seriously or carry the most weight (by virtue of special knowledge or expertise).
Click to expand...
There's social recognition, though I suppose it would taken only one person to see another as having special knowledge or expertise. As for smugness, arrogance, and authoritarian condescension (calling people names, engaging in demeaning transactions that serve to shame others, like pointing out spelling typos while totally ignoring what the person had to say), that's not necessarily elitism. I'd say that's more like personal insecurity expressing itself in obnoxious behavior or somebody playing at being stage manager to see if they can get a reaction out of somebody.

Recognizing others to have special knowledge or expertise is not an irrational thing. I would definitely take a Jewish person's views of Judaism more seriously than a nonJews'. Likewise a Muslim regarding Islam or a Catholic regarding Catholicism, etc.

My vote of "Yes, it exists" merely indicates that I think it makes sense and that it's operative for me as a reasonable guiding principle.
 
wil said:
it is a shame there is only a small group of people that really add any value to any forum, and while i am glad to be a member of that group, truth be known i have no idea why i put up with their lame discussions as they really have only a smattering of knowledge on one or two subjects.

They think they are elite but not elitists, but as i said they don't exist, they only think they exist, and they put stupid descarte before de-equisne.
Click to expand...
...........lmao!!
 
Netti-Netti said:
Recognizing others to have special knowledge or expertise is not an irrational thing. I would definitely take a Jewish person's views of Judaism more seriously than a nonJews'. Likewise a Muslim regarding Islam or a Catholic regarding Catholicism, etc.
Click to expand...
Then I would think you make a big mistake. An expert without any inward bias is far more comprehensive.
 
I also said yes. However. I feel that i am one of the people wil refered to in as much as i dont know much and i but in alot. (LOL. thats why im here.) However, i do think that some people being elitist is all in THEIR minds. People can be that way with me, elitist, snobbish, or as i prefer to say, "up themselves", but it only gets laughed off by me, if they need to feel that way to serve their own purpose, thats fine, it doesnt reflect on me, just them.
 
theres elitism everywhere, in the soap brand you purchase, supermarket you frequent, in crowds you hang out with, whether lawyers or gangstas; its the mark of the animal hierarchical mindset which still needs eradicated and transcended for communal living beyond the usual set patterns of existence.
 
Everybody who feels inclined to use a forum like this is an armchair soapboxer to some degree. We would not write if we did not have the self belief that we have something of value to contribute. Elitism only really becomes an issue when it becomes cliqued into groups. Individual Elitism will always be claimed and is entirely natural. Everybody has had personal experiences that qualify them to speak on some subjects with authority. Whether it be Grey on bringing up boys or Dauer on strange diets. I love the experiencing an interface with all you elites ;)
 
Hell yeah it exists!!! All the names you mention "snobs" and so on... Are simply hints of jealousy from those that are not worthy to stand side by side with the elite......But I am not going to bother to answer any more of your questions noob.
 
"I would definitely take a Jewish person's views of Judaism more seriously than a nonJews'. Likewise a Muslim regarding Islam or a Catholic regarding Catholicism, etc."
Tao_Equus said:
Then I would think you make a big mistake. An expert without any inward bias is far more comprehensive.
Click to expand...
A person who is both informed and unbiased would have the most source credibility.
 
First off I'd like to thank everyone for the contributions they've made so far to this study. They've really helped me out a lot.

Second, sorry Tao but, no, I've never been here before. My supervisor, however, has and some may know of him, but he hasn't been around in a while. Unfortunately, I'm disinclined to reveal his alias upon request.

Third, my reason for bringin this survey here is that my supervisor assured me that this community has many gifted minds and a talent for being able to analyze situations without getting involved in flame wars or senseless bickering. So far he's been correct. I was surprised by the responses to this survey. One of the communities that we sponsor (I work for a small-time e-zine called the Roleplaying Affiliated Press, or RAP for short) is having a serious issue with "elitism" at the moment. This is, of course, the same community I mentioned previously in this survey's introduction.

If I may pull a quote from a member at this community in response to another member's half-witted attempt at philosophy:

This thread pretty much illustrates why I prefer collaborative writing to roleplaying. It's far more demanding of excellence and far less tolerant of [explitive]-ups. I'm one of the snobs you mentioned, and I wear that title with pride. I don't like [explitive] writing. Ergo, I don't like anything less than advanced.

For every beginning or intermediate RP you show me with good content in it, I'll show you a thousand that suck worse than a Dan Brown novel.
Click to expand...

You, see this member was, obviously, not happy about a comment made in the philosophy regarding "snobs" (the term used). Ironically, everyone on the board seems to think that the author of this philosophy is a snob herself. :p

I would give you links and such to this place to see for yourself, but one, I respect the rules and regulations of this site and I don't want to advertise; and two, it would take you two and half years to understand everything, because that's how long this has been going on. Flame wars, trolling, harassment...you name it, its happened.

Gee, that sounds a lot like MySpace...:D

citizenzen said:
It exists.

But only in our imagination.
Click to expand...

I see, something new thrown into the furnace. When we tried this survey on our sponsored boards all we got in return or direct yes's and no's...along with little flame bait here and there and the occassional woe-is-me established users.

Now, I can go on and on about this, but I'm not very well putting that community in good light now am I? Perhaps I'm an elitist myself, to a certain degree.

Once again, thanks for your input so far, and thanks for the welcome. :)
 
Netti-Netti said:
"I would definitely take a Jewish person's views of Judaism more seriously than a nonJews'. Likewise a Muslim regarding Islam or a Catholic regarding Catholicism, etc."

A person who is both informed and unbiased would have the most source credibility.
Click to expand...

I would take a voluntary ex-jew of judaism, a voluntary ex-catholic of catholic, a voluntary ex-muslim of islam, view(s) serious, more serious than those who only know the religion they were born into.
 
Bandit said:
I would take a voluntary ex-jew of judaism, a voluntary ex-catholic of catholic, a voluntary ex-muslim of islam, view(s) serious, more serious than those who only know the religion they were born into.
Click to expand...

Then why are we even talking to each other here?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top