Is There a New Geek Anti-Intellectualism? 949
Larry Sanger writes "Geeks are supposed to be, if anything, intellectual. But it recently occurred to me that a lot of Internet geeks and digerati have sounded many puzzlingly anti-intellectual notes over the past decade, and especially lately. The Peter Thiel-inspired claim that college is a waste of time is just the latest example. I have encountered (and argued against) five common opinions, widely held by geeks, that seem headed down a slippery slope. J'accuse: 'At the bottom of the slippery slope, you seem to be opposed to knowledge wherever it occurs, in books, in experts, in institutions, even in your own mind.' So, am I right? Is there a new geek anti-intellectualism?"
FTFY (Score:5, Informative)
You've misunderstood what anti-intellectualism is (Score:4, Informative)
You've misunderstood what anti-intellectualism is.
You have a point that intellectualism is not intrinsically intertwined with geekdom (although more often then not it is) but that does not make it anti-intellectual.
To clarify, Anti-Intellectualism is the rejection and ridicule of intellectual pursuits. Being a geek is contrary to this, even if you're a traditional hacker and never pursued structured study you are still driven by a desire to learn. People who are geeks tend to be good learners and rational and/or abstract thinkers. They put their brains to work a lot and demonstrate aptitude in problem solving. Geeks are often intellectual, even without appearing to be.
Anti-intellectuals on the other hand constantly deride learning and problem solving, They tend to be followers who discourage individual thinking, often irrational and erratic using loaded arguments and emotional language to instil hate, fear or loathing in those who they dispose. Luddites fit the mould of anti-intellectuals as do most fanboys. The "jock" is the classic example.