True that.. the confusion between information and intellect

Source: Tanuj Khosla's blog on ibnlive:

"...we live in (a time) where people feel pressured to sound intelligent on everything from lunar cycle to nuclear treaties between countries to the latest gossip on Ranbir Kapoor's personal life. The pressure to be 'in the know' for everything is excruciating. And since that is almost impossible for an average human being, the easiest way out is to form an opinion based on incomplete knowledge, lack of understanding or worse - on opinions of others! And when caught up in knots in the same during a 'discussion' with someone who 'knows' more on the subject, defend your stand it to the last drop of your blood! Better to be perceived as a strongly opinionated egoist than an idiot!

Another related problem many face is that if one is an introvert or reserved individual, people around consider him/her dumb, dull and boring. Some of the most intelligent people I have met in my life are quiet by nature not because they are hollow between the ears, but simply due to the following two reasons:

1. They are very good listeners

2. Their opinion on any issue is not cast in stone: They have open minds and for them finding the truth is more important than being right. For them any conversation is a discussion and not an argument to be won.

However, in a world of '30 second elevator pitches', being introvert or not having an informed opinion is a sin. No one gives a second chance and people are quick to be judgemental. Unfortunately the judgement and opinion of others bothers a lot of people and rather than 'run their own race at their own pace', they succumb to this herd mentality of hoarding incompelete information and dishing it out in the name of a 'discussion'. It is like vomiting undigested food. It stinks!

In conclusion, there used be charm in watching or indulging in constructive debates where particpants had thoughful insights into the subject and patient listening was taken for granted. Sadly today, be it on news channels or in social life, the arts of discussion and debate have turned into shouting matches where the lesser a person knows or the lesser convincing his/her point is, the higher the pitch of his/her voice. These days most people talk but hardly speak and rarely listen. All what matters is how dynamic and informed one appeared, the substance in the points put forward is a mere detail. It is indeed a sad state of affairs."