Elitism is not bad

[petkol]

read Nietsche's Genealogy of Morality

[xXsecretxXBW]

not bad :((>

[GTCism]

There is I suspect a few levels to elitism but, mostly I would suggest that elitism is a state of mind. A state of mind I might add, that is contrary to the will of God, in fact elitism crucified Jesus, in addition, a state of mind that is contrary to our good health as a species. I would suggest that elitism is a state of mind that should be exposed at every opportunity as a state that is NOT appealing for a human being to find them selves in or seek after.  Elitism sister is arrogance.

[Baredamage]

Not True, The elites look after elites no one else.

[trufuknplaya]

@Baredamage so brain surgeons and navy seals only look after elites and nobody else?

[TheWeeaboo]

We want a well geared warrior tank who is comfortable with all set up rotations and knowing all tactics by heart.

Im sorry I had to make that lame joke. : <

[tterrajsirhc]

no wonder why yall are atheist.. ouch. no no you want delegates not elitist. the constitution says for the people fools. when we say elitism were taliking about government corruption. your forgetting about corruption!!

[trufuknplaya]

@tterrajsirhc actually most government officials would not be considered intellectually elite. the majority of them are just average businessmen who managed to be at the right places at the right time and know the right people. one might argue that this makes them even more susceptible to corruption than an "elite"

[Darkdude929]

I think "elitism" in politics is more often used to refer to "career politicians", IE, rich upper-class people who want to continue bending the state to their own benefit. At least, that's how it's often used in the UK, with our House of Lords being composed of hereditary peers of wealthy significance, rather than being elected.

[reaperofgenocide]

WTF is elitism?

[hempartist420]

well some people are elites at being scheming jackoffs that steal shit loads of money, and that's pretty much what it means to be an "elite" in America

[chillercm]

@hempartist420 saying that just proves how stupid you are and have no chance at becoming part of the elite....

[hempartist420]

@chillercm I think you need to elaborate as to how you came to that conclusion, take your time...

[chillercm]

@hempartist420 first of all ur name is hemp artist 420 which shows u dont have ur priorities straight in life(btw im a smoker), also ur just so uninformed if u thinking that about the elite, and not beeing informed about society wont allow u to go forward in life. also u will never be part of the elite if u dont think its a good thing. some forms of elitsm mainly feudalism which is mentioned below is however sickening like the house of lords in england

[hempartist420]

@chillercm "first of all ur name is hemp artist 420 which shows u dont have ur priorities straight in life(btw im a smoker),"

well don't be such a hypocrite you little prick, I do say, if you are part of the elite then the world is more fucked than I thought. Just because you have the outstanding ability to create pointless, inane comments on YT doesn't make you part of the elite. You don't know anything about me, so your best bet is just to fuck off and mind your own shit...

[chillercm]

@hempartist420 im not part of the elite but i kno that someone with such a screen name doesnt have his priorities straight in life because u kind of worship a drug by doing that which is sad. and yeah im not part of the elite, my dads top5% and i want to do better than that which IMO is an aspect of life which some may find ridiculous most people with good jobs which bring them somewhere understand that beeing elite isnt a bad thing!

[hempartist420]

@chillercm like I said, your best bet is just to fuck off, and mind your own shit because you don't know me, I don't even smoke anymore you assumptuous little felcher. I made that screenname 4 years ago for zombie Christ's sake and you've chosen to base my entire life on it. I'm not sure what your aspirations are or how you think you are going to get there, but if your comments are any representation of how you think in the real world, You probably think you're nearly done... felcher begone!

[Whatever4690]

I dont believe alot of the elite have elite skills.

[Rabsputin]

@Whatever4690 you don't believe elite athletes have elite skills?

[Whatever4690]

@Rabsputin Elitism smells of ayn rand.

[anotherutterance]

Wanting to be elite and valuing elite things, is not the same as elitism.

[anotherutterance]

@anotherutterance ..to take an example from the video: an elite pilot is a very good pilot, an elitist pilot would be one who thought that only rich people had the brains to become good pilots.

[Keysteeze]

People demand elitism all the time in every other aspect of their lives. They skip on herbal healing techniques and decide to see a person with a medical degree. Since performing surgery is a complicated task they want that person to be educated. Well... running a country is no easy task either, yet when it comes to that job they want Joe Dipshit that lives next door. Anti-Intellectualism is a serious disease in this country. It corrupts many aspects of our lives.

[nuggert]

but its true.

the more education you have, you more brain-washed you are~

I am brain-washed so don't mind my last comment

[nuggert]

You don't want Elitist to run the country??

HAHAHAH

so Dumbasses should? LMAO

go die you dumb fool.

[nuggert]

Advancement in technology is killing us -o-

[DaveDoggOwns]

Well, I praise elitism.

Weakness is not Strength.

Stupidity is not Intelligience.

Sickness is not Health.

[ThothsPylon]

Being the best does not make you an elitist.

[MirageScience]

Elitism got its bad name from the ruling rich....

As for elitism in fields of study w/e it is what it is but as for politics is a bunch of shit and if that's a field of study then its elites are the lowest of the low.

(we all should know this by now...)

[Thedarksecret1]

There's nothing wrong with being elitist. I feel that the term elite="uppity" for president Obama. Some people don't like Obama because here is a black man that doesn't walk with his head down. He's educated and sophisticated and some people, both white and non-white but mostly white, are disturbed by this phenomenon.

[vfIskullangel]

Fuck Elitist. They don't know shit.

[UnderlordZ]

@vfIskullangel Yes, people who are among the absolute best at what they do, don't know shit...

[Thedarksecret1]

@vfIskullangel Don't hate us because you champion the notion of being substandard. I'd rather be an elitist than settle for less.

[vfIskullangel]

@Thedarksecret1 I'm not saying lets settle for less. All I'm saying is don't judge me because I'm not doing the norm. Just because I go a different route doesn't give you motherfuckers the right to bash us.

[tuzmor]

What an embarrassing confusion coming from "The Atheist Experience". They confuse the original sense of the word used in the Newsweek article - "Elitism" as in "power concentrated in the hands of a limited number of people; oligarchic elite" with "elite" as in "professional excellence; competence"

A social or elite has usually not been picked by anyone except themselves and do not necessarily make part of the elite due to their competence.

[wendighoul]

This may be just shit-disturbing, but wouldn't someone who was a truly committed anti-elist be completely opposed to the whole concept of capitalism. Surely communism (true communism, which has only existed sporadically, if at all) would be the political system of choice for a true anti-elitist? I am saying all this as a confirmed elitist.

[TheJsmth1234]

It isn't about the best people in their fields, it's about people who have no concept of what a majority of peoples' realities are.

[electronicoffee]

He's so hot :D The camera DOES love him <3

[EdgePitSwing]

As this debate is about politics. The true reform of politics will come with Geniocracy.

The intelligent should be leading this planet, not the lawyer with the most experience. The study of law is no longer about justice, it is about money.

[JackPhelpswho]

the study of law has always been about money, when the fist lawyers came round they boasted being able to make a good argument sound bad and a bad argument sound good

[sicktoaster]

@EdgePitSwing

Geniuses often have very specialized knowledge.

Instead of a pure geniocracy it should be run specifically by those who understand political science based on who passes through specially administered academies.

We should "democracy" as a branch of government to counteract bias(since all humans have bias), but not allow anything to pass just through democracy, requiring the political scientists to approve of it.

We could add other groups too, such as an economists board.

[yootubeisforfags]

Elitism angers those who will never excel at anything. Elitism supports development and the pursuit of excellence in those willing to work hard.

[YOWHATTHEHELLUP71]

@yootubeisforfags It angers me when my money is stolen, when my rights are stripped, and I have to start killing people to get what I need to survive, now tell me, are you an Elitie person? What the fuck makes someone elite? How about I put a bullet through an "Elite" head? Now their just a dead husk. We're all the same dickhead, you're missing the point. Maybe if elitists weren't so greedy me and a alot of other people wouldn't want them dead.

[4me2cclearly]

@YOWHATTHEHELLUP71

Maybe if you was not so stupid, you would understand the ignorance that is coming from what ever chemical imbalance you have going on in that tiny pee brain of neurons sort-circuiting, is being displayed for all to view. Great work Einstein!

Take your Meds!!

[YOWHATTHEHELLUP71]

@4me2cclearly Retake 3rd grade english class, thats what you need to do soon, fix up that grammar.

[chapelierfoudre]

@yootubeisforfags Well said.

[MrBeerbug]

@yootubeisforfags Working hard is not always enough. That is the real reason elitism angers.Those who CANNOT work as hard as the rest are put in the same cathegory as the lazy ones.

[yootubeisforfags]

@MrBeerbug Not being able to work hard because of a disability is understandable.  I respect anyone that puts forth their best effort.

[zpgJiggleBilly]

@yootubeisforfags Pointing out the flaw that it is very possible, in fact a great many people can work hard their whole lives and fail to excel. I don't think elitism angers anyone, I think people are angered by the word, not by the people who can do something well. People who are just generally lazy are the only ones that should be looked down on, but there are so many factors such as mental health that could be at the root of the problem so it's hard for me to pass judgement like you do

[poobert]

As a conservative Republican, I too feel that being 1337 is FTW!

[NewAristocracy]

This entire debate is irrelevant because the issue is not having the best people for important jobs, we already have that...the problem is the 'elites' most people refer to with that term are the global elites, the bankers. What they are doing to many countries right now and have done for hundreds of years is criminal. These are not special, highly qualified people for what they are doing. Their 'qualities' are being super rich and opinionated.

[pvon04]

These guys make some good points on the elite being elite due to skill but what about those who are of upper class who only inherit the money, didnt work for it and dont possess any business skills like their ancestors, do they deserve to be considered elite?

[centristross]

No. I'm sure everyone refers to them as "those fucking rich assholes."

Just being rich doesn't make you qualified and I sure hope that people realize that. Now the fact that they do have power is simply a matter of luck.

[sicNegro]

Elitism is only seen as a bad thing because people suck. :O

I want to be an elitist! :D

[altosax1st]

This convo reminds me of the picture of anti-intellectualism presented by Holdstafer

[Sav3TheWorld]

Only fucking Republicans could somehow construe being very good at something to be bad. They even admit that Obama is elite, qualified for the job, yet they try to keep him, th best man for the job, out of office for their own personal interests. And they say they love America. Evil asses.

[arachnophile01]

saved from what? and there are more than two ways to live. what if you serve the ancestors, or serve the shinto gods. is that self-serving or god serving? and what makes hell a lake of fire? is it god, couldnt be, hell is separation from him. satan? well, that would make christians henotheists.

[Roadrunner237]

Ok, I've thought it through a little more and I've came up with a couple of examples of who I believe to be the closest thing to a 'good' politicians -

Nelson Mandela & Lula (just one word!),



So if elitism in politics is so great... why doesn't the term 'elitist' sit so comfortably with either of these two?

Get my point?

[Roadrunner237]

Im completely writing off this entire argument - it actually makes no sense.

The notion of a good politician is a pure rhetoric - a good surgeon is absolute.

Politicians claim to act in the public's best interest but who defines 'our best interests?'

And if my idea of 'best interests' clashes with another person's, how can the politican who represents my opinion be 'good', if he only can be so to the detrement of the other person's interests, whose [interests] are just as valid as mine?

[xwaffles54]

i like this point

[Ing213]

So a politician who hasn't completed highschool and eats his own poo is just as qualified as a PHD in Poly sci with a focus on international relations and a minor in economics?

[Roadrunner237]

No - ofcourse not .

They are more qualified.

Why do you think they all so amazing at talking shit?

[jmacphee2]

Elitism is being used by dirty fat rats to take what they want and give a bad name to the "Elite" that you mentioned

[shade421]

i find that most christians are far more prone to "look down their noses" at others (including other christians). than any other people that i have encountered.

[CountFruFru]

Hear, hear!

[lightintheireyes]

to continue....I think most of America would agree, that yes, with the proper education and so on, someone who is not of the upper elite class could do just as good of a job...this is called EGALITARIANISM, which is the ideology of the middle class, elitism is the ideology of the upper class. However just because it is called "elitism" it has little to do with qualification and more to do with keeping power in the hands of the upper class.

[KamasutraButterfly]

Well, elitists automatically becomes the upper class. It's kind of hard to be in the elite and still be part of the middle-class, right?

[lightintheireyes]

Yes...but that is because the middle class have a different ideology...it doesn't mean that because you are part of the upper class, that you have some special ability to have power in our society. It doesn't necessarily mean that they can do a better job because they are "elitists". It also has little to do with how much money they have....its more about how they think power should be distributed in society.

[lightintheireyes]

But being "elite" in the case of "elitism" does not refer to how good someone is at a specific skill, or qualification, it refers to a social class

[KamasutraButterfly]

Isn't there a difference between being in "the elite" and being elitist? I mean, elitism sounds like an ideology, but being an elite in a certain field just means being good at what you do, right?

[lightintheireyes]

correct

[lightintheireyes]

Its an easy mistake to make....which is what Matt does in this video

[unhealthytruthseeker]

There is a perception in this country, thanks to how muddied the waters have become, that even having an education means you're an elitist. Being able to read and write well means you're arrogant. Like it or not, this perception is rather common in America.

[avalsonline]

funny, how republicans, who advocate lowering taxes on the rich accuse dems of being elitist. at least if we use your definition

[lightintheireyes]

I almost always agree with these guys but on this I have to argue....elitism is an IDEOLOGY, it is a way of weeding out people who are not already of the elite. Elitists believe in keeping the power to those who already have it, and that ONLY THEY have the ability to have that power... although we, of course, want the most qualified people doing those jobs, it doesn't mean that somebody who is not of the elite class, with the proper education and training couldn't do the same job just as well

[KewDrew]

You'll have to excuse Rob and Jess. They got that statistic about scientists believing in Jesus from the same place they got their belief in Christianity- out of thin air.

[robandjess1]

think before you speak. there are early church papers that date back as early as 18 months after the resurection GET IT!!! Your arguments are weak and evolution is a fraud if there is no base no home to go back to Get It. You know absolutley nothing about the origin of the Bible are understanding of Hebrew or Greek GET IT!! So drop it

[AlannahBabalon156]

Where can I get a copy of this so-called18month-after resurrection church papers you're speaking of robandjess1? Show me the proof of what you've stated in your post here.

[animecha]

The chruch didn't exist 18 months after the resurrection. The chruch didn't exist until Paul the apostle established it more than several decades after the supposed "resurrection". No one wrote about the Resurrection until 100 years after it either.

Paul the apostle also didn't meet any of Jesus' followers, nor were the gospels detailing his life even written by anyone who had a first hand account of his life.

[robandjess1]

I dont know about the screening process of your callers but it seems that picking the weakest links, There is only 10 percent of non beliving scientist who dont think jesus existed. So next question.

[Darkphoenix3450]

'Do you have any evidence for that?' Because its funny that I can't find any real evidence for him anywhere. Other than nut-job religious sites.

[BigLundi]

@Darkphoenix3450 don't say 'other than' in that case, because they don't have evidence either, they're just crazy people :)

[AndrewDewittBaker]

haha, are you serious?

...is this a joke?

[RyuDarragh]

That's the problem. You're confating "Elitism" with being elite in a given field. There are many ways to be "Elite", and expertise in a given field is *one*. It usually means unjustified arrogance by reason of great wealth, superior understanding of human psychology (button pushers are perfect examples when they are arrogant putzes) or some other less than worthy attribute. Give me someone who has earned my respect by being truly expert in a field of knowledge or by being a nice guy.. any day.

[dangerics]

Excellent vid. But you're not quite right about the argument for authority fallacy. I you argue a point because an authority says so, even if the authority is an expert, it's still a fallacious argument. A fact about brain surgery isn't true because a brain surgeon said so. It's true because it's true. We put trust in the authorities, yes, because they're experts in their fields and we're not. But and argument from authority is still a logical fallacy even if the statement is true.

Good stuff.

[senateb]

the definition of elitism has been contrived less than defined, it's a word you can just throw out there and let people use their imaginations to interpret, or assume the meaning. having never personally known the definition, i subtly imagined it meaning "high with men of power"- because it was being used in a political context. america's conversation has been so....obsfucated...there is a new english

[MarlinBeta]

This was an amazing analysis of how the christian psyche works towards openly rejecting the advances of modern societies. Truly some amazing words and thoughts. Thanks for sharing!

[Massivecarcrash]

Matt, I praise your big brain.

[someonesperson]

wise words as always from Matt Dillahunty.

[hardhittn63]

I agree

[hardhittn63]

with what he says here, but people who use the word elitest aren't talking about qualifications. Yes, all the most competant people in the nation are its elite. A docter might believe he belongs to an elite group when it comes to practicing medicine, and so he thinks he is superior to most when it comes to it. Where, in politics, with this government, an elitest will think that he can run americans' lives better than the average person. I think that's the distinction that he doesn't make.

[hardhittn63]

And i wouldn't include Obama or Mcain in any elite political group in terms of competency. I definitely think they're both elitests.

[kamijk]

I hope that Obama or McCain can run the government better than the average American. I don't want the guy I have a beer with making crucial decisions about anything. That would be very bad. As the last eight years may be able to attest to.

[hardhittn63]

sure

[waffles497]

No Bush was the president you could go have beers with and get drunk. Obama is the kind of guy to me that you could go out and enjoy a beer with while still having an enjoyable conversation with. Finally a cool president!

[wwickeddogg]

I would love to see someone explain that to any of the Regressive talk show hosts.

[Redshift21]

Point well made

[jvondd]

Damn right, Matt! Those were my sentiments as well.

[Rokasomee]

MATT IS WIN.

[Deuterstomia]

It's used by religionists when confronted with arguments they can't answer logically. Plus, they really do believe that God would use the stupidity of the World to confound the wise with illogical tongue-twisting babbling and a little name calling to seal the package. Christians would do much better going door to door then on Youtube since your average TV trained illiterate is more likely to be so gullible to their messages.

[eduzitcho]

Authority is not the same thing as competence...

When someone says "He is a authority in this field", this person is really saying that this person is competent and experienced... The only thing that uses blind authority is religion and other brain-washing ideologies...

[freedom0f5peech]

Matt Rules!

[bradreed]

great definition of intellectual arrogance.  im really enjoying this video serier. keep it up!

[tieInterceptor]

elitism became a bad word because the uneducated masses don't like it when they are talked down to.

it's an extension of the stupid kids in class disrupting and making fun of the intelligent ones.

we live in strange times where educated is looked at as being snobbish and not cool.

funny how even the most uneducated people stop being irrational when it's the time to choose a doctor, or a car.

No one wants average doctors, or cars built by

idiots... even the idiots know that much.

[HumanStrategy]

I hate that elitism has a bad connotation these days.

[JimShadyUK]

They've absolutely nailed it - well done, chaps.

[Medispawn]

Elitism can most definitely be bad however I agree that elitism is a good thing in most professions.

[jvondd]

Are you sure you're not mistaking elitism for arrogance? Tom Hanks, for example, is arguably an elite actor since he's got two Academy Awards for leading roles. Does that make him arrogant just because he's a superb professional? From what is said about him, he's supposedly a pretty humble chap.

[shopwreckin]

what is truly sad is that this is even an issue. being truly elite at something is a worthy goal.

[tribidemp]

When did education and learning become a bad thing?

[closetathiest]

when a lot of people quit getting educated. just a thought. or perhaps because many religions are now beginning to try discourage education(jehovah's witnesses and a few others) because of the direct correlation between the more education someone gets the more likely they will pull away from god and organized religion.

[Uxoriouswidow]

Since it lead to unpleasant truths.

[yakovlev3a]

@tribidemp Learning is not bad,giving interview priority for work to those coming from expensive private schools without actually evaluating the qualifications of each candidate is bad because it is irrelevant to the job unless I just need to have Ivey League students at my company. Most people hire others so that a task can be performed. This task is usually independent of a school's reputation.

[UnderlordZ]

@tribidemp When dubya took office.

[ciaochowbella]

@tribidemp When Reagan was in office and it was decided ketchup was a vegetable.

[MrBeerbug]

@tribidemp When a certain parameter for WHAT was the right thing to learn where preferred over another.Those who could conform became the winners (Elite) and those who could not ( had other forms of intelligense) bacame the losers.