Posted by Mark H. on June 13, 2000, at 18:12:58
In reply to Suspicion: A Stupid Brain is a Happy Brain!, posted by Dwight on June 12, 2000, at 22:33:26
In Bipolar II, the dilemma is reversed: the hypomania and its quick associations, delight in words, hypersexuality, abundant humor and confidence are the happy side, while the almost speechless stupor, slowed thought and social phobias of depression are the down side. For us, stupid is not happy.
It would be fun -- but fruitless -- to try to define "intelligence" and "happiness" in the context of your observation. I think things would quickly fall apart if we looked too closely.
However, at an intuitive level your argument is supported by thousands of years of use of stupefying intoxicants by literally hundreds of millions of people in virtually every culture. As we used to say at the bar closest to the University of Oregon, "Ignorance is Blitz."
;-) Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:37097
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000610/msgs/37207.html