Testaments to Human Stupidity

[Cerez]

Albert Einstein once famously said:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I am not yet completely sure about the universe."

Here is one great testament to human social stupidity -- in the (lack of) origin and naming of "turkey" for the now well-known bird we eat worldwide:

Why Americans Call Turkey 'Turkey'

Keep reading past the first segment in the article -- it gets better.

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

In Greek turkey is named "γαλοπούλα" (galopoula).

The word comes from the Italian name "gallo d' India", which means rouster of India.

The Greek word dropped the India part, but it still kept the gallo part, even though turkeys are not chickens.

Why didn't we adopt one of the native words.

Also equally wrong is calling native Americans, Indians.
Even though we know that America is not India, it is still commonly used.

 

[Cerez]

"Guinea-fowl-rooster-peacock" -- sounds legit.

Yeah, let's keep it.

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

Of course it is legit, our forefathers after all thought of it.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

"Huehxolotl" and "Omahksipi’kssii", eh?
I'm not sure which of those two is more difficult to pronounce.
They're both... QUITE the challenge!

Also, never knew the Dutch word was taken from Calcutta!
Which indeed is nowhere near the America's.

People back then really didn't have a clue what the planet's geography looks like, did they?
Did thing improve now?
Perhaps not by much: FUNNY: Americans And Brits Label Maps Of The USA/Europe

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I am not yet completely sure about the universe."

Probably closer to the big truths than his theory of general relativity.

Oh well... I'm sure I'm stupid too.

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

"Huehxolotl" and "Omahksipi’kssii", eh?
I'm not sure which of those two is more difficult to pronounce.
They're both... QUITE the challenge!

True, but we could use them as a base; making them easier for Europeans to pronounce.

Also, never knew the Dutch word was taken from Calcutta!
Which indeed is nowhere near the America's.

People back then really didn't have a clue what the planet's geography looks like, did they?
Did thing improve now?
Perhaps not by much: FUNNY: Americans And Brits Label Maps Of The USA/Europe

Yeah, may we should give them some slack.

Probably closer to the big truths than his theory of general relativity.

Oh well... I'm sure I'm stupid too.

Honestly, we all are.

Everyone is stupid, it is just that we are stupid in relation to different things.

 

[Cerez]

Probably closer to the big truths than his theory of general relativity.

What's wrong with the theory of general relativity? It's another way to look at physics that has served people, including specialised scientists such as Stephen Hawking, really well. It's actually no further from the truth than standard physics -- just a different way to interpret and look at things, and still needing more work.

Or am I missing something?

True, but we could use them as a base; making them easier for Europeans to pronounce.

How to memorise Aztec (and other to us strange) names, like Axolotl:

Everyone is stupid, it is just that we are stupid in relation to different things.

The problem is not in that we are profoundly ignorant, but in our belief that we are somehow inherently superior with our intellect. Life is about ongoing learning. One should always aspire to be sincerely humble, like a child, and to keep an open mind.

Putting it like this, it's actually excessive display of ego that makes one profoundly ignorant -- and that's actually not at all far from the truth.

It's not that we are stupid, it's that we still have a lot more to learn -- always.

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

How to memorise Aztec (and other to us strange) names, like Axolotl:

The problem is not in that we are profoundly ignorant, but in our belief that we are somehow inherently superior with our intellect. Life is about ongoing learning. One should always aspire to be sincerely humble, like a child, and to keep an open mind.

Putting it like this, it's actually excessive display of ego that makes one profoundly ignorant -- and that's actually not at all far from the truth.

It's not that we are stupid, it's that we still have a lot more to learn -- always.

Yep, but I do consider thinking that you know everything, and thus you are superior; as something stupid.

Though maybe a better word to use would indeed be, ignorant, oblivious, or unaware.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

What's wrong with the theory of general relativity? It's another way to look at physics that has served people, including specialised scientists such as Stephen Hawking, really well. It's actually no further from the truth than standard physics -- just a different way to interpret and look at things, and still needing more work.

Or am I missing something?

I didn't say it isn't close to the truth.
I only said the comment about human stupidity is even closer.

As it is, I don't understand much of that theory of his.
Seems very difficult to prove. And I cannot think of any practical applications.
But that's just me.

Putting it like this, it's actually excessive display of ego that makes one profoundly ignorant -- and that's actually not at all far from the truth.

True.
Close-mindedness, eh?

How to memorise Aztec (and other to us strange) names, like Axolotl:

 

[Pieter Boelen]

My brother sent this to me yesterday:

Pretty good one!
If you ask me.

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

I have seen this been recommended to me multiple times since yesterday, might as well give it a watch then.