Common Sense
When discussing the idiocy of people, some people will laugh and say, "HA! Common sense isn't so common, is it?" What they're really saying is "good sense" isn't common, and that is true.
What isn't true, however, is that "common sense" equals "good sense". What is more common, it seems, is "bad sense". The fact that "bad sense" is common makes it "common sense". Does that make sense? HA!
Common means "of or relating to a community at large", according to Merriam Webster. It also means "occurring or appearing frequently" and also "falling below ordinary standards".
So, the community at large seems to have "bad sense", and that makes their sense the "common sense" of the masses, or their general and similar sense. When people say that Sarah Palin is a common-sense candidate, they are absolutely right. She represents the overall bad sense of a large majority of the population. This, however, is NOT something to brag about. Again, "common sense" does not equate "good sense" even though people understand the phrase to mean "good sense".
Am I being picky? Yes. I am. People should understand the words and phrases they regurgitate after ingesting their culture's mantras. If someone accuses you of not having "common sense", you should take it as a compliment. What you want is "good sense", and that is very uncommon.
What isn't true, however, is that "common sense" equals "good sense". What is more common, it seems, is "bad sense". The fact that "bad sense" is common makes it "common sense". Does that make sense? HA!
Common means "of or relating to a community at large", according to Merriam Webster. It also means "occurring or appearing frequently" and also "falling below ordinary standards".
So, the community at large seems to have "bad sense", and that makes their sense the "common sense" of the masses, or their general and similar sense. When people say that Sarah Palin is a common-sense candidate, they are absolutely right. She represents the overall bad sense of a large majority of the population. This, however, is NOT something to brag about. Again, "common sense" does not equate "good sense" even though people understand the phrase to mean "good sense".
Am I being picky? Yes. I am. People should understand the words and phrases they regurgitate after ingesting their culture's mantras. If someone accuses you of not having "common sense", you should take it as a compliment. What you want is "good sense", and that is very uncommon.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Reggie on -
That's pretty much the point of this post to begin with.
Did I just get pwned? I think I did!
Usually, when you combine words with other words, you're combining their meanings as well. Right?
Um....I don't know? I don't know enough about linguistics to say. I would think it could be either way.
So I agree. Sarah Palin is full of common sense.
We'll always have our hatred of her stupidity to unite us!
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Permalink Reply by Cara Coleen on -
Ok I think that makes sense. Would you say that the use of common sense is the best snap judgment one could make based on the few facts they do have? And what would it mean for Sarah Palin to be a "common sense candidate"; that she make the best snap judgments she can given the small pool of data she has? (sorry to beat the Sarah Palin angle on this discussion... it's just a good example)
Does each person's level of "common sense" make a statement about how sensible they are? If they have no "common sense", what is it they are lacking?
Wouldn't you still say there are positive connotations attached to "common sense" and that having common sense means you make good snap judgments, even if you don't have all the facts?
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Permalink Reply by Cara Coleen on
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Nice, Jen. I think that's a pretty good break-down of things. Thanks :)
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Permalink Reply by Cara Coleen on
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Did you just commend yourself for making a good point?? lol
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Permalink Reply by Cara Coleen on
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Ah I see... looks like Jen's reply was late in coming. It all makes SENSE now!
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