Why Are Stoners Typically Depicted as Stupid?

[Susan Arendt]

Publicly admitting to committing a crime really isn't in your best interests.

Did I say that I smoke weed?

Because I don't, I'm merely asking if anyone here does and it didn't seem like that much of a problem before. I've seen people here admit it.

And yet that doesn't change the fact that it's not a wise move.

No, I can agree that it isn't smart to come out and admit that you do illegal substances but back on that last thing you said something along the lines of "You act stupid when you smoke pot" (excuse my paraphrasing there). This is not always the case.

Some people actually use pot as a creative and intellectual stimulate and if it works for them, it's not hurting anybody, I say let them do it.

This isn't about my personal opinion about whether or not someone smokes pot. This is about whether or not it's smart to publicly admit committing a crime. Which, whether it should be or not, smoking weed is.

 

[Dexiro]

I always thought Stoners were just depicted as lazy

 

[Peteron]

They are stupid

 

[Sir Kemper]

I had a fairly decently written opinion which I was going to share, sadly, the site decided to eat my post.

So, I'm just going to go with the stereotype.

 

[Ham_authority95]

It's just a typical judgement of stereotype. I wouldn't think too much about it.

I agree with this, since the're exceptions to every "rule".

 

[Blow_Pop]

I hate to say this but all the ones I know are the sterotype stupid ones. And most of the guys I work with are like that...

 

[Mr. Omega]

I had a fairly decently written opinion which I was going to share, sadly, the site decided to eat my post.

So, I'm just going to go with the stereotype.

^see above^

 

[sunburst]

Why?

Because in order to make to decision to use drugs,you either have to stupid all the time, or at least at the time of the decision.

Honestly, I'd prefer that the media use the other,more appropriate description; that drug users are weak-willed, cowardly and lack self-control.

People who think like this greatly confuse me. Weak-willed? Why am I weak for doing something that I enjoy? Does enjoying a cheeseburger make me weak-willed? It is bad for me after all and I'd be better off not eating it on a purely physical level. How does doing drugs show I lack self control? I'd say that enjoying drugs and still succeeding in life shows you have plenty self control. There are of course weak-willed people who lack self control and end up addicted to drugs because of it, but there are also numerous drug users who don't fall into that category. And cowardly, really? What the hell does my being courageous or not have to do with anything?

 

[Swarley]

I like all the uninformed people in here attempting to argue as if they have done any research on the topic. You really shouldn't comment on something unless you've experienced it or researched it throughly enough that you don't say stupid things like "it kills brain cells".

OT: Because its funny, and when high most people do act strange/stupid/impaired.

When you say slow, you mean stupid right? I have a question, say I do some weed once now and again, (but lets say the times I do it are few and FAR between) how long does this "slowness" last?

To have an effect on intelligence outside of the time that you're high you have to be a very heavy smoker, casual use will leave you clean in a matter of days at most. Even a heavy smoker will be completely clean by 6 weeks iirc. Let me see if I can find the study.

I always thought Stoners were just depicted as lazy

They are when they're high, but most of the people I know who smoke are some of the hardest workers I've met.

 

[Plurralbles]

I don't think weed has a direct correlation to intelligence level either way. In my graduation class there was someone that could have, with even a tiny bit of effort, be valedictorian, instead, he chose to not give a fuck about anything. He justhappened to smoke weed and collect guns and make his house a place even the cops were afraid to go. He was an okay guy.

 

[s0denone]

Yes, as a matter of fact, that is exactly what I mean. I've known people who could be three sheets to the wind and you'd never know it, I've known people who giggled like maniacs after a few sips of champagne. Drugs and alcohol affect people differently, and however weed may affect you personally, it makes many people look and act like idiots. To claim otherwise is simply incorrect.

Well, no. I still disagree. Claiming your opinion/observations as fact is, instead, stupid.
I'm going to go out on a limb here, and guess that I've met much more stoners(and alcoholics too, for that matter), than you have. That's not necessarily something I'm proud off - but you're working out of the assumption that your observations somehow go for everyone, and everything. I'll do that too, except I'm also a first-hand source myself, thus making my argument the more reliable, if you will.
If, at any point, you stumble across a definitive "Weed/Marijuana/Whatever-the-name makes you act stupid" scientific article, I will fold in a second, and concede.

I'll just continue from "I know many...".
Stoners. Most of them were fucking idiots before they started smoking. You're saying drugs and alcohol affect different people in different ways. I completely agree with that... Which I why I find your incredibly generalizing statement "It makes many people look and act like idiots." unnecessary and contradictory, if not for the fact that your argument is very vague.

"Many people". What is that? I'm sure it also does not make "many other people" look stupid.

Some people hold their liquor. Some don't. Some people can smoke a bong. Some can't.
Some will get sick. Some won't.
Some act stupid. Some don't.

If all of the experience you have with weed is "I sat in a couch and watched others smoke it. That's fine. But that also explains while they look stupid.

To a sensible fucking person, everyone who isn't in their right state of mind, wearing clothes they can respect, are within their piercing/tattoo limits looks stupid. Working with your logic, all carpenters are stupid. Seriously that tool belt? It looks stupid -> All carpenters look stupid.

We weren't originally talking about looking stupid. I can only agree. When you're not high yourself, people who are high look stupid. If you're drunk/high, stupid people doing stupid things look even more stupid.

The argument was whether or not they actually were stupid.

Your defensiveness is not warranted. If you'll read what I actually wrote, I said that however smart the person in question may or may not be, they look stupid. See also: giggling like mad, trailing off in mid sentence, taking a long time to get thoughts out. That's not to say that they genuinely are stupid (though some undoubtedly are, what with the law of averages and all), merely that they appear to be.

My last paragraph wasn't aimed particularly at you, but at some of the other commenters in the thread. I'm sorry for not clarifying that. My bad.

In essence, we appear to have nothing to argue about. Sorry for the rant. You aren't really being on-topic(Which I thought), so I mistook your post as being a little too literal, I guess.

 

[meowchef]

Short answer:

Because stoners are typically stupid.

 

[Susan Arendt]

*snip*

You have absolutely no idea what kind of people I have or have not known, and really, really shouldn't assume.

 

[Sporky111]

Last I checked, spending your money on addictive, illegal substances isn't a sign of intelligence.

But in the media, I think it is a stereotype. In movies, stoners tend to be there for comedy it's fairly easy to make them that way. Also, I'm sure the majority of audiences would be less likely to appreciate the an intelligent character if they're getting baked.

 

[s0denone]

*snip*

You have absolutely what kind of people I have or have not known, and really, really shouldn't assume.

Thanks for reading and commenting on my entire post. That is really nice of you, instead of you quickly glancing over the first two lines and then go post what appears to be a rather angry reply.

I counter your "I've seen drunk/high people act stupid"-argument with "I've probably seen more drunk/high people not act as stupid".

What is the problem? You brought the tone and assumption of the argument on yourself. It's just speculation. It's your observations versus my observations.

And I'm free to assume anything I want, as long as I do it within reason. I've dabbled in drugs, which I scratched the surface of before, making me conclude that there is a fair chance I've seen much more people than you have, smoke weed.

I've been subject to water-wagon treatment from my doctor, what could be called borderline alcoholism, making me conclude that there is a fair chance I've seen much more people than you have, be drunk, drunk out of their minds, not to mention me being so myself.

Is there still a problem with my assumptions? If so, please make it clear. I will leave the argument.

Your argument of "I've seen people do x, and then behave as y" only makes your stance superior in an argument, if you've had more observations than the other guy. I'm the other guy. I was guessing you hadn't, rendering your argument rather invalid... Even if that's not really what I did. Instead I kind of agreed with you, which you would have found out, had you read the entire post.

 

[Yoshemo]

Because succumbing to the temptation of drugs is a sure sign of a weak mind and will.

And because people aren't exactly in their most clever state when they are high:

This.
Can't people just be happy without shoving poison in their blood 24/7?

 

[wfpdk]

because people who don't smoke are incredibly stupid and weak minded.

 

[Zani]

Social engineering with the whole "Weed is bad!" and possibly also for comic effect (see Half Baked).

I only know one stoner though and he isn't the brightest person around, so maybe there is some truth to it.

 

[Phoenixlight]

Well I guess because they generally are. It slows down your brain activity so it's only natural that someone using the drug is likely to be stupider than someone not using it.