Do you find that most people who try to sound "deep" rarely say anything of substance?

Please give us an example.

If their entire purpose is to sound deep, than often times yes. But if the purpose is to give very meaningful advice or something like that, than not really.

Yah, yah, yah. I think you’re onto something @the_unconservative_one. People can be so trying, can’t they. Hey, this question sounds deep!!!!

It really depends on the exact situation at hand.

@EmpressPixie Right. It’s when people are “trying” to do/be something that they often fail, or so it seems to me.

I kinda think it’s the exact opposite.

And value is relative. Oh, was that too “deep” sounding? I guess this doesn’t have value now.

How can you tell the difference between “someone trying to sound deep” and someone who’s genuinely trying to express a complicated thought…. over the internet?

I know that my writing or speech becomes more complex the less I understand something, which might be viewed by some as an attempt to sound deep; the reason I do this is that complex, formal grammatical constructions are good for linking together disorganized ideas when you are just thinking things through for the first time and trying to form a coherent logic.

In general, one can say that those who have little to say often try to sound deep, but it is not necessarily true that those who sound deep have little to say.

I agree with @Jiminez, value is certainly relative. Maybe the person has in their mind what they’d like to say, but doesn’t have the gift of expressing it in an eloquent way. I suffer from that sometimes.

What a very interesting question. It reminds me of Joseph Butler, the seventeenth century philosopher, and his critique of John Locke’s theory of personal identity. Much like the way a baby elephant will learn that he can’t break the chain around his foot, so in later life he does not even try. But then people call me trite.

I know many brilliant and introspective people with the social depth of a tea cup!

I think if you make an observation in an overly obscured way in an attempt to sound educated and make other miss your reference so that they feel less educated, then you are trying too hard to sound deep.

However, if you make an genuine observation in a welcoming way that also has purpose beyond simply being set out as a comment of, “Look how wonderful I am, I’ve said this. Love me,” then you’re fine. And more likely to sounds deep. Because you aren’t worried about sounding deep.

Also, worrying about sounding deep should be kept separate from my personal constant worry of making sense.

I think self indulgent often tries to masquerade as deep.

@Jayne, sounds 100% correct to me.

Sometimes long, complicated words are necessary to convey and idea, and sometimes people employ them where they are not necessary just because they think it makes them sound educated and therefore powerful. The latter usually don’t say much that is very comprehensible, because they use words the wrong way.

The former sound incomprehensible, if you don’t understand the words or the context. Sometimes people will dismiss complex ideas because they don’t understand them. They’ll want it simple and straight-forward. As our models of the world get increasingly complex, we need more complex ways to convey information about these models.

People who don’t get it, try to simplify. Flat taxes. Black and White (no shades of gray). Religious texts say all you need to know. In times of plenty, people can get away with simplifying things. In bad times, we have to approach things understanding their complexity. If we don’t, we make it worse.

@EmpressPixie , sounds about right to me as well.

@daloonagain , I am referring to people who do the polar opposite of what you just said. They take very simple ideas and overly complicate them for the purpose of making people think they are more profound than they really are.

@The_unconservative_one Ah. Those people are probably disorganized, and can’t communicate very well.

@3or4monsters , you can tell when someone wants to overly complicate simple, straightforward concepts.

Oh, I know people who are so super impressed with their perception of their own intelligence that…yeah. They think they’re being “deep” when they’re just blathering, IMO.

yes, especially people named Dutchcat, I’m guessing she does not want to be the Dutchess any more…

@Fluffy….I do too want to be Dutchess, but apparently somebody on here is already that….(Glad to see you—can I have my Vodicille back?)

I agree, with you Dutchcat. I feel the exact same way.

I don’t really care, ya know? I just make fun of them behind their backs.

sheeesh, I love blathering. that’s how I keep my job

@Balmung Yes, and you’re very good at what you do!

@please_not_to_ask2 , lol, that’s always a good response. Reminds me of earthinspace or WalterAllenHaxton, they thought they were deep, but to me, they just sounded crazy.

See, I’m the opposite. I’m so crazy that I sound deep when really I’m just crazy. Or something.

man—I can be deep if I wanna! I just don’t, ok?!

@please_not_to_ask2 LOL!!

well… try reading up resmc! she is so deep in her responses you will stare at the words for hours and wonder how she comes up with that stuff. she truly is intelligent. another blatherer was Huron.

@Balmung , Huron is here! He does go on but he just seems like he wants everyone to take his ideas seriously, yet he doesn’t take anyone elses seriously.

Mattbrowne is so intellectual, that all of his responses read like a science textbook. I don’t think he was trying to sound deep, he’s just so smart that he doesn’t know any other way of speaking.

Ya butt he can write science fiction book and describe some pretty complex astronomy theory’s in such a way that the average person can understand…yeah, he’s smart! But also doesn’t act like he’s too good for us…He should be here soon…

@Balmung yeah, RES was the first person to come to my mind!

@DutchCat , that’s what I like about him. He doesn’t think his intelligence puts him on another level.

Even tho it really does! Him and Benny and the Brianiacs just blow my mind!

i always feel so guilty whenever i see a thread like this. haha. i must have self esteem issues.

How do you know when someone is “trying” to sound deep? Some people do have greater depth than others (I love the comment made by an old friend about a third party: “Way down deep, he’s very shallow”). But when someone is going as deep as he can, he is deep, by his measure. He is not necessarily putting on a pose. If someone fails to sound deep by your standards, how exactly do you judge what his intentions are?

In any case, I have an aversion to such generalizations about people. I find that most things that most people say about most people reflect a limited view that tends to be more a matter of prejudice or stereotype than reasoned conclusions drawn from observation.

@Jeruba I hear what you’re saying…but you can really tell the difference between someone who IS being deep for them, even if it comes off as rather..shallow to others, and someone who is a pompous ass!

It’s a matter of opinion, isn’t it?

@daloonagain Yeah, it can be. But we have the words “arrogant” and “pompous” for a reason.

@DutchCat – and as with all words, they can be thrown around with no justification or actual requirement or fulfilling of the definition.

@DutchCat: we have words like chair and cyclops for a reason, too. What’s your point?

@dynamicduo That’s true, but when you get a general consensus—not just one person—that someone is arrogant and rude, then, pretty much that’s what they are! You know, people that think they’re smarter than everyone else, even if they’re not. IDK.

Even general consensuses can be wrong. I mean, the general consensus about Hitler by the German people was a very positive one, and we know how that turned out.

@dynamicduo But, in the end, the world wide consensus was right. Consensus doesn’t mean everyone agrees…just the majority.

But who is this majority you speak of? And why do they matter to me?

@dynamicduo :) They don’t.

@Jeruba , the people I am talking about, always have a long rambling soliloquy to give that basically says nothing.

@dynamicduo The majority is…The majority. Not saying they are always right, but you can generally tell people who just like to hear the sound of their own voices versus people who have something to say.

@The_unconservative_one, I don’t disagree that there are such folks. I just don’t see the purpose of your question. We learn who they are quickly enough and can read on past them if we don’t care for their comments. I don’t find it necessary to call them out for public scorn or draw attention to the lameness of their efforts. I’d rather encourage them to look a little deeper and expand their thinking so they will have more to offer.

Depth when the motive is clear is not usually as deep since people can see right through it.

Also, I agree largely that using “big words” and a lot of words does not make what you say any more meaningful.

@Dansedescygnes: I agree motive is usually very clear. “Big words” have nothing to do with depth. Those with a good mastery of language are no more or less “deep” than others, they just have an extensive vocabulary. If someone is offended by someone else using “big words”, they should get a dictionary.

@ Jayne exactly, exactly! Otherwise, the idea won’t get out, or it’ll be misunderstood. Or it’s not yet fully formed, and comes out in a way which can be hard for some to follow, or isn’t worded as well as it can be.

Personallly, others are able to see nuances in subjects that, unless they share, i’d be completely oblivious to, and worse, would assume my current view of was relatively balanced. A lot of the time, those can go over my head – or even get so much into details i don’t care much for, it’s not worth reading. But it’s very often worthwhile for them to explore those, regardless of how that strikes me.

Sure, there’s so much to say out there, to the point where some of us are utterly fascinated by something that’s old news to others, which apparently annoys some. What’s wrong with someone bringing fresh excitement to something that’s grown dull to you?

Also, can anyone explain what exactly is depth? Never had a sense for that, for some reason, even though superficiality is palpable.

And of course it’s annoying for people to try to be who they’re not, however they do that. This particular form doesn’t bug me any more than the other ways people do that; it’s easily ignorable, if it’s that bad.

Not that it matters, but since this came up for some reason (not used to being talked about) personally, i can suck at condensing things – despite much progress and effort, apparently people still hold that against me, and that’s their prerogative. And often ideas would be too long to record, share, or discuss without using words that aren’t everyday ones… they simplify, at least with an understanding. It is annoying when technical terms i barely grasp are thrown around in a way which requires a better understanding than i have – yet that happens to everyone, yet aside from hindering our communication sometimes, that doesn’t reflect badly on any of us. If we’re curious, it’s wonderful to ask for the statement to be reworded – yet otherwise, why is this a problem?

ONLY on the internet do I see this happen more often. Usually, in real life, those people dont have the ability to say ‘deep’ things as doing so requires them to think quickly, which they cant do. On the internet, they can sit there and think for a while of what to say. The quick thinker is usually the smarter one.

Barry White is very deep and I do believe that to “get it on” is chock full of substance.

@Jeruba , If I had given names, that would be calling them out for public scorn. I didn’t do that. I am only asking if others have noticed this in some people. You needn’t be so touchy.

@Dansedescygnes , I am not really talking about big words. An example would be, someone who takes a tangent from a conversation and wants to give a long rambling dissertation on the tangent, but never get to the meat of the issue. I had a conversation with someone about the existence of God and they wanted to go on and on about the meaning of the word “suffering.” Everyone knows what suffering means, no need to divert the conversation from the topic to go on about something like that. He wanted to show how he had a “deeper” understanding of the word.

@The_unconservative_one:
“Reminds me of earthinspace or WalterAllenHaxton, they thought they were deep, but to me, they just sounded crazy.” “Huron is here! He does go on but he just seems like he wants everyone to take his ideas seriously, yet he doesn’t’t take anyone elses seriously.”

You did “give names”. You initially asked a question, and then felt compelled – for whatever reason, to cite specific examples in the thread. In doing so, you diverted the attention from your question as the majority of those here do not the people that you’re speaking of.

Everyones conversational manner or writing style is unique. Everyones presentation is different. It’s pompous to think that you can ascertain one’s intelligence level by your ill conceived “deepness meter”. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover; you can truly never know what is lurking in someones heart or brain.

@bythebay , those are people who are not members of this site. You never heard me try to ascertain anyone’s intelligence level, did you? No you didn’t. I spoke of Mattbrowne’s intelligence level based on many, long conversations with him, not some non-existent “deepness meter” You really have no knowledge of what you are talking about. The only people who seem to be offended by this question are those who fit the category. Hmmmm.

@The_unconservative_one: You have no idea who is a member and who is not; many members never post. Your propensity for the snarky really sheds great light on your own judgment and intellect. You said “but you can generally tell people who just like to hear the sound of their own voices versus people who have something to say.” – and you seem to fit that bill quite well. I’m not offended by your question, it was ill conceived. Hmmmmmmmmmm, don’t hurt yourself.

@bythebay I will quote your own great wisdom, “It’s pompous to think that you can ascertain one’s intelligence level by your ill conceived “deepness meter”. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover; you can truly never know what is lurking in someones heart or brain.”

Based upon your propensity to think you know anything about me or my intellect based on your dislike of this question, makes me seriously question your intellect. Here’s an idea, if you don’t like talking to me, go away! Seriously, I won’t mourn the loss of your conversation one bit. The question was not ill-conceived. “The lady doth protest too much.”

@The_unconservative_one: You can question me, and my intellect all day. Again, don’t hurt yourself. And don’t fret little man, I won’t darken the door of your insightful quest anymore – you’re quite boring.

“We should not pretend to understand the world only by the intellect. The judgment of the intellect is only part of the truth.”

Good Bye ;-)

We had an interesting discussion here recently about the difference between “naivete” and “ignorance”.

@Harp , what is your point?

i thought you left?

I agree with the premise of the question. The guys who sound deep usually end up saying things like, “Doop Doop Doop Doo Ba Doop Doop Doop”

It’s the other guys who get all the words.

Not always. Some people confuse over speaking with deep thinking. These people are easy to spot. You can see the steam rising from their profound novels.

LOL…Yes!

If I’m feeling particularly mischievous, I request the speaker simplify or rephrase what is said “since I’m a little slow”.

This often results in the speaker discovering for himself that he hasn’t a clue.