Not thinking about an idiot being a layperson

In the technology field, end-users will often do things you never thought possible. This can be a source of frustration for IT (Information Technology) support workers. The most common error by the user is sometimes called an "id-ten-t" error by people in the field.

You might find the setting # user=Id-Ten-T in a config file. The term "id-ten-t" is short for "id10t" and can be written as "ID10T". This lets other technicians know the source of the problem.

user=ID10T

You can never fully believe anything a user tells you, unless verified.

The user knows that something is not happening the way they want it to happen.
The user may have no idea why, but may have made up a reason in their mind why something is happening.

Verify everything the user says. "Trust but verify".

Do not tell the user that they do not know what they are talking about, just try and fix their problem.

After the resurrection, on the road to Emaeus in Luke 24, Jesus could have showed his hands as an eye witness testimony. Instead, Jesus says the following.

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: [kjv]

και αυτος ειπεν προς αυτους ω ανοητοι και βραδεις τη καρδια του πιστευειν επι πασιν οις ελαλησαν οι προφηται [gnt]

Is Jesus saying that to not know and believe all that the prophets have said makes one an "idiot"? The ancient Greek word used here in the GNT (Greek New Testament) is "ἀνόητος" ≈ "foolish, stupid, idiot" and means, literally "not thinking".

The English word "idiot" is, through French, from the Latin word "idoti" ≈ "idiot" and is from the ancient Greek word "ἰδιώτης" ≈ "layperson" as one who does not have professional knowledge. This is from the ancient Greek word "ἴδιος" ≈ "one's own".

A TV (Television) is known as an "idiot box". In part this is because it is (historically) non-interactive and non-responsive.

An "idiot light" is a light that comes on when a certain, usually dangerous, condition arises.

It as called an "idiot light" because it would be better represented by a "gauge" so one could "gauge" the severity and detect it when it gets close rather than when it crosses a threshold.

In same cases, such as "check engine" a more informative display would be far more useful, especially since some "check engine" lights are false positives.

Something is considered "idiot proof" if it is not (easily) possible to go wrong (or be misused, etc.).

The comeback is that if you make something "idiot proof" that will only encourage better "idiots".

In one of Bruce Schneirer's security books, he relates the story of a park ranger who lamented the difficulty of creating a trash can that was easy enough for human campers to open and use but difficult enough to keep bears out.

He said, in a nice way, that there appeared to be an overlap in the intelligence of the smartest bears and the least smart human campers.

The Latin word "idoti" ≈ "idiot" and appears four times in the Latin Vulgate - all in the New Testament and for the Greek word that meant "unlearned". This is once by Luke in Acts and three times by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14 - the chapter on tongues after the love chapter. Interestingly, the Greek word used by Paul meant layman as in unlearned or not professional while the Latin word was closer to "idiot". This change is easy to make as the word sounds about the same in both languages and is written in about the same way.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. [kjv]

θεωρουντες δε την του πετρου παρρησιαν και ιωαννου και καταλαβομενοι οτι ανθρωποι αγραμματοι εισιν και ιδιωται εθαυμαζον επεγινωσκον τε αυτους οτι συν τω ιησου ησαν [gnt]

… sine litteris … idiotae … [v]

The KJV (King James Version) uses "ignorant" while the Greek is closer to "unlearned". Perhaps the KJV did not want to repeat the word as "unlearned and unlearned`" and, instead, used "unlearned and ignorant".

Acts 4:13

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KJV: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Greek: θεωρουντες δε την του πετρου παρρησιαν και ιωαννου και καταλαβομενοι οτι ανθρωποι αγραμματοι εισιν και ιδιωται εθαυμαζον επεγινωσκον τε αυτους οτι συν τω ιησου ησαν

Latin: videntes autem Petri constantiam et Iohannis conperto quod homines essent sine litteris et idiotae admirabantur et cognoscebant eos quoniam cum Iesu fuerant

There is a Greek word for "ignorant" in the GNT. The ancient Greek word "ἄγνωστος" ≈ "ignorant" as in, literally, "not knowing".

The ancient Greek word "ἄγνωστος" ≈ "ignorant" is the source of the English word "agnostic".

Ignorance has to do with not knowing something with an emphasis on "not knowing that one does not know".
As soon as you can say "I do not know X" then "you know that you do not know X".

For computer scientists and others dealing with and reasoning about knowledge, an important concept is "knowing that you know" something. John understands this.

1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. [kjv]

και εν τουτω γινωσκομεν οτι εγνωκαμεν αυτον εαν τας εντολας αυτου τηρωμεν [gnt]

More: Ignorance of agnostic lack of belief

Job 8:9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow: ) [kjv]

χθιζοι γαρ εσμεν και ουκ οιδαμεν σκια γαρ εστιν ημων επι της γης ο βιος [lxx]

… ignoramus … [v]

Job 8:9

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KJV: (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow: )

Hebrew: כי תמול אנחנו ולא נדע כי צל ימינו עלי ארץ׃

Greek: χθιζοι γαρ εσμεν και ουκ οιδαμεν σκια γαρ εστιν ημων επι της γης ο βιος

Latin: hesterni quippe sumus et ignoramus quoniam sicut umbra dies nostri sunt super terram

Sometimes one does not know. Socrates has a famous quote

Greek: εν οίδα ότι ουδέν οίδα

English: The only thing I know is that I know nothing.

This is a self-referential statement. How can one "know" that one knows "nothing"? Or is this a figurative and not a literal or logical saying. The healed blind man in John uses a somewhat similar wording.

More: John 9: One thing I know is that I know nothing

In the 1960's, the saying, "I know nothing!", drawn out with a German accent, was made famous on a TV show called Hogan's Heros by Sergeant Schultz, played by John Banner.

More: John 9: One thing I know is that I know nothing

Paul uses the Greek word for "unlearned" or "layperson" three times, all in 1 Corinthians 14, the chapter on "tongues" after the "love" chapter.

Despite the Latin Vulgate translation as base word "idiot", it does not appear that Paul is calling these people "idiots" as the Latin might convey. That Latin idea is used by Wycliffe in his translation - mainly based on the Latin Vulgate.

1 Corinthians 14:16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? [kjv]

επει εαν ευλογης εν πνευματι ο αναπληρων τον τοπον του ιδιωτου πως ερει το αμην επι τη ση ευχαριστια επειδη τι λεγεις ουκ οιδεν [gnt]

… idiotae … [v]

1 Corinthians 14:16

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KJV: Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

Greek: επει εαν ευλογησης τω ευλογης εν πνευματι ο αναπληρων τον τοπον του ιδιωτου πως ερει το αμην επι τη ση ευχαριστια επειδη τι λεγεις ουκ οιδεν

Latin: ceterum si benedixeris spiritu qui supplet locum idiotae quomodo dicet amen super tuam benedictionem quoniam quid dicas nescit

Wycliffe: For if thou blessist in spirit, who fillith the place of an ydiot, hou schal he seie Amen on thi blessyng, for he woot not, what thou seist?

Tyndale: For els when thou blessest with ye sprete how shall he that occupieth the roume of the vnlearned saye amen at thy gevinge of thankes seynge he vnderstondeth not what thou sayest

1 Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? [kjv]

εαν ουν συνελθη η εκκλησια ολη επι το αυτο και παντες λαλωσιν γλωσσαις εισελθωσιν δε ιδιωται η απιστοι ουκ ερουσιν οτι μαινεσθε [gnt]

… idiotae … [v]

1 Corinthians 14:23

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KJV: If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

Greek: εαν ουν συνελθη η εκκλησια ολη επι το αυτο και παντες γλωσσαις λαλωσιν γλωσσαις εισελθωσιν δε ιδιωται η απιστοι ουκ ερουσιν οτι μαινεσθε

Latin: si ergo conveniat universa ecclesia in unum et omnes linguis loquantur intrent autem idiotae aut infideles nonne dicent quod insanitis

Wycliffe: Therfor if alle the chirche come togidere in to oon, and alle men speken in tungis, if idiotis, ether men out of the feith, entren, whether thei schulen not seie, What ben ye woode?

Tyndale: Yf therfore when all the cogregacion is come to gedder and all speake with tonges ther come in they yt are vnlearned or they which beleve not: will they not saye that ye are out of youre wittes?

1 Corinthians 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: [kjv]

εαν δε παντες προφητευωσιν εισελθη δε τις απιστος η ιδιωτης ελεγχεται υπο παντων ανακρινεται υπο παντων [gnt]

… idiota … [v]

1 Corinthians 14:24

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KJV: But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

Greek: εαν δε παντες προφητευωσιν εισελθη δε τις απιστος η ιδιωτης ελεγχεται υπο παντων ανακρινεται υπο παντων

Latin: si autem omnes prophetent intret autem quis infidelis vel idiota convincitur ab omnibus diiudicatur ab omnibus

Wycliffe: But if alle men prophecien, if ony vnfeithful man or idiot entre, he is conuyct of alle, he is wiseli demyd of alle.

Tyndale: But and yf all prophesy and ther come in one that beleveth not or one vnlearned he is rebuked of all men and is iudged of every man:

Luther: So sie aber alle weissageten und käme dann ein Ungläubiger oder Laie hinein, der würde von denselbigen allen gestraft und von allen gerichtet.

In Luke 24, on the Road to Emaeus, Jesus uses the Greek word for "idiot".

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: [kjv]

The ancient Greek word "ἀνόητος" ≈ "foolish, stupid, idiot". Jesus uses this word once in the GNT. Paul uses it several times.

Luke 24:25

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KJV: Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Greek: και αυτος ειπεν προς αυτους ω ανοητοι και βραδεις τη καρδια του πιστευειν επι πασιν οις ελαλησαν οι προφηται

Latin: et ipse dixit ad eos o stulti et tardi corde ad credendum in omnibus quae locuti sunt prophetae

Paul uses the word five times.

Consider each verse and ask the following question. How does the English word "idiot" fit?

Romans 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. [kjv]

Romans 1:14

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KJV: I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

Greek: ελλησιν τε και βαρβαροις σοφοις τε και ανοητοις οφειλετης ειμι

The ancient Greek word "σοφός" ≈ "clever, cunning" and is often translated as the English word "wise". This word may be from the PIE (Proto Indo-European) root "SEHP" ≈ "to taste, to try out".

The modern Greek word "σοφός" (so-FOS) ≈ "wise" and is the source of English words such as "sophomore" (wise fool).

The Latin word "sapiens" ≈ "discerning, wise, prudent" (related to the Greek) and is the source of the English phrase "homo sapiens" as "wise human being". Other English words from this word include "savant" and "sapient".

This Latin word is related to the Latin word "sapio" ≈ "taste of, smack of" and over time became associated with "good taste" as in "discernment" and "wisdom". Related English words include "savor" and "savvy" (and the ones above related to "sapiens").

More: A wise opportunity to be prudent

The separation in the above verse appears to be between "wise" and "unwise".

This might be expressed as "wise" and "idiots".

Here is on old adage:

Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.

More: The viscous cycle of catch-22 situations

Good judgment is the result of experience and experience the result of bad judgment.
Mark Twain (Author and Humorist, alias Samuel Clemens)

More: Mark Twain

Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? [kjv]

ω ανοητοι γαλαται τις υμας εβασκανεν οις κατ οφθαλμους ιησους χριστος προεγραφη εσταυρωμενος [gnt]

… insensati … [v]

Galatians 3:1

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KJV: O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Greek: ω ανοητοι γαλαται τις υμας εβασκανεν τη αληθεια μη πειθεσθαι οις κατ οφθαλμους ιησους χριστος προεγραφη εν υμιν εσταυρωμενος

Latin: o insensati Galatae quis vos fascinavit ante quorum oculos Iesus Christus proscriptus est crucifixus

Wycliffe: Vnwitti Galathies, tofor whos iyen Jhesu Crist is exilid, and is crucified in you, who hath disseyued you, that ye obeyen not to treuthe?

Gothic: o unfrodans galateis! hvas izwis afhugida sunjai ni ufhausjan? izwizei faura augam iesus xristus faurameliths was, in izwis ushramiths?

Luther: O ihr unverständigen Galater, wer hat euch bezaubert, daß ihr der Wahrheit nicht gehorchet? welchen Christus Jesus vor die Augen gemalet war, und jetzt unter euch gekreuziget ist!

Galatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? [kjv]

ουτως ανοητοι εστε εναρξαμενοι πνευματι νυν σαρκι επιτελεισθε [gnt]

… stulti … [v]

Galatians 3:3

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KJV: Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Greek: ουτως ανοητοι εστε εναρξαμενοι πνευματι νυν σαρκι επιτελεισθε

Latin: sic stulti estis cum Spiritu coeperitis nunc carne consummamini

Wycliffe: So ye ben foolis, that whanne ye han bigunne in spirit, ye ben endid in fleisch.

Gothic: swa unfrothans sijuth? anastodjandans ahmin nu leika ustiuhith?

Luther: Seid ihr so unverständig? Im Geist habt ihr angefangen, wollt ihr's denn nun im Fleisch vollenden?

1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. [kjv]

οι δε βουλομενοι πλουτειν εμπιπτουσιν εις πειρασμον και παγιδα και επιθυμιας πολλας ανοητους και βλαβερας αιτινες βυθιζουσιν τους ανθρωπους εις ολεθρον και απωλειαν [gnt]

… nociva … [v]

1 Timothy 6:9

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KJV: But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Greek: οι δε βουλομενοι πλουτειν εμπιπτουσιν εις πειρασμον και παγιδα και επιθυμιας πολλας ανοητους και βλαβερας αιτινες βυθιζουσιν τους ανθρωπους εις ολεθρον και απωλειαν

Latin: nam qui volunt divites fieri incidunt in temptationem et laqueum et desideria multa inutilia et nociva quae mergunt homines in interitum et perditionem

Wycliffe: For thei that wolen be maad riche, fallen in to temptacioun, and`in to snare of the deuel, and in to many vnprofitable desiris and noyous, whiche drenchen men in to deth and perdicioun.

Geneva: For they that will be rich, fall into tentation and snares, and into many foolish and noysome lustes, which drowne men in perdition and destruction.

Gothic: aththan thaiei wileina gabigai wairthan atdriusand in fraistubnja jah hlamma unhulthins jah lustuns managans unnutjans ja (h) skathulans, thaiei saggqjand mans in frawardein jah fralust.

Luther: Denn die da reich werden wollen, die fallen in Versuchung und Stricke und viel törichter und schädlicher Lüste, welche versenken die Menschen ins Verderben und Verdammnis.

The word for "idiot" or "unthinking" appears five times in the LXX (Septuagint).

Deuteronomy 32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. [kjv]

For their gods are not as our God, but our enemies are void of understanding. [bs3]

Deuteronomy 32:31

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KJV: For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.

Hebrew: כי לא כצורנו צורם ואיבינו פלילים׃

Greek: οτι ουκ εστιν ως ο θεος ημων οι θεοι αυτων οι δε εχθροι ημων ανοητοι

Brenton: For their gods are not as our God, but our enemies are void of understanding.

Psalms 49:12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. [kjv]

και ανθρωπος εν τιμη ων ου συνηκεν παρασυνεβληθη τοις κτηνεσιν τοις ανοητοις και ωμοιωθη αυτοις [lxx]

Psalms 49:12

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KJV: Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

Hebrew: ואדם ביקר בל ילין נמשל כבהמות נדמו׃

Greek: και ανθρωπος εν τιμη ων ου συνηκεν παρασυνεβληθη τοις κτηνεσιν τοις ανοητοις και ωμοιωθη αυτοις

Psalms 49:20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. [kjv]

ανθρωπος εν τιμη ων ου συνηκεν παρασυνεβληθη τοις κτηνεσιν τοις ανοητοις και ωμοιωθη αυτοις [lxx]

Psalms 49:20

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KJV: Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

Hebrew: אדם ביקר ולא יבין נמשל כבהמות נדמו׃

Greek: ανθρωπος εν τιμη ων ου συνηκεν παρασυνεβληθη τοις κτηνεσιν τοις ανοητοις και ωμοιωθη αυτοις

Latin: homo cum in honore esset non intellexit conparavit se iumentis et silebitur

Luther: Kurz, wenn ein Mensch in der Würde ist und hat keinen Verstand, so fähret er davon wie ein Vieh.

Proverbs 15:21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. [kjv]

ανοητου τριβοι ενδεεις φρενων ανηρ δε φρονιμος κατευθυνων πορευεται [lxx]

Proverbs 15:21

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KJV: Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

Hebrew: אולת שמחה לחסר לב ואיש תבונה יישר לכת׃

Greek: ανοητου τριβοι ενδεεις φρενων ανηρ δε φρονιμος κατευθυνων πορευεται

Latin: stultitia gaucdium stulto et vir prudens dirigit gressus

Luther: Dem Toren ist die Torheit eine Freude; aber ein verständiger Mann bleibt auf dem rechten Wege.

One way to appear smart by not appearing as an "idiot" is to keep quiet.

Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. [kjv]

ανοητω επερωτησαντι σοφιαν σοφια λογισθησεται ενεον δε τις εαυτον ποιησας δοξει φρονιμος ειναι [lxx]

In Hebrew poetry form, the same idea is repeated in a different way to avoid loss of meaning or to avoid a distorted meaning.

Proverbs 17:28

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KJV: Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Hebrew: גם אויל מחריש חכם יחשב אטם שפתיו נבון׃

Greek: ανοητω επερωτησαντι σοφιαν σοφια λογισθησεται ενεον δε τις εαυτον ποιησας δοξει φρονιμος ειναι

Latin: stultus quoque si tacuerit sapiens putabitur et si conpresserit labia sua intellegens

Wycliffe: Also a foole, if he is stille, schal be gessid a wijs man; and, if he pressith togidre hise lippis, he`schal be gessid an vndurstondynge man.

Luther: Ein Narr, wenn er schwiege, würde auch weise gerechnet und verständig, wenn er das Maul hielte.

Spanish: Aun el necio, cuando calla, es contado por sabio; el que cierra sus labios es entendido.

Portuguese: Um insensato silencioso passa por sábio; se fecha a boca parece inteligente.

There is a saying that goes as follows.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Lincoln (and others) are often given credit for this quote. Since no record of this has been found, it appears that Lincoln may have been paraphrasing Proverbs 17:28.

Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. [kjv]

More: Abraham Lincoln

The "think" part of "not thinking" appears in the Greek word for "repent".

Wictionary entry for perceive afterwards

One can compare "mindful" with the Greek word for "repent" which literally means "after thought" as in "perceiving afterwards". The ancient Greek word "μετάνοια" ≈ "afterthought, repent".

That is, a "transition" from what one was thinking "before" to what one is thinking "after".

The ancient Greek word "μετά" ≈ "after".
The ancient Greek word "νοια" ≈ "mind" as in "nous".

The definition in modern Greek has narrowed, from influence of GNT translation, to "μετάνοια" (meh-TA-nee-a) ≈ "repentance" (in the Latin sense).

If you already know that "repent" in Greek means "after thought" then, well, "never mind".

Note: The first definition is that of "afterthought". The second is that of "repentance" but this comes from the GNT.

More: Think after what you heard and repent