"mission statement- talented and gifted individuals group"

In yesterday's EDITION of the DUmmie FUnnies, the DUmmies proposed a new group for former gifted children. Mostly what we saw was a bunch of whining about how they were/are treated as outcasts for being "gifted." Today, we look at this DUmmie THREAD titled, "mission statement- talented and gifted individuals group." Yes, the DUmmies just can't get enough of trumpeting to the world, that despite the fact they are a bunch of misfits, that they are really gifted...in their own minds. So let us watch the DUmmies pat themselves on the backs in Bolshevik Red while the commentary of your humble correspondent, who does admit that the DUmmies do have a gift and talent for inducing gales of laughter, is in the [brackets]:

mission statement- talented and gifted individuals group

[mission statement - smug and elitist individuals group.]

this group is a safe place for talented and gifted people to let our brains hang out, as well as our warts, scars and wounds. it uses an expansive view of who is gifted that includes talents in the arts, sports, business, etc, as well as those the have been identified as gifted, on standardized tests or otherwise. highly sensitive people are also included. it welcomes the families and friends of same, especially hopes to help and nourish parents raising gifted children, and welcomes those young people. we hope to support each other in identifying and coping with the downsides of our gifts, the less than useful gifts that often accompany high intelligence, and our negative interactions with regular folks and institutions. we hope to share our knowledge of the gifted personality and the ways we are different. we hope to share knowledge and resources for coping withour trials and tribulations, and making the most of our talents. we hope to create a place where the norm is "normal for gifted".

[this group is a safe place for self-identified talented and gifted people to relate our war stories about beaten up by the normal folks angered about the way we put on smug airs of superiority despite being a bunch of socially maladjusted nerds.]

Gee, I dunno. Bragging about talent or giftedness seems arrogant. Generally, it doesn't take much to demonstrate one's talent, but to announce it seems a little, uhh...gauche?

[LOUSY FREEPER TROLL!!!]

You must be a "norm." Seriously, I think the group is intended to be more of a support group than a place to boast about who has the biggest brain.

[Already elitistism is setting in. A "norm" is like a "prol."]

But people who think of themselves as smarter than average must be perfect. Surely they wouldn't need a supportive environment.

[LOUSY NORM TROLL!!!]

Wanna see my Phi Beta Kappa key?

[Wanna see my Norm knife?]

It would not be a forum I would visit. Too many good things already going on to get stuck in mire of unhappy childhoods and thin skin.

[But such a forum would provide a regular source for laughs.]

As an educator with additional certification from UCSD in gifted education, and years spent working with gifted students as well as all other students, I know that there is a group of people generally referred to as "gifted" whose brains work differently than the norm.

[The norm brains just aren't up to your high standards.]

actually, it's very elitist because people in this group are assigning themselves to an intellectual class above the rank-and-file DU membership. It would make more sense to have a group for people above a certain IQ certification, although then you would be assuming that people of a lower IQ have nothing of value to contribute to a discussion.

[No norms need apply.]

No wonder we are isolated. Seems like wherever we go we have to hide our brains and act like we are only average, to avoid being accused of arrogance and other such rot.

[Hide! HIDE from the jealous norms!]

apparently this is the grade school playground. i hope there are not too many people experiencing flashbacks, here.

[It's Norms vs Nerds all over again.]

Unfortunately, American society is like a flock of chickens. Anybody who is different without a peer group of similarly different people is singled out for attack.

[The Norms have singled out the Nerds for attack.]

My mind works differently from a lot of peoples' minds. That doesn't make me a better person, but it means I can do some things better. How is it elitest to acknowledge that?

[VERY elitist although you are not quite smart enough to see the self-irony in your statement.]

i'm all for it, especially as a haven to discuss our frustrations in dealing with the 'normal' world. it would be great to be able to freely communicate with like-minded people, maybe learn how to freely communicate for the first time. what do we have to lose by trying?

[Like a safe house to protect you from the Norms.]

I quit my job as a reporter for one of the largest newspapers in the country because I just couldn't accept their corporate style of journalism, and I consistently clashed with the big boss. I basically walked out after sending a big F*ck You to the company via e-mail to the entire newsroom. Needless to say, my chances of getting hired at another large metro daily were slim, not that I even tried.

[Is that you, Jason Leopold?]

i, for one, credit evolution for my gifts. they are certainly genetic. they are all over my family tree. the good ones and the bad.

[An un-PC comment in DUmmieland. Claiming that heredity is related to intelligence. Of course, DUmmies forget about being PC when they need to assert how wonderful they are.]

It's words like "mediocrities" and "mundanes" and "less-than-gifted folks" and "regular folks" who have "slower, less complex thought processes" that clearly indicate an air of superiority and condescending attitude.

[My personal fave is "Norms."]

Okay, so you're smarter than the average bear. You're gifted, you're talented, you need to be surrounded by other smarties who appreciate and challenge your superior intellect. And you haven't managed to accomplish this in your everyday, non-cyber lives because ...? You're still stuck in grade school? You were too busy writing letters to SRA and other curriculum providers to persuade them to create more levels so you could compete with yourself and that one other kid who bested you about half the time? You were too busy with the therapy you needed because of that one teacher who tried to help you get your ego in check? The dum-dums all banded together and thwarted your plans? The dog ate your homework? What?

[And this DUmmie WINS a Norm Kewpie doll for having a brief moment of mental clarity.]

Usually, with extremely intelligent people, you can usually see their intelligence without having them have to inform you that they are "gifted".

[How about issuing "I'm Gifted" T-Shirts?]

There is no end to the foolishness on this site.

[A truer statement about DUmmieland was never said.]

If the "gifted" label bothers people, well, as far as I'm concerned, you can call it something with less positive value associated. How about "anxiety ridden, unhappy, isolated, can't figure out how to talk to other people outside of grad school group"?

[How about "socially maladjusted, soil my diaper, need to feel superior, crybaby group"?]

To honestly say that you were fortunate enough to be smarter than other people or more "talented" than other people and, boohoo, mean meanies treated me bad is childish and - frankly - moronic. I don't like seeing DU represented with this crap. You need to grow up.

[LOUSY NORM TROLL!!!]

you know, if I stick a harmonica in my ass crack, I can play Yankee Doodle (pre-performance bean dinner required). Am I gifted enough yet?

[Only if you can also play Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen.]

this group has been refused. I'm sorry, but I think we are going to decline this idea for a group. I seetwo problems with this: First, I don't think there is any way for us tofairly determine who would qualify to participate in the group. And second,I think some have argued rather persuasively that this could be devisive. I am sorry. -Skinner

[I'm sorry too, Skinner. Such a DUmmie group would have provided a SURE source of humor material for the DUmmie FUnnies.]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I have a VERY SPECIAL offer for my DUmmie FUnnies fans. It is a product I have been using myself and fully endorse: the amazing HELICOPTER KITE. This helicopter kite flies like a helicopter. You can make it go hundreds of feet into the air or hover it just a couple of feet off the ground. The propellor rotation is done entirely by windpower. Please check out the VIDEO of the INCREDIBLE helicopter kite. Not only was the helicopter kite aerodynamically designed but it is also MADE IN THE USA! The helicopter kites have a LIFETIME warranty so all defective or broken parts will be replaced. Your purchase of the helicopter kite will not only provide you with lots of FUn this summer but it will also help keep the DUmmie FUnnies going. So take a look at the VIDEO and be AMAZED!