So what does everyone else understand by the term "common sense"?

[Andy Hong]

Hi all!

So what does everyone else understand by the term "common sense"?

I remember people using the terms "use your common sense" or "good old fashioned common sense" or "bring a big does of common sense", but this seems a bit imprecise.

It appears everyone is using the definition "common sense is that thing that, if only everyone would use it, they would all near instantly and magically come to the same, correct, conclusion, (before they've done any research, applied any knowledge or done any deep thinking on the topic) and everything would be great in the world?"

Except that isn't what I find. It seems actually to be the thing that causes people to "near instantly and magically come to A conclusion, not necessarily the same one or the correct one". Useful for getting to AN answer quickly, but you should probably check it if possible (but you probably wouldn't, because common sense also causes you to feel confident and certain and emotionally invested in the conclusion/opinion you just common sensed your way to).

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Common sense in standard internet vernacular more often than not tends to mean "whatever agrees with my opinion at the moment, which I am perhaps prematurely assuming to be both widely accepted and sensible."

 

[Tenacity]

Common sense, my version.

"If you are a adult with average intelligence, there are certain things you should be able to figure out independently, even if it's a completely new experience."

Common sense doesn't mean you're an expert in all things, but you should know not to pee on a active power outlet without someone having to tell you.

 

[ALF]

without someone having to tell you.

This is the key. The sense is common - in a Utopian ideal, we would all know not to do stupid things, or have some basic sense of cause and effect.

 

[Refuge]

I've been carrying around a quote about common sense in my signature.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen" - Albert Einstein

 

[Butters]

Well, it stands to reason. Dunnit!?

 

[UncleRogi]

In my experience, it's a plastic term. The definition can change dependent on location and culture.

And actually, not at all "common".

 

[Avro Arrow]

A number of years ago, the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario ran, and won, on a platform they called the "Common Sense Revolution".

So apparently, "common sense" means slashing the hell out of health care and social spending. Who knew?

 

[Amaris]

Common sense is merely the appeal to an emotional simulacrum of perceived intellectual equanimity, whereby the speaker infers that those who do not wish to be exposed as foolish and out of touch will simply agree and support, without question, what the speaker is about to say as whole truth, so that while it can be a plea for rational thought, it is most often used as a bullshit tactic.

 

[Qonundrum]

"Common sense" is a condition that requires a prerequisite of relevant knowledge in a field. Such condition can occur on an individual level and/or a societal level, whatever those definitions and boundaries are.

For example: An electrician will use common sense to turn off Mr. Circuit Breaker before replacing a light fixture.

Another example: A pedestrian will not be looking at the phone or dawdling while jaywalking across the street because there are other moving objects on the road, such as cars, where the laws of physics ensure they might not be able to slow down or stop before forms of injury and damage occur. Bringing an umbrella and opening it when it starts to rain as opposed to fathoming how such a brilliant piece of engineering was constructed--

Actually, jaywalkers can commit any crime on the asphalt and nobody would care and just blame everyone else indiscriminately. To enforce existing jaywalking laws and not give pedestrians carte blanche while on the road and the result is that a lot of injuries and deaths and accidents wouldn't even happen - and they'd generate more revenue than all those parking tickets too. But I'm talking about "common sense", not "entitlement" (where one arguably takes advantage of laws or lack thereof.)

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Common sense is merely the appeal to an emotional simulacrum of perceived intellectual equanimity...

 

[Amaris]

 

[TrickyDickie]

It's pushed as intuitive / instinctive knowledge that all are supposed to possess....comes off more like 'universal' sense. Used largely for insulting purposes. 'Well, everyone knows that!' It's bogus.