by Scorpion0x17
I've just had a thought:Is it possible that the above misunderstanding over "being stupid" and whether that is insulting or not be simply a case of two (or more) nations separated by a common language?
It is certainly the case that where I grew up if one said "you're being X" it did not, unless a certain intonation was used, automatically imply that the speaker thought the person to be X, just that they're acting as if they were X. In fact in general it implies the complete opposite and is short hand for "I know you're not X, but you are behaving as though you are X", and, in this context, only a child, or someone who otherwise lacked an understanding of this usage, would think otherwise.
However, I can see how, in other nations this may not be the case.
So, I apologise if any undue offence was taken from my statements, as I've said, they certainly were not meant as an insult.