I think there might be a slight difference between Germany and Austria here actually, at least in professional context. I have noticed that Germans tend to use stronger language (not cursing, just a harsher tone) than us Austrians. Here, you would not say "Schwachsinn" and the like when critising a colleague's work, but I have heard it said repeatedly from Germans (not about my work, luckily ). I would say the same is true for the word "Idiot".
But that may also be just the people I work with, it's difficult to give an unbiased opinion here.
Regarding private context, I agree with Susi.

That's the advantage of having native speakers of both languages who have the other language as a second language. Goodness that sounds really complicated but I think you know what I mean. So from this we understand that Sherlock is not being terribly rude, just a bit rude, when he calls someone an 'idiot' in English.

Out of interest what other words or phrases would be used to express idiocy, stupidity or foolishness in German? We have some great ones in English, which I half expect to hear in Sherlock at some stage. Do you want me to tell you some?

I'm not really sure how this thread turned into a German thing.
I was posting about BBC Sherlock and the use of the word "stupid" & how some people don't understand the friendly sarcasm used. Obviously as that point was missed also, it now leads me to the question of how different people are seeing everything about this show.
hmm

Why 'make allowances'? Isn't that a wasted gesture very much equal to the gesture of showing care for someone who may die if a puzzle isn't solved? It's not in Sherlock's character to make allowances.

And I don't see Sherlock 'allowing ' John to insult him (if that is what it is, which I doubt anyway). What's Sherlock going to do? Gag anyone who dares to speak against him? Punch them?
For heaven's sakes, Donovan says far more to insult Sherlock than anyone else; does he do anything to her? No,

John is comfortable enough to speak his mind to Sherlock; that is the relationship they have.
This "Sherlock allows John' this & that is carrying the character analysis thing a bit far don't you think? People are now over analysing this show & its characters to the point of the ridiculous.

kazza474 wrote:

Why 'make allowances'? Isn't that a wasted gesture very much equal to the gesture of showing care for someone who may die if a puzzle isn't solved? It's not in Sherlock's character to make allowances.

And I don't see Sherlock 'allowing ' John to insult him (if that is what it is, which I doubt anyway). What's Sherlock going to do? Gag anyone who dares to speak against him? Punch them?
For heaven's sakes, Donovan says far more to insult Sherlock than anyone else; does he do anything to her? No,

John is comfortable enough to speak his mind to Sherlock; that is the relationship they have.
This "Sherlock allows John' this & that is carrying the character analysis thing a bit far don't you think? People are now over analysing this show & its characters to the point of the ridiculous.

Just some thoughts. No theory here.

Allowing? If I'm not mistaken, Sherlock actually thinks it's amusing that John calls him an idiot, doesn't he?

I've found it interesting the way Sherlock basically ignores Donovan's insults. (He does react more obviously to Anderson, doesn't he?) On the one hand, he may think she is below his consideration. But on the other hand, I wouldn't say he does nothing. The comments on Donovan's and Anderson's evening together (her knees) was hardly nothing.

I wonder if Sherlock was treated as a "freak" during his childhood and adolescence, and he developed his responses then. Either he really doesn't care what people think, or he acts like he doesn't.

As for romanitcizing - it reminds me of wanting to see Spock from Star Trek finally reveal his emotions, which we're all "sure" he really wishes he could do.

I love the scene where John calls Sherlock an idiot. It, to me, signifies:
1. John sees Sherlock's weakness (being reckless to prove his intellectual superiority),  and is not afraid to call him out on it.
2. That puts them on equal footing as friends, as Sherlock is certainly not holding back.
3. It establishes the framework of the friendship- humor, banter, but frequently with serious edge, as well.
4. It shows instant comfort both characters feel with each other; the whole first episode illustrates that there is no "trying hard to be friends" with the two; they click. Difficulties, inevitably, come later.

Friendship is impossible without some sort of equality ; the "idiot" scenes ( both of them) make it clear why the friendship lasts.

Last edited by deerstalker (August 13, 2012 5:40 am)

Like I said, just some thoughts.

Friendships are based on a mutual symbiosis between the two parties. Sherlock has always been intellectually superior to all and openly blunt about pointing it out. I don't think the bluntness is grounded in a desire to be rude, it is just part of his savant like/mildly autistic quality of not understanding or caring about human emotion or conventions. No one before Watson has ever gotten close to Sherlock because this quality of his was  hurtful, insulting and a successful deterrent to all average people.

John Watson shares Sherlock's adventure obsession and provides financial help as a roommate which makes him initially attractive to Sherlock. He has the emotional makeup and the real life experience to handle Sherlock's intellectual put downs so he is able to hang in when others have walked away. But the reason their friendship has grown is that Watson is the one person who combats Sherlock's insufferable touting of his intellectual superiority by balancing it out.

By calling Sherlock an idiot and correcting him at every opportunity with regards to Sherlock's poorly developed emotional and social skills Watson is saying to Sherlock: "Ok you are smarter than everyone else but no one likes you because you are equally stupid in matters requiring social sensitivity and grace." So while everyone else either runs away from Sherlock or kisses up to him in a fawning way, Watson provides a balancing symbiotic counterattack to Sherlock's intellectual sufferability and Sherlock finally has an equal, one worthy to be a friend.