basskisser wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:

I'd bet he may say he shouldn't have done it, possibly say it was
foolish, but I doubt he'd say he was an idiot.

Based upon the dictionary you chose to use, you and I completely agree.
A person who kisses a shark is behaving in an manner that would be
considered foolish and senseless. ie your first definition of idiot.

The 2nd definition you listed is from an old psychological
classification system no longer in use is now considered offensive to
the mentally retarded.

id·i·ot (d-t)
n.
1. A foolish or stupid person.
2. A person of profound mental retardation having a mental age below three years
and generally being unable to learn connected speech or guard against common dangers.
The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered
offensive.

Today, the term idiot is used to mean someone who is foolish or stupid.
The gentleman who kissed the shark might be intellgent, but as as you
said and based upon your definition he can still be considered an idiot
because when one kisses a shark it is considered foolish and stupid.
The person who kisses a shark is an idiot, at least when is around sharks.

Do you know the most common words of an idiot just before he dies?

"Hey, watch this".


id‧i‧ot  /ˈɪdiət/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled
Pronunciation[id-ee-uht] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun 1. an utterly foolish or senseless person.
2. Psychology. a person of the lowest order in a former classification
of mental retardation, having a mental age of less than three years old
and an intelligence quotient under 25.