Community Chat

[Moonchilde]

On 11/2/2014 Complicated said:

gosh, this thread is kind of a weird mix.

I read the OP as a personal opinion question, about how you perceive intelligence in someone that you are speaking to, you know, what makes a person "smart" to you.

That could be a number of things...very subjective. It is how you perceive, it does not have to be anything more.

As others have said, this thread has gone in interesting, thoughtful directions apropos "what is a mark of intelligence to you (the responder)?" Definitely subjective, so no "wrong" answer. A lot of different ways of viewing the question.

[terrier3]

On 11/2/2014 Complicated said:

gosh, this thread is kind of a weird mix.

I read the OP as a personal opinion question, about how you perceive intelligence in someone that you are speaking to, you know, what makes a person "smart" to you.

That could be a number of things...very subjective. It is how you perceive, it does not have to be anything more.

Based on your criteria - I'd say someone is intelligent when they are well read, curious about the world and people, constantly open to learning and with a great, in depth knowledge of their profession.

[Irshgrl31201]

I have a really good friend who barely graduated high school. She isn't into politics or current events. She isn't a book reader and not into history really at all.

What she does have is extreme common sense that I find many people are missing today regardless of how many degrees they have. She worked at job that didn't pay great yet shopped diligently so she could afford to support her daughter on her own. She saved for nice little vacations, she cooked healthy and inexpensive meals for her daughter and didn't let her eat junk. She was so good with making her money stretch that I know people who made 3-4 times what she made that would complain they couldn't afford the same stuff she did. She also lived debt free. She eventually saved enough to open her own closet organizing business and it doing so well. Really well. She made about $15,000/yr when she started out and last year she netted $500,000 and most of what she does she just uses her organization skills combined with her common sense.

I know many people who are so highly intelligent yet they cannot run a household. They are terrible in social situations. I am related to a person like that. He is a leader in his field at Sandia National Laboratories. He is a genius and remembers everything he reads. I admire his intelligence so much but he will forget to eat for days, or put gas in his car, his utilities have gotten shut off not because he doesn't have the money but because his mind is constantly on and full of things that he forgets the basics. I wouldn't want that either. He has so many patents in his name yet forgets a lot of basics that are important to keep your life on and even keel. He has told me many times he would give it all up to live a normal life and be able to have the confidence to date or have a social life.

[Irshgrl31201]

Hmmm... I don't know why the print got small in the lower half of my post.

[Moonchilde]

On 11/2/2014 Irshgrl31201 said:

I have a really good friend who barely graduated high school. She isn't into politics or current events. She isn't a book reader and not into history really at all.

What she does have is extreme common sense that I find many people are missing today regardless of how many degrees they have. She worked at job that didn't pay great yet shopped diligently so she could afford to support her daughter on her own. She saved for nice little vacations, she cooked healthy and inexpensive meals for her daughter and didn't let her eat junk. She was so good with making her money stretch that I know people who made 3-4 times what she made that would complain they couldn't afford the same stuff she did. She also lived debt free. She eventually saved enough to open her own closet organizing business and it doing so well. Really well. She made about $15,000/yr when she started out and last year she netted $500,000 and most of what she does she just uses her organization skills combined with her common sense.

I know many people who are so highly intelligent yet they cannot run a household. They are terrible in social situations. I am related to a person like that. He is a leader in his field at Sandia National Laboratories. He is a genius and remembers everything he reads. I admire his intelligence so much but he will forget to eat for days, or put gas in his car, his utilities have gotten shut off not because he doesn't have the money but because his mind is constantly on and full of things that he forgets the basics. I wouldn't want that either. He has so many patents in his name yet forgets a lot of basics that are important to keep your life on and even keel. He has told me many times he would give it all up to live a normal life and be able to have the confidence to date or have a social life.

I think maximizing what you were born with is part of being considered intelligent. Your friend has certainly done that. Sometimes the intelligent and the educated carelessly "throw away" some of their advantages, whereas others who might not start out on equal footing can end up surpassing those who might take some of their intelligence or education for granted. Good for your friend!

[Oostende]

I have one final thought. An intelligent person is one who is capable of understanding nuance and can see an opposing view without being threatened.

I find this to be particularly true among deeply partisan political junkies. They are blind and unable to see an opposing side. It is true in other topics of interest as well, but it is almost always true in politics. The unintelligent resort to demonizing their opponents without ever trying to gain any real understanding of the opposing viewpoint.

The most informative and intelligent conversations I have had are when a person holding one position argues for the other side of the coin. That forces a person to show they actually understand all facets of a problem, rather than just fanatically holding onto their own unchallenged ideas.

I find only intelligent people are capable of this.

[jubilant]

Intelligence involves knowledge and understanding. That can come in so many forms. We each have knowledge and understanding of something. Because of that, in one way or another, each person here has some degree of intelligence and it should be valued no matter who you are.

[Moonchilde]

On 11/2/2014 Oostende said:

I have one final thought. An intelligent person is one who is capable of understanding nuance and can see an opposing view without being threatened.

I find this to be particularly true among deeply partisan political junkies. They are blind and unable to see an opposing side. It is true in other topics of interest as well, but it is almost always true in politics. The unintelligent resort to demonizing their opponents without ever trying to gain any real understanding of the opposing viewpoint.

The most informative and intelligent conversations I have had are when a person holding one position argues for the other side of the coin. That forces a person to show they actually understand all facets of a problem, rather than just fanatically holding onto their own unchallenged ideas.

I find only intelligent people are capable of this.

It's not as easy as you might think, but some of my most satisfying discussions have been with friends when we just discussed something, with none of us having any hope or expectation of the others changing their minds. Just the respectful sharing of ideas, without the supposition that any one was "right" or "wrong", was very rewarding and also strengthened the friendship even when we didn't agree.

[minkbunny]

Exactly, most of my board friends are of a different political persuasion but we get along just fine.

And my dear husband, when I met him, was of an opposite political persuasion as well.

Him, I was able to sway

[Jenna Say Quoi]

Some people are book smart and can do well on tests but are not necessarily more intelligent than someone who isn't a straight A student. Many factors determine intelligence.