Smartest Guy In the Room

[Sunstone]

Perhaps the smartest guy I know was a computer scientist who was teaching college courses in computer science at age 17. A scientist who designs the world's fastest supercomputers once described Jeff as "a geniuses genius". I've known several geniuses -- I used to live in a major university town -- but Jeff was the one the others thought was the smartest of them all.

Jeff and I became friends and we knew each other for a period of many years. During all that time, I never once heard Jeff call anyone stupid, or criticize anyone for lacking intelligence, although I believe most of us must not have seemed too bright to a guy like him. Jeff was among the most decent people I've known in my life. He must have known he was the smartest guy in most of the rooms he found himself in. But if so, I don't think he was sick for knowing it.

 

[Katzpur]

Perhaps the smartest guy I know was a computer scientist who was teaching college courses in computer science at age 17. A scientist who designs the world's fastest supercomputers once described Jeff as "a geniuses genius". I've known several geniuses -- I used to live in a major university town -- but Jeff was the one the others thought was the smartest of them all.

Jeff and I became friends and we knew each other for a period of many years. During all that time, I never once heard Jeff call anyone stupid, or criticize anyone for lacking intelligence, although I believe most of us must not have seemed too bright to a guy like him. Jeff was among the most decent people I've known in my life. He must have known he was the smartest guy in most of the rooms he found himself in. But if so, I don't think he was sick for knowing it.

People who are seriously brilliant don't need to be in-your-face about it. Their intelligence is quite hard to miss.

 

[Revoltingest]

Long ago, I strove to be the most above averagest person in the room.
Now, I find it more fun to be the dumberest.

 

[monta]

Long ago, I strove to be the most above averagest person in the room.
Now, I find it more fun to be the dumberest.

I think you will find it should be the mostest dumb. :yes:

 

[Sunstone]

People who are seriously brilliant don't need to be in-your-face about it. Their intelligence is quite hard to miss.

I think people who are seriously brilliant are often mistaken for fools. I think that study was onto something.

 

[Circle_One]

Who feels the need to be the smartest guy in the room wherver they go? I've encountered a lot of people online and offline who have this personality trait. Always gotta be smarter than the other guy. Personally, I think this is a sickness. What does everyone else think?

*raises hand slowly*

Um... me...

On here, I'm all sweetness and honey, but in real life, I'm a pretentious, narcissistic, obnoxious, know-it-all jerk

 

[Midnight Pete]

I think what you've said is true enough of most people's lives.



Exactly!

If there's one thing I hate it's intellectual vanity. Internet message boards always reek of it.

 

[Midnight Pete]

People who are seriously brilliant don't need to be in-your-face about it. Their intelligence is quite hard to miss.

I agree. I agree.

I prefer someone who does not put on airs, someone with no pretensions. I don't care about being the smartest guy in the room and I prefer the company of people like me. I despise vanity.

 

[Katzpur]

I think people who are seriously brilliant are often mistaken for fools. I think that study was onto something.

You've got to have an example in mind. I can't imagine that a seriously brilliant person would be mistaken for a fool unless he was really eccentric, too.

 

[Sunstone]

If there's one thing I hate it's intellectual vanity. Internet message boards always reek of it.

IF you don't think some people are fully capable of being vain about how stupid they are, Pete, you have not been closely following your own thread.

 

[Sunstone]

You've got to have an example in mind. I can't imagine that a seriously brilliant person would be mistaken for a fool unless he was really eccentric, too.

People used to think my friend Jeff was just an average guy. And old timers like my mother have told me that people used to say of Einstein that he was smart about academic things but stupid about practical things, like how to tie his shoe laces and politics.

 

[Reptillian]

I think people who are seriously brilliant are often mistaken for fools. I think that study was onto something.

"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool" - William Shakespeare "As You Like It" Act 5 Scene 1

 

[Midnight Pete]

IF you don't think some people are fully capable of being vain about how stupid they are, Pete, you have not been closely following your own thread.

I'm not vain about my own stupidity. I'm humble about my lack of knowledge, and lack of knowledge is not stupidity. It is not Pride.

 

[Sunstone]

I'm not vain about my own stupidity. I'm humble about my lack of knowledge, and lack of knowledge is not stupidity. It is not Pride.

Now you're just intellectually masturbating. I'm out of here.

 

[tumbleweed41]

Purposeful lack of knowledge is intentional ignorance.

 

[monta]

I'm not vain about my own stupidity. I'm humble about my lack of knowledge, and lack of knowledge is not stupidity. It is not Pride.

What do you think you are doing wrong, that makes so many people here believe you are being vain about your stupidity?

 

[Thief]

People who are seriously brilliant don't need to be in-your-face about it. Their intelligence is quite hard to miss.

I grew up trying to hide my ability.
My fellow classmates didn't like it, when the teacher called on me for the the correct answer.
They didn't like it when a nation wide comparison test ranked me as superior in science....well above average in math...and my artistic work could not be matched.

Boss men I've worked for have wrote me up for being a 'know it all"....

And here at the forum....more of the same.

 

[Smoke]

If I'm not the smartest guy in the room, I'm certainly the best looking.

I thought you used the Willie Nelson avatar because you didn't want anybody to remember that you're good-looking.

 

[.lava]

the roomest guy in the smart

silly huh?

sure everyone likes to be liked and respected. but i think it is kind of unfair to be respected more for something has nothing to do with your own doings. i could only laugh at crowd who values someone only for his IQ. it is no better than treating 'anyone' with respect that smells like 'i obey you' attitute because he is the richest around. i'll pass that. be the smartest guy in the room if you like. who is the winner of my heart? that's what matters to me, at least

.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

Who feels the need to be the smartest guy in the room wherver they go? I've encountered a lot of people online and offline who have this personality trait. Always gotta be smarter than the other guy. Personally, I think this is a sickness. What does everyone else think?

Nietzsche, might be a good example here. Although I do not know the exact reason for his mental ailments, I do know he was introducing logic far ahead of what others could even begin to comprehend.

In that sense, if someone sees the soundness of some logic, yet others can't quite grasp it, I could see how that might make some people get sick.
Personally, if I found myself in that situation I would just shrug it off and have a cold one. Eventually people will catch up, or if I am found to be in error, I will hopefully eventually see it. Either way, it shouldn't be worth getting sick over.