Common sense...

On one thread recently, the conversation drifted toward how my own cognitive settings might be somewhat... lacking.

Having been shaken out of my usual comfort zone—and my misplaced confidence in my own absolute intellect (I managed a solid 62 on an IQ test, after all)—I’ve started questioning things.

And I mean the worst kind of questions.

Why?

What is the point of intelligence, anyway?

Why does being smart even matter?

Does any value hold up when faced with mistakes? Or rather, can someone who never makes a mistake truly be considered intelligent?

What does it actually mean to "be smart"?

And there's one last question, which feels a bit more personal: who is the one who possesses this intelligence? (Feel free to share whether you consider yourself intelligent, or if you think someone else is—though please, let's stick to public figures, like an unnamed politician or a former President, rather than calling each other names here.)

William Gonzalez3 said:Do you honestly think you're smart... just asking myself, really...

Got it. 👍 I already cast my vote, but man... if I could just jump back in line and cast another one, I totally would... 🥳

But hey, that doesn't mean I don't slip up and say something stupid once in a while... 🤣

William Gonzalez3 said:So, hey... do you actually have any real arguments to back up that claim of yours about being smart?

I feel like... nobody really gets me... 😢 What else am I supposed to conclude... other than that I'm a total genius? 😁
unnamed

So, what does it even mean to be "smart" anyway? ...

I honestly don't have a clue, but from how I've been using it... I guess it really just comes down to the context...
It could mean someone sees you as generally pretty sharp... or maybe they just think you're being smart in one specific moment. But then, tomorrow? They might turn around and call you an idiot out of nowhere... things change like that... 😁

I am not merely assuming; I know for a fact that I am intelligent
for when exactly does one choose to exercise their intellect rather than rely on mere physical attraction?

I used to think I was pretty sharp, at least until I stumbled onto this thread. Now? I’ve come to realize my IQ is on a steady decline—not because everyone else here is some kind of genius, mind you, but just because reading through this absolute nonsense is clearly rotting my brain.

Blood said:On one thread, someone suggested that my unlikely settings might stem from having a limited memory.

Having been knocked out of my comfort zone and my absolute certainty in my own intellect (I managed a whole 62 on an IQ test), I started questioning things.

And I started asking the worst kind of questions.
Why?

What is the point of intelligence anyway?

Why does being smart actually matter?
Does every value just get surrendered to mistakes?
Can a person who never makes mistakes truly be considered intelligent?
What does it even mean to "be smart"?

And the last question is a personal one: who is the one who is actually intelligent?
(Feel free to share if you consider yourself smart, or if you think someone else is—though let's stick to public figures like Quincy or Kolinda Grabar - Kitarović; we aren't here to call each other names.))

Well, let me try to answer that for you... I think intelligence is vital because it’s what distinguishes us and elevates us above other creatures; it also creates the diversity among people, which is a good thing. If everyone were equally brilliant and beautiful, we wouldn't even have a concept of what is ugly or foolish. Besides, how are you supposed to deal with someone so dense they give you a headache within five minutes? It isn't that values are surrendered to mistakes; rather, you create new experiences through them, which ultimately makes you wiser... no one is perfect. There is a difference between being naturally intelligent and being wise. They say a perfect woman possesses three qualities: intelligence, beauty, and wit. Wit doesn't necessarily require high IQ, but rather that certain "something"—I'll even admit, a little bit of mischief is needed to achieve one's goals... but that's a conversation for another time. As for your final question, I honestly don't know how to answer that. It's far too deep for me... I could start philosophizing, but we'd be here all night.

intelligence is a purely relative concept

We all fancy ourselves clever—which makes sense, given that intelligence is a prerequisite for such an ego... Yet, at the exact same time, we’re undeniably foolish. We exist as this strange, tangled knot of brilliance and idiocy. But here’s the thing about stupidity: it doesn't actually sit opposite to intelligence like some equal and opposite force. It’s more of a byproduct, really—a derivative of intellect itself. Stupidity is just what happens when intelligence is present, yet somehow... lacking.😎

Look, I’m not claiming to be a genius, but there are definitely people out there much stupider than I am... 👍

I could probably list out what I consider "smart," and you guys can draw your own conclusions. Look, I don't have some textbook definition of wisdom—I know how they define intelligence, but that feels incomplete to me. To me, intelligence means something different to everyone...

Here is what makes someone smart in my eyes:
If they’re educated (meaning they actually *want* to learn and love to read), if they think before they open their mouths, if they aren't irritating or exhausting (a truly smart person knows when to shut up), if they don't go around insulting people for no reason, and if they're actually intelligent in their field without being an arrogant jerk.
As for women, I find them incredibly smart if (as I mentioned) they aren't being annoying,
if they're considerate of others, and if they aren't constantly looking for a fight...
If you can actually hold a conversation with them, if they help out without making a big deal about it, if they know how to keep a secret, and if they're the kind of person you can tell anything to...

I realize I’m just throwing a bunch of traits at the wall here, and let's be honest, nobody is perfect, but since Blood asked what I consider intelligence?
My take is this: if they possess even some of these qualities. The more they have, the smarter they are in my book...

And don't ask me why I feel this way... I don't know, it's just how it is.

I’ve always considered myself pretty sharp. Actually, I’d go as far as calling myself a genius—though, to be fair, that was just Jack Harris3's take on me... But honestly, the moment I try to convince anyone else of that, the whole thing just falls apart. 🙂

rustymaker5 said:I consider myself smart. Actually, brilliant—if you go by what Jack Harris3 said. But the second I try to convince anyone else of that, I lose my edge.🙂

Hmm... isn't it actually kind of a letdown when someone else has to tell you you're smart? And honestly, if multiple people are telling you that you've got brains, then you're clearly doing something right.

Lisa Rodriguez84 said:Hmm... it doesn't always feel right when some stranger starts telling us how smart we are, does it?

Honestly, those types make me suspicious right away. They usually want something from us, so they start with the flattery just to get their foot in the door... 🤣

I'm not saying I have all the answers, but I definitely trust my own gut more than I trust anyone else's... 🥳 😁

Lisa Rodriguez84 said:Hmm... is it really such a bad thing if someone else calls us smart? Honestly, if more than one person tells you you're brilliant, that’s actually pretty great...

There's no doubt about it. 😉

The real issue starts when you feel this desperate need to prove it to people who just don't get it right away... 😁 So you start grinding away, trying so hard to show them, but it's completely futile (because, let's face it, what can you expect from those types of people?). And honestly, if you're trying *that* hard, it kind of implies that your intelligence has already checked out on you... 😬

Smart people can actually explain their logic—they know why they think what they think and why they act the way they do... but since I’m clearly lacking in the brain department, don't bother asking me to walk you through it. 😉

I consider myself quite knowledgeable when it comes to my favorite subjects, such as cinema. 🙂

crimsonmoose3 said:but you're also considered dim-witted in other areas, so it would be nice if you clicked 'no' for that reason too.

p.s. (I'm not asking this to be dismissive, I just genuinely have to ask)
what exactly does one need intelligence for when it comes to movies?

I don't consider myself dim-witted in other areas; I'm simply not an expert in everything. As for movies, you need a memory for reciting quotes, specific scenes, titles, actors, their biographies, soundtracks, and all that...