Common sense...

William Gonzalez3 · 2006-07-11T19:05:26+00:00

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 …

William Gonzalez3 RegularOP

276 messages
joined May 2009

#21 · Jul 15, 2006

Constantine said:I wouldn't call myself unintelligent in other areas—it's just that I'm not exactly an expert in everything. When it comes to movies, for instance, you really need a memory for reciting quotes, specific scenes, titles, actors, their biographies, soundtracks, and all that sort of thing.

But, I suppose, memory isn't quite the same thing as intelligence.

I know people who have perfect memories, yet most people would probably still describe them as lacking intelligence.

In my view, true intelligence regarding film would be more about being able to properly interpret the underlying messages of a movie.
Can you actually do that?

And besides, why do we assume that someone who is intelligent in one area is automatically an expert in it?

For example, a professor of mine once mentioned that his smartest move in life was deciding not to attend art school—he realized later on that he simply didn't have the talent for painting, even though he loves doing it.
So, being smart doesn't necessarily mean being an expert at something.
Rather, maybe it’s more about understanding your own abilities and acting accordingly.

Though, I might be wrong about that.

crimsonmoose3 Regular

310 messages
joined Jun 2006

#22 · Jul 15, 2006

crimsonmoose3 said:but memory isn't the same thing as intelligence.

I know people with photographic memories who most would still consider quite dim...

In my view, true intelligence applies more to how you interpret a movie's underlying message.
can you actually do that?

And there’s also this misconception that being smart at something makes you an expert in it.

For instance, a professor friend of mine says his smartest move was deciding not to attend art school. He eventually realized he lacked actual talent for painting, despite how much he loves doing it.
So, being intelligent doesn't necessarily mean being a specialist...
It’s more about understanding your own limitations and acting accordingly.

But then again, I could be wrong...

Ah, that... Well, let me put it this way: I consider myself intelligent, just not quite enough to join Mensa. 😁

William Gonzalez3 RegularOP

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joined May 2009

#23 · Jul 15, 2006

Would you be so kind as to actually click 'no' once in a while?

It really matters to me—mostly because I've noticed a surge of people who just reflexively hit 'yes.' It seems like those who actually think for themselves feel pressured to go along with the crowd, fearing they'll look foolish if they don't follow the pack. But honestly, our group's average is pretty incredible.
We’re basically a collection of geniuses here.

p.s. Have you noticed how women suddenly start acting so incredibly brilliant?
Everyone becomes an expert all of a sudden.
I truly feel for their husbands...

crimsonmoose3 Regular

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#24 · Jul 15, 2006

crimsonmoose3 said:Would you be so kind as to actually click 'no' for once?

It’s actually quite important to me. I’m seeing a lot of people who seem to have just blindly clicked 'yes,' and now those who actually think for themselves feel awkward clicking 'no' because they don't want to deviate from the crowd. And what a crowd we have... an extraordinary collection of geniuses.
Just pure brilliance all around.

P.S. Have you noticed how women suddenly become so incredibly smart?
All of a sudden, everyone is a scholar.
Poor husbands...

Well, I clicked yes because I know how to use my brain in two ways: for memory and for logic. To me, being smart means actually using those gray cells—it's what my old man drilled into me. I put that brain to work constantly, whether I'm at my job, playing Rise of Nations, diving into PC adventures, writing stories, or just having a conversation.
Does it really matter if I'm some kind of genius? I'm no mastermind, and I'm perfectly fine with that. I'm just smart enough to handle life, like cooking my own dinner or solving a crossword or a logic puzzle. But I'm certainly not smart enough to build a Terminator or engineer a car.
P.S.
I would have clicked no if I had a clone, but since I don't, and there's no option for double voting, damn it.

crimsonmoose3 Regular

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#25 · Jul 15, 2006

Intelligence can also be measured by one's behavior. Take the guys on Jackass, for example; they can’t exactly claim to be intellectuals when their entire act revolves around cutting skin under their fingernails with paper or using store bathrooms for stunts. I’m not suggesting the audience watching them is mindless—they aren't—but they watch because they find the filth entertaining, likely lacking the guts to try it themselves. However, the performers on Jackass are just as foolish, operating under the delusion that you can get by without an education as long as you stay entertained. You know, sticking eggs on pine trees, slamming your head against walls, licking ceiling fans... all of that. Is that what passes for intelligence nowadays? True intelligence also shows up in how you conduct yourself. If someone dents your car, a smart person calls the police and stays calm. An idiot, on the other hand, reaches for a gun or a club he doesn't even need just to scrap with the guy who scratched his bumper. There was once a case where an American walked into a local diner with a concealed weapon; should that have been considered wise? We certainly saw how "smart" we were back in Malta when we caused that mess.

William Gonzalez3 RegularOP

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#26 · Jul 15, 2006

Dammit.

I really should have just voted for the second option right from the start.

It turns out you can't go back and add another selection, even though this poll was set up for multiple choices.

Well, shoot.

I suppose this is a lesson for all of us, I guess.
Now I’ll probably be stuck being known as the guy who made a silly mistake for the rest of my life.
I think I'll head down to the local pub—I definitely need a drink after such a blunder.

wanderingdrifter46 Member

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#27 · Jul 15, 2006

Oh, look at you being so brilliant!🤣 Just as I was thinking about how much intellect I possess myself,🤣 some people out there apparently can't recognize true genius when they see it—especially since our own William Gonzalez3 was labeled as "not smart" over there!🤣

The conclusion is perfectly obvious: WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT AS William Gonzalez3!!!🤣

I mean, how can anyone argue against something that should be sitting comfortably within one in a million, something that should actually lead to making some real money, only for it to end up being a total flop?👎 🤣

Brenda Cook4 Regular

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#28 · Jul 15, 2006

Even if this thread feels a little provocative
it’s almost narcissistic, just begging for attention
it isn't actually all bad, though....
I jumped on board immediately
but it's a bit of a "yes and no" situation
and honestly, that's exactly how it strikes me
ranging from being incredibly poised and focused
to showing some genuine insight
all the way down to these totally irrational, nonsensical
moves that you just wouldn't believe😁>

though it leaves you wondering whether a truly smart person
actually acts wisely... hmm...

because there are so many different ways to be "smart"
even if I wouldn't necessarily include some of them in
my own definition of intelligence..... it's complicated
actually, maybe it isn't... too much...

wanderingdrifter46 Member

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#29 · Jul 15, 2006

Come on, just throw a spark of your spirit toward poor Christian, and maybe—if you can manage to pair your beauty with some actual wisdom—you might grace Roxanne with a little bit of it too!🤣

Anonymous Veteran

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#30 · Jul 15, 2006

I cast my vote for YES. Honestly, I don't think there's such a thing as "smart" or "stupid" people—it’s really just about who's sharp and who isn't. But even that's not the main point; what actually matters is how much you know how to use the brain you've got.

William Gonzalez3 RegularOP

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#31 · Jul 16, 2006

blue bird said:though it remains a question whether—or rather—a smart person
acts wisely... hm...

How many times does one have to hear something before it finally sticks?

So, I suppose it isn't quite right to say: "it remains a question whether—or rather—a smart person acts wisely."

The grammatically correct way to phrase that would be: "it remains a question whether a smart person acts wisely."

As for the rest of the post, I don't really have much to add—it just doesn't particularly move the needle for me.

William Gonzalez3 RegularOP

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joined May 2009

#32 · Jul 16, 2006

impoSIBILA said:🤣 🤣 🤣

🤣

👎
🤣

Well, I suppose I can manage—provided I don't go assuming I'm some kind of genius.

Lisa Rodriguez84 Active Member

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joined Jul 2006

#33 · Jul 16, 2006

They say the best way to find out what’s actually wrong with you is to just ask your worst enemy.
Seriously, if you have someone out there who absolutely loathes you, go ahead and ask them if they think you're an idiot. Then, at least, you'll have something honest to work with.

wanderingdrifter46 Member

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#34 · Jul 16, 2006

Jackhammer said:well, what can I do if I don't have the decency to assume I'm actually smart?

Maybe pour a drink or two so you don't run completely dry on all that eloquence!

placidwalker53 Member

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#35 · Jul 16, 2006

It is truly a lamentable state of affairs when everyone operates under the delusion of their own brilliance, whereas in reality, true intellect is a vanishingly rare commodity 👎

wanderingdrifter46 Member

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#36 · Jul 16, 2006

I might be operating from a place of total ignorance, but I can certainly tell you that I have more sense than those people who aren't even aware of how little they actually know...

William Gonzalez3 RegularOP

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joined May 2009

#37 · Jul 17, 2006

Let’s set aside the nonsense for a moment. This thread wasn't really intended to be a platform for everyone to air their personal opinions about themselves—it was meant to help us actually dig into the concept of intelligence.

So, here we are, discussing intelligence. It’s supposedly one of those crucial traits, isn't it? I suppose when someone is described as intelligent, most people instinctively start nodding in approval—up and down, obviously, since we tend to associate upward motion with positive things—and offering compliments.
And conversely, if someone is labeled as unintelligent, you see the head-shaking—left to right, naturally, as we link that motion to negative things—and the scowling.

But why is that the case?

Furthermore, why is being smart considered so vital, especially if we consider that true intelligence might just mean understanding your own limitations and acting accordingly?
Do you all even agree with that definition of intelligence?

wanderingdrifter46 Member

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#38 · Jul 17, 2006

Cultural norms regarding dissent and agreement vary wildly; even something as simple as nodding can be completely inverted depending on where you are in the world, where a shake of the head might actually signal consent rather than protest...

To truly understand one's own limitations and act strictly within them is essentially a form of self-imposed stagnation, which I would argue is anything but wise.
Was Hitler acting within his capacity? Or Napoleon? I certainly wouldn't say they were!

Because we often conflate the ability to manipulate others with actual intelligence, common sense dictates that a truly brilliant individual is often at a disadvantage simply because they lack that specific, predatory instinct.

William Gonzalez3 RegularOP

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#39 · Jul 17, 2006

wanderingdrifter46 said:Knowing your limits and acting accordingly—that's basically just self-sabotage, which I don't think is particularly smart.

I honestly can't think of anything closer to wisdom than understanding who you are and acting in alignment with what you're actually capable of.
For instance, if you know you wouldn't survive a jump from a five-hundred-foot cliff, you don't jump off the cliff.
Is there anything foolish about that?

Or is it just "self-limiting"?

I think you might be overlooking one key thing—the fact that a human being is never really a "finished product" (at least not until they die), and our capabilities are constantly shifting.
Because of that, I believe we should be perpetually working on self-discovery—testing our boundaries and upgrading our skills—which naturally pushes those boundaries further out.
But, at the same time, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that we aren't infinite beings.
Being aware of your own limitations isn't necessarily self-sabotage; maybe it's just true self-awareness.

wanderingdrifter46 Member

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#40 · Jul 17, 2006

When you really stop to think about it, even the sky isn't a ceiling, because we all know that even the most brilliant minds among us aren't tapping into more than 20% of their actual potential.
Who could honestly claim they’re operating at 100%, or even close to it?
If we were, we’d be living simultaneously right here and in some fifth dimension...

It's incredibly self-limiting!

Common sense...

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