Friday off-topic. Signs of intelligence

[nairiporter]

Hey folks! Just wondering what signs do you use to indicate high intelligence in a person.

I was reading up on it and found a few lists. Some of the things made sense to me, things like high adaptability, openness to new experiences and a good sense of humour, among others.

Have you ever been around someone who you consider very smart? How does he/she behave?

And do you think that you are a very smart person too? ;-)

Let's discuss.

Comments

[garote]

I don't think "high intelligence" is big enough to contain all the variations - and all the compromises - in human intelligence for me to answer that question in a satisfying way.

Compromises: In time, in attention, in early childhood development, in the availability of tools ... and weaknesses that persist even in very powerful and talented people because they have found other individuals they can rely on to compensate, turning their weakness into an advantage.

Take Donald Trump as an example everyone's now familiar with. Perhaps not the ancient caricature he is now, but who he was 30 years ago. By all accounts, the talents he focused on developing for his whole life were: How to host a good party, how to put on a good show, and how to swindle people in real estate. Depending on your point of view the guy is either an absolute genius or an absolute moron. But either way, he's cultivated an image for himself that draws in an endless stream of people who act on his behalf, trying to get what they want by getting him what he wants. If not for those people compensating, he would be barely functional.

So I think I'll answer the question the cheap way - the "know it when I see it" way - and just say that an indicator of high intelligence in another person for me is whether I have a good time talking to them.

[luzribeiro]

There are different types of smart... there is book smart and street smart... imo street smart far outweighs book smart, hands down... my BIL was book smart but as thick as a brick when it came to real life... he couldn't pour piss out of a boot with the directions on the heel...

[jazzyjj]

Hmmm, reading this entry and its subsequent comments has caused me to think a bit more about my own situation. I think a neighbor of mine is right on the money then. He once told me nicely that I am not that street-smart, and although some may consider this a bit off-putting and rude I think he has a very valid point. A couple others have briefly mentioned this to me in the not-so-distant past too, and one of those people even called me a "baby" for it. I'm not talking about things like giving money to strangers. I was taught long ago by my parents never to do things like that. What I'm referring to here is not being able to cross busy streets independently. Even some not-so-busy ones can and have presented difficulties. But that's to be expected, due to my vision impairment. In addition, I'm not good at giving people travel directions. I have been asked to do this before.





But otoh I'm very book-smart, and people have indeed confirmed this with me. I am an avid reader. I grew up reading Braille books and magazines, and nowadays thanks to modern technology I can read things online. I guess this relates to what I mentioned above, because I just looked up how to put more money on my reduced-fare card. I think my iPhone has also been a tremendous help in this regard, and will continue to be a tremendous help.

[airiefairie]

Would you say you have developed a specific type of memory in result of your vision impairment?

[jazzyjj]

I think I might have developed a kinesthetic memory in some respects. Definitely muscle memory because of how I navigate my iPhone. I didn't think I could use a flatscreen device but it has a lot of touch gestures which I have learned and committed to memory.

[dancesofthelight]

It's less the intelligence itself and more the ability to actually use it effectively and wisely. My parents have no amount of intelligence, my dad has two Ph.Ds and he's a raving conspiratorial Trump supporter. Intelligence without the wisdom to be used effectively differs from the village idiot in that it can actually conform to the form of intelligence while lacking the substance.