Smart people may know how much of a fool they are, but they don’t speak about it. They wait for others to prove their dumbness by talking about their smartness and/or by doing stupid things.
Yes. I’ve noticed the truly bright people are far less willing to talk than the stupid people. Being smart partly means knowing what your limits are, and that basically you don’t know everything and you can always learn something from someone else. Stupid people are too afraid of looking like fools to risk asking questions and/or looking foolish. They’re sort of like bullies, putting on a false front and getting more fearful, thus more belligerent, the more they are challenged because they are so afraid of being proved wrong. Actually being proven wrong only means you’ve learned something. Hopefully.
A good deal of practical intelligence is understanding why you think you know or think something so you can decide how confident you should be about it.
Richard Howland-Bolton, above, mentioned the Dunning-Kruger effect. I am not aware of current trends of thought on the subject. However, one of its corollaries is that highly intelligent people tend to underestimate their intelligence because of their awareness of their own ignorance. My BIL is the personification of the effect. He has told me, on several occasions, how smart he thinks he is. Trust me, he’s not.
Jesy Bertz Premium Member almost 3 years ago
A favorite saying from a 1960s L.A. TV commercial: “Being smart is knowing what you’re dumb at.”
Bring Back "The Good Place" almost 3 years ago
The interesting thing about people is that we all think we’re smart
Richard Howland-Bolton Premium Member almost 3 years ago
I thought that the Dunning–Kruger effect was in doubt now-a-days…
unfair.de almost 3 years ago
Smart people may know how much of a fool they are, but they don’t speak about it. They wait for others to prove their dumbness by talking about their smartness and/or by doing stupid things.
DIF20 almost 3 years ago
A smart person is one who keeps their mouth shut.
Caerin Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Yes. I’ve noticed the truly bright people are far less willing to talk than the stupid people. Being smart partly means knowing what your limits are, and that basically you don’t know everything and you can always learn something from someone else. Stupid people are too afraid of looking like fools to risk asking questions and/or looking foolish. They’re sort of like bullies, putting on a false front and getting more fearful, thus more belligerent, the more they are challenged because they are so afraid of being proved wrong. Actually being proven wrong only means you’ve learned something. Hopefully.
Pedmar Premium Member almost 3 years ago
The problem isn’t smart vs. foolish. It’s emotion vs. reason. People place too much value on their emotions and not enough on reason and common sense.
The Reader Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Ouch! That smarts!
car2ner almost 3 years ago
go to today’s Garfieldhttps://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2021/10/09
Ken Norris Premium Member almost 3 years ago
I was going to sing ♪♪♪What Kind of Fool Am I?♪♪♪ but I was afraid someone would tell me.
CccComics4me almost 3 years ago
If ignorance is bliss, then why are the ignorant so angry? (TMCM)
BB71 almost 3 years ago
Smart people that know they are smart are fine. Dumb people that know they are dumb are fine. Dumb people who think they are smart are dangerous.
Michael G. almost 3 years ago
Split hairs with strangers and see how that works out for you.
Thinkingblade almost 3 years ago
A good deal of practical intelligence is understanding why you think you know or think something so you can decide how confident you should be about it.
JP Steve Premium Member almost 3 years ago
A little learning is a dangerous thing,
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring…
[Look how smart I am — I can quote Pope…]
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Richard Howland-Bolton, above, mentioned the Dunning-Kruger effect. I am not aware of current trends of thought on the subject. However, one of its corollaries is that highly intelligent people tend to underestimate their intelligence because of their awareness of their own ignorance. My BIL is the personification of the effect. He has told me, on several occasions, how smart he thinks he is. Trust me, he’s not.