Just When They Think You’re Smart
Guest Post by Brad Shorr
One thing about traveling and getting out in the world – it gives you a healthy dose of humility. Last week we were traveling in Boston and one Saturday we took a walk through Harvard Square. Very impressive and very humbling. The buildings looked smarter than I do, to say nothing of the people.
I was blown away by the Harvard Book Store. As I perused the history section, it quickly became obvious I wasn’t browsing through the dumbed down, thinly populated shelves of my suburban, strip mall Borders.
A couple young ladies were browsing nearby – unassuming gals who, in my neighborhood Borders, would have easily passed for hair dressers from the beauty salon next door. But then I heard one of them whisper to the other, “Can you believe I only have one semester of Greek? I’ll finally be able to concentrate on my dissertation.” Much giggling ensued. Funny stuff, I guess, if your IQ is 170.
Me? All I could think about was finding a sports bar to watch the college football games.
After traipsing around the Square, we finally found a bar. It boasted two giant plasma TV’s, but one was off and the other was tuned in to the Weather Channel or something along those lines. You’d never see that in Chicago on a Saturday afternoon.
More strangeness: the place was nearly empty. A couple at one end of the bar was engaged in a deep conversation over a nice chardonnay. A thirty-something man at the other end was engrossed in a thick,- old book (probably written in Greek).
Finally, I asked the bartender if the TVs worked. They did. I asked him if we could watch a college football game and he gave me an odd look, as if to say, That’s weird. Wouldn’t you rather watch “Jeopardy” reruns? … Is it dumb to waste time watching football when I could be studying Aristotle?
… It reminds of my college days. Just when you think you’re smart, you find out you aren’t. I attended Northwestern University. A pretty fine school (the Harvard of the Midwest, as it is sometimes called), and we knew it.
My junior year I was an officer of my fraternity. My fraternity brothers and I were feeling pretty good about ourselves – great school, high GPA’s, members of a fraternity with a national reputation for academic excellence, leaders of the upward march of humanity. Yep, there we were. Future captains of industry.
Until we started hanging around with our fraternity brethren from the University of Chicago. U of C – ever hear of it? Arguably a school to make even Harvard look like an also ran. After a few months rubbing elbows with these studious gentlemen, we began to feel, well, stupid.
Once, in a Hyde Park drinking establishment, one of us commented on how brilliant they were compared to us Northwestern folk. They laughed and laughed. “What’s so funny?” we asked. They said, “Around here, we’re the dumb ones. Do you think serious U of C students would have anything to do with a fraternity? We’re idiots.”
That was a chilling revelation. It taught us a few things. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t assume you have all the answers. Don’t try to impress somebody by throwing your credentials on the table – they might have a pair of aces to beat your kings.
How about you? Did you ever bump into somebody who humbled you intellectually? Was it a character builder, or a character … hmm … um … what’s the opposite of “builder”?
About Brad Shorr
Brad Shorr lives in the Chicago area, and is president of WordSell, Inc. He helps organizations strengthen their online business presence with business blogs and compelling web content.
Brad writes extensively on his own and on many other blogs, mainly about writing, online marketing, entrepreneurship, and sales and business humor.
14 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
After discovering that you have a PhD and now reading that you graduated from Nawthwestern, I’m never going to look at you the same again.
Just kidding!
I only have to look at my parents and I realize how little degrees can matter. My father finished school in sixth grade and then went to work digging graves. My mother finished eighth grade. They are two very smart people. My father taught me that you can learn anything, you just have to find someone who knows the stuff you want to learn or teach yourself.
Karen Putzs last blog post..A Neat Gift: GiiNii Digital Picture Frame
Hi Brad, great to see you here. I enjoyed reading your description of your journey round the hallowed portals of Harvard. But I’m sure they can’t all have been reading Greek!
It’s easy to feel intimidated by other people – only when we get to know them that we realise they’re just the same as us in at least some way or another – if not IQ then maybe shyness, or concern about fitting in, or trying to look good to the opposite sex.
We’re all human under the facade however lofty the statues might be.
Joanna Youngs last blog post..Quotes on Experimenting, Writing, Art and Life
I had a very humbling experience while helping out with a group of special needs adults. While working with them, I was amazed how many we generally happy, and didn’t need much in order to stay content. There were of course some exceptions (but those exceptions aren’t the people who humbled me). I was amazed when I thought of how many things I think I need in order to be happy, compared to the simple happiness ofso many of those people with downs or some other mental disability. It was quite the challenge.
Karen – I really enjoyed reading your comment……I myself only have a 9th grade education….I was somewhat of a problem child and my mother ended up sending me to a camp for troubled teens, I ended up being there for over a year and my schooling got a bit messed up in the process. Any how, I enjoyed your comment..Thanks!
Well, Brad. As a human being, we’re all the same no matter what types of race, gender, or status you’re belong to…
I loved your post here, mate
Brad, methinks a dose of humility does us all good now and then. But Brad, keep in mind you have intellectual capital that folks at Harvard lack. When we begin comparing, we always come out a loser. Besides, when’s the next time you expect to dip into your knowledge of Greek?
Robyn McMasters last blog post..As a Writer – I Can
Karen & Tyler, Thank you for making the excellent point that education does not equal intelligence. In my business career, some of the wealthiest and most successful had minimal formal eduction. But they were smart.
Joanna & Wilson, Amen. It’s always better to search form what we have in common, not what separates us, don’t you think?
Brian & Robyn – Why is it, do you think, that “intelligent” people do tend to be unhappy so often? I’ve observed the same thing you did, Brian, and it really amazing how we sometimes complicate ourselves into misery. I recently read a book by a priest who worked with special needs adults and he had the same reaction you did. It was a wonderful book but darned if I can remember the title.
Thanks everybody for reading my post and making such thoughtful conversation. Sorry I wasn’t here yesterday to, as Robert might say, chew the fat.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Waiting for Goodbye
I often distinguish between three different mental abilities. These are frequently found together and each helps with the development of the other, so we usually talk about them as if they were the same. I think it helps to talk about them separately sometimes, though. These are my definitions and I know alternate definitions but for this comment this is how I am using the words. Okay?
Intelligent – Able to learn quickly.
Knowledgeable – Knowing a lot of information
Smart – Able to apply knowledge to problems
People at the name-brand universities are usually screened based on intelligence to make it easier for the teachers to pour in the information. Upon graduation most of these students are very knowledgeable, but not always smart.
This is where that famous dichotomy occurs. We see thousands of people who are able to apply their limited knowledge in creative or other wise just plain smart ways. They may even have trouble learning new facts but that make good use of the life experience they do have.
I think I am rather rare (or maybe its just that few are willing to admit), because I am neither smart or intelligent, but I am very knowledgeable. That knowledge has come at a very high price. I had to work at more than most other people, but I strongly believed that the knowledge would helpful to me. Also, I am unusually curious so I am almost driven to learn even though I am slow at doing it.
As for the relationship between knowledge and happiness, I think having a lot of knowledge is like having a lot of stuff. It does not do you any good unless you are doing something with it. The more you have, the less likely you are to be able to use it all, and until you use it you have to carry it around with you. A knowledgeable person has to carry the great weight of that knowledge around and it weighs down the soul making flights of fancy all but impossible.
It is impossible to be light-hearted when you are weighed down by the gravity of your massive knowledge.
Luke, your way of thinking about mental abilities is very useful. Intelligence, knowledge, and smartness are really quite different. For me, accumulating knowledge is very pleasant, whether I do anything specific with it or not. I’m very interested in ancient history, for example, simply because I enjoy learning about where we came from and how we got here. Whether I do anything with this knowledge or not, I’m glad I walked the earth without being oblivious about our culture. I think there’s comfort in that you can’t get from material things. I hope your comment doesn’t imply that you are unhappy because of your accumulated knowledge.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Waiting for Goodbye
@Brad – What’s really fun is running into folks like you with plenty of knowledge, a cheerful spirit, and willingness to share. It’s always kinda scary when you run across folks that are so intelligent they’re basically just sticks in the mud, if you get my meanin’.
@Luke – I kinda like your three descriptives, but (sorry; can’t help myself!) I would add one more: wisdom. Without that one, everything else won’t necessarily help make you a better person.
@Karen – Are you thinking this was written my me? Brad the one who went to Nawthwestern; I went to Texas A&M University (Gig’em, Aggies! Whatever THAT means.) But all my degrees are from a joint out west called California Coast University. (But I have to say, my heart has always been at TAMU.)
Your parents sound like really great folks. I’ve discovered over the years that some of the most brilliant people haven’t always had a strong “scholastic” pedigree, if you know what I mean. But it’s their wisdom that makes them shine like stars!
@Joanna – You’re absolutely right about what’s “under the hood” of most folks. Hey basically, we’re all just tryin’ to get along, y’know?
@Brian – You make a great point. I was just asked the other day if I could only keep one possession, what would it be? The only thing I could think of was my sense of humor. Without that, I’d be lost!
Many thanks to you Brad for providing a guest post just when I needed one! And great discussion, y’all!
[...] I tweet a link to the places where I leave comments now, but occasionally I want to keep one for posterity. This one was in reply to: http://middlezonemusings.com/when-they-think-youre-smart/#comment-8567 [...]
God made us the way we are. we think differently — and usually place have a different value system. Things that are important to me are not the same things that are important to my wife.
Shaws last blog post..Third Confirmed Dead From Avian Bird Flu
The common wisdom is right. Negativity can make us look smart. But, ultimately, the effort and discipline of focusing on the positives in ourselves, others, and the situation gets more done. And, it attracts others to us and our efforts.
Lyndseys last blog post..44th President to Be Sworn In on Tuesday January 20,2008
[...] Just When They Think You’re Smart, by Brad Shorr [...]