Can anyone be "smart"? (mentally, parent, emotion, people)

[sundestroyer]

I ask because I've been told that I'm a smart person because I know a lot of random stuff. I'm also on the autistic spectrum so this might be a reason.

The thing is, I don't think there's anything inherently smart about myself or even people with autism. There are two things which I think give me an advantage that I think a lot of people with autism share. One, because of autism I have a co-morbid OCD disorder and my brain is constantly replaying what I hear/read. I read random stuff and remember a lot of it but I don't have a photographic memory.

Two, I don't have many friends so I spend most of my time reading. When I'm on the bus instead of browsing social media sites like Snapchat or WhatsApp, I read. If a neurotypical non-autistic person did this then they'd inevitably be much more knowledgeable. Again nothing inherent about this. And similarly, if my situation was reversed and I had a way more active social life, then I'd be less knowledgeable (but that's not to imply that both are mutually exclusive, you can be intelligent and be the most extroverted person though I think it's harder),.

This is of course excluding those with mental retardation.

[JGMotorsport64]

Some people are just dumb. To me, a smart person learns quickly and can grasp something quickly. A dumb person cannot. When you have people work for you, the difference becomes apparent quickly.

[Ruth4Truth]

This is a good question, OP, the way you've framed it. I wouldn't necessarily call someone who can memorize a lot of facts, "smart". Having a well-developed memory (or an inherently strong one, as you have) is an important element in intelligence, but there's more to intelligence than that. It also involves the ability to process and analyze information, apply it to situations, and draw conclusions or implement appropriate strategies. It's also about being able to accurately size up people and situations in the blink of an eye.

Are savants like in the "Rain Man" film, "smart"? Well, they're gifted in a certain realm, but aren't able to function in other ways, so..... If "smart" = "intelligent", I think the definition would be of a more well-rounded intelligence vs. a very narrowly-defined form of it. Though everyone has their strengths and weaknesses (i.e "emotional intelligence", mechanical aptitude, intellectual or analytical intelligence, musical giftedness, etc., etc.), IDK. I think being "smart" involved more than being able to inhale and regurgitate facts; it's what you're able to do with that information intake, as well. Still, a strong memory definitely is a useful kind of thing.

But that's JMHO.

[aileesic]

I'm one of those people who can't retain most of what I have learned, therefore, I am legally certified as learning disabled. My brain does not function in the same way as smart people. I have known plenty autistic and mentally unstable people, and most of them are much smarter and quicker in conversation than I could ever be. Yes, I can talk, write, and reason enough to get by in life, but smart people actually make long lasting friendships and excel at life.

[Parnassia]

IMHO, like other broad-brush terms such as "smart" it depends how you define it. How I might define "smart" won't necessarily agree with someone else's definition. We tend to define words like that in a self-serving way because we have beliefs. Things we want. And, we want the world to to agree with our beliefs and hand us what we want. If the world doesn't, we decide it is WRONG.

[matisse12]

No, not everyone (nor anyone) can be smart.

And it is painfully apparent on City-Data forums. (not referring to you, OP)