What makes someone smart? (college, people)

[FelixTheCat]

Just your opinion.

[ylisa7]

We need all kinds of smart.

Personally I think a person with common sense is smarter than some intellectuals

[GoodHombre]

The same factors that make people tall, slender and good looking.

Your genes, education, nutrition, etc.

[BostonMike7]

Blend of Book Smarts, Street Smarts, and Common sense.

[jtab4994]

Knowing stuff and/or being able to figure out stuff that most other people don't know or can't figure out.


I am a math/computer guy and my wife is a social worker. I can figure out a math problem and she can figure out how to get an autistic 5-year-old to play a game.

[Ghengis]

I tend to associate with really stupid people and I ask that they refer to me as "Einstein" even though they have no idea who that guy was

[Coldjensens]

Orange juice

[StealthRabbit]

Listening... a lost art

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Orange juice

and here I thought it was Blueberries

[Starman71]

I have my own hierarchy for this type of vocabulary. From order of least to most important:

1. Intelligent: someone that knows lots of stuff. The ability to do well on Jeopardy, Trivial Pursuit, etc. Someone that can memorize random facts and data and quote it back.
2. Smart: Someone that knows what to do with the information that recall. Or if they can't recall it or didn't learn it to begin with, would know where to go find it. Someone "smart" can apply knowledge, not just simply parrot it back.
3. Wise: the combination of smart with learned experience. Knowing when (or when NOT) to apply it. Knowing the best way to apply their "smarts" for long-term benefit.

I could be more specific with my definitions, but most of you already know what I'm trying to say. And many will not agree with my assignment of these words with those specific descriptions, but it matters not, to me.

I would rather be considered smart (rather than intelligent) any day. In high school, I was considered very intelligent. It took one semester of college to prove that I wasn't very smart. Nor did I have the maturity or experience to even remotely claim wisdom.