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Are you bean cynical?
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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We need to squash issues like this.
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Only those of the legume family.
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So, in our careers, I'm sure we've all learned there are really smart people and there are those that aren't. Maybe they pretend to be smart when not, maybe they embrace being not so smart and just laugh at it. Maybe they're not book smart, but street smart. And sometimes we think someone is less intelligent, when they're in fact super smart. And vice versa. Either way, you get the drift. However, despite appearances, there are those that seem to figure things out and those that don't.
And by the nature of even suggesting you're more intelligent than another, also lends itself to arrogance. Which everyone knows arrogance and intelligence conflict and cannot be considered smart. And yet, even Einstein thought the world stupid. And of course, it doesn't mean to say that less intelligent people cannot teach more intelligent people things and vice versa.
But, what do you guys do, when faced with a situation where you feel it's impossible to grow intellectually because of the environment? In situations where you clearly know you're the smartest in the room, save a few gems you meet on occasion? And I don't mean smart as in knowing more about computers. I mean smart as in being more aware and conscious, less in your head and more observant, picking up on things quicker, remembering more, etc... cognition and perception prowess as it were. Everyone else seems dazed and confused, and you get bored.
I know for me, I've been annoyed and frustrated with this practically my whole life, to the point it can create undue stress. Which is counter intuitive and destructive actually, because increased "knowing" should make people happy. And frustration is bad juju that's contagious. And yet, I'm still undecided if this is mainly due to me looking for the worst in people and trying to feel smarter due to inherent insecurities, or in fact I just am. Or both.
Surely, someone on CP has faced this too? What do you guys do when you clearly know you see things clearer but you're alone in that regards?
Jeremy Falcon
modified 24-Mar-17 15:29pm.
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It's time for you to get a robe and become a philosopher.
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Only if I can grow a beard with it.
Jeremy Falcon
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Alea iacta est!
So be it!
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I resemble that ... beard and all!
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Jeremy Falcon
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Yeah, read some Heidegger, then you won't feel so excessively smart 
Mainstream culture is for the lowest common denominator. Most people feel like society is stupid, because that's the target demographic for most of our media and cultural programming.
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You are correct sir.
Jeremy Falcon
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Start a side project and join some meetup groups?
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Funny you should mention that, you're actually damn near spot on with what I think I should do to continue to grow. Just put the focus elsewhere.
Jeremy Falcon
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Bonus points if the project holds mutual interest for a co-worker as well. You may find they are actually really smart on a topic that simply doesn't come up at work.
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That's an excellent point.
Jeremy Falcon
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This is exactly what CP is for, right?
You never know if you know anything until you try to explain it to others.
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raddevus wrote: You never know if you know anything until you try to explain it to others.
Actually it is Einstein who said
“If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.”
... which tells me 2 things:
(1) That's pretty much what we see in Q&A
(2) You're a deep thinker like Einstein
I'm retired. There's a nap for that...
- Harvey
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That's a fair point actually, to which I agree. I figured out over the weekend that I'm just in a toxic environment and well it's exposed some of my weaknesses.
Jeremy Falcon
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Duncan Edwards Jones wrote: Start a side project and join some meetup groups?
Exactly my thoughts.. That is the only way you can survive.
P.S. It is easier when you're the quiet type, just listen and filter the BS. 
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As a general rule you can learn something from just about everyone so I try to find what it is that I can learn from the person(s).
Someone's therapist knows all about you!
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And that's a wise stance on it. But, what happens when you feel even that's been exhausted from those in your daily life? Not everyone chooses to continue growth. People peak, get intellectually comfortable, and then coast it out until they die. I'm sure you can always use a constant reminder of what other people's perspectives are like and learn from that continuously, but what about when you even feel like that's been exhausted?
Seems to be the only answer to is to move on. And I'm probably overthinking this.
I need to grow a beard.
Jeremy Falcon
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Yeah I know what you mean and it's frustrating but there's nothing you can do about it. A lot of people are content to not progress further and you just have to accept it. Fortunately I can chose who I hang with!
Someone's therapist knows all about you!
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And I reckon that's the healthiest view on it. Thanks man.
Jeremy Falcon
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Do you think it is possible that they are growing in other ways? Maybe in areas that are not directly visible at work. To be charitable, I think you must recognize this as a likely possibility.
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Yes that is possible
Someone's therapist knows all about you!
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