What would you say are the characteristics of very smart people?

[Anonymous]

They don’t gossip or talk about the nonsense ongoings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They don’t gossip or talk about the nonsense ongoings.

I disagree about the gossip. The smartest people I know take gossip to a new level exploring the theories of why someone does something or behaves in a certain way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They don’t gossip or talk about the nonsense ongoings.

I disagree about the gossip. The smartest people I know take gossip to a new level exploring the theories of why someone does something or behaves in a certain way.

+1

And will sometimes do this with like random celebrities or social media figures.

[Anonymous]

At work, the skill to work smarter, not harder. Is this a problem others deal with? I'm seriously confused at work when my coworker takes action on something of MINE, then emails me to tell me about it, and sends a second email containing the link, plus I'm going to need to review it anyway, so it would save us both so much time if she would leave my stuff alone in the first place. I've asked her to please not touch the items in my inbox. And explained that her way takes more time for both of us. But she believes she's being a team player by helping others.

She's the nicest person, too.

It's hard to complain when someone is just trying to be helpful.

[Anonymous]

I agree with a lot of what’s been said above. I’d have to add being aware and observant. I know a lot of people who are highly educated and smart in some ways, but a bomb could go off a block away and they wouldn’t notice. It’s like they’re never fully present. My mother is like this. She’s intelligent but she misses everything and is hard to talk to.

[Anonymous]

I would say unbounded curiosity and often voracious reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They don’t gossip or talk about the nonsense ongoings.

I disagree about the gossip. The smartest people I know take gossip to a new level exploring the theories of why someone does something or behaves in a certain way.

+1

And will sometimes do this with like random celebrities or social media figures.

+2

Or chickens that didn’t hatch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At work, the skill to work smarter, not harder. Is this a problem others deal with? I'm seriously confused at work when my coworker takes action on something of MINE, then emails me to tell me about it, and sends a second email containing the link, plus I'm going to need to review it anyway, so it would save us both so much time if she would leave my stuff alone in the first place. I've asked her to please not touch the items in my inbox. And explained that her way takes more time for both of us. But she believes she's being a team player by helping others.

She's the nicest person, too.

It's hard to complain when someone is just trying to be helpful.

The trait of efficiency is something I associate with high intelligence, not knowledge or being smart. If it is an innate drive, no matter what, especially true. If there is analysis paralysis or rigamarole for show it makes me want to claw my way out of any conference room. Or zoom session.

[Anonymous]

Memory. Insane memory. When you are with someone, and they say, remember in 7th grade when....and pictures of things and events to a detail.
Such as the exact train station person was some 30 years ago and where they went, and seeing in their head the exact situation from 30 years ago and being able to recall the conversations very correctly.
When you ask, how do you remember that? And you know they are not lying.
I don't know if that is perfect memory or what but that sounds like real smarts to me.

[Anonymous]

Signs of geniuses are usually:
Overly worried,
Can't sleep because the mind is still working
talking to yourself
insane imagination...

But, of course, what kind of smarts are we talking about? There are so many different types of being smart.
Smart for math? Smart for emotions?
Smart like Nikola Tesla and you are a gift to men kind and make inventions that we can't live without?
I mean, people can be smart for different things and that expresses differently in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Signs of geniuses are usually:
Overly worried,
Can't sleep because the mind is still working
talking to yourself
insane imagination...

But, of course, what kind of smarts are we talking about? There are so many different types of being smart.
Smart for math? Smart for emotions?
Smart like Nikola Tesla and you are a gift to men kind and make inventions that we can't live without?
I mean, people can be smart for different things and that expresses differently in life.

These are signs of neuroticism, not intelligence

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sarcasm is, IMO, the quickest way to identify a smart person. A very smart person, not just a regular smart person.
It is annoying to others though.
Not sarcasm like "sweetie, honey.." no that is a sign of stupidity or pole that do not know how to respond.
They are also annoying very annoying. The very smart people, not just a bit smart.

I don’t agree that sarcasm is a sign of intelligence. Often it’s a crutch for ignorance, resentment, or insecurity. If you don’t agree with something, explain why in a clear, accessible manner.

+1. I often see sarcasm displayed by people who are generally passive aggressive or have issues with narcissism, so I take it as more of a red flag than anything else.

I disagree. I think really smart people can't help themselves when something is illogical and many do not have social skills to know that they are being sarcastic, it just presents like that.
Example: 65-year-old woman says this"
"Oh, I am not going to get the vaccine. Nobody knows what it might do if you want to be pregnant. That is why my dd is not getting it."
"So you plan on getting pregnant at 65? That is highly unlikely to be successful."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sarcasm is, IMO, the quickest way to identify a smart person. A very smart person, not just a regular smart person.
It is annoying to others though.
Not sarcasm like "sweetie, honey.." no that is a sign of stupidity or pole that do not know how to respond.
They are also annoying very annoying. The very smart people, not just a bit smart.

I don’t agree that sarcasm is a sign of intelligence. Often it’s a crutch for ignorance, resentment, or insecurity. If you don’t agree with something, explain why in a clear, accessible manner.

+1. I often see sarcasm displayed by people who are generally passive aggressive or have issues with narcissism, so I take it as more of a red flag than anything else.

I disagree. I think really smart people can't help themselves when something is illogical and many do not have social skills to know that they are being sarcastic, it just presents like that.
Example: 65-year-old woman says this"
"Oh, I am not going to get the vaccine. Nobody knows what it might do if you want to be pregnant. That is why my dd is not getting it."
"So you plan on getting pregnant at 65? That is highly unlikely to be successful."

Yeah, again, that seems to me to be more passive aggression and possible misanthropy. A more mature or intelligent person would probably just nod and have their own opinion about her statement, either good or bad. But the need to humiliate or mock someone else speaks to something darker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Signs of geniuses are usually:
Overly worried,
Can't sleep because the mind is still working
talking to yourself
insane imagination...

But, of course, what kind of smarts are we talking about? There are so many different types of being smart.
Smart for math? Smart for emotions?
Smart like Nikola Tesla and you are a gift to men kind and make inventions that we can't live without?
I mean, people can be smart for different things and that expresses differently in life.

These are signs of neuroticism, not intelligence

Smart people are highly neurotic. Do you know any super-smart people? My points are spot on.
Maybe we are talking about two different things? You are talking bout socially well-adjusted people who are ok smart.
I am talking about geniuses. They tend not to be that well adjusted socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Signs of geniuses are usually:
Overly worried,
Can't sleep because the mind is still working
talking to yourself
insane imagination...

But, of course, what kind of smarts are we talking about? There are so many different types of being smart.
Smart for math? Smart for emotions?
Smart like Nikola Tesla and you are a gift to men kind and make inventions that we can't live without?
I mean, people can be smart for different things and that expresses differently in life.

These are signs of neuroticism, not intelligence

Smart people are highly neurotic. Do you know any super-smart people? My points are spot on.
Maybe we are talking about two different things? You are talking bout socially well-adjusted people who are ok smart.
I am talking about geniuses. They tend not to be that well adjusted socially.

I know plenty of geniuses who aren't neurotic in the slightest, and are actually extremely chill, almost in another world where they find it hard to worry about "human issues", let alone spend half the night worrying about the thermostat or whatever else. Again, neuroticism and genius- two very separate things.