are you smart?

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Apple Of Sodom

Golden Member
Oct 7, 2007
1,808
0
0
I think I am fairly average. Nothing too special, but I am a hard worker and seize opportunity. I believe that a good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow and that is partly why I am successful.

I have the ability to learn new things through books or simply doing it. I can use abstract ideas and apply them to real life. I am mostly logical. But that doesn't mean I don't do dumb things.

I don't consider myself smart in general, although I am good at some things. What is funny is a person can solve a computer problem or an equation and they are labeled smart. But a mechanic that works on semi trucks and regularly fixes these complex structures is just a mechanic.

I consider myself not stupid.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
I don't consider myself smart in general, although I am good at some things. What is funny is a person can solve a computer problem or an equation and they are labeled smart. But a mechanic that works on semi trucks and regularly fixes these complex structures is just a mechanic.
While the structures may be complex, that doesn't mean the mechanic can design those structures, or truly understands those structures. (Some do) Similarly, there are a lot of people who can repair televisions. "Looks like your power circuitboard is bad." <swaps circuit board> "Yep, that fixed it." While the television is super complex, their ability to figure out which of the handful of circuitboards is bad, and replace that circuit board doesn't even begin to suggest that they understand those circuit boards. (Though, some are EEs and do understand them.)
 

KlokWyze

Diamond Member
Sep 7, 2006
4,451
9
81
www.dogsonacid.com
While the structures may be complex, that doesn't mean the mechanic can design those structures, or truly understands those structures. (Some do) Similarly, there are a lot of people who can repair televisions. "Looks like your power circuitboard is bad." <swaps circuit board> "Yep, that fixed it." While the television is super complex, their ability to figure out which of the handful of circuitboards is bad, and replace that circuit board doesn't even begin to suggest that they understand those circuit boards. (Though, some are EEs and do understand them.)

Yup. Sounds like me. I follow a flow chart for EVERYTHING. Typically starts with "Did you try plugging it in?" :(
 

lozina

Lifer
Sep 10, 2001
11,711
8
81
If I were smart I wouldn't be stuck working an IT job and living in the miserable state of NY
 

sixone

Lifer
May 3, 2004
25,030
5
61
No. That's why I love this place - some of you make me feel like a rocket scientist. :)
 

Away

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
4,430
1
71
My ex-wife called me a smart ass quite a bit. Does that count?
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
No, because I'm still working. Wasn't smart enough to figure out how to be done by now.
 

natto fire

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2000
7,117
10
76
*sits back and waits for more responses before El Guaraguao responds*

*vets for El Guaraguao's "smartness" for taking that course of action.

I don't do too bad at Trivial Pursuit, or random conversations, but I think a huge factor of being smart is realizing how much you don't know. It certainly amazes me every day, the amount of specialization and people/nature doing amazing things that I can't grasp.
 

Dumac

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2005
9,391
1
0
Yes, I think so.

Based mostly on grades and tests through my entire life including college.

I'm working at a place now where I consider everyone there to be smart. So in that pool, I'm relatively not that smart.
 

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,837
38
91
Every single person is stupid about something out there. I bet steve hawkings can't diagnose a car problem or know what slump of concrete to get for his driveway, smart is a very vague word really and can be used to point out one single act of knowledge.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
Every single person is stupid about something out there. I bet steve hawkings can't diagnose a car problem or know what slump of concrete to get for his driveway, smart is a very vague word really and can be used to point out one single act of knowledge.

But dumb sure is easy to sniff out :)
 

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,628
6,013
136
i was a lot smarter before i had brain surgery :(

thankfully, even though it damaged my memory, it did nothing to my pome writing abilities :awe:
 

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
While the structures may be complex, that doesn't mean the mechanic can design those structures, or truly understands those structures. (Some do) Similarly, there are a lot of people who can repair televisions. "Looks like your power circuitboard is bad." <swaps circuit board> "Yep, that fixed it." While the television is super complex, their ability to figure out which of the handful of circuitboards is bad, and replace that circuit board doesn't even begin to suggest that they understand those circuit boards. (Though, some are EEs and do understand them.)

That's just economics. Nobody uses a $100,000 logic analyzer to troubleshoot a $100 disposable consumer electronics part. RMA it or narrow it down and throw parts at it.

And a television isn't really complex :p