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My wife's nephew is the smartest person I've ever met (and I've met a lot of really smart people). Aced the SAT as a teen, and interned at JPL, etc. Got a free
by ChrisMarshallNY 1y ago
My wife's nephew is the smartest person I've ever met (and I've met a lot of really smart people).
Aced the SAT as a teen, and interned at JPL, etc. Got a free full ride, wherever he wanted. He got his undergraduate at CalTech. Ph.D at Some midwest college -a good one, but can't remember which one -may have been Urbana-Champagne.
His mother was adamant that he have as normal a childhood as possible. She deliberately kept his K12 at a normal pace.
He's now a regular professor at a fairly good college (but not an Ivy League one).
He's married, has a kid, and two cats. Has a great life.
Part of me wants to say "What a waste!", but that part needs to get smothered with a pillow.
He's quite happy, and is doing something that he really wants to do.
Most of us could be so fortunate.
I've found "I.Q. smart" to be overrated. It opens a lot of doors, but it can also get in the way.
Many of my heroes have 2-digit IQs.
- aatd86 1y agoWondering what being 'smart' means? Is it: 1. being right most of the time? 2. knowing a lot (breadth)? 3. knowing a couple things in depth? 4. knowing in breadth and depth? 5. understanding new things fast (which is only measurable by someone who knows more?)? 6. solving puzzle and brainteasers easily? 7. being able to speak multiple languages? 8. being self-taught in what people may claim to be complex subjects? 9. being able to derive truths that other people fail to see? 10. being less prone to cognitive biases? 11. Mental clarity and easier data acquisition and processing? Or something else?
- sram1337 1y agoI've heard it defined as the ability to learn quickly. Not just in the narrow, academic sense, but also by observing the world and people and drawing conclusions about them. It has to do with pattern recognition and abstraction. Usually these people are knowledgeable because they are constantly learning. Eventually they become wise. What do you think of that definition?
- ChrisMarshallNY 1y agoThat’s a great one!
- aatd86 1y agoI had heard that as well. But it is never clear to me what it consists in exactly. What are the tell-tale signs/examples? I have probably met a lot of people who might be highly rated in terms of IQ but I haven't found anyone particularly clever so far. So I am curious.
- WhyOhWhyQ 1y agoWhy would that be a waste? The average professor at any college would probably be as smart as your friend. Professors (at least in the field I did my PhD in) are smart as hell.
- ChrisMarshallNY 1y agoI have a fairly Ivy-League family, including a number of teachers and professors (I'm the redneck engineer). This guy is in a league of his own. Pretty stunning. I would be quite surprised if "any college professor" is at the same level. That said, I am also very much a "maker and doer." I spent my career amongst folks sort of like him, but focused on producing stuff. He would have knocked most of them, into a cocked hat.
- WhyOhWhyQ 1y agoThe average college professor did their PhD at an ivy league school and everyone said exactly what you're saying about them their whole lives. A professor job is extremely competitive.
- ChrisMarshallNY 1y agoFair’nuff. Not worth arguing about.
- WhyOhWhyQ 1y agoIt just sounds like you're describing almost the ideal outcome for this person as a failure. They're actually incredibly successful if they've got tenure at a good American college.
- ChrisMarshallNY 1y agoActually, I meant the opposite. I apologize for being unclear.