What I've Learned About Smart People.
tmac721.tumblr.com
What I've Learned About Smart People.
1–10 of 182 posts
Re: What I've Learned About Smart People.
#2Asking questions is not only a trait of smart people, but it is quite possibly the simplest most effective tool that can set you appart in many things.
Think about the last time you bought something where you had a great sales experience. How many questions did the sales person ask? Think about last time you were on a great date? Did the person ask questions about you.
Asking questions is a sign of validated learning and active listening and those two concepts are the way we better ourselves and our surroundings.
Re: What I've Learned About Smart People.
#3Reminded my of this, from Gladwell's Outliers:
"The way you were raised, namely with wealthy or less fortunate parents, also plays a role. Gladwell explains that when wealthy parents drive their children to the doctor, they tell their children things like, “Johnny, now if you have any questions, be sure to ask the doctor. This is your opportunity to talk to him about any health problems you’re having….” And so on.
In contrast, the children of poor parents may feel less entitled to this same questioning. Instead, they accept what the doctor tells them straight out, without surfacing concerns or criticisms. Gladwell then uses Chris Langan, a genius with a 195 IQ who wasn’t able to succeed in college, as an example. Langan failed to get a PhD (his goal) not because he lacked intelligence, but because he had a mentality to passively accept the conditions and limitations others imposed on him. Langan ended up dropping out of college because he couldn’t convince his teachers to accommodate a simple change in his schedule (a change he needed because his truck broke and he could no longer get to campus early in the morning)."
Re: What I've Learned About Smart People.
#4So do they ask questions because they're smart, or are they smart because they ask questions?
Re: What I've Learned About Smart People.
#5So do they ask questions because they're smart, or are they smart because they ask questions?
I don't think the author implied anything other than correlation, but interesting question none the less.
Re: What I've Learned About Smart People.
#6So what do you do if you're in an environment that discourages asking dumb questions you might have?
Re: What I've Learned About Smart People.
#7So what do you do if you're in an environment that discourages asking dumb questions you might have?
Get out of that environment asap? Or ask anyway, maybe you can influence change on your environments attitudes.
Re: What I've Learned About Smart People.
#8So what do you do if you're in an environment that discourages asking dumb questions you might have?
If there truly is an enviromnment that discourages asking questions because they deem them as 'dumb', then you need to work to improve such environment.
In my experience, the only time questions were discouraged (and almost always in the interest of time) was because it was otherwise possible to get an answer to your questions.
Can you give an example of the environment you would be talking about?
Re: What I've Learned About Smart People.
#9So what do you do if you're in an environment that discourages asking dumb questions you might have?
[deleted]
Re: What I've Learned About Smart People.
#10So do they ask questions because they're smart, or are they smart because they ask questions?
I would guess smart because they ask questions. I think there are lots of people out there who just nod to be agreeable. The ones who brave it and ask questions are the ones to gain an understanding. (perhaps this is why nerds are uncool their younger years, they questions things and search for truth, as opposed to just going along with the flow of their peers, thoughts?)