No…?
I mean I’m not a genius or anything but I know some things about some things. When I can help someone with those things or just shoot the shit about cool things I know, it makes me feel good.
Just assume you’re not smart.
ikr sounds like that thing where Socrates’ wisdom was realizing that he was not wise.
Socrates then sought to solve the divine paradox—how an ignorant man also could be the wisest of all men—in effort to illuminate the meaning of the Oracles’ categorical statement that he is the wisest man in the land. After systematically interrogating the politicians, the poets, and the craftsmen, Socrates determined that the politicians were not wise like he was. He says of himself, in reference to a politician: “I am wiser than this man; it is likely that neither of us knows anything worthwhile, but he thinks he knows something when he does not.”(21d).[15] Socrates says that the poets did not understand their poetry; that the prophets and seers did not understand what they said; and that the craftsmen while knowing many things, thought they also had much knowledge on things of which they had none.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apology_(Plato)#Part_one:_The_defence_of_Socrates
deleted by creator
Knowing stuff can be a curse, especially when you’re 10 steps ahead of everyone else in the room and you know they’re just going to need the time to figure it out on their own.
But being smart means you know how and when to apply your knowledge. So you can provide the information when it’s actually useful and not when it just gets blank stares.
And knowing stuff but NOT talking about it all the time, and not using “told you so” means that when you DO speak, anyone who matters will listen and take you seriously.
I find that slipping useful knowledge into self-deprecating jokes is a useful way to get people to listen to it.
What? No. No, dawg, no. Ignorance isn’t a virtue. Knowledge and expertise are something to be proud of.
I am a networking specialist on a team of sysadmins at an MSP. I don’t like being the “smart” one when it comes to networking because it means I have no one I can bounce ideas off.
Nope.
For context, I’m in my late 50s and always want to know the right answer, and share it with everyone.
Buy sometimes, you need to let it go. You might be in a situation where someone is confidently stating something you know to be wrong. Correcting them can - depending on context - come across as insulting and know-it-all; and if it’s not important, maybe stay silent this time.
Now if you’re in a situation where the truth IS important, or where everyone is more interested in the truth (or even debate) than something cool but false, your knowledge will be appreciated.
You don’t have to always have the last word, even if it’s right.
No I get off on making people feel dumb
Yes! It’s such a burden knowing how things work and what will happen. People looking at you like “who’s this nerd with the answers?”
I hate that I happen to have the reputation of a tech nerd, only to get basically 2 different sorts of requests, both of which I rightfully refuse to touch…
- Can you unlock this
stolenphone? - Can you fix my 72 inch TV? The kids broke the screen.
You missed “make my computer work” and “get me movies for free”.
Also don’t forget…
-
Can you fix my phone screen?
-
Sure, a new screen will cost $X, plus my labor cost $Y.
-
Wait, it costs money? Well nevermind, I’ll just get a new one.
-
- Can you unlock this
I do, cus then people call me obnoxious or say I’m showing off but I’m not, I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF PEOPLE WITH SEVERE ADHD AND ALCOHOL 😭😭😭
I can’t ever have a normal conversation with someone. It has to be some random shit I hyper-fixated on just enough to write a research paper on for no fucking reason. Like why humans have such pungent body order despite us not having advanced enough Olfactory Senses to not “read” scents or pheromones the same way dogs or cats can.
The curse of competence.
Being smart means I keep getting handed more work.
I don’t find it annoying and I certainly don’t know a lot.
I know a lot about my narrow field of expertise and hobbies. I’m ignorant about so much useful knowledge and skills.
Try to keep expectations low and you’ll live longer.
I don’t hate it but it does occasionally feel like a burden. As in knowing that I could solve a problem that people are struggling with and whether it’s ethical to not help because I don’t feel like it.
Hating “knowing stuff” seems bizarre to me though. There’s so many interesting things in our world - wanting to know less sounds awful. Like opting into a lobotomy.
I like knowing stuff because I have social anxiety and being able to engage in small talk with people about a wide range of topics is extremely helpful for me.
