Who is the smartest person you know?

Sheridan81 · 18-08-2019 01:25AM

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

You got me there. :eek:

Ronin247 · 18-08-2019 01:25AM

My wife.

She married me.

ILoveYourVibes · 18-08-2019 01:26AM

Tammy! wrote: »

I was being sarcastic and agreeing with you

Who knows he could be right.

What got me thinking about it actually was watching an interview with Stephen Fry and then a guy from Oxford who was a polyglot etc.

Baron Kurtz · 18-08-2019 01:28AM

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

oookaay

But now who is the smartest person you know?:)

You enjoy piping up in a lot of threads but the ones that pique your interest (or usually created by yourself) generally surround a reference to self-worth, life successes or intelligence. That kind of humblebragish, desperate arena of validation is the typical sway.

But I could be way off the mark too.

Tammy! · 18-08-2019 01:32AM

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Who knows he could be right. .

It's just a fun question like 'who is the person you look up too the most?', 'who inspires you?' .....anyone could have a thread like that ....don't see how that would be seeking validation anymore than anything else that's posted on here??!!!

Maybe Baron just needs some validation

ILoveYourVibes · 18-08-2019 01:34AM

Baron Kurtz wrote: »

You enjoy piping up in a lot of threads but the ones that pique your interest (or usually created by yourself) generally surround a reference to self-worth, life successes or intelligence. That kind of humblebragish, desperate arena of validation is the typical sway.

But I could be way off the mark too.

Who knows.

I actually wouldn't consider myself intelligent. I am around truly intelligent people so i am self aware enough to know i am average in reality.

Life success is really all a matter of luck or at least in my case its 50% luck.

Self worth. Yes I have a lot of self worth.

I think i am pretty fab.

ILoveYourVibes · 18-08-2019 01:35AM

Tammy! wrote: »

It's just a fun question like 'who is the person you look up too the most?', 'who inspires you?' .....anyone could have a thread like that ....don't see how that would be seeking validation anymore than anything else that's posted on here??!!!

Maybe Baron just needs some validation

That was the way I thought of it. I really admire my brother.

I think baron is just grumpy young and a little overly fond of his own opinion.

Baron Kurtz · 18-08-2019 01:41AM

Tammy has a hard on for ILYV. Fair enough.

Just refresh the site though and check out last poster. It'll become apparent to you then.

A mark left on every thread. A desperate need to connect to anyone in any forum.

ILoveYourVibes · 18-08-2019 01:53AM

Baron Kurtz wrote: »

Tammy has a hard on for ILYV. Fair enough.

Just refresh the site though and check out last poster. It'll become apparent to you then.

A mark left on every thread.A desperate need to connect to anyone in any forum.

This is like the 90's when anyone who showered everyday was called a poser.

And what is it we are all here for if not connection? Is that wrong? Or sad?

Plus commenting mean things is kind of looking for attention from that person which is REALLY seeking connection.

Tammy! · 18-08-2019 01:54AM

Baron Kurtz wrote: »

Tammy has a hard on for ILYV. Fair enough.

Now that is what you call getting desperate to make a worthless point Baron.

:pac:

ILoveYourVibes · 18-08-2019 01:56AM

I think anyone giving themselves a name like baron and being mean on line is pretty much up their own arse.

Atlantic Dawn · 18-08-2019 02:05AM

The lads in South Armagh having diesel tanks in one country and the pumps in another, they are creaming themselves for Brexit, they will make so much out of it they won't have anywhere to deposit the cash.

Baron Kurtz · 18-08-2019 11:20AM

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

I think anyone giving themselves a name like baron and being mean on line is pretty much up their own arse.

Did that hurt?

Sorry, you define someone up their own hole, constantly creating moronic threads about yourself. Cried at work, did you!? (Attention for me please). Pathetic.

ILoveYourVibes · 18-08-2019 11:27AM

Baron Kurtz wrote: »

(Attention for me please).

.

Its certainly a lot more normal than you constantly seeking attention from me.

18-08-2019 11:37AM

Smartest guy I know is some polymath who works in TCD. I don't know exactly how many languages he can converse in - 9 or 10. I've been at parties where he's switched from English to Farsi to French to German, he also speaks Arabic, Hindi and Urdu and some others which I've forgotten. I'm not including the fact that be learns sign language as a hobby - he speaks British and also Bavarian Sign Language (I didn't know it was a thing either), and is learning Irish Sign Language, which is apparently very similar to American SL. Among the other languages he's learning are Irish (he's immigrated here) and the extinct Arcadian.

In one moment he might be talking about ancient civilisations of Asia Minor, and the next moment, the works of Shakespeare or abstract algebra. He is intimidatingly smart. He's an expert in etymology, Kierkegard and Theology, and on these topics, is entirely self-taught.

What I find most interesting about him, is that he doesn't use his immense intelligence for much personal gain. He is on a very moderate income, and rents a small room in a very working-class part of town. I think he's only really here to save some money, learn Irish, and move on to his next project.

As you can probably tell, I have a man-crush on his intelligence. Most of us can never hope to emulate that kind of cognitive capacity, but to be so curious about the world and to be so engaged with life, as opposed to workaday preoccupations, is surely something to strive for.

ILoveYourVibes · 18-08-2019 11:42AM

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Smartest guy I know is some polymath who works in TCD. I don't know exactly how many languages he can converse in - 9 or 10. I've been at parties where he's switched from English to Farsi to French to German, he also speaks Arabic, Hindi and Urdu and some others which I've forgotten. I'm not including the fact that be learns sign language as a hobby - he speaks British and also Bavarian Sign Language (I didn't know it was a thing either), and is learning Irish Sign Language, which is apparently very similar to American SL. Among the other languages he's learning are Irish (he's immigrated here) and the extinct Arcadian.

In one moment he might be talking about ancient civilisations of Asia Minor, and the next moment, the works of Shakespeare or abstract algebra. He is intimidatingly smart. He's an expert in etymology, Kierkegard and Theology, and on these topics, is entirely self-taught.

What I find most interesting about him, is that he doesn't use his immense intelligence for much personal gain. He is on a very moderate income, and rents a small room in a very working-class part of town. I think he's only really here to save some money, learn Irish, and move on to his next project.

As you can probably tell, I have a man-crush on his intelligence. Most of us can never hope to emulate that kind of cognitive capacity, but to be so curious about the world and to be so engaged with life, as opposed to workaday preoccupations, is surely something to strive for.

I don't blame your man crush. I love meeting people like that. I am sure its dour for them though.

Sheridan81 · 18-08-2019 06:09PM

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Smartest guy I know is some polymath who works in TCD. I don't know exactly how many languages he can converse in - 9 or 10. I've been at parties where he's switched from English to Farsi to French to German.

But why would he do that? Sounds a bit like a show-off.

Greentopia · 18-08-2019 08:03PM

Sheridan81 wrote: »

But why would he do that? Sounds a bit like a show-off.

And a bit rude to speak in a language not understood by all. Unless he was Iranian, French or German himself and speaking one on one to a fellow citizen in a private conversation.

But speaking in front of a group of people who are (I assume) mainly native English speakers in non-native languages leaving people out of the conversation? nah. Show-offy and rude.

Greentopia · 18-08-2019 08:29PM

The smartest person I know is a chap I met on holiday and is now a friend. A medical doctor who's one of the kindest, most humane and compassionate people I've ever met. That's the main reason he's my friend.

Very intelligent though and wise. Speaks 5 languages fluently including Latin. His English diction is better than mine and he's a non-native speaker.
Doing a Motorcycle Diaries style trip with MSF now around Latin America, and helps immigrants integrate into his home town, getting them involved in his rugby team. Great guy.

18-08-2019 08:32PM

Sheridan81 wrote: »

But why would he do that? Sounds a bit like a show-off.

Obviously because there are people there for whom French or German etc is their first language. It's not necessarily rude to speak to someone in their first language.

Are you one of these people who also thinks that Irish should only be spoken behind closed doors and it's showing-off to speak the first national language in public?

BDI · 18-08-2019 08:37PM

A lot of the things here people think makes somebody smart are actually just things you put effort into.

The biggest practicers or studyers you know should be the thread title. If you spent 5 years in a Turkish prison and five years in a Greek prison and five years in a Chinese prison you would speak 4 languages but be a terrible drug smuggler. Have you ever seen these people do anything but learn things off by heart?

Have they ever solved problems nobody else could?

chrissb8 · 18-08-2019 08:39PM

Baron Kurtz wrote: »

Tammy has a hard on for ILYV. Fair enough.

Just refresh the site though and check out last poster. It'll become apparent to you then.

A mark left on every thread. A desperate need to connect to anyone in any forum.

And what of it? So what? Who cares? You care? You getting a wee bit of excitement putting someone down, is it? Is a user on a text-based website somehow getting under your skin?

Or maybe you just need to have a look at yourself and ask wtf am I doing?

Your Face · 18-08-2019 08:49PM

Years ago I worked on sites.
I was put working with an old carpenter.
His ability to solve construction problems always impressed me.
Most other lads would whinge and sulk but he always just took a few minutes and came up with a solution.

Years later I was a Building Services manager and I had a maintenance man on my team that had very similar traits.
The engineers would consult with him.
Those two would be the smartest I ever knew.
Natural intelligence and problem-solving abilities.

jmreire · 18-08-2019 08:50PM

A friend of mine, Bulgarian lady, spoke 8 language's fluently, English, French, Italian, Russian,Spanish, Serbo-Croat, Farsi, Urdu and had a good working knowledge of several regional African dialect's...last I heard from her, after 6 week's in Huambo in Africa, she said quote " I'm getting the hang now of the local language, Portugese. Her Father was a Bulgarian Diplomat, and that would go a long way to explaining her knowledge of so many language's. At a dinner table one night, I once saw her switching effortlessly from Russian to French, to English to Italian and back again to Russian. She did not even have to think,someone at the table would ask a question, and she would answer..it was not any kind of showing off either,, most of the people at the table that night would have been fluent in minimum 3 languages.It was one advantage of when she was growing up, and the different Country's her Father was based in. Another friend of mine, Irish guy, married a girl from Kosova, and they live in Switzerland. They have 2 Children, and both kids are fluent in French ( understandable ) English, and Albanian. Their Father is a fluent Irish speaker ( not that he gets much practice in Switzerland and the kid's speak it a bit too. As I see it...as an Island, we were very limited in out contact with people speaking different languages...most Europeans will speak at least 2 languages,(and sometimes even more depending on how many borders they interact with ) so we lag behind a bit here in Ireland in the Language stakes. While speaking several languages indicates a high level of intelligence, I don't think it would be regarded as the definite yardstick for measuring intelligence.

Alpha_zero · 18-08-2019 08:52PM

I mean any moron can learn to speak a couple languages how is that a barometer of Intelligence.

r93kaey5p2izun · 18-08-2019 09:33PM

I can't say anyone has ever stood out to me as being exceptionally smart. I've no doubt I know some very smart people but nobody that seemed significantly smarter than others. I'm sure there has been someone exceptional in the mix, but they must have been fairly quiet about it. Theres nobody I can think of that's as remarkable as some of those described here.

jmreire · 18-08-2019 09:46PM

Alpha_zero wrote: »

I mean any moron can learn to speak a couple languages how is that a barometer of Intelligence.

How many moron's you know can speak more than one language, let alone 10?? I made the point than Language is not the only barometer of intelligence, but for sure it's a good indicator. Even acknowledged geniuses in a particular subject, might be completely out of their depth in other subject's. There is no " One size" definition when it come's to Intelligence.

BDI · 18-08-2019 09:50PM

jmreire wrote: »

How many moron's you know can speak more than one language, let alone 10?? I made the point than Language is not the only barometer of intelligence, but for sure it's a good indicator. Even acknowledged geniuses in a particular subject, might be completely out of their depth in other subject's. There is no " One size" definition when it come's to Intelligence.

I know a Russian laborer that speaks about 4 languages. Needs a smarter fella with him at all times to read drawings and solve problems. Will drill all day though.

ctrl-alt-delete · 18-08-2019 09:55PM

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Smartest guy I know is some polymath who works in TCD. I don't know exactly how many languages he can converse in - 9 or 10. I've been at parties where he's switched from English to Farsi to French to German, he also speaks Arabic, Hindi and Urdu and some others which I've forgotten. I'm not including the fact that be learns sign language as a hobby - he speaks British and also Bavarian Sign Language (I didn't know it was a thing either), and is learning Irish Sign Language, which is apparently very similar to American SL. Among the other languages he's learning are Irish (he's immigrated here) and the extinct Arcadian.

-9 is not that impressive :pac:

10 is though.

vargoo · 18-08-2019 10:01PM

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

The people who have been kindest to me in life are usually the PHD's the Mensa members or just really smart people with no formal education.

The smartest people are the kindest usually.

Ah bollox, i read no more.

Who is the smartest person you know?

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