As soon as somebody uses a unique word or even forms completely thought out sentences, I'm attracted. To be able to say something fluently, and mean every bit of it without stuttering or thinking about it, is an indicator to me.
I force myself to assume everyone is smarter than I am, at least until they prove me wrong. Its better to complement an idiot, than insult a potential asset.
There are a lot of subtle things that will make me suspect someone is stupid though. Primarily, using certain words (irregardless vs. regardless) and lack of situational awareness. There's also a certain way idiots dress... I can't put my finger on it, but I suspect it comes from taking social ques from mainstream media.
insult a potential asset
You manipulative phukker. It is so true, though.
No argument here!
A habit I learned from networking and negotiating in the corporate world. It was soulless work. Everyone is full of shit, everyone knows it, everyone hates each other for how they act, yet the circlejerk is expected because you might offend the wrong guy and ruin a potential contract.I don't miss that one bit, but there are a few rules I've decided to keep with me.
Others include: always under-promise and over-deliver, keep a full change of clothes in your trunk, keep work and play separated, and "never kiss an ass you aren't willing to eat."
Depends on the subject. If I'm knowledgeable I'll size them up instantly. If they're lying through their teeth it's generally the same add a minute or two. I like to think that I've got a good bullshit detector. Who knows? I'm probably just an idiot.
Who knows? I'm probably just an idiot.
Me too buddy.
Me too.
The words they use and how they say it.
I am big on self reliance. If someone says I don't know to my face....in retail or whatever I leave or they speak down to you instead of at you....I leave.
If someone says let me find out in place of I don't know.....I will buy and speak directly with management and take the time to write a letter or email to their supperior as well if meeting someone and speaking yeah that is a person I know I can get along with.
May be counter productive, but if someone is self defeating in meet up I am done with them and I won't hesitate to say why. I don't like mixed messages myself so I feel it is important to be very clear with intent and meaning.
Many don't like it at all because of feelz...so what world hates you....when life gives you lemons hand it orange juice so everyone around you asks you how the fuck you did that.
Adaptation is a skill that seems to be lacking with society today. You can't fight sometimes, so you learn to work around it and make due with what you have....
I'm going to disagree with you. I've met way too many people who are very sure of themselves, without the knowledge or brains to back it up. I've had Apple "Geniuses" tell me utter bullshit while keeping a straight face because they didn't know any better. I've had sales people at Best Buy, construction contractors, accounts receivable clerks and business owners do the same phuking thing. I would more believe a person who is honest enough to say "I don't know" rather than one who pulls it out of his ignorant nether regions.
You didn't read what I said did ya?
When they replace I don't know with let me find out.
That is all about confidence and wording really. Shows they are interested in your needs as a customer and not theirs to shove you out the door and move to the next.
More customer service than anything else, which is why I go as far as I can to make sure they are recongnized for it and rewarded as to encourage others to do the same.
If someone says I don't know to my face....in retail or whatever I leave
I did not read what you said. I did read what you wrote. You wrote, as quoted above, that if someone says "I don't know" you leave. They were honest to you. They admitted to you that they didn't know.
You answered OP that self-reliance was important to you. However, the question /u/sidewalker_Principle asked was about intelligence. Did you read that?
Some test says I'm above average intelligence-wise. Therefore, most people are less intelligent than I am. I'm also old, with a lot of experience dealing with people. I don't run into too many stupid people, but it does happen. It's obvious. I don't mind people with lower IQs; I don't like active stupidity.
I never think about this unless they are borderline retarded. Wisdom is worth far more than intelligence to me. I define intelligence as the hardware specs not the system content. A 145 IQ basement dweller has a higher IQ than a 125 IQ doctor. I value demonstrated sustained interest or high skill proficiency over anything verbally said. Once I get to know someone a bit better an important metric is if they are reading and what are they reading/read.
Usually how they talk about other people's opinions and add conjecture to their true intentions. As soon as they say something about someone doing something "because they think that they can get away with it" or "because they think we're stupid" or other extra statement on someone else's behalf, I lose interest very quickly on their opinion about anything. Gimme the facts, let me make my own decision, maybe talk to the guy.. We're so bombarded with it in the media and news, that when someone I know locally starts, I just blank out and tend to stop asking..
Strange way to judge someone. Intelligence is rarely a mark of whether I like someone, perhaps a bare minimum being able to converse with them is required. I know some very intelligent people (science & medicine) and some perhaps what you would consider less educated or smart (labourers). But I like them all on their openness to discussion, to learning, and to teaching me about something I don't know on topics they are passionate about. Closed minded people I tend to dislike and those whom seem too eager to please.
From my experience though, the more intelligent the more likely they're on the spectrum and struggle with social situations even though they may be very book smart. Often not "street wise" for lack of a better term. Sometimes a tinge of sociopath behaviour / struggle with empathy. I would say many of my friends are more book smart than I (one has titles longer than his name), some are not academic at all, but all have a passion about something and on those topics I find it pleasant to talk to them about. In fact that's the best advice I have for finding a way to like someone, find what their passion is and ask them about it, it helps them open up.
I'd like to think I have a happy medium of intelligent enough to pursue my interests yet social enough to be extroverted and enjoy social interactions. I often pity my more intellectual friends even though I respect the hell out of their achievements. Having to come at social situations like an intellectual problem to fit in rather than it just being natural and enjoying oneself must be tiring and depressing sometimes. But they are all good friends and I love them dearly. Some have remarkable brain power and the discipline to use it. I envy their neuroplasticity some days.
Yet I'd still rather be me at the end of the day.
Thanks for the reply. And damn what a sexy word : neuroplasticity!
A good sense of humor is definitely a sign of intelligence. Even more of an indicator is how fast they can relate something funny to what is currently happening. It is one thing to rehash an old joke that fits whatever mood, but it is quite another to make something funny on the spot.
It's usually how they speak that I find the best indicator. Of course there are those who sound like idiots, but aren't, but generally speaking ... it's vocabulary and mannerisms that give it away.