Naked Science Forum

General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: annie123 on 08/04/2012 22:07:36

Title: What does 'smart' mean in the context of this forum?
Post by: annie123 on 08/04/2012 22:07:36
I'd like to know what people think 'smart' means in the context of this forum i.e. if you were asked to post  if you're smart would you post? How would you measure yourself in terms of assessing your  suitability to contribute?  Would you dismiss contributions with which you did not agree as dumb?   Should we ever 'suffer fools gladly" assuming we are never foolish?
Title: Re: What does 'smart' mean in the context of this forum?
Post by: Geezer on 08/04/2012 22:57:40
I prefer to be "smart, but casual", like my shoes  :)
Title: Re: What does 'smart' mean in the context of this forum?
Post by: RD on 08/04/2012 23:34:41
"smart" like the car ?  ...

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Smart_K_002.JPG/800px-Smart_K_002.JPG)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_%28automobile%29

[ despite its appearance it isn't propelled by pedaling ]
Title: Re: What does 'smart' mean in the context of this forum?
Post by: Geezer on 09/04/2012 00:42:36
"smart" like the car ?  ...

Are you implying it's smart to be short, and by inference, short people are smarter than long people?
 
Did you know that Yogi Bear was smarter than the average bear because he wore a tie?
Title: Re: What does 'smart' mean in the context of this forum?
Post by: Don_1 on 09/04/2012 01:37:09
I'm not smart, but Alec is.
Title: Re: What does 'smart' mean in the context of this forum?
Post by: RD on 09/04/2012 09:50:31
Are you implying it's smart to be short, and by inference, short people are smarter than long people?

apparently the public perception is on the contrary ...

Quote
being 6-foot tall brings raises annual income nearly $1,000 compared to men two inches shorter. "Taller people are perceived to be more intelligent and powerful," according to the study, published recently in the Economic Record.
http://www.livescience.com/5552-taller-people-earn-money.html

may be worthwhile buying some elevator shoes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevator_shoes).
Title: Re: What does 'smart' mean in the context of this forum?
Post by: Gordian Knot on 09/04/2012 18:14:00
I'd like to know what people think 'smart' means in the context of this forum i.e. if you were asked to post  if you're smart would you post? How would you measure yourself in terms of assessing your  suitability to contribute?  Would you dismiss contributions with which you did not agree as dumb?   Should we ever 'suffer fools gladly" assuming we are never foolish?

I would not consider myself smart. I would consider myself adept at critical thinking. The latter trumps the former every time. We have too many "smart" people in this world who are complete buffoons.

Contributions that I disagree with. I would consider it dumb if the content was poorly presented and without any legitimate arguments to support it. Posts that are presented with supporting content that was legitimate; I would not consider that dumb, even if I disagree with the poster's conclusions.

I do not suffer fools gladly. However, someone is not a fool by making a foolish comment. For me, it is an accumulation of ongoing foolish behavior in someone that annoys the crap out of me!

My suitability to contribute. It varies immensely depending on the subject. There are so many folks on here who have such a greater knowledge on various topics that I would rarely see the point in putting in my two cents. Other topics that I have more knowledge about; those would be more likely to see me make a comment.

Smart in the context of this forum. For me, people who are knowledgeable, and can communicate that knowledge clearly; those are the ones I consider "smart".
Title: Re: What does 'smart' mean in the context of this forum?
Post by: David Cooper on 09/04/2012 18:36:18
Sometimes the fools are right and the bright people are all wrong, so never judge an argument by the intelligence of the people pushing it - judge every argument on its own merits.
Title: Re: What does 'smart' mean in the context of this forum?
Post by: annie123 on 10/04/2012 00:44:32
AS I thought  - several interpretations so far and I'm sure there are many more out there. Just wondered since someone recently participating  on another thread I had started- and which went on for over 175  - mostly serious and interesting posts and is still ongoing - said he was going to start another one on the same topic  where he could find out what 'smart people' thought - by implication there weren't (m)any on the original thread.

 A couple of quotes from people which show some angles on smartness I think are appealing.

Be as smart as you can, but remember that it is always better to be wise than to be smart.
Alan Alda

Be smart, but never show it.
Louis B. Mayer

Title: Re: What does 'smart' mean in the context of this forum?
Post by: Geezer on 10/04/2012 02:21:19
I prefer M&Ms.
Title: Re: What does 'smart' mean in the context of this forum?
Post by: Hadrian on 26/04/2012 11:57:53
well its that lovely feeling you get when the whip his you bottom.....

"oh is smarts Hilary but do it more"

 :P
Title: Re: What does 'smart' mean in the context of this forum?
Post by: yor_on on 29/04/2012 12:40:13
Do it like a friend of mine.

He has a blog in where he states. 'I'm not like everybody else, I'm myself' :)
Then you're smart.