OP - congratulations. You've sparked quite the conversation here, across many fields of thought and endeavor. Perhaps we, and the ladies, have you given you short shrift.

My ex "thought out loud" a lot, but he never verbally distinguished between a firm thought/decision and when he was just doing more thinking. Drove me nuts

OP - congratulations. You've sparked quite the conversation here, across many fields of thought and endeavor. Perhaps we, and the ladies, have you given you short shrift.

sure, most of my life--part ADD and part over the top intelligence. just means you have to look harder, longer and smarter. with a good mind, you'll figure out ways to cover more territory than the "low tolerance" individuals.

If I think someone is the stupidest person around, and I say so, I certainly feel no need to back-peddle from the position.

f I think someone is the stupidest person around, and I say so, I certainly feel no need to back-peddle from the position.

But, you did say this. Completely avoiding that fact that Stupidest is so not a word. So in utilizing it, you should make it self applicable as well.

I am a firm believer in the macro/microcosm pattern of BALANCE You have to be just optimistic enough to see the trees for the trees, yet cynical enough to not be afraid to tell someone they are stupid for grabbing a poison oak. It's a balance. Just like everything else replicated on all levels of the universe. If the cosmic egg had not exploded outward at the exact balance, with the exact amount of energy compressed.....It would have merely collapsed into itself.Which is the same thing that happens with humans....

This thread is a wonderful indicator of our thirst to chastise.

I think the OP and others who think they hold themselves to higher standards are secretly insecure in their opinion of themselves. It keeps them trying to judge others inferior to shore up their own inadequacies. JMHO

I am completely reminded of Achilles Flanderes! He embodied this comment. what I find amusing, is at his funeral (Don't think I am a freak for remembering this, as I read this book almost 8 years ago.) Bean looks at his grave and says: "Can anyone here honestly say that we don't see a little of this man in ourselves? Orson Scott Card is a GOD.

The easiest thing you could do to help in getting to know someone is to talk less -- very little -- and ask more questions of the other.

what threatens any ego is another ego.

A man risks his reputation disagreeing with a woman.

Its why so few do.

I'm referring to the people in this post that have jumped all over the op and attacked him for thinking differently than the 'masses'. To me that is herd or sheeple behavior. Instead of thinking for themselves they just follow whatever others have written, without really trying to comprehend what the op meant.

Sometimes we may write something in a post that can be interpreted various ways, but what I see a lot in these forums is people that just assume it's the worst and who become quite mean, instead of maybe giving an op the benefit of the doubt.

Would either of you care to explain the relevancy of your recent exchange with the topic of this discussion? [/qoute]

On topic, The references are obscure if you haven't read the book, the aformentioned Bean from the Orson Scott Card series, was a very complicated man. There were three woman who were not intimidated by his complicated life and nature. One who saved him when he was a waif in the streets, one who was a love interest, and one who got him off the streets and enabled to ultimatelty save humankind.

What we are saying is that in life and literature, there are many examples of women who are not intimidated by complicated men, in fact, they grow because of it.


.

I actually think it's funny how some people just naturally assume the OP was some egomaniacal troll...

funny how some people just naturally assume the OP was some egomaniacal troll...

The word troll is too often used here both defensively and offensively by lazy or entrenched "thinkers" who when challenged with a different way of thinking or expressing (as opposed to different viewpoints), wither and cry "Foul! We don't wish to connect any dots or think non-linearly." Note: this is far from the majority of posters, but common enough.

The word troll is too often used here both defensively and offensively by lazy or entrenched "thinkers" who when challenged with a different way of thinking or expressing (as opposed to different viewpoints), wither and cry "Foul! We don't wish to connect any dots or think non-linearly." Note: this is far from the majority of posters, but common enough.

As for the pussies who are afraid to speak their minds, I say:

Thank god for the pussies. Makes the rest of us look good.

We're a funny species. We have no problem respecting someone for their physical superiority, whether it be a football player, a baseball player, an Olympic athelete ... But demonstrate intellectual superiority and that would be about the time the Hoo-Hah hits the fan. No one wants to feel stupid. We learn that at school. Between parents and teachers constantly pushing for better results, a lot of people learned to hate intellect.

So if there is no ultimate proof that can be offered online, how is an intelligent person having difficulty dealing with less intelligent people supposed to ask a question without mentioning that he or she is more intelligent than those they've encountered?