Thread: Smart, to be or not to be?

MY QUESTION: how does someone who isn't very smart become VERY smart? What should they do EXACTLY to acheive such a goal? If you consider yourself to be "very smart" then what did you do to become the way you are? Etc - please try to fill in the blanks yourself.

For example, would reading non-stop as classical music plays in the background help? What about exercise and the transportation of oxygen-rich blood to the brain? What about memory exercises? Etc.

So in closing, what would one have to do exactly if they chose to become as smart as they possibily can?

Thanks, and cheers!

One approach I've found works is to get a job where you don't know sod all about what you're supposed to be doing. You can only bluff for a few days, while teaching yourself the ropes. You might suddenly realize that in fact no one else knows what they're doing and you have become the smartest one around.

Yes, I do speak from experience. 8)

The old fashion ways. Good diet and exercise combined with good study habits about the subjects you're learning. Foster a love of learning that fills you idle times. Far too many people waste time doing passive boob-tube watching when they could doing actively learning, engaging in good conversation or working a challenging hobby etc.

Expand your vocabulary.

My question is: do you really want to be smart or do you want people to percieve that you are smart? In other words, is your motivation based on a genuine desire to learn new things or do you simply wish to impress other people?

If you simply desire for people to percieve you as such all you need to do is craftily limit your conversations to subjects you are familiar with and expand your vocabulary (as mentioned above). If you want to truly learn then read about the decline and fall of the roman empire, hox and fox genes, the renaissance, the selfish gene by richard dawkins, the origin of species, learn foreign languages, watch documentaries about important historical events...basically become an intellectually well-rounded person.

Originally Posted by gottspieler

My question is: do you really want to be smart or do you want people to percieve that you are smart? .

The latter can be quiet emberassing. I pretended to know alot about something i didnt once, and was accused of being a "Faux intellectual" or something. The fun ends when someone smarter than you looks straight through you.

Ive started learning japanese myself. And while memorizing Hiragana something strange happened. Ive noticed that at first i had problems memorizing just a few each day. Now i can memorize atleast 5 signs a day and with bigger ease.

So yeah, learning another language should help - atleast when it comes to memory.

I literally read Wikipedia for fun. Doesn't matter what about, just start reading an article. You'll find an interesting link in that one and so on and so on. I happened to fall in love with astronomy from doing just that and now I can confidently say I have a significant amount of space knowledge. You never know what you might come across and acquire a deep appreciation for!

Throw away your television. Seriously.

Originally Posted by danhanegan

Throw away your television. Seriously.

I did just that a few years ago and it actually helped a bit.

Hire a tutor to help you understand those things that you don't. By doing this you can ask questions about anything that the tutor knows and they will help you learn without making you feel ignorant.

Be open minded.That way you will not close your mind off to other possibilities.

Play a musical instrument .

Learn to listen.

Don't be smart.

Whatever it was the OP decided it worked because he never reposted.

Be yourself, you are special.

Live each day as it is your last and never stop thirsting for knowledge, even if it is outside your comfort zone. (like this forum is for me......)

Learn to laugh.

Learn to listen.

Learn compassion.

Always take the high road....yet don't be afraid to question if in doubt.

BE KIND

Pluck all Sir Ducky's feathers.

Originally Posted by babe

Be yourself, you are special.

Live each day as it is your last and never stop thirsting for knowledge, even if it is outside your comfort zone. (like this forum is for me......)

Learn to laugh.

Learn to listen.

Learn compassion.

Always take the high road....yet don't be afraid to question if in doubt.

BE KIND

Pluck all Sir Ducky's feathers.

….and on NO ACCOUNT waste your money on any American Self-Help books……...

Originally Posted by exchemist

Originally Posted by babe

Be yourself, you are special.

Live each day as it is your last and never stop thirsting for knowledge, even if it is outside your comfort zone. (like this forum is for me......)

Learn to laugh.

Learn to listen.

Learn compassion.

Always take the high road....yet don't be afraid to question if in doubt.

BE KIND

Pluck all Sir Ducky's feathers.

….and on NO ACCOUNT waste your money on any American Self-Help books……...

OR ANY OTHER COUNTRIES!!!!

*Laughing*

good one exchemist!

People are smart at the beginning. Then they start loosing teir IQ. For example, watching censored movies decreases your IQ. Meditation increases it.

Originally Posted by raising my hand

For example, watching censored movies decreases your IQ.

This sounds like some fascinating research results you have access to there. Can provide a reference?

And what effect does watching uncensored movies have? And does it make a difference who is doing the censoring? And whether it is political censorship? Or for religious, sexual, violence?

Originally Posted by raising my hand

People are smart at the beginning. Then they start loosing teir IQ. For example, watching censored movies decreases your IQ. Meditation increases it.

Is that like do you breathe in or out on your backswing?

Work on challenging your brain in new ways. Try cryptology, for example. This is when a message is written in codes and you try to figure it out. It's challenging for some, but after a while may even become enjoyable. All logic puzzles are great.
Do logic and lateral thinking puzzles. These help you explore new areas, and solve problems in different ways.
Practice crosswords and sudoku. These activities stimulate your mind and thought processes. People may not normally consider word searches thought-provoking, but if practiced in addition to other mind games, they could prove to be easy and stimulating.

Originally Posted by Matt85

MY QUESTION: how does someone who isn't very smart become VERY smart? What should they do EXACTLY to acheive such a goal? If you consider yourself to be "very smart" then what did you do to become the way you are? Etc - please try to fill in the blanks yourself.

For example, would reading non-stop as classical music plays in the background help? What about exercise and the transportation of oxygen-rich blood to the brain? What about memory exercises? Etc.

So in closing, what would one have to do exactly if they chose to become as smart as they possibily can?

Thanks, and cheers!

Take it from the Wizard and Scarecrow, get a diploma. Here's me, I've been thinkin' you could be another Lincoln if you only had a brain. Diploma, certificate, some type of official document that says you're proficient in just about anything is all it takes sometimes to impress a prospective employer. Do that and you just might feel smarter than that guy who just hired you.

Originally Posted by danhanegan

Throw away your television. Seriously.

I am intrigued, I was flicking through the replies to this thread and spotted yours. Do you not own a TV, if not, is your life richer for it, have you gained time and focus?

I can't answer for Dan but I haven't owned a TV since 2002. I read a lot more both for entertainment and the background reading required to keep up to date in my research. I also have more time for hobbies and courses/seminars to learn new things related to my work. I'd recommend it to anyone!

Originally Posted by raising my hand

People are smart at the beginning. Then they start loosing teir IQ. For example, watching censored movies decreases your IQ. Meditation increases it.

I like this post mr hand and so have quoted it in my general response to the first post. If you want to become smart then you must have a level of intelligence beyond the mediocre. If you didn't at least have the potential to get educated and become "smart" then you wouldn't have had the idea I the first place.

Originally Posted by uma_and_bill

If you want to become smart then you must have a level of intelligence beyond the mediocre.

Er um.
If you have a level of intelligence beyond the mediocre then aren't smart already?

Being smart is easy, learn to not be dumb.

memorize 78 pages of lines..and another 75 of music...and then recite them and sing them, while juggling props, dancing, and moving to designated spots without dropping or changing a word....

• Develop/endulge/foster your curiosity.
• Challenge your limits.
• Carry something to record notes (either notepad/pen or electronic is okay).
• Chain facts together using cause-and-effect; try to understand why something is.
• Try to understand the relationships between facts instead of simply memorize lists of facts.
• Try not to learn by using tricks (eg, Planet nearest hot Sun = stuff in thermometers = Mercury).
  (Actually, Mercury got its name from speedy god because of its quick motions due to Kepler's Third Law.)
• Associate with people (like us) who also want to learn; avoid people who will criticize you or call you a bookworm, egghead, etc. Your critics will be pumping gas 20 years from now.
• Get a comprehensive dictionary and thesaurus (either physical or electronic versions are okay).
• Comprehensive (world) almanacks are also very helpful (and no, I don't mean the Old Farmer's Almanack). Any recent year will do.
• Get a book of foreign phrases that are adopted by English-speakers.
• Don't be afraid to try to learn a foreign language.
• Never be afraid to ask; questions asked by beginners sometimes amaze and enlighten experts/teachers because beginners are less biased and tend to ask more original questions.

Originally Posted by Dywyddyr

Originally Posted by uma_and_bill

If you want to become smart then you must have a level of intelligence beyond the mediocre.

Er um.
If you have a level of intelligence beyond the mediocre then aren't smart already?

well yes but what I am saying is these people may not be educated yet or haven't had the idea yet or worked up the courage to take the leap. It's like they have the paint and the canvas but they haven't picked up the brush yet but sooner or later they will.

there are lots of educated people that are not intelligent and are in fact belligerent and ignorant which I have witnessed first hand(i do not have time for these people educated or otherwise) and many that are intelligent and a joy to be with. So I do not see education as a prerequisite for intelligence but take each person as they come

I have a theory as to what constitutes intelligence .Is it the ability to hold two ideas in the mind at the same time?

I have noticed that I struggle with this a bit when doing mental arithmetic and it made think about Reagan' remark about Gerald Ford - that he couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time.

I have also heard that it is a sign of intelligence to hold two opposing views .

So what about my idea that it as a good test of mental dexterity to be able to have one thought on hold whilst dealing actively with another?