- When they take the time to filter through any possible misunderstandings in an argument by asking questions to help them better understand the idea that’s being presented, instead of immediately assuming their first interpretation of the argument is the correct one. Something that’s always bugged me is when my argument gets misunderstood, and then attacked from angles where supposed “errors” exist, when those errors rose out of the listeners own misinterpretation.
- When someone can admit a mistake and they know they don’t know everything
- They are ok with being perceived as “stupid” by asking questions – if we hold back in fear, we’ll never truly learn. Plus it’s a good way to show others it’s ok to question things if you don’t understand – better off if we’re on the same page instead of hoping things work out without being informed.
- I consider someone intelligent if they’re able to explain something incredibly complicated in simpler and more readily understood terms.
- They can adapt their communication style — vocabulary, tone, content, etc — to fit the situation and people they’re talking to, and it seems completely natural.
- Honestly, after reading their work, debates, talks, podcasts, discussions, arguing, etc, I noticed they often use conditions in their sentences that’s not absolute. There’s also this saying “only a fool talks in absolute”. They use: I think, many times, often times, usually, it’s possible, it could be IF …So it appears they talk as if “I can be wrong” or “based on what we know”. If you compare sentences so known unintelligent people they lack these conditions and voices absolutes only
- They ask really good questions and listen more than they talk
- Someone who can understand someone’s opposing view without having to agree with it or get angry over it.
- I find that highly intelligent people have the ability to think in complex hypotheticals while being nuanced. I find that Wise people have enough patience and forethought to consider longer term things and be considerate in ways that are hard to take into account.
- The ability to ask questions. They know what they know and are aware of what they don’t. But they are not threatened by knowledge they don’t have but rather excited about learning the new thing.
- They struggle with imposter syndrome. Dumb people always think they’re the tits.
- The ability to break things down simply.
- They’re very observant, sometimes reserved.
- They have a nuanced perspective and are able to articulate it well. They understand that things tend not to be black-and-white, but shades of gray, and they listen intently to others during a conversation.
- Being gracious when other people catch up to them. It means they’re very used to being in that situation and have realized that it’s not worth it to point out or make a big deal of being right in the first place.
- One thing I’ve noticed is that really intelligent people tend to be empathetic. They’ve quietly analyzed many situations and have thought critically about them.
- They don’t continually need to tell people how intelligent they are.
- They don’t argue with stupid people
- They pause to think about a novel question instead of instantly blurting out an answer. Sometimes people think it means they’ve been “stumped” and claim victory. No, they’re thinking, analyzing, and formulating a reply.
- I worked with a lad who was very like this. He could make any conversation really intriguing and thought provoking, often causing people to reconsider their perspective and position. He was a HR manager that could defuse any situation, helping people mend bridges and resolving issues because he could get both parties to compromise and put aside resentment. He had IQ and EQ to go a lot further than the role he was in but he was happy and maybe that is another little tid bit of intelligence.
- They explain complex topics by using metaphors and analogies.
- I usually find that creativity, humor, and verbal acuity are good signs of intelligence
- I generally see lack of empathy, low open-ness, and seeing the world in absolutes as signs of low intelligence. Also, I notice many socially inept people tend to consider themselves intelligent almost just because they’re socially inept and/or not good at sports. It’s as if their ego needs something to value themselves on so they assume they must be smart It’s entirely possible that the “other” guy in your life who makes you insecure is taller, stronger, more charismatic, AND smarter. Such is life
- People (especially tech people) will often conflate technical/domain knowledge with intelligence which is absolutely not always the case. Yes there is a bare minimum intelligence required to be an engineer etc, but being an awkward senior engineer doesn’t mean you’re just too smart for normies to understand and lack of a specific domain knowledge has fuck all to do with intelligence.