# Ask the guy who is not particularly bright about most things, but is in certain ways suprisingly so. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 7, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952 "2014-11-07T04:10:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/1 "2014-11-07T04:10:47Z")
Amusement thread. Ask Away. I’m pharmacoholically prepared. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/2 "2014-11-07T04:14:14Z")
What _does_ the fox say? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/3 "2014-11-07T04:19:49Z")
Well, I hoped to stick to personal judgements mostly, but if I recall it was a “Ky Ky Kee ka Ky Ky kee” kind of thing. Intended as a lark to show what you could get away with in pop music. So, tell me a little about yourself or a situation that’s come up with you, and I’ll judge it with my full attention and empathy. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/4 "2014-11-07T05:12:22Z")
1. How do you know that you are not particularly bright about most things? Did you get that formally assessed? Are you going by other people’s opinions? Is this something you concluded yourself by thinking about how you wish you could do what other people can do? People are notoriously bad at judging their own abilities - in fact, research shows that more ignorant people tend to rate themselves higher than competent people. 2. In what ways are you “surprisingly” bright? Would you consider yourself significantly tilted in terms of ability in an “idiot-savant” manner? E.g. maybe you are great at learning languages but you suck at math. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/5 "2014-11-07T05:14:19Z")
What is best in life? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/6 "2014-11-07T05:18:15Z")
How do you deal with the crippling fear that there are no certainties in life and everything you believe is wrong and that probably makes you a bad person? I’m asking for a friend. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/7 "2014-11-07T06:07:31Z")
What would you do in a hypothetical situation? Where are the Snowdens of yesteryear? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/8 "2014-11-07T06:24:07Z")
How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/9 "2014-11-07T07:15:36Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man? 37 ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/10 "2014-11-07T07:19:01Z")
In what ways are you particularly bright? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/11 "2014-11-07T13:01:43Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > 1. How do you know that you are not particularly bright about most things? Did you get that formally assessed? Are you going by other people’s opinions? Is this something you concluded yourself by thinking about how you wish you could do what other people can do? People are notoriously bad at judging their own abilities - in fact, research shows that more ignorant people tend to rate themselves higher than competent people. Basically, a lifetime of reflection. I used to think I was particularly bright about most things, then I observed people who are authentically bright, and then I became aware of how people overestimate their own abilities, and I sort of calibrated from there. Suffice to say that most people who are authentically bright are not going to talk to you on a message board, so I am willing to play that role for you here and now. > [@](#): > > 1. In what ways are you “surprisingly” bright? Would you consider yourself significantly tilted in terms of ability in an “idiot-savant” manner? E.g. maybe you are great at learning languages but you suck at math. “You are much smarter than you look” is a comment I get a lot. I’m good at being an all-around knower of things, so I excel in providing useful perspectives on things. I have a few strong areas, but If I were to claim to be an expert in any one thing, 90% of you would believe me, and 10% of you would crush me. So for the purposes of this thread, just ask questions and I’ll answer them, and you can judge for yourself whether your time was wasted. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/12 "2014-11-07T13:05:20Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > How do you deal with the crippling fear that there are no certainties in life and everything you believe is wrong and that probably makes you a bad person? > > I’m asking for a friend. This is an excellent and surprisingly common question. If you are unable to achieve religious belief and do not have access to a qualified philosopher, then the answer is drugs. Ideally a physician would prescribe something for anxiety and/or depression, but failing that, a marijuana habit is a fairly harmless alternative. If you don’t plan to live a long time and can get to a grocery store without driving, then look into alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/13 "2014-11-07T17:00:42Z")
Moving to MPSIMS, it seems to fit in justttt a bit better there. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/14 "2014-11-07T17:28:00Z")
A girl told me she was through with me, “for good this time”. But she still follows me on instagram, my LinkedIn daily e-mail says she recently viewed my profile, and she has friend requested several of my friends on facebook. What’s that all about? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/15 "2014-11-07T18:26:21Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man? > [@njtt](#): > > 37 BZZZZZT! Obviously the correct answer is 42. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/16 "2014-11-07T18:44:35Z")
What is your name? What is your quest? What is the wing speed of a laden sparrow? Why do some people sign their posts? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![yawuntz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a5b964/32.png) [@yawuntz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawuntz)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/17 "2014-11-07T18:54:32Z")
Where can I get my poodle clipped in Burbank? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/18 "2014-11-07T19:38:02Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > A girl told me she was through with me, “for good this time”. But she still follows me on instagram, my LinkedIn daily e-mail says she recently viewed my profile, and she has friend requested several of my friends on facebook. > What’s that all about? She is not through with you for good this time. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/19 "2014-11-07T19:46:47Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > BZZZZZT! Obviously the correct answer is 42. Obviously that’s the answer. The question is…what’s the _real_ question? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952/20 "2014-11-07T20:12:55Z")
How many inches in a light year? A light leap year? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-not-particularly-bright-about-most-things-but-is-in-certain-ways-suprisingly-so/703952.md?page=2)