# smartest? really? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 28, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601 "2011-05-28T21:49:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![schitlman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@schitlman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schitlman)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/1 "2011-05-28T21:49:57Z")
I am convinced that Isaac Asimov was in fact smarter than the amalgam (literally, a gold-mercury alloy) known as Cecil Adams. After reading a few hundred columns, I grudgingly admit that the Hydra - oops, I meant Cecil - may be smarter than me. I find myself relegated to the Number Three spot, which is fine because I’d rather not be Number Two, if you know what I mean… and I think you do. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/2 "2011-05-28T22:50:43Z")
The claim for Cecil is that he is the [world’s most intelligent human being.](http://www.straightdope.com/pages/faq/cecil) Inasmuch as Isaac Asimov has not been in the world in nearly 20 years, that claim is not contradicted by your assertion. It seems you will have to settle for Number Two after all. Life stinks sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/3 "2011-05-28T22:58:34Z")
It’s worse than that. Asimov himself said that Carl Sagan and Marvin Minsky were smarter than he was. And I’m smarter than Cecil. You’ll just have to try harder. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/4 "2011-05-28T23:22:49Z")
> [@schitlman](#): > > I am convinced that Isaac Asimov was in fact smarter than the amalgam (literally, a gold-mercury alloy) known as Cecil Adams. After reading a few hundred columns, I grudgingly admit that the Hydra - oops, I meant Cecil - may be smarter than me. I find myself relegated to the Number Three spot, which is fine because I’d rather not be Number Two, if you know what I mean… and I think you do. My… my God! It’s all so clear now! You’ve cracked the case! Thank you Mr. Holmes. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/5 "2011-05-28T23:33:59Z")
> [@schitlman](#): > > …amalgam (literally, a gold-mercury alloy)… Amalgam is an alloy of mercury and other metals, not limited to gold. The most common is probably silver, which is used in dentistry and also occurs naturally (albeit rarely). Looks like you might not get that number three spot after all. I’m not even sure you made the top ten. ---
**Author:** ![surrounded\_by\_literalists](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8baadc/32.png) [@surrounded\_by\_literalists](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/surrounded_by_literalists)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/6 "2011-06-07T22:43:00Z")
Carl Sagan was not only the smartest, but he was also the sexiest. Sorry, Cecil, but sometimes a girl needs a visual. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/7 "2011-06-07T22:51:46Z")
> [@surrounded\_by\_literalists](#): > > Carl Sagan was not only the smartest, but he was also the sexiest. Sorry, Cecil, but sometimes a girl needs a visual. Not according to [xkcd](http://xkcd.com/182/). ---
**Author:** ![schitlman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@schitlman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schitlman)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/8 "2012-08-28T03:55:07Z")
My goodness, such a firestorm of vitriol and contumely! I never dreamt that my innocent (but true) estimation of my powers and abilities would warrant so much attention. Re: Asimov, the masthead reads “World’s Smartest Human”, not “LIVING human”, so he STILL counts. As for Carl Sagan, also dead, my respect is great indeed - but having heard both him and Dr Asimov, I prefer Asimov. Thanks for the criticisms, and we’ll see you all on the Web. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/9 "2012-08-28T04:04:55Z")
Don’t get all full of yourselves. Mr. Peabody was smarter than all of you, and he was a dog. ---
**Author:** ![Freakenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b782af/32.png) [@Freakenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freakenstein)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/10 "2012-08-29T18:07:53Z")
> [@schitlman](#): > > I am convinced that Isaac Asimov was in fact smarter than the amalgam (literally, a gold-mercury alloy) known as Cecil Adams. After reading a few hundred columns, I grudgingly admit that the Hydra - oops, I meant Cecil - may be smarter than me. I find myself relegated to the Number Three spot, which is fine because I’d rather not be Number Two, if you know what I mean… and I think you do. ‘convinced’ - really smart people hardly make such strong statements, but instead use weasel words 'cause they ( we ) know the absolute truth can’t be known, I think ‘gold-mercury’ - nothing says not-smart clearer than showing off with false information ‘Isaac Asimov’ - like others said he disagrees with You on this point, do You think You know better than him ( i.e. You’re smarter than him - so what’s Your position again? ) ‘smarter than me’ - and You still disagree with Cecil? ‘Hydra’ - at least four definitions, none of them really describes Cecil. Did You meant he has nine heads ( which all are smarter than You ) or that he’s on a level of a polyp ( and still smarter than You )? ‘number two’ - dirty equivocality makes You look desperate ‘you do’ - Yep, 'cause We’re smarter than You are And this isn’t a comment to any column so it’s in the wrong forum. > [@schitlman](#): > > My goodness, such a firestorm of vitriol and contumely! I never dreamt that my innocent (but true) estimation of my powers and abilities would warrant so much attention. Re: Asimov, the masthead reads “World’s Smartest Human”, not “LIVING human”, so he STILL counts. As for Carl Sagan, also dead, my respect is great indeed - but having heard both him and Dr Asimov, I prefer Asimov. Thanks for the criticisms, and we’ll see you all on the Web. ‘vitriol and contumely’ - they were quite easy on You ‘I never dreamt’ - You obviously lack some savvy ‘smartest’ - there’s about a dozen definitions to this word, so there could about a dozen smartest humans ‘I prefer’ - it really isn’t about Your preferences ‘criticisms’ - this is just education ‘see you all’ - really? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/11 "2012-08-29T18:42:02Z")
> [@Freakenstein](#): > > And this isn’t a comment to any column so it’s in the wrong forum. It’s about Cecil, so it’s probably the right forum. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/12 "2012-08-29T18:44:02Z")
**schitlman** , the thing is, when you claim to be the smartest, you immediately get people trying to prove you wrong. Witness your response to Cecil’s claim. Ergo, you had to expect the responses you’re getting. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/13 "2012-08-29T18:57:30Z")
Sorry, I’m to bemused with the thought of Asimov doing a blog to comment on topic. Damn, that would have been nice. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/14 "2012-08-29T19:07:57Z")
> [@schitlman](#): > > I’d rather not be Number Two, if you know what I mean… and I think you do. Yet you chose the username **schitlman**. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/15 "2012-08-29T19:14:14Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > It’s worse than that. > > Asimov himself said that Carl Sagan and Marvin Minsky were smarter than he was. I seem to recall him saying something similar about Martin Gardner, as well. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/16 "2012-08-29T19:22:38Z")
Cecil isn’t smart because he knows more than everyone else; he’s smart because he knows where to get the answers. It’s no accident that he’s a librarian by profession. ---
**Author:** ![Freakenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b782af/32.png) [@Freakenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freakenstein)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/17 "2012-08-29T20:09:05Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > It’s about Cecil, so it’s probably the right forum. Maybe You are right, but I assumed it rather should have been in ‘About This Message Board’, because it isn’t about any particular column. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/18 "2012-08-30T19:21:48Z")
ATMB is more functional stuff. Fawning over Cecil goes in Columns. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/19 "2012-08-31T02:47:57Z")
It was stated so, by a Doper. I don’t remember the thread. So it turns out that, Dopers are the smartest of the lot. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601/20 "2012-08-31T15:31:39Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Cecil isn’t smart because he knows more than everyone else; he’s smart because he knows where to get the answers. It’s no accident that he’s a librarian by profession. Say what? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-really/583601.md?page=2)