The answer is simple. Montage.
Word. I went to MIT, so this species is not unknown to me. I gave up on Big Bang theory after about 8 shows because it was such crap.
Watch the movie “Real Genius” starring Val Kilmer. Now that is mostly true to life, if obviously a bit over the top. That is about the best depiction of genius in movies I know of, including biopics.
I am a Mensa* member. If you want to meet a few, Google “[your city or state] Mensa” to find the website of your local group. It should have the phone numbers of some of the officers, who can let you know about events in your area. Most chapters that I know of welcome guests, especially those that are considering becoming members.
- It’s “Mensa,” not “MENSA.” It isn’t an acronym, it’s a Latin word meaning “mind,” “month,” or “table;” appropriate for a round-table society that meets every month to share what’s on their minds. And as long as I’m on the subject, the S is soft, not hard like a Z.
I didn’t touch on this part, but here’s another thing about geniuses (as opposed to simply people who are thoroughly educated in their fields): they know when they don’t know things.
That means that geniuses will ask questions of, or defer to, an expert in subject matter the genius doesn’t know. The genius may offer suggestions or insight after asking their questions, but they won’t suck up all the smart in the room. So the answer to not making other people sound like idiots is to give them fields in which they are trained, and the genius is not. Let them determine facts from their individual fields, particularly facts the genius does not have the skills to acquire. (This comes back to geniuses not being automatic masters of stuff outside their specialties.) Once the facts are in, the genius may be the one to put the pieces together. Sometimes genius lies in asking the experts dumb questions.
To put it another way: Holmes should consult Watson about details of a case involving medicine and injuries, rather than knowing it all himself.
And in fact Holmes does consult Watson occasionally about medical matters.