# Who is the smarter, stronger, or more clever character? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 2, 2025, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516 "2025-04-02T12:54:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/161 "2025-04-06T15:37:24Z")
HA!!! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/162 "2025-04-06T15:52:07Z")
Mailmen, which will annoy you the most or the least? **Cliff Clavin** of Cheers, **Sam Drucker** of Green Acres, **Newman** of Seinfeld or **[Ruth-Anne Miller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth-Anne_Miller)** of Northern Exposure. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/163 "2025-04-06T15:55:37Z")
I’ll go with Sam, but he doesn’t deliver, so he is more of a post office attendant. (Same with Ruth-Anne, but wasn’t she kind of a busybody?) ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/164 "2025-04-06T16:55:02Z")
Excuse me, sir, but Mr. Drucker is the local **Postmaster** , a much more prestigious title. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/165 "2025-04-06T17:19:22Z")
I’ve never seen Northern Exposure, but of the other three, I guess Sam Drucker would be the least annoying. That said, none of them inspire me with a great deal of confidence that I’m going to get my mail. Well, I mean, Sam might happen to find a letter for me thirty years after it fell back behind his desk. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/166 "2025-04-06T17:45:30Z")
I think Cliff was good about delivering the mail. Newman seemed less reliable. Cliff to me was the most annoying, but Newman is quite possibly evil. Ruth-Anne would probably be the least annoying to me. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/167 "2025-04-06T17:50:54Z")
Newman was incredibly unreliable > NEWMAN: (Stands up) Too many people go their mail! Close to 80%. No body from the post office has ever cracked the 50% barrier! It’s like the 3-minute mile! I don’t have to talk to Cliff if he’s my mailman. I do have to talk to Sam to pick up my mail. Advantage: Cliff ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/168 "2025-04-06T17:52:04Z")
I haven’t seen either Cheers or Seinfeld recently, so from memory of years ago: I recall Cliff, perhaps mistakenly, as having a vibe of incompetence at being able to deliver mail correctly. I recall Newman as just being sheer ornery lazy on the job and hiding piles of mail so he wouldn’t have to go to the trouble of delivering it. If I’m misremembering, I’m happy to be corrected. I’ve just finished a Green Acres binge, though, so I stand by what I said about Sam. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/169 "2025-04-06T19:31:28Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > I haven’t seen either Cheers or Seinfeld recently, so from memory of years ago: I recall Cliff, perhaps mistakenly, as having a vibe of incompetence at being able to deliver mail correctly. I recall Newman as just being sheer ornery lazy on the job and hiding piles of mail so he wouldn’t have to go to the trouble of delivering it. If I’m misremembering, I’m happy to be corrected. Cliff is an incompetent blowhard, but at least he means well. Newman, though… he’s pure evil. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/170 "2025-04-06T19:41:14Z")
Willie Lumpkin for the win, if you can stand the ear-wiggling. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/171 "2025-04-06T19:43:06Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Cliff is an incompetent blowhard, but at least he means well. Newman, though… he’s pure evil. Almost wish a T-Rex would eat him. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/172 "2025-04-06T19:43:45Z")
Would you settle for a pack of Dilophosauruses? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/173 "2025-04-06T19:43:45Z")
Bugs Bunny vs Superman (or, really, any character ever). Bugs is indestructible and _always_ wins once you’ve pissed him off enough and he comes for you. One way or another, Bugs will outsmart his opponent and humiliate them. Every time. ETA: Not sure if Bugs or Road Runner would win. Sort of an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/174 "2025-04-06T19:49:11Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Bugs is indestructible and _always_ wins once you’ve pissed him off enough and he comes for you. Unless you’re a turtle. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/175 "2025-04-06T19:52:16Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > One way or another, Bugs will outsmart his opponent and humiliate them. Every time. Dude! [I’m right here.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare_Brush?wprov=sfti1) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/176 "2025-04-06T19:54:03Z")
Sean Dillon over James Bond. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/177 "2025-04-06T19:59:20Z")
Are you including Tara King or Venus Smith in that scenario? 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/178 "2025-04-06T20:01:58Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Bugs Bunny vs Superman (or, really, any character ever). > > Bugs is indestructible and _always_ wins once you’ve pissed him off enough and he comes for you. One way or another, Bugs will outsmart his opponent and humiliate them. Every time. [Oh, yeah? Him and what army?](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_Rabbit) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/179 "2025-04-06T20:06:27Z")
Quentin McHale might have fewer scruples than Jonas Grumby, and Charles Parker might be as bumbling as Willy Gilligan, but the first pair never lost a boat and wound up on a desert island! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/180 "2025-04-06T20:12:10Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Dude! [I’m right here.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare_Brush?wprov=sfti1) > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Oh, yeah? Him and what army? I have no doubt that if we got a sequel to these Bugs would make a prison break and then get his revenge. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516.md?page=10)