The other day a dear friend, who shall remain nameless, randomly said to me that I was smarter then I let on - or something to that affect. It got me to thinking about what I "let on" about myself. I will admit that I play dumb from time to time, it comes in handy with boys you don't want to date and confrontational conversations that you don't want to face. I am hoping that at least one reader knows what I am talking about and that they do the same. Otherwise, I'm different and well, so be it. Regardless of all of that I immediately took it as an insult. I mean, "let on" implies that I am intentionally coming across as unintelligent. I don't think that I intentionally do it, which makes me wonder how the world perceives me. A quote that I like is, "What other people think of you is none of your business." I have no clue who said this. Since I like this quote I feel I am not really allowed to wonder what other people think of me.
Anyway, seeing as hypocrisy is something I just can't avoid, I e-mailed this friend yesterday to discuss what she had said to me, because I know she didn't mean it to hurt my feelings or to be taken the wrong way. She was just the first person to ever say something like that to me. She wrote back that what she meant was that I was more intelligent then I portray. She also said that in large groups I like to make lots of jokes, but in smaller groups I have deeper conversations. That got me thinking, how many comedians do you think are intelligent? I'm sure that they all are, but if you were asked to think of intelligent people, how many would come to mind right away?
In the end I think I have come to cope with the fact that my "intelligence" has surprised her and probably has surprised many of my friends in the past who just never said anything. I guess that is just something I will have to deal with, as I would prefer to be considered funny over being considered intelligent (and let's throw in rational because let's be honest, playing irrational is so much fun). Suddenly I feel like an ogre and an onion with my many smelly layers that make you cry. You know, not everybody likes onions.*
9 comments:
*Shrek
Maybe your friend just saw you as intelligent about certain things and then on further evaluation realized that you are intelligent across the board. Its just a thought! Either way, I am sure your friend was very impressed!
I know I am! :o)
Ha! Thanks! 10 points for getting the blog bucks IN the entry. Title is still free game for anyone who knows it.
is it hard rain? I feel like I know the answer to this one but I am not sure which movie its from...Do I get negative points for a guess?
I get your guy comment. I see where she was coming from. However I was not surprised by your intelligence because I do the same type of thing (except I am not funny like you)so people are always surprised about me. I can name a few people that do this besides us. You are not alone in the secret weapons of personality traits and mental greatness.
PS - Most comedians are extremely smart.
Seriously :) That's what I was saying about the comedians. I bet tons of them are really smart, but they wouldn't be who you first think of.
Uh, I think you - and all of your commenters - are super smart. Otherwise, I wouldn't be caught dead with you people.
Just kidding.
One of my very favorite comedians is Robin Williams. Who is super dirty, unfortunately, but man, is that man smart. He speaks like 5 languages & went to Julliard. But loves potty humor. Go figure.
P.S. I've always thought you were smart AND funny. See? You can be both.
let me tell you a story. all the time, and by all the time i mean two of my close guy friends have told me that they think of me as "just fun." SOOOO insulting. b/c obviously i'm more than just fun (though, i'm not one to deny that i am indeed a good time). in all actuality there are lots of way as i would describe me before i said fun or funny. to me i first see myself as hard working, smart, fiercely loyal and straight forward... and then funny. for a long time i was very confused about why two of my very closest friends saw me as being just fun and not deep but i realized it was because they were my fun friends. we were never in situations together where they saw the other sides of me... they don't come to work with me, they weren't with me on bad days when i wasn't fun, they weren't there when i was dealing with things other than having fun. anyway the moral of the story is that people will only see you as the things they have seen you as. because really it's not that often that we sit down with our casual friends, and some times our closer than casual friends, and have real meaningful discussions about things that are important. and that is my story on why people say things like that. pretty much, it's not you... it's them. :)
-e
ps sorry for leaving the world's longest comment. :(
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