Comments on: Smart, Smart, Smart http://hillmanfamily.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/smart-smart-smart/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:59:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: mark http://hillmanfamily.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/smart-smart-smart/#comment-89 mark Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:34:17 +0000 http://hillmanfamily.wordpress.com/?p=56#comment-89 I think it's safest to *always* approach our blog with caution. Because you never know.... I think it’s safest to *always* approach our blog with caution. Because you never know….

]]> By: hillmanfamily http://hillmanfamily.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/smart-smart-smart/#comment-88 hillmanfamily Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:18:32 +0000 http://hillmanfamily.wordpress.com/?p=56#comment-88 I know, it's a stupid argument. I also know that I am smart enough to be fairly annoyed by people more often than I would like, and, I don't really want that for my children. (Maybe that speaks to a different flaw in my character than intelligence... hmm.) And, "pretty" doesn't necessarily mean "stupid"... P.S. Do you think you could talk your wife into adding a warning label to some of her posts...? I am horrified for the experience of her friend, but, I really don't need to be reading stuff like that right now. I know, it’s a stupid argument.

I also know that I am smart enough to be fairly annoyed by people more often than I would like, and, I don’t really want that for my children. (Maybe that speaks to a different flaw in my character than intelligence… hmm.)

And, “pretty” doesn’t necessarily mean “stupid”…

P.S. Do you think you could talk your wife into adding a warning label to some of her posts…? I am horrified for the experience of her friend, but, I really don’t need to be reading stuff like that right now.

]]> By: mark http://hillmanfamily.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/smart-smart-smart/#comment-87 mark Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:16:31 +0000 http://hillmanfamily.wordpress.com/?p=56#comment-87 I know how much you hate being wrong, but I'm going to post anyway. :) I always keep in mind a quote attributed to Ashley Judd, in which she states that her parents never praised her for being pretty (and God knows they could have. Whew!). Instead, they'd always praise her for being smart. As you allude to here, it's a matter of a parent instilling in a child the proper perspective. Good things happen to you in your life not because of how you look, but because of how you treat others. This is a stats problem. There's always going to be a percentage of any given pool of human beings who are self-centered and/or evil, whether they're pretty or smart. I'd rather see an increase in the pool of smart people than pretty people (though I don't advocate an overall population increase). That'll mean an increase in selfish smart people, of course, but it'll also increase the number of smart people who go on to do good with their brains. People who are only pretty are useless, and once their beauty fades (as it will), they're left with nothing. Marilyn Monroe, anyone? Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life. Also, I'd run -- not walk -- from the office of any Ob/Gyn or pediatrician who touted studies about IQ. What a sham. A 30-point IQ difference amounts to the difference between flipping burgers at Hardee's and flipping burgers at Wendy's, if IQ meant anything in the first place. Lastly, in answer to the whereabouts of smart people who ignore the lure of money and pursue the betterment of society, here's a pretty good list: http://www.ted.com/ For starters. It's a *slightly* longer list than that of former Miss Universe Pageant winners who've done anything useful. I know how much you hate being wrong, but I’m going to post anyway. :)

I always keep in mind a quote attributed to Ashley Judd, in which she states that her parents never praised her for being pretty (and God knows they could have. Whew!). Instead, they’d always praise her for being smart. As you allude to here, it’s a matter of a parent instilling in a child the proper perspective. Good things happen to you in your life not because of how you look, but because of how you treat others.

This is a stats problem. There’s always going to be a percentage of any given pool of human beings who are self-centered and/or evil, whether they’re pretty or smart. I’d rather see an increase in the pool of smart people than pretty people (though I don’t advocate an overall population increase). That’ll mean an increase in selfish smart people, of course, but it’ll also increase the number of smart people who go on to do good with their brains. People who are only pretty are useless, and once their beauty fades (as it will), they’re left with nothing. Marilyn Monroe, anyone? Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life.

Also, I’d run — not walk — from the office of any Ob/Gyn or pediatrician who touted studies about IQ. What a sham. A 30-point IQ difference amounts to the difference between flipping burgers at Hardee’s and flipping burgers at Wendy’s, if IQ meant anything in the first place.

Lastly, in answer to the whereabouts of smart people who ignore the lure of money and pursue the betterment of society, here’s a pretty good list:

http://www.ted.com/

For starters. It’s a *slightly* longer list than that of former Miss Universe Pageant winners who’ve done anything useful.

]]>