Sound of Intelligence
Is it really hard to sound intelligent? Is putting together a relatively coherent sentence worthy of having it considered intelligent?
My second biggest fear is talking in front of people. To me, there seems to be a pressure to sound like you know what you are talking not matter the situation. During an informal conversation with friends, a presentation for a course, meeting with the boss, etc... Each situation has a margin of leeway but I try my hardest to sound like dullard. The reason I bring this up because I have been told that I "sound intelligent" when I speak. Maybe I am just not hearing it due the sound of my heart pounding in my chest thereby compromising my hearing.
I received this same compliment last night while talking with a friendly stranger. He seemed utterly impressed with my ability to converse without being droll. (Ok, I was really trying to be intelligent there. Was it affective?) I always thought my conversational skills were stunted due to my overcomsumption of television. (With America's Next Top Model, Amazing Race 7, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and the Real World on tonight, there will not be any talking...TO ANYONE!) I wonder if it is because I am black and the person/people I am talking with have a relatively low expectation on how I sound? Stringing together a series of proper words without the use of slang, and without seeming that I am putting on airs makes me seem intelligent -- for a black person? I am reading too much into it because I honestly don't feel this way.
So my questions is: should I just take the compliment with thinking too much about it? I used to chastise a friend of mine of over-thinking, but I am afraid that I am guilty of the same offence. I hope they will accept my apology. (You know who you are.)
My second biggest fear is talking in front of people. To me, there seems to be a pressure to sound like you know what you are talking not matter the situation. During an informal conversation with friends, a presentation for a course, meeting with the boss, etc... Each situation has a margin of leeway but I try my hardest to sound like dullard. The reason I bring this up because I have been told that I "sound intelligent" when I speak. Maybe I am just not hearing it due the sound of my heart pounding in my chest thereby compromising my hearing.
I received this same compliment last night while talking with a friendly stranger. He seemed utterly impressed with my ability to converse without being droll. (Ok, I was really trying to be intelligent there. Was it affective?) I always thought my conversational skills were stunted due to my overcomsumption of television. (With America's Next Top Model, Amazing Race 7, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and the Real World on tonight, there will not be any talking...TO ANYONE!) I wonder if it is because I am black and the person/people I am talking with have a relatively low expectation on how I sound? Stringing together a series of proper words without the use of slang, and without seeming that I am putting on airs makes me seem intelligent -- for a black person? I am reading too much into it because I honestly don't feel this way.
So my questions is: should I just take the compliment with thinking too much about it? I used to chastise a friend of mine of over-thinking, but I am afraid that I am guilty of the same offence. I hope they will accept my apology. (You know who you are.)
1 Comments:
First, you should never apologize for (over) thinking, as long as it doesn't impair your daily functioning. In response to your question, I don't think anyone can ever know for sure how they are perceived by others. Now, there is social psychological research literature on this topic. If you're really interested, the information is out there. Also, there is a greater issue that people have been debating for decades: what is intelligence and how is it defined? How would you define intelligence? Anyway, it sounds like you're not too concerned; so you shouldn't worry too much about it. It's interesting that you seem interested in this issue to some degree, which to me is an indication (one of many indications)that you are an intelligent person.
Take care!
By Mario, at 10:31 PM
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