stupid is as stupid does

Smart Is As Smart Does?

Joshua Foer’s book Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everythingsuggests that grand chessmasters have only average cognitive skills for most things. Their analytical skills are not superior to other people’s abilities. Rather, their passion for chess and the hours they’ve spent practicing result in memories that can be accessed quickly. This super memory bank of data that they’ve accumulated from hours of practice is used to find the best move for any given chess situation. Here is an excerpt from Foer’s book at delanceyplace.com.

Forrest Gump didn’t have superior intelligence. In fact, his IQ of 75 was considered below average.

But Forrest did have passion for the things he did in life.

Forrest did spend hours practicing ping-pong to become a champion.
Forrest did work hard at the shrimpin’ business before becoming successful.

Malcolm Gladwell in Outlierssuggests it takes 10,000 hours to master a particular subject or skill.

So maybe smart is over-rated. Maybe hard work and passion are a lot more important then raw intelligence and cognitive skills.

How hard are you willing to work?
How passionate are you for your work?
How many hours are you willing to dedicate to master your life’s purpose?

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Next Blog Date: June 4, 2012

I Thought I Was Tricking My Mother

And I thought I was fooling my mother ? stupid is as stupid does!

When I was a boy attending elementary school, I’d fake an illness a few times a year so I could have a day off. I wasn’t really sick. But my loving mother would dutifully take my temperature, listen to my contrived coughs, and lovingly pat me on the forehead and tell me that she thought I was too sick to go to school.

YEAH! I tricked Mom and had a day off.

Years later, she told me she knew I wasn’t sick and she knew I was faking it. But she also said, “I knew you needed a day off.”

Better Words for Stupid

Stupid-Is-As-Stupid-Does

In my previous post?I gave reasons why being stupid can be a good thing. But it left the nagging issue that Forrest simply framed when he said, ?I didn?t want to be called stupid.? That is the problem ? nobody wants to be called stupid.

The challenge in attempting to rehab the word stupid lies in its definition. Stupid refers to a lack of ability, while ignorant refers to lack of knowledge.

The concept I attempted to share in Why ?Stupid is as Stupid Does? Can Be a Good Thing?is removing the stigma of not knowing. Besides being unpleasant to be around, know-it-alls stop themselves from learning because ? hey, they already know everything.

Forrest, while clearly slow, didn?t have any problem with the concept of learning. He was open to learning. He showed brilliance in many aspects of his life. Forrest didn?t totally lack ability.

So, if we accept that life is a journey of constant learning, then admitting our lack of knowledge actually empowers us to learn going forward. We?re all stupid! ? or more accurately, we?re all ill informed.

But once again, stupid isn?t a nice word. We need better words to describe our lack of knowledge and accept the opportunity to move toward enlightenment without the stigma of being stupid.

Here are five substitute words for stupid that I believe more gently describe the human condition and the desire to continually pursue knowledge.?

Why ?Stupid is as Stupid Does? Can Be a Good Thing

Stupid-Is-As-Stupid-Does-Mrs-Blue — Mrs. Blue: "Are you crazy, or just plain stupid?" Forrest: "Stupid is as stupid does, Mrs. Blue"

We all remember the famous line from the Forrest Gump movie: ?Stupid is as stupid does.? It?s repeated throughout.

When first used, it?s simply a retort that Mama Gump taught young Forrest to say to bullies who call him names. Consider it analogous to, ?Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.? It?s a gracious way to defuse fighting words.

As the movie progresses, Forrest uses the phrase in response to people who question his intelligence, his motives, and his actions.

Only once does Forrest acknowledge the hurt those words inflict on his psyche. It?s New Year?s Eve and the sleazy girls have just unceremoniously left Lt. Dan?s apartment. Forrest laments, ?[Lt. Dan] didn?t want to be called crippled, just like I didn?t want to be called stupid.?

So let?s state for the record that stupid is not a nice word. Calling someone stupid is mean spirited. Calling someone stupid hurts those who are labeled as such. Calling someone stupid is something parents teach children not to say.

Interestingly, one definition of stupid is ?proceeding from mental dullness.?

While I?m not advocating mental dullness, I will advocate proceeding ? I do advocate taking action ? and I strongly advocate making things happen.

It seems to me that too often action isn?t taken because we don?t have all the answers. Our mental acuity gets in the way of proceeding ? we demand answers before we?re willing to go forward.

So just maybe ? mental dullness can be our ally in getting things done.

Here is a list of reasons why stupid is as stupid does can be a good thing.

stupid is as stupid does

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