Do clever people tend to be lazy?

[Urban Ranger]

That's the conclusion from my causal observaton over the years.

At uni the most intelligent students weren't at the top, though they certainly were up there at the first tier with their 3.x GPA.

At work the smartest people tend to do the minimium nessary to get by/a promotion/a raise/etc.

What do you think?

[Wernazuma III]

I'm not so sure about university and work, but it certainly holds true, as a general rule, in school intelligent pupils often have rather mediocre marks because they don't learn at all and still get by.

[Vince278]

I'd put a clever response here if I weren't so lazy.

[Zevico]

There is a tendency for smarter people to become bored of work they view as too easy and, as a result, not bother to do it (which then leads to laziness generally). Then again many people are lazy regardless of their intelligence level. I don't know if there is any marked increase in laziness as intelligence goes up.

[Hot Mustard]

Originally posted by Zevico
There is a tendency for smarter people to become bored of work they view as too easy and, as a result, not bother to do it (which then leads to laziness generally).

And I think this can often be attributed to the early school systems, which are geared for the lowest common denominator.

[Japher]

yes

I think that's why I'm an engineer... how to do the most with least amount of effort

most bang for the buck

I'm going into buisness

[Flubber]

and I think thats why being a lawyer suits me

They pay me to periodically tell them that "it depends"

[Japher]

is that your response to the OP?

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Flubber
and I think thats why being a lawyer suits me

They pay me to periodically tell them that "it depends"

So all your posting in the SMAC forum is simply keeping sharp in case they need you at work?

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Japher
is that your response to the OP?

Sure. But in lawyer mode I would give you the long version -- which is a definitive answer stated with authority but with so many qualifications, exceptions, footnotes etc that it probably means the oppoiste more often than not

[Japher]

are you that disclaimer reader guy at the end of car ads?!

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Sikander


So all your posting in the SMAC forum is simply keeping sharp in case they need you at work?

[Concise lawyer mode on]

yes and no


[Concise lawyer mode off]


Most of my posting in the Smac forum is "turn sent"

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Japher
are you that disclaimer reader guy at the end of car ads?!

nahh talking fast is too much work

[Sikander]

Originally posted by dejon

And I think this can often be attributed to the early school systems, which are geared for the lowest common denominator.

Absolutely. I found that because they didn't crank up the complexity of the problem sets in math courses that I'd tend to use a brute force method rather than whatever was being taught, as it was much faster for me and involved no scrawling with pencils. Eventually though I was the poorer for not having those techniques honed to a useful degree as real life easily loaded up all the complexity one could want, and more. Thus it is that many of my less intelligent classmates nonetheless were able to master various math skills that I still struggle with. This is why it's better to track students by ability (and if possible learning style) rather than giving them the "one size fits none" education.

[Pekka]

Maybe you're on to something. Where I'm at, the highest scores usually don't go to the smartest ones. The smartest ones do score above average, but they just can't be bothered. Or should I say at least they are more talented. THe highest scorers are usually hard workers.

Hard working is a good thing if you want to advance, however, when the lazy bums turn on the heat, they'll pass hard workers with flying colours so yeah, maybe the true 'elite' is kind of lazy, at least where I'm at.