When Did You Realize You Weren't As Smart As You Thought?

Great question, and a nice story (did you ever tell your Dad it was the best favour he ever did you?)
My first recollection is being about 10 and trying to figure out how to make a crossbow trigger mechanism. It was just beyond me, I had neither the knowledge, skills, appreciation of materials nor the internet to help me.
But I can do it now.
Although having said that, current regulations for using a crossbow at an NFAS field shoot require a safety catch which comes on automatically as the bow is cocked and I havn't designed/made one of those yet, and I don't want to look it up on the internet as that would spoil the fun. (I'll have a peek once I've worked it out myself).
After that the next big instance was trying to figure out girls.
But I still can't do that, but Mrs Cat has figured out how to deal with me, so that's ok.
Del

Yes, I did thank him.

I was a big headed bird that thought my nest was safe. I was wrong. He was right.

When he passed, we were friends.

GA otha, that is the exact spirit of the thread.

I thinks that some don't want to remember that day.

Everyone's had a big slice of humble pie at some point, let's hear it.

It is a big watershed moment in your life when you find that your kids are getting better than you at things. I finally had to concede running speed to the kids last year, at the tender age of 52, although this wasn't helped by a torn ACL and meniscus on the hockey pitch. On a more intellectual level, particularly regarding maths and science, I realized four or five years ago that my eldest son (currently studying maths and philosophy at Oxford) knew a lot more than me, and was worth consulting on all manner of things.

But the biggest hit was shortly after I got married 23 years ago when I discovered that, not only was my wife much smarter than me, but she was always right!

Ha......she didn't tell you that going in? Mine either.

Sometimes I'm wrong when I'm not doing anything...............well, maybe I'm on CR4.

I just didn't notice the 3 lbs she lost because she was wearing a sweater.

About an hour ago!
I put and router bit in my pillar drill (drill press for you US guys) but I didn't get it central in the 3 jaw chuck.
Del
_{(I'm typing this with one finger 'cos it ripped the other 3 off... just kidding)}

Maybe you wanted a larger bore than the only bit available to you, and inventive as you are, tightened it excentrically. I wonder if you still have the calculations for the excentricity to get the right hole diameter.

I never have realized that I'm not as smart as I thought I was.

You know that might be what's wrong with my life.

Nice

I was raised to be completely honest and I guess it suits my character and is the way I am and like to be. The trouble is, I also went out into the world, merrily assuming that everyone else was equally honest. This resulted in some whopping servings of humble pie.

Although I know my failings and even how to employ 'coping strategies', you cannot live in a world without trusting someone at some time. The sad part is, I have learned again and again, that there is always another serving of that damn pie waiting for me.

The worst mistake you can make is to assume that your opponent thinks like you. But this is the easiest mistake to make in dealing with others.

So tell me, if you can't have your cake and eat it too, how come you can have your pie over and over again?

I was raised the same way....................they didn't tell me that a lot of others weren't.

Once you eat that pie enough times you start learning sayings like, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger".

That's a great story. I'm not allowed to think about my ex wife, my eyes might explode.

It's amazing how the guy that seems the most humble, also happens to be the smartest guy in the room. There is no degree for that kind of smart.

He sounds like a great guy. Judging from your screen name, I'd say he passed on a little of that not so smart gene.

Thanks.

As for the (X), the party still ain't over. The kids try to avoid her (I have primary custody), and the county courthouse is like a second home sometimes.

Did I forget to mention that He was also a semi-pro football player? He played for the NY Titans (now known as the Jets). Never really talked much about that either but I understand that the LA Rams tried to drag him away before he left to take care of the family.

Hang in there. I went to that party.........got the hat and T shirt. My kids from that time are now 30 and 26. The best advice I can give you, is to love your kids, and don't talk trash about their mom. (As tempting as it may be).

Wow! You got to keep a hat and a "T" shirt? I need to talk to to your lawyer! I was lucky to get a used keychain.

Seriously though, I would never bad mouth their mother. And it is tempting, especially when they tell me the things that she has to say about me and my family. The kids are smart enough to understand what's going on and aren't afraid to tell me that they know mommy is bad (I just try to tell them that "she just doesn't feel well sometimes and didn't mean to say/do that.")

Good job. It does end.

Wow with an attitude like that........Good for........dad.

He did you a favor.

He sure did! It took me years to realize it.

I used to be a smarta$$. Now I'm just an a$$.

A happy a$$ though.

not too uncommon, you have kids of your own?

Good idea for a thread Mark. I had several such realizations and still have the "peter principle"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Principle

hit home at times. My worst case and the one I think of first was this:

I used to be a fanatical chess player. I had games set up everywhere including one in my car, the little magnet ones. I played against myself and used any spare minute to come up with solutions. I even started playing for money and had a few encouraging income prospects.

One day I was sitting in a Cafe were chess was played and a young lad, maybe 13 or 14 wondered if he could have a game with me. I sort of accepted and we started playing. It did not take long and my arrogance was punished. He won, hands down. I sat up straight and wanted a rematch. You guessed it, he won again and I had really wanted to teach him a lesson.

Now me being very stubborn at times, I asked for a third game and by now had people watching the slaying of the dragon. You guessed it again I lost, three times in a row, unheard of. I congratulated the boy and thanked him.

Bottom line? I was healed and never played chess again and only very occasionally play it nowadays and this was over 30 years ago. Yippee, I was healed of this masochistic game.

Anyone want to give it a go? , Ky.

Great story. That's some pretty obsessive chess playing.

Speaking of young kids. If you ever really want to feel dumb, uncoordinated, inept, etc., all rolled into one.......try playing one of these new video games that are out with some kid.

I think the last time I tried it, 5-6 years ago, it was some xbox karate game or something. The little SOB beat me to a pulp about 15 times before I even figured out how to duck. I won't even pick up one of those controllers anymore if someone's kid challenges me to a game.

So...........you never lost a game of chess while playing by yourself?

So...........you never lost a game of chess while playing by yourself?

No, never. It was more to train the ability to dissect and interpret a situation and when you start hitting a clock like your life depends on it, you know your in trouble.

Here is another one.

During the period where texting and mobiles came in I was in complete denial. I had no interest at all and no need to and did not participate in such mundane things as walking the streets or sitting in a bus or train and pretend to be the important one. It looked childish to me and still does really.

I had no idea about texting and was watching these kids or people and thought that they were trying to dial a number and must have problems connecting. Once I said to a kid "If you can't get through now why don't you try a bit later when the lines are not so busy".

The look on that kids face? PRICELESS Mate. He never even bothered to explain. Only later did I recognize the "thumbering" as texting. Computer games? I don't even try, besides, I have, there are so many real things to be in play with nowadays.

I'll let you know if and when I ever beat myself at anything, that'll be the day, Ky.

I'm sure the kid was thinking......He's so old, I'm not even going to bother explaining.

I hear you, I am completely out of the loop on texting, tweeting, twittering......all that stuff. I can tell you right now, that I will never learn, or be interested in it either. We might seem old............but that stuff is just dumb as far as I'm concerned.

Using a telephone to type on little tiny keys rather than make a call.......I'll never get it.

Maybe there will be need for medication? For people suffering from the "Thumberitotis Syndrom".

Yeah, that look on the face of the kid. It felt like Homer Simpson was being looked at. I remember well when my dad told me to stop listening to that jungle music (Jimi Hendrix), hence I know it all comes in waves and forever. Progress will never be able to jump 3 generations at once.

Heart decides, Ky.

I love Hendrix. Also spent a lot of my misguided youth at Grateful Dead shows. My Dad didn't like any of it..............of course, he didn't like the Beatles either. I think he may have been a little musically challenged.

Then again, the rap music and stuff today's kids are listening to, sounds like complete rubbish to me........I don't know how they can call it music.

Yeah that's the three generational wave. Only a few will be listened to before or after the fashions change.

Here is another one of my not as smart as thought:

I was backpacking in the early seventies and landed on Sardinia next to Korsika, Mediterranean. Rucksack and guitar case sort of stuff. I was down and out sitting in some cafe and having an espresso and a glass of water. It was a large paved area and two tables down an older couple with sunglasses where enjoying a day in the sun.

Any way I indicated to the waiter that I'm leaving my change on the table and wanted to walk off. He said that the couple two tables down had already paid for me. I thanked them and we got talking. What else but about about Music. I had a go at it and claimed I was the best thing since Cat Stevens. Gosh did I brag and gave some instant display of what I could do on a guitar.

OK, here is the short version: It was Herbert von Karajan and his wife. I had not recognized them because of the sun glasses.

Say no more, because I died that day, Ky.

That's rough.

Speaking of backpacking, prior to the story in my OP. I not only thought I was smart, but very worldly.

Back in 78 between junior and senior year of high school I had some money saved, and thought I'd go out and see the world. After only telling a few people, I left my tiny town in the NE and bought a one way ticket to San Francisco, California.

I spent a month out there as a transient, just a small backpack. Hitchhiked all the way down the coast, sleeping on the beach, in parks......wherever. For the most part it was alright, but had some pretty scary brushes, including finding myself in the middle of gang territory down in LA and witnessing an actual, (very bloody), gang fight.

That was one of the times that I came to the realization, that, not only was I not very smart...........I also was not a tough guy.

The day I realized that average IQ is the recipe for success and happiness for that matter. Since then I stopped blaming general stupidity for my problems. Also stopped struggling to make my views comprenhendable by others. Think it works like charm!(LOL)

Good post.
My Brother used to say it's better that people think you stupid and then be pleasantly surprised rather than they think you intellingent and are dissapointed.
I gotta admit I can be a bit arrogant and I don't suffer fools gladly, but when I'm wrong I have no problem admitting it and I'm happy to learn.
Our big brain is both a curse and a blessinging, I dunno if other mammals suffer from depression and mental illness the way we do?
Del

Good thread. I share the need to be honest and couldn't understand how some others could do the logical equivalent of adding two and two and swearing that the answer was five. I realized later, after I discovered the Myers-Briggs personality types that they may even believe that five is the answer. When I was in training camp for my National Service, I beat the IQ test with time to spare; when I saw the personnel selection officer, he said, "Highly intelligent, I don't think we'll make you an officer." I thought this hilarious but as I had no intention of being an officer, no problem. In my last six months in the army, I worked with a warrant officer, and he told me the problem with rational people being in charge is that they are hampered by focusing on the missing inputs; people in charge need to be able to focus on what they do have and make decisions on that basis. It certainly fits me, I designed foundations and structures, you can't do that without all of the inputs.

Generally, I sell myself short, It took me years to realize that I wasn't going to start a new job and find everyone there to be more clever, more knowledgeable, etc. Nevertheless, I had my moments. I started work as a clerk in the drawing room, in the structural group, when I was a sixteen year old know-it-all, they took me around the boards to introduce me to the designers and drafters. Kass Muir was designing and drawing a concrete cooling tower, they told me it was an elliptic hyperboloid and that he was reinforcing it with straight reinforcing bars. I knew they always tricked kids who were just starting work, so I told them to, "Pull the other leg. it's got bells on".

This is an elliptic hyperboloid, (Wiki Link for details):

I knew they always tricked kids who were just starting work,

But didn you know what they were talking about, or just assumed the missing with you

I realize it every day of my 76 years.

Indeed, I have this recurrent experience, too.

So I learn something more, and then still fancy I know more than I really do. That's one reason why drawings, calculations, and scientific reports are always subject to further checking (by overlings and underlings alike).

It's a never-ending process, sort of like Sisyphus and his rock. And a continuing education.

You're a naughty child.

Its a case to case basis, actually. Yours is different than mine.

My mess before when I was in college-was, I made my girlfriend pregnant and taking the full responsibility to be a father to my son.

Well, I thought I was not smart that time, but as times goes by, I can feel, I was wrong, thinking, it was not a smart decision.

It's because, its the hard times that I've passed through that made me realized-"Ohh, if I was not that smart enough, I would have not made it this far".

It is then that I realized "damn, yes, I am a smart guy" Agree? in fairness- life is good so far, with kids & wife, (ahhm ex's & future wives not included)joke

And this I found IQ - Interest Quotient