Originally posted by BOFH: Why is it that allegedly smart people associate intelligence with speaking ability? How many absolutely brilliant people do you know that can't speak in public.
of course that's not the only measure of intelligence. but whether you like it or not when you have a job as a public figure that requires you to be a good communicator then you best believe people will use your communication skills/speaking ability as some level of measurement on your intelligence. anyone who's ever negotiated a business deal or sat in a board meeting can vouch for that.
Of course, speaking ability is important, so is leadership. So perhaps we can agree that balance is key. You can be brilliant and yet not be even a good leader. You can have average intelligence, but be a really great leader. Personally, I believe leadership is a more important characteristic of a president than is intelligence.
Originally posted by BP:
Originally posted by BOFH: If you hold on to the idea that speaking ability is tied to intelligence, let's hear you get up and speak, and we'll judge if you are smarter than the president or not.
lol, i do that all the time. my job requires that i know what the heck i'm talking about and know how to communicate it. please don't deny that speaking ability is tied to intelligence at some level, everyone judges people in that manner! i don't proclaim to be the best public speaker, but if put on equal footing i bet i could read the state of the union address better than him! that may be because i have training in that area but this is the president we're talking about. he should have the best public speaking handlers in the universe!
I don't think I did deny that speaking ability is tied to intelligence. I think what I communicated was that being intelligent doesn't automatically result in speaking ability.
(Of course, comprehension is key too, understand? It is also important to not put words into the mouths or keyboards of another. Perhaps it is better to ask for clarification than it is to mis-characterize the words of another.)
Originally posted by BP:
Originally posted by BOFH: Really finally, (lol, I keep having these thoughts) I think some of the wisest people know when to keep their mouths shut.
yet everyone (including you) has something to say in this thread. keep in mind this is a discussion board?
Sure, I know that, and I'll admit that I didn't finish my thought. Apparently, you took my quip personally. What I should have said was that President Bush is pretty smart for having fewer press conferences since he admittedly trips over his own tongue from time to time.
But it appears to me that you want to take everything personally, so feel free to feel hurt. Just understand that you are hurting and attacking yourself, as I am not attacking you by this comment.
Originally posted by BP:
way to keep this discussion going guys, it's really entertaining even though some of you continue to take weak shot at me... *brushes shoulder off*
Finally, I think it's a sign of poor debate skills if one takes a shot at another. So I'll try to discuss the issues, but will take you to task if I feel you are mis-characterizing what I say. Disagree with the fact, but don't assign motives unless you are 100% sure you are right.
TB
"Seems like our society is more interested in turning each successive generation into cookie-cutter wankers than anything else." -- Jato 8/24/2004
keep in mind this is a discussion board?
