tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post3673728818116134012..comments2024-02-08T00:23:56.145-08:00Comments on Write Stuff: The Socially Awkward GeniusMeradeth Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741790047121063893noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-90288920988081492482015-02-24T06:11:47.572-08:002015-02-24T06:11:47.572-08:00It is a huge stereotype going back as far as The N...It is a huge stereotype going back as far as The Nutty Professor, so hopefully it's run it's course.Maurice Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15338165486757095191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-24589254907218096082015-02-23T06:23:36.985-08:002015-02-23T06:23:36.985-08:00Labels of this kind serve no purpose UNLESS they a...Labels of this kind serve no purpose UNLESS they at least put us all on the same page for a conversation to start. The very fact that "socially awkward genius" is a label with the word social in it, to me simply means that the genius is social. Awkward is someone's perception.Patricia Weberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12808010116968226575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-69294947433804666572015-02-21T15:24:09.843-08:002015-02-21T15:24:09.843-08:00Well said, Meradeth! Sadly, I think people who la...Well said, Meradeth! Sadly, I think people who label smart people as also being weird are just blinded by false pretenses. But you know what? I also think they are intimated and this has become more of a universal thinking. <br />Not to venture off topic but I was bullied severely in junior high school and my first year of high school for being intelligent. I participated in all AP and Honors classes and was always extremely nice to my peers. However, my intelligence landed me in a terribly awkward bubble which only popularity and social acceptance would pop. <br />And guess what? It did. <br />I met an older guy who drove one of the hottest cars in my area through another guy I was dating at the time (they both didn't go to my school). Don't judge! It wasn't meant to be with the first guy but the man I fell in love with ended up being my high school sweetheart and best friend until he died several years ago. <br />When we began dating, the most popular girl in school befriended me since she wanted to bum rides to the roller rink and movie theatre each weekend. My social acceptance had finally happened and other peers finally saw I had another side to me other than just having my head in the books.<br />Smart people kick ass! And I know this because I am currently in an amazing relationship with a very smart, handsome man who's intelligence makes him even more sexy. Writers should totally take advantage of this new movement we can begin! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14498810090279251726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-34270897456492822982015-02-19T14:24:57.420-08:002015-02-19T14:24:57.420-08:00Great post and interesting observations...thanks f...Great post and interesting observations...thanks for sharing your observations.Romance Reader https://www.blogger.com/profile/10633164931292182035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-91857363120776532212015-02-19T06:47:06.027-08:002015-02-19T06:47:06.027-08:00Many have said Sheldon shows the trademarks of som...Many have said Sheldon shows the trademarks of someone with Asperger's and I agree. The producers don't want to commit to that because then they have to be authentic but I read where the actor who plays him says he believes the character has Aspberger's. (Plus, if he DID officially have Asperger's, laughing at his awkwardness wouldn't be so good...) I have known quite a few super-smart people who are socially awkward, but I've also known some who are very socially capable. I think the ones who are socially awkward just stand out more.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-32512858320557065262015-02-19T03:24:18.066-08:002015-02-19T03:24:18.066-08:00When I teach advanced students, I only have a few ...When I teach advanced students, I only have a few socially awkward ones. This is definitely a stereotype. I know many intelligent adults who are outgoing and have an active social life. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-12112312721705412142015-02-18T19:19:54.299-08:002015-02-18T19:19:54.299-08:00Well, I think your husband is also married to a sm...Well, I think your husband is also married to a smart person. ;) And I love 'if you're smart, you're going to be weird too'. Too funny! Great post, Mer!Leandra Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00381034024025750992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-89211587307635576112015-02-18T19:03:35.396-08:002015-02-18T19:03:35.396-08:00Great post! You made so many good points. I don...Great post! You made so many good points. I don't watch The Big Bang Theory, but I know a lot of people who do. I agree that there are more smart people who are not socially awkward than those who are socially awkward. Some of the smartest students I have taught were very social and some of the smartest people I have known are too! Stephanie@Fairday's Bloghttp://thesecretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-29441831774300577802015-02-18T15:02:07.120-08:002015-02-18T15:02:07.120-08:00I do think there's an idea of the idiot savant...I do think there's an idea of the idiot savant, the genius who's so far advanced in one area but inept everywhere else. I don't know how true it is in real life but it's certainly taken off in fiction. It's hard to find a balance though - well-rounded characters aren't maybe that interesting, and I find over confidence a bit of a turn off!Nick Wilfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03841776353790635132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-36091906974329363172015-02-18T14:45:11.270-08:002015-02-18T14:45:11.270-08:00Very well said!
I think when Tom Clancy was writi...Very well said!<br /><br />I think when Tom Clancy was writing the character well (pretty much everything up until the end of The Bear And The Dragon), his Jack Ryan character was depicted as a very smart person, thoughtful, and analytical- but also socially well adjusted.<br /><br />As for The Big Bang Theory, well, just the commercials are annoying, so I wouldn't want to watch it.William Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00331324250821836822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-24168207239007503772015-02-18T10:18:48.289-08:002015-02-18T10:18:48.289-08:00LOL! I'm married to a very smart man, and I he...LOL! I'm married to a very smart man, and I hear you completely. Truthfully, I hadn't thought about it too much until right now, but you're right. We like geniuses to have some major failing that makes us feel like we're okay if we're not the smartest person on the planet. Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-75311264394050064812015-02-18T07:42:41.620-08:002015-02-18T07:42:41.620-08:00I agree.
I agree.<br />Suzanne de Montignyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07645774216206641251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-34487552939680848612015-02-18T06:30:44.555-08:002015-02-18T06:30:44.555-08:00agree--I'm kind of over socially awkward prota...agree--I'm kind of over socially awkward protags! so overdone. My new character is incredibly confident and I found myself worrying the other day ppl would be turned off, then I realized: confidence is GOOD. And I'm with you on BBT. It was my fav show till season 4...now it just annoys me!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181207761130079393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-72555663195626251042015-02-18T06:27:37.736-08:002015-02-18T06:27:37.736-08:00(Pardon the self-horn tooting). My main character ...(Pardon the self-horn tooting). My main character Lyssa is borderline genius, using her pattern recognition skills to locate pirates who try to hide in the weeds as a bounty hunter. While she's not socially awkward, she's definitely lacking in the social skills department, preferring to shut people out. It's not because of her intelligence; it's because of a lack of self-worth. <br /><br />From my experience, most super intelligent people are at least a little socially awkward, simply because their interests and passions (usually) lie outside of the normal spectrum. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03588494614108178593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273270228005303883.post-83344376424559464452015-02-18T06:09:16.678-08:002015-02-18T06:09:16.678-08:00While Sheldon fits into this trope, I actually don...While Sheldon fits into this trope, I actually don't think the other guys on the show do. I mean, they're nerds, but they aren't socially awkward in the same way. They each have their own set of issues, for sure, but it's not they're not the awkward genius. <br />And, to be fair, I actually know quiet a few people who fit into this stereotype. Some at a larger degree than others, of course. But I also know some very brilliant people who don't have any social problems either. And I agree with you, whether it's realistic or not, it's been done far too much. Time to be creative and come up with something new! :)Rachel Schieffelbeinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01629400142880123520noreply@blogger.com