You've Got To Be Smarter Than That...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
May 4, 2008 1:27pm CST
I have a friend that lives up North and all through school she was Honor Role and made all A’s and B’s…she is really book smart. There have been times that she has aced a test without every opening the book or taking a note…simply by listening in class and remembering. I wish I were like that.
The problem is she has no common sense. She will throw her drivers license on the floor, leave it in a pocket or toss it in a shopping bag then have to go apply for a new one b/c she’s lost the old one. She’s forever doing stuff like that. I try to tell her if she’d put it in one spot she wouldn’t lose it.
She’ll cram a whole huge basket of clothes in the washer and then wonder why it won’t wash them right. When I tell her that if she put half as much cloths and unwadded them that it would wash better she looks at me surprised like she never would have thought of that.
I can’t understand how some ppl can be so book smart and not have a drop of common sense in their head. I’m not terribly book smart at some things but I have a lot of common sense.
Do you have book smarts, common sense or both? Do you know ppl that only have one or the other? Why do you think some ppl are like this?
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
10 people like this
40 responses
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
4 May 08
sure I do, as far as losing things, It took me 45 years to learn to put everything I need in the same place. But I always had common sense, the reason some people are book smart and no common sense, I have both, is that they are not learning common sense things for example,
If you remember all the presidents of the united states that is wonderful, but did one of those presidents show you how to do your laundry?
or they don't apply what they have learned, for example they learn how to survive in the wilderness, and if they get lost in their own home town the panic and forget every they need to do.
2 people like this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
6 May 08
I have more practical sense, and know the way to do everyday things more efficiently, and I know how not to waste money. I had to laugh when my daughter was in college. She aced all her math classes, including advanced calculus, but didn't know how to compute compounded interest on her savings account. They just don't teach that kind of useful information in schools. I was astounded when I found that out, and I, who am terrible at math had to explain to her about interest, and about different accounts, and frequency of compounding. I think I learned that stuff when I was 10.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
6 May 08
Know what you mean Karen052 - they just don't teach those things in school these days. I remember when my son was in Sophomore year high school. I home schooled him and one of the math sections was balancing a check book, dealing with interest rates and such. He learned it well. But they did NOT teach that same stuff in the school! And this home school program was THROUGH the high school itself! Same requirements for graduating and everything. I had to take him in once a month for the next months work, and once a month for tests of that month - he did more homework at home school than he did in actual school. And he can balance a check book and do a budget, but none of his friends could! Don't understand why the schools don't teach that. IT is so important in life. But yet they teach Romeo and Juliet as a required course... go figure!
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
6 May 08
It is simple . Common sense has nothing to do with intelligence. She is very intelligent but she doesn't have any common sense.I rather have common sense.Why are people like this? I guess that they spend all their time studying and learning for tests that they don't learn any common sense.It is sad.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
6 May 08
I have often wondered the difference but then again, never spent much time thinking about it. I am totaly common sense. It seldom fails! I always thought book learning is learning from those that can tell you what to do, but commons sense is learning by...common sense - or from someone (or your own experience) that has already figured it out first-hand on! I have found that some people know all about everything, but haven't the slighest clue as to how to implement it!
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
4 May 08
I have both, but I'm bad at memorization, and in awe of people who can do math calculations in their heads. I try and try but just can't get it. But although not at all educated my dad loved "book learning" and my mum was always preaching common sense, almost like the Wife of Bath in Chaucer's Canterbuy Tales (Experience over Authority!). They were always fighting about it, so I got pretty good at both.
I can be a pain about it though, as in my habit of placing containers that are empty upside down and filled containers right side up. I get totally annoyed if hubby sets down an empty box in my work area without inverting it.
1 person likes this
@littleowl (7157)
•
4 May 08
Hi Twoey-I think so who are 'smarter' than the average person do have the difficulty in doing simple things simply cos they are too brainy on things you and I would probably not be able to do-blessings littleowl
1 person likes this
@nannacroc (4049)
•
4 May 08
I've worked with a lot of people like this, teachers and social workers were the worst. My eldest sister admits that she has no common sense, she is the 'clever one'. I find these people very frustraring to work with as things that are obvious to me need explaining to them.
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
7 May 08
I know a lot of people that are the exact way. I'm constantly saying to them-- Use your common sense. It drives me crazy. It's like you want to tell them to pull their head out of the clouds- and out of the book and think about it.
I have both- I had to study to get my A's-- but I did it-- but I also have common sense as well.
It makes me laugh when you think about it- When you are going for a job and the employers look for people with good grades in college---- experience doesn't matter to some companies--- I think experience speaks louder than grades and college-- for that reason alone.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
4 May 08
Oh yes, my husband and oldest son are exactly like that, smart in many areas, but forget about common sense..I hope my youngest son isn't going to be like this, he is very smart in school, I just have to try to get him to realize what common sense is..
1 person likes this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
6 May 08
I have both thank my lucky stars that I have both.. I know lots of people that have book smarts and then I know the one that are blessed with common sense and if I knew why some people were like this I would be a millionaire or at least I hope I would be . LOL!!!!
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
4 May 08
Yes I sure do know someone and he's rather close to me. He's my brother. He has book brains galore but no common sense. He knows it too and will even admit it. My Oldest brother is like me, we have common sense. Weird? Yes but it is what it is.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
6 May 08
Sounds like an engineer in the making! I have found that most engineers (Civil or Industrial among others) can solve world peace on paper, but can't balance a check book! They can orginate life on Mars on paper, but can't figure out a grocery store. Just takes all kinds! Just write down what she needs to know to do it right..she'll probably leanr to do better that way!
@Remembering1996 (2219)
• United States
12 May 08
I like your discussion that gave me a laugh. I would have to say That I'm the opposit of your friend I am not book smart but in all other area's I do good in. The only mishap that I ever had was I would put my I.D. and atm card in my back pocket where ever I went so if I needed them I would have them. When I would take them out I wouldn't be thinking and set them in a drawer and forget which one I put them in. I fineally got a gift from a friend who saw how I was w/ this puting my cards any old place and bought me a wallet that holds cards. I now have them kept in there instead of my back pocket and in drawers lol. I should have bought a wallet a long time ago but never thought anything of it but now I like it. Thanks to a good friend.
@itsmepinky (1300)
• India
5 May 08
Ya i can say i am that way to a certain extent. I am good at studies but i lack common sense sometimes. BUt now i am learning bit by bit after staying with some people. They think too highly of themselves just because they have a better presence of mind then mine. BUt staying with them has made me more smarter.
~Pinks~
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
5 May 08
It depends on how you define "common sense"...
There are different areas of intelligence--I'm not going to say "different intelligences" because that phrase is overused way too much--but some people, have a decent grasp of practical/applied physics, some have social skills, some have the generically-named book smarts you refer to, etc. I think we're all stupid at some times, and to some people everyone is outright stupid. I, tend to think of myself as an intellectual, but there are some days where I do something, where I'm certain others are saying "dumb455" and I'm saying it to myself...
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
5 May 08
I think I have both. I know other people who have both. I know people who have one or the other. I also know a few people who I believe have neither book smarts or common sense. I sometimes wonder about why some people are like that, but I have no good answer.
@tjades (3591)
• Jamaica
5 May 08
This problem is apparently more common than we think. I do think that it stems partly from parents not engaging them in activities which will aide in the development of their reasoning skills but have always supported their book smart inclination.
You do find that among friends we have to actually educate others who are quite daft about things that are just common sense among those who are included in family decision making and the performing of duties at home. Some parents do take the children should be children to another level which really only robs their children of certain life necessary skills. (lol)
@Remando (175)
•
5 May 08
I can really relate to your friend; I have one just like it.
My friend has a degree and a masters' degree, and had top marks at everything. Even with subjects she didn't really enjoy, she still did well in them.
But, she is useless with anything domestic. She still lives with her parents, and she has awful co-ordination.
I used to be so jealous of her, but seeing her struggle with even basic tasks makes me grateful that although I only have average intelligence, I am glad I have common sense :)
