Should an educated person "dumb themselves down" around other people?

Question

I'm getting really annoyed with this. I'm an educated college student and some of my close friends have never been to college. So, I get the "know it all" and "you act like you're a f**king genius" and all that stuff all the time. That's not it at all. I like my friends, I like their company, and I like how we have different perspectives. I DO listen to what they say, but I don't always agree. Sometimes I also will tell them, when they start to go on a tangent , "is there a point to this story?" Or, when they start telling me about things that I have studied and have become common knowledge to me, I say "yeah, I know about that" or "I've studied that", just so that they don't have to keep explaining something to me I already know. I see it as a courtesy so that they don't have to OVER explain things to me, but instead, they see it as me being a know-it-all. So, should I just act stupid for the sake of socialization and to make others happy?

Answer 1

It would be a mistake to dumb yourself down, but be careful not to appear to be "better" than them. Sometimes it is best simply to smile and nod. Don't act stupid, but learn to listen without prejudice. They may open your eyes to a small detail or different perspective that you have not seen yet. Even if they do say something you know well, maybe just say, "that's great". Recognize that they too are intelligent and worthy, even if you are on different paths right now.

Only when someone realizes they do not know very much, can they start to really learn. There is so much information available, no one could possibly know enough.

Answer 2

Maybe dumb isn't the right term. We do tend to act like we are the only people in the world that matter. We rarely hear about anything that is going on in other parts of the world, unless we're involve in it somehow, yet other countries probably know what is going on here more then they do in their own countries. Not to mention that we do dictate our way of life among other people. This maybe the reason why most of the world think Americans are "dumb" By the way, I do go to college and I have met a lot of dumb smart people. Having an education may make you smart, but it does not not necessarily mean that it makes you intelligent.

Answer 3

It may be time to fine friends that are more on your level. On the other hand, maybe you need to take yourself and HOW you express you opinions or explain thing. Your friends might be jealous of your superior knowledge and intellect. Or the way you express yourself might come across as arrogant and pompous. It is all about the presentation.

I have a B.A. in political science with a minor in philosophy. I have a law degree and I've been an attorney since 1993. People respect what I have to say. People pay to hear what I have to say and yet much if may family and most of my friends don't have college degrees. In fact, I was only the second grand child on my mom's side of the family to even have a college degree (my sister was the third).

So really, it is all about the presentation. Sometimes people are jealous and sometimes it might be you.

Answer 4

What you may want to try is listening first instead of always giving your point of view. You say you are listening, but do you really hear them? If they are telling a story, They really don't want to int erupted by a know it all. And If some one goes on a tangent, as you did above, the polite thing to do would be to wait until your turn to speak and then ask if you understand the bottom line by repeating back to them what you may have just learned. You don't need to play dumb, Just stop acting like a know it all genius!

Answer 5

dude, I hear that is just too intense for me, I dont know or understand what you are talking about .you are talking over my head. and have to spend alot of time explaining stuff ,so that what I said makes sense, this happens sometimes .or people are not aware of or familiar with the subject ,and are intimidated and think I am too smart ,so I have automatically dumbed down or become blunt and abrasive about social ettiquette. and I call fake people out on their bs, this works best cause I am articulate, there is always a group who loves this, and loves to hate someone ,but were never articulate enough to talk them down.and some boy' s like bitchy girls like this, otherwise I am bored .and I have dumbed down, only to freak my friends that know me well out, they think I am like a cat playing with a roomful of mice and wonder what the hell I am up to, find some other brainiacs like yourself, start social networking at school , I miss my old friends, but I have so much more to talk about with my school peers, no one accuses me of being a know it all, I am always the first person to say I know nothing and everyone laughs and says I am very intelligent

Answer 6

Honey~ I do it all the time.

I would start finding other friends slowly..I was the same way a year ago.

Sometimes its funny to give "Stupid Answers" because when I give great ones I never get the "Best Answers".

Be who you are don't change. Just find new circle of friends that are equal I know its hard to me some time but I did it.

Answer 7

It is a courtesy to let other people talk. Education is not intelligence. Neither are the measure of a decent human being.
Stupidity is placing status over human relationships.

Answer 8

I think you've answered your own question. As long as you're not putting on airs & showing off in your conversation, or purposely making your friends uncomfortable, you have nothing to worry about. Don't be ashamed of being smart. If you're passionate about something, you go ahead and you share it!

Sounds to me like you've got some rude friends. :)

Answer 9

It is always wiser to communicate with someone at their own level. If you value your friends, perhaps you should not refer to it as "dumbing yourself down". I found that if you speak with people at their own level, the communication is better. Also, My uneducated but wise father said. "If it makes someone happy to explain something to you that you already know, let them. It makes them happy and it is no skin off your nose."

Even the uneducated can be wise and deserve to be heard.

Answer 10

doll you are just more educated than they are and the will get jealous of you even if you dont try to make them feel that way ,some people just feel unworthy of others freindship because you succeeded,and they didnt ,but it seems you are like me and dont feel that you are better just because you did it.Be happy and still love everyone xoxox Kelly