How does one deal with someone that is overly literal? I find people like that extremely irritating.?

Question

Also, would you say that being overly literal is mostly a personality trait or a sign of lower intelligence?

Answer 1

I know what you mean, as I and I'm sure many others sometimes find people like that very irritating. And it is for a very simple purpose.

"No one likes a show off."

And that's for the simple reason, that by showing off, they're indirectly saying "you're worse off than me" whether they realize it or not. No one likes to be insulted for no good reason.

I would not say being overly literal is a sign of lower intelligence, as someone can be a show off without being an idiot.

But you can say that someone like that may have something to hide. Those who have an extremity in one sense, often feel they are lacking significantly in one area. Thus to make up for this they try to emphasize their skill in another area.

Hope this helps,
Ken

Answer 2

If someone is being hostile with you and demanding you speak literally and otherwise is deliberately misinterpreting you, there isn't much you can do. Try to be accurate when you are speaking with that individual. Some people insist on talking that way. It could be a trait of obsessive-compulsive disorder but I doubt any correlation exists between low intelligence and correct English. Instead those individuals like to be right and have something to prove.