Is it just me or do I think my friend is not too sharp?

Question

Okay, first of all does anyone here know what a Triceratop was/is?

Okay, second, back to my original question: Why do I think my friend is not too bright? We both went to the same schools, at least until High School. Now she didn't know what a Triceratop was? But she doesn't know what other things are either, like everyday type of things. For example: This guy asked her if she was Persian? she didn't know what that was.

How do I deal with her shortness of mind (hehe, that's my spin off of shortness of breath)

Iseult, your a dingbat!

I know it's Triceratops! I just forgot to type the "s".

Answer 1

Patience if you care about her. I have a friend like this. She thought that Chicken of the Sea brand tuna was chicken with tuna flavoring and insists on standing 10 feet away from the microwave when it is on for fear of "catching" cancer. I can only take her in small doses and when I am in a certain mood.

Answer 2

It would be nice to know how old you both are.

First, everyone is allowed to have an "off" day or two. The older we get, the more of those we seem to have. If that isn't the issue, perhaps she has a learning disability that she has been keeping to herself about. People with learning disabilities often try to cover it because people like you just think they are "not too sharp."

Second, why does this issue consume you? It sounds as though she may have a serious health issue going on - or more important things going on in her life than to answer questions about her heritage or animals she may never have seen or heard of.

But to answer your question, with what little information I have, yes, it's just you.

Answer 3

There are many ways to be smart. I used to think that I knew something when I got my bachelor's degree. Then I lived for a year and a half in Canada serving a religious mission, and I only recall having one conversation that whole time about biology (the major that I had studied). However, I lived with one girl during that time who could memorize names and phone numbers of all our contacts and hardly ever needed to use a map when she drove around the area because she knew where everything was. I was the one with the college degree, but her kind of smart was a lot more useful to the work we were doing.

I suspect that your friend would benefit a lot more if you appreciated her talents and don't worry so much about factoids that she doesn't know.

Answer 4

Are you sure you know what is? I think the word you're asking about is Triceratops. (There's an "s" on the end.) There's no such thing as a Triceratop. (Without the s.) It's not a word. .... Maybe that's what confused your friend. ... :-)

-Mike.

Answer 5

You need some imagination. I used to take care of mentally dysfunctional older people. One man told me "I have a cat in my pants" It was obvious he was in discomfort. So i thought about that for a while and finally got it. I had my husband take the man into the restroom and check his depends. Sure enough, one of the tabs had been rubbing his body and it scratched. here are all kinds of smartness. That man found a way to communicate his distress. I think you should be able to come up with answers that will help your friend to grow.

Answer 6

1. are you her friend or not?
2. you don't sound so bright yourself
3. the word is Triceratops, not "top."
4. A three-horned rhinoceros-type-sorta animal w/armor/plates on its body to protect it. Its horns were made of chitin--NOT CHY-tin, but KIE-tin--what's in our--human--hair and nails. It WAS a dinosaur
5. yeah, she doesn't sound too bright, depends on how old you
guys are
6. does she speak the language, does she have a learning disorder?
7. So, friend, why aren't you helping her?
8. Is she a Persian?
6. if i were her, i wouldn't be your friend anymore, you're a bi*ch

Answer 7

It's "Triceratops" ---with an "s".

We all have friends like this. It doesn't make them unworthy of our friendship. Maybe your faults are worse than hers. Ever think of that?

Answer 8

I have a friend who swears square has a "w" in it somewhere. We love them because they confuse big words like repugnant with redundant. It's funny and it makes us feel better about ourselves because we can understand things they cannot. If you don't speak the language, how do you describe life? Words are all we have to accurately express our intentions. People like your friend are lovable because they know ignorance is bliss.

Answer 9

not everyone can know everything. not everyone has practical knowledge, but they may be very smart in ways you are not. sometimes people are more open about what they do not know. im sure you dont know everything-- i dont mean to be mean about that. but basically, do you sometimes hide your ignorance? some people are more open and its a good thing. they learn that way. socrates said, "i know nothing" and he was considered one of the most brilliant thinkers of the world.

Answer 10

Probably she's been covering up the fact that she can't read her whole life. She could be smart, but have a severe learning disability.