Is there such thing as "street smarts?"?

Question

Is there such thing as "street smarts?" Explain exactly what you think "street smarts" are and why you think there are or are not such a thing.

Answer 1

I agree with Towanda - there is something about actually experiencing life in the "streets" that gives you "street smarts." I also returned to college later in life - 32 - and I went on to become a professor. The biggest disappoint I experienced in that process was witnessing the grooming of grad students to becoming professors.

The process is all about research and getting "published" it has nothing to do with learning to communicate with the students. I actually had a grad student tell me they would be happy sitting in a closet doing research for the rest of their lives, yet he may be teaching you someday.

I have lived in the city, and am not afraid to go into "hostile" environments. I have traveled places where others may be afraid to go. In my experiences, I have learned to pick up cues from people about who they are, and avoid those who I do not trust within five seconds. I have been with people who do not have this ability learnt yet. It takes time, and experience. I believe it is a cultural learning experience that most suburban kids miss out on.

I have been mugged once, a long tim ago, I learned to avoid those situations. I once saw a man go into a restaurant's bathroom, and knew he was choking enough to die, if someone didn't follow him in there. I saved his life because I had learned to notice these things. While hitch-hiking I have said "no thank you" to offers of rides based on cues, and have never had a problem. I stopped hitch-hiking years ago.

As I get older I lose some of my street-smarts, but my experiences are things that no one else has.

Answer 2

Yes, of course. There are things you can read about and learn and there are things you learn about life on the street. Street smarts to me mean that you have a good understanding of all types of people and situations. Those people that lock themselves up in a little shell never learn a lot about life. I got a kick out of going back to college in my 40's. Some of the professors had spent their life studying and then got on that power trip because they have young, inexperienced students that rely on them. They really didn't have any street smarts because they had not spent anytime living. And that certainly does not apply to all professors but we all sure know who they are. . . always better to be a well-balanced person and be able to go anywhere with anyone should you choose.

Answer 3

There's definately a such thing. It can literally mean street smart and knowing how to interact with people, adjust to certain situations. It has to be learned though or come from experience.

Answer 4

NO WAY being to nice is never a bad thing. You dont want to be dating a gie that can take control over you or take charge and has a whole other side to him. I think that being nice is the best thing to look for in a gie because it makes you relieze why you like this person so much. Theres not that many nice people out there so its a WONDERFUL thing to be the total nice gie. If I saw you walking down the street I would still think your nice even if I just meet you. Sometimes us girls and even gies can tell if a person is a good person or the kind you need to avoid. Hope I helped =]

Answer 5

Street smarts lowers your chances of being a victim. Street smarts allows you to look at others and they read out of you that you are the real thing. Thats my share of this. And I would also like to add that those that contributed answers to you, did very good in the answers.

Answer 6

You can be a top scholar and not know how to interact with strangers or deal with difficult situations. Street smarts is knowing how to survive and thrive in unfamiliar territory.

Answer 7

I used to love that show. Is it still on?

Answer 8

There is.
It's just knowing how to survive anywhere.