The Smartest Person in the Room

[MineralMan]

often isn't who the rest of the people in the room think it is. All too often, the smartest person in the room gets ignored. That's especially true when that person is a woman. That is a sad, sad state of affairs.

I've been in many situations during my life where the smartest person in the room was a woman. All too often, though, few people there noticed that. Often, they thought that the loudest person in the room was the smartest. Or the one who used the most words. Almost inevitably, that person was a guy who had learned the techniques of dominating the discussion.

All too often, too, some of the people in the room would rather that the smartest person in the room would either be silent or leave. In some cases, that is exactly what happens, and the room full of those who stay are the worse for it.

On MSNBC, for example, I think it's pretty clear that Rachel Maddow is the smartest person in the room. There are other women on the air at that cable channel, too, who seem to me to understand situations better than most of the men who are on-air. Kasey Hunt is another MSNBC news person who always seems to get right to the core of things, but she's a field reporter, and only appears from time to time.

I think that people should look around carefully, whatever room they're in, and try really hard to ascertain who the smartest person there actually is. That person may have been crowded or shouted out of an opportunity to add dramatically to the conversation. She may be ignored, but the smartest person in the room is still the smartest person in the room, nevertheless.

That's my opinion right now. Thank for reading it.

[sarisataka]

1. The smartest person in the room

The one that is listening, not speaking

[MineralMan]

2. That's often the case. If you ask, though,

that person will probably be glad to answer. Sometimes, though, you have to ask and then listen closely.

[murielm99]

5. Not always.

Listening is important. But what we are hearing is crucial.

I am not necessarily the smartest person in the room. Often, I am not. But I am not afraid to question and express an opinion.

And sometimes, it is not about being the smartest. It is about being informed.

If the room is taking a decided lurch into misinformation, then the best-informed person needs to speak up.

[womanofthehills]

19. Not in my book club

The smartest ones (who usually have the best comprehension and ideas) do the talking.

[niyad]

3. exactly!!

[randr]

4. Just because Rachel treats her audience like 3rd graders

does not make her smart. She is a good journalist; not necessarily a good anchor.

[KT2000]

7. Rachel is doing something

no one else has figured out. In order to tell complex stories in a time of talking points and memes, she does explain with repetition what are the details of a story. She provides context.
I am afraid that a large portion of our country needs this kind of help, such as those who voted for this idiot president.

[iluvtennis]

8. Take offense to that comment. Rachel is not treating anyone as a 3rd greater. She provides the...

...backdrop story that brings all things together. I'm a "visual/practical" learning. Having the backdrop story is what makes me digest and commit to memory the news. It was the same for me in school where i majored in engineering. All of the theory based classes din't "light the bright light" for me until I started working and actually applying what I had learned.

I love Rachel and her reporting method. Same with Joy Reid and Lawrence O'Donnel

[lunatica]

10. I feel she treats my intelligence with respect

She is assuming those who listen to her have the brains to appreciate her very unique style of connecting the dots.

By the way, the smart people I know always connect the dots.

[byronius]

14. ????

I've been impressed with both her brains and her presentation since the Air America days.

Given, she's no Randi Rhodes; but then, who could possibly match that brain for insightful analysis...

[radical noodle]

16. She gives context and ties up the loose ends

she exposes the why and the who as well as the what and where. In a world of 30 second, fast food type news, she's a breath of fresh air.

[womanofthehills]

20. I disagree - she sets up a story just as a writer would

I think she is super smart. I have listened to her for years since her radio days on Air America. If she was not a good anchor, her audience would not be growing so fast.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. If I'm the smartest person in a room I'm usually in the wrong room!

You make a lot of good points in your post.

[hibbing]

9. If I'm the smartest person in the room

I must be the only person in the room.

Peace

[lunatica]

11. Best to keep your mouth shut and look intelligent

than to open it and prove you're stupid.

Or something like that....

[hamsterjill]

12. Christiane Amanpour

Always seems to be the smartest person in whatever room of journalists she is in. Just my two cents...

[byronius]

13. Alan Turing, the gay nerd who saved the world.

'Sometimes it's the people no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine.'

And yes, primate routines often mistakenly ascribe highest intelligence to the loudest and meanest.

For instance...

[sluggo the vicious]

15. Smart People make everyone smarter

Every time that I find I am the smartest person in the room, the other people in the room make me feel like I am the dumbest person in the room.

I try to hang around smart people, they make me feel smarter.

[gristy]

17. I can see how that can happen!

Welcome to DU!!

[tblue37]

18. Joy Reid is another. nt