[WinterSolstice]

Does anyone here attempt to look dumber than they actually are, in order to blend with the crowd, keep things in order, or just to try to appear reasonable, even though in your head you are just disagreeing with everyone and wishing to just leave already? Many times I tried to 'dumb down' my words, or appear ill-informed or use vague responses to questions made by others. Maybe in a work setting, or when dealing with relatives, or trying to help your friend get laid, there are times when I feel I must appear dumber than I actually am in order to survive situations without repercussions (or protect my stable inner world from other who will attempt to 'fix my way of thinking')

My INTJ best friend (who can act dumb to others better than me) always says that in our old college group, everyone thought he was dumb, but I was the only one who knew he was actually a smart person.

[stoopidkitty]

I don't need to fake it.
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[John F Kennedy]

I often initiate conversations on topics that are actually below my level of interest, just to be able to have a conversation and to encourage some social bonding, which may be helpful in the long run and which may lead to more interesting things in the future.

Also I don't correct people when they are slightly out of line about someone/something, and I often withhold my negative opinion about their views, for the sake of civil comradeship.

Finally, I use turns of phrases to diminish my academic self and convey the impression that I'm slightly smart, but not taking it to an extreme level and not that serious about it.

[True Rune]

I play dumb in a social way a lot of the time so I'm not held accountable for slip ups. I do present knowledge in a "fun fact" manner. I remember names and faces pretty well.. even people from grade school. It's embarrassing.

[UltraIncredible]

	Originally Posted by True Rune To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I play dumb in a social way a lot of the time so I'm not held accountable for slip ups. I do present knowledge in a "fun fact" manner. I remember names and faces pretty well.. even people from grade school. It's embarrassing.

Is it embarrassing because they don't remember you?

[plzbequiet]

I do it all the time! For multiple reasons. To avoid pointless, unproductive arguements with people who seem to believe that what they "feel" must be true without any empirical evidence whatsoever. In which case, it's not worth the effort to educate them for any reason when I know they won't use the information in any kind of beneficial way. Also, I find it incredibly entertaining (when their extroverted mouths won't close) to hear the amazing crap that comes out of them. I often times already know the answer to their question or dilemma of sort and could probably give them an entire dissertation on the matter... but they never listen anyway, so I take enjoyment in kicking back and watching people make complete asses of themselves lol

[True Rune]

	Originally Posted by UltraIncredible To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Is it embarrassing because they don't remember you?

I feel like I shouldn't remember this information because I hardly know the person.

[Machine]

I used to do that... But somehow I forgot about it and now I am just vomiting my knowledge on everyone.

[Saggita]

Nope. People who hang out with me long enough for me to engage a conversation with them know what I am like.

[Axel]

It's not a good practice to use complicated terminology in everyday conversations. The best way to communicate with people in general seems to be to keep the language simple, concrete, immediate and clear. You can't "paint" a picture for most people. Getting straight to the point without too much description is the most effective way to avoid being misunderstood.

[Apricots]

Yes, and sometimes I don't even have to fake it!

[The Dan Keizer]

I almost always stick to very basic conversations and lowbrow topics when around new people.

First, I have never cared for people that attempted to sound intelligent or knowledgable in order to impress people, so I have always been careful not to do it myself.

Second, it amuses me to watch how people respond when I portray myself as more boorish than I actually am. Especially when pseudointellectuals respond with their self righteous lectures and explanations of things I already know too well about.

Finally, I find it depressing to speak intelligently about some topic that I care deeply about and have others not understand or not care. So I keep it to myself and spare all that.

[Booko]

Hrm, yeah, it's why I so loved office parties (not).

[ButterflyPsyche]

I had a very egotistical boy tell me once in high school out of nowhere, "You know, *BP's real name*, if you didn't act so ditzy all the time, more guys would like you."

That nasty little prick harpooned me in the heart. Apparently because my head was in the clouds in high school a lot I may have seemed kind of like a space cadet, and some may have underestimated me.

People in college never seemed to doubt my intelligence, though. In fact, I've gotten told I come off as intelligent a lot.

[Carot]

I do it all the time, people tend to assume it from the way I look anyways. No one has ever given me a reason to think they could understand anyways.

[Morshu]

I do, because when I try to explain something scientifically or correct people on something they are wrong about, they are offended and see me as arrogant and unreasonable.
Even when I try to explain it logically, they don't want to admit that they are wrong and it just descends into a pointless argument.
So I've learned to keep my mouth shut and "play dumb" to avoid offending people and making them mad at me.
With general social conversation, I've found it best to play dumb unless someone is genuinely interested in listening to what you have to say, or in a situation where you fell that if you don't speak up, it will come back to bite you.

[Chameleon]

<---What does my avatar name tell you?
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Yes; it is eases knowledge transfer (put robtically).

[Zsych]

Well, one does pick up some humor to lighten the effect of the intellectual hammer to the face.

[Autumnleaf]

	Originally Posted by Zsych To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Well, one does pick up some humor to lighten the effect of the intellectual hammer to the face.

^this

and I've found it just saves time if I don't try to fix every wacked out misperception people have. Sometimes its good to just roll with it and see where things go.

[plotthickens]

No. Conversing below one's level can be picked up on by others; they may not know why they don't like you, but you will seem fake so they will find it hollow and odd. That's why I don't patronize (... that means talk down to someone).

[Othesemo]

No. People who's company I enjoy don't need me to, and I don't enjoy the company of people who do need me to.

[Still Standing]

It's common with gifted children. Some will even compromise their academic achievement in order to try and fit in. While I don't boast and showcase my intelligence, I don't dumb down either. I simply try to adapt to others just like others try and adapt to me (most of the time, I don't talk about things they don't know or understand and vice versa).

	Originally Posted by Othesemo To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	No. People who's company I enjoy don't need me to, and I don't enjoy the company of people who do need me to.

Ditto. Still trying to find people whose company I enjoy, though.

[Acolyte]

I do it as well, you've given it a good name which I also refer to as "controlled stupidity". Even though for most times I avoid speaking at all, I rarely give others unsolicited advice, but in order to keep up with the crowd it's sometimes necessary to play this game. It's actually not that boring after all, you know, and at times even fun when engaging in social banter or flirting around, not taking things too seriously and just enjoying saying things without over-thinking, being as blatant or even plain spastic. As Still Standing says, it's part of our adaptability and flexibility which I value the most.

[LadySpock]

	Originally Posted by WinterSolstice To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Does anyone here attempt to look dumber than they actually are, in order to blend with the crowd, keep things in order, or just to try to appear reasonable, even though in your head you are just disagreeing with everyone

YES. For all those reasons & more...

[dontmesswithme]

I find that if I talk about things I feel passionate about (photography, composing, human relations) in the way that I really, really want to talk about them--people act as if their is something wrong with me. They get a look that, to me, says "not too sure about her!" As if I might be seriously crazy. I have attempted it at times. Other times I feel that I could never begin to convey to people what it is that I really want to get across to them, so I don't even bother. I just remain silent.

Most of the time I act the way I need to for the conversation to be successful. This often involves a lot of agreeing, or perhaps a simple nod if I don't agree but don't want to argue (I detest arguing).

I hardly know anyone, so I never have the types of conversations that are closer to my style of thinking.

If I don't know something about a particular subject, I just say so. I can't imagine pretending to know when I really don't. That's so stupid. I would miss a chance to learn about it AND make a fool of myself in the process.