AstroBlonde

I need a break from my electromagnetic field theory studies, that why I'm writing here. I'm totally exhausted! All the ∇× E = 0 and ∇· B=0 is killing me!

In the newspaper today I've read that the people born in the 1980's are normally smarter than their parents, thanx to computers and games. The result comes from a Swedish study and indicate better ability to solve a certain type of problems if you're born in the 1980's. The parents, on the other hand, think they are smarter than their kids.

Already you can see discussions like "I rather hang with socially competent people than smart people". That argument is the most stupid argument I've heard and the person who wrote it must have an old fashion way of looking at smart people in general. In her mind, she probably see someone who is totally socially incompetent, just sitting infront of a computer and have no other life than that. In most cases the truth is far from that!

First of all I don't like the word "smart" because it is often connected with math and physics. In general people say that if you're good in math/physics you're smart. I work with astrophysics and I consider myself smart in that area just like other people are smart in other areas. Most people think that a high IQ makes you smart, but that test it's all about finding patterns and solving problems. For me a high EQ and IQ is to be smart which means you are socially competent and good in solving problems. But solving problems doesn't need to be in math or physics.

I never use the word "smart". Mainly because I'm so fed up with people saying I'm smart because I work with astrophysics, but also because I don't like to put labels on people. I tell my friends that they would be able to get a master's degree in astrophysics if they are stubborn enough, and I truely belive that. It doesn't have to do with how "smart" you are, just if you're stubborn enough to sit for 5 hours trying to solve one problem. Yep, sometimes it takes that amount of time to understand one problem for me.

Anyway... I spend most of my days with "smart" people. Many of the professors here at Uppsala University are world famous in astrophysics and considered really "smart". In general people seem to think professors in physics are stiff and boring: Not at all true! The people here at the department are really talkative and social. We have astro pub every friday, where most astrophysicist gather for a couple of beers and chat about mostly non-astronomy subjects. Most of the times we're the loudest people in the bar, laughing and have a really good time. Every tuesday we have an astro cinema when we watch old horror/zombie/sci-fi movies. It's not at all stiff and boring!

So, to connect back to the statement "I rather hang with socially competent people than smart people": If you're truely smart you are socially competent and good in solving problems. If you're socially incompetent you'll have a hard time to get a job or a PhD. So, please, just skip the smart = boring part.