NO..."Smart & Happy" is NOT an option!

While we should all strive for "smart & happy"...I'm talking about a common generalization that "stupid" people (say, for example, Jessica Simpson or 50-Cent) can go through life with a smile on their face, since the deeper issues in life are either ignored or wholly glossed-over . Whereas more "intellectual" people (say, for example, Janeane Garofalo or Prince) are impacted more by the complexities of life and may have to work harder at keeping that smile on their face.

Think; the dumb jock cruising through high school not caring about the future consequences of his academic underperformance vs. the Harvard-headed geek who is putting in the hours in the library and extra-curricular activities to secure a solid future, all the while donating time to a shelter and blogging on the "Free Tibet" movement. One has a smile on his face, the other is developing stomach ulcers.

No...this is not a stereotype or generalization. Just a "what if?" or "what would you do?" type questions that intrigued me, based on a conversation that I had with my therapist and a related topic on this morning's radio talk-show.

If you had to choose; would you rather be obliviously content or fully aware of your angst?

...for the record, right now I'd choose "dumb and happy". You live longer and have more fun.

IMO ~ SMART people are ... "fully aware of your/their angst"

I'm really smart & also not so smart and that's honestly how I view most people

some are really smart in areas and dumb in others and vise versa

ANYWAY

I choose to be

fully aware of your/my angst

Janeane Garofalo and Prince...intellectuals. [img:$uid]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g216/rebecca8273/emoticon/0002.gif[/img:$uid]

You forgot the " "s.

Informed.......and prepared.

Genesia said:

Janeane Garofalo and Prince...intellectuals. [img:$uid]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g216/rebecca8273/emoticon/0002.gif[/img:$uid]

You forgot the " "s.

Oh come on...you know what I mean.

Mach said:

IMO ~ SMART people are ... "fully aware of your/their angst"

I'm really smart & also not so smart and that's honestly how I view most people

some are really smart in areas and dumb in others and vise versa

ANYWAY

I choose to be

fully aware of your/my angst

Yeah, being intelligent doesn't necessarily equal being "smart".

But being AWARE can be tiresome, no?

PurpleJedi said:

Genesia said:

Janeane Garofalo and Prince...intellectuals. [img:$uid]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g216/rebecca8273/emoticon/0002.gif[/img:$uid]

You forgot the " "s.

Oh come on...you know what I mean.

I do believe, however, that Janeane Garofalo is the perfect example of a sour individual who thinks (for the most part, anyway) that she's smarter than other people.

Prince is a strange choice, but whatever .

Well I very much would choose dumb and happy . I am told that I am smart all the time, but that has never added anything to my life being better.

Mach said:

I'm really smart & also not so smart and that's honestly how I view most people

some are really smart in areas and dumb in others and vise versa

I agree with that .

Genesia said:

PurpleJedi said:

Oh come on...you know what I mean.

I do believe, however, that Janeane Garofalo is the perfect example of a sour individual who thinks (for the most part, anyway) that she's smarter than other people.

OK...you may be right...perhaps a skewed choice as an example.

But I think you understand the question.

...and based on your response, I think we know what your answer is!

Serious said:

Prince is a strange choice, but whatever .

Well I very much would choose dumb and happy . I am told that I am smart all the time, but that has never added anything to my life being better.

Oh come on, this is a Prince fansite after all!!!

I disagree about being smart not adding "anything" to make your life better. Perhaps just helps to make it more complicated.

PurpleJedi said:

Genesia said:

I do believe, however, that Janeane Garofalo is the perfect example of a sour individual who thinks (for the most part, anyway) that she's smarter than other people.

OK...you may be right...perhaps a skewed choice as an example.

But I think you understand the question.

...and based on your response, I think we know what your answer is!

I don't think you do. I realize it's a hypothetical question - but I don't think it's one that people can really answer.

I have often wished for blissful ignorance.

PunkMistress said:

I have often wished for blissful ignorance.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, I do that a lot, especially in the last years.

PurpleJedi said:

Serious said:

Prince is a strange choice, but whatever .

Well I very much would choose dumb and happy . I am told that I am smart all the time, but that has never added anything to my life being better.

Oh come on, this is a Prince fansite after all!!!

I disagree about being smart not adding "anything" to make your life better. Perhaps just helps to make it more complicated.

Yeah, but still Prince as an example of an intellectual person is just so funny .

Well it sure made it a million times more complicated. Maybe it helped sometimes too, but overall I think I would have been better off if I was dumb. But maybe I am just too dumb to make good use of my intelligence....

Genesia said:

PurpleJedi said:

OK...you may be right...perhaps a skewed choice as an example.

But I think you understand the question.

...and based on your response, I think we know what your answer is!

I don't think you do. I realize it's a hypothetical question - but I don't think it's one that people can really answer.

Oh come on...humor me.

Prove to me that your answer is NOT "Smart and Sad". The angst comes through on your posts, you know!

PunkMistress said:

I have often wished for blissful ignorance.

huh???!!!

Serious said:

PurpleJedi said:

Oh come on, this is a Prince fansite after all!!!

I disagree about being smart not adding "anything" to make your life better. Perhaps just helps to make it more complicated.

Yeah, but still Prince as an example of an intellectual person is just so funny .

OK...how's about this;

"Compared to Flava Flav or Brett Michaels, Prince is an intellectual."

Well it sure made it a million times more complicated. Maybe it helped sometimes too, but overall I think I would have been better off if I was dumb. But maybe I am just too dumb to make good use of my intelligence....

Good point.

XxAxX said:

huh???!!!

PurpleJedi said:

Serious said:

OK...how's about this;

"Compared to Flava Flav or Brett Michaels, Prince is an intellectual."

Well it sure made it a million times more complicated. Maybe it helped sometimes too, but overall I think I would have been better off if I was dumb. But maybe I am just too dumb to make good use of my intelligence....

Good point.

Why is the org messing up the quotes . Anyway do I have to know Brett Michaels or am I better off if I don't ?

Do you think my point might hold some truth for you too ?

PurpleJedi said:

XxAxX said:

huh???!!!

i used to feel envy for the mentally challenged lady on the #4 bus, years ago. she smiled every single day, she'd sing happy little songs while rocking back and forth in her seat. i wondered if her world is nicer than mine. i doubt she is aware of the crisis in egypt. or, typos and inflation or the mortgage meltdown and i bet she IS happier for this lack of stress

but, i'd rather be me. occasionally bummed out and stressed out at times as a result of watching the real world, but informed of its dangers and cognizant of what is happening around me

[Edited 2/15/11 10:18am]

smart and sad

Serious said:

Why is the org messing up the quotes . Anyway do I have to know Brett Michaels or am I better off if I don't ?

Do you think my point might hold some truth for you too ?

Brett Michaels is the d-bag singer from the 80s band "Poison" who did one of those MTV shows where he tries to find "love".

...and yeah, you're on-point with the truth of your comment.

PurpleJedi said:

Serious said:

Why is the org messing up the quotes . Anyway do I have to know Brett Michaels or am I better off if I don't ?

Do you think my point might hold some truth for you too ?

Brett Michaels is the d-bag singer from the 80s band "Poison" who did one of those MTV shows where he tries to find "love".

...and yeah, you're on-point with the truth of your comment.

Oh I know Poison, but had no idea the singer had a show like that. I one time watched about 10 minutes of Flav Flav's though .

So are we smart or dumb then?

XxAxX said:

i used to feel envy for the mentally challenged lady on the #4 bus, years ago. she smiled every single day, she'd sing happy little songs while rocking back and forth in her seat. i wondered if her world is nicer than mine. i doubt she is aware of the crisis in egypt. or, typos and inflation or the mortgage meltdown and i bet she IS happier for this lack of stress

but, i'd rather be me. occasionally bummed out and stressed out at times as a result of watching the real world, but informed of its dangers and cognizant of what is happening around me

I wouldn't ever want to switch places with a mentally challenged person.

BUT...I have a friend...he's what we call a "gentle giant". Dude's like 6'-4" and built like a Mack truck, but he's shy and soft-spoken and when you talk to him, it's hard to believe that he's older than 18 (he's 35). He's definitely not the sharpest tack in the drawer. I mean, he went to college and can hold a conversation, but he's just too "child-like" to be (what we'd call) "normal".

ANYWAY...he's the happiest dude in the world. He has a job, has a car, lives with mom, works out religiously, gets dates w/ no problem, and hasn't a care in the world.

THAT'S the blissful ignorance I often crave.

I also know someone else who lives in blissful ignorance, but I would NEVER switch places with him. Think of a 43 year old who still lives w/ mom, but has no car, no money, can't hold a job down for more than a few months, has 2 kids he can't support, and lives a carefree life still going out and partying by leeching off of women b/c he's talented in the sack. In his mind, he's "free" and "living life to its fullest"...completely glossing over the fact that his life is meaningless.

THAT kind of blissful ignorance, I can't imagine ever, EVER wanting.

Serious said:

So are we smart or dumb then?

Too dumb to know we're smart?

Smart and sad because if you're smart, you can learn new things that might make you happier, but chances are, if you're dumb, you'll be that way for life. Not to mention being happy all the damn time is overrated and annoying.

.

[Edited 2/15/11 11:02am]