Brilliance!
A descriptive, not prescriptive, definition41 total reviews
Comment from N.K. Wagner
I like your definition, Alvin. I know a middle aged lady who's IQ leaves her incapable of learning to write (to form letters into words), but she tells the most
detailed and perceptive stories of growing up in rural North Carolina in the '50s. Our writers group has provided her with a voice recorder and a transcriptionist. Given the information that this method of conveying her thoughts is available to her, she has changed her opinion of her own limitations. There is no doubt that Rita's work will someday be published. Not bad for someone labeled "high functioning mentally retarded", huh? That's the kind of intelligence you're talking about, I think. It has nothing to do with educational achievements. :) Nancy
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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I like your definition, Alvin. I know a middle aged lady who's IQ leaves her incapable of learning to write (to form letters into words), but she tells the most
detailed and perceptive stories of growing up in rural North Carolina in the '50s. Our writers group has provided her with a voice recorder and a transcriptionist. Given the information that this method of conveying her thoughts is available to her, she has changed her opinion of her own limitations. There is no doubt that Rita's work will someday be published. Not bad for someone labeled "high functioning mentally retarded", huh? That's the kind of intelligence you're talking about, I think. It has nothing to do with educational achievements. :) Nancy
Comment Written 27-Oct-2011
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Yes, you understood what I wanted to convey. Thanks for a great review.
Comment from sibhus
Hey, Al, great piece of writing. Your father and your mentor sound like they were exceptional people, and it's ashame that their more like them. I enjoyed this very much, and hopefully it is something that we all can learn from and take to heart, that we never know as much as we think we do. Good luck with the contest.
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Hey, Al, great piece of writing. Your father and your mentor sound like they were exceptional people, and it's ashame that their more like them. I enjoyed this very much, and hopefully it is something that we all can learn from and take to heart, that we never know as much as we think we do. Good luck with the contest.
Comment Written 27-Oct-2011
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Thank you for your kind review.
Comment from writer c
Alvin-san: I love this piece as an homage to important men in your life, done with a light touch. "Genius? Well, it's been tough since Mom died"...Great! Self-deprecating humor is probably my favorite. I love the distinctions you draw, and the value you place on creativity. Your lessons you learned well from two wise men, in that you are a kind mentor whose celebrates each person's growth no matter the starting point, cheer good work, and demonstrate enormous amounts of patience with us all.
Carol
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Alvin-san: I love this piece as an homage to important men in your life, done with a light touch. "Genius? Well, it's been tough since Mom died"...Great! Self-deprecating humor is probably my favorite. I love the distinctions you draw, and the value you place on creativity. Your lessons you learned well from two wise men, in that you are a kind mentor whose celebrates each person's growth no matter the starting point, cheer good work, and demonstrate enormous amounts of patience with us all.
Carol
Comment Written 27-Oct-2011
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Thank you for your incredibly sweet words and for a good review.
Comment from EXMAN. nffc
to impart my wisdom
Ever noticed that inteligence and wisdom are two different words and most often don't seem to even like each other that much.
My mentor was a brilliant man
one of the most brilliant men
He must have been for you to use that word twice in one paragraph...
My father was brilliant,
Cripes, the brilliant's are coming out of the woodwork!
HI Alvin. I'm not sure I'd call it inteligence or brilliance or even genius. To me, understanding that you have more to learn is wisdom. Computers are inteligent, just not very smart.
My sister and I had a very interesting debate last weekend in which she desperately tried to persuade me over to her particular political view. I tried to tell her that I wasn't sure if she was right or wrong because I'd not seen the things she had or felt them the way she had. She wanted me to belive her because 'she knew' that's the way things are/were.
It leaves me believing that people who 'know' are some of the scariest I've ever met. I'm sure I don't need to provide examples for you.
I liked your story. Anything that draws out thought is worth the read. I've no direct points for you to change or consider.
Cheers mate.
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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to impart my wisdom
Ever noticed that inteligence and wisdom are two different words and most often don't seem to even like each other that much.
My mentor was a brilliant man
one of the most brilliant men
He must have been for you to use that word twice in one paragraph...
My father was brilliant,
Cripes, the brilliant's are coming out of the woodwork!
HI Alvin. I'm not sure I'd call it inteligence or brilliance or even genius. To me, understanding that you have more to learn is wisdom. Computers are inteligent, just not very smart.
My sister and I had a very interesting debate last weekend in which she desperately tried to persuade me over to her particular political view. I tried to tell her that I wasn't sure if she was right or wrong because I'd not seen the things she had or felt them the way she had. She wanted me to belive her because 'she knew' that's the way things are/were.
It leaves me believing that people who 'know' are some of the scariest I've ever met. I'm sure I don't need to provide examples for you.
I liked your story. Anything that draws out thought is worth the read. I've no direct points for you to change or consider.
Cheers mate.
Comment Written 27-Oct-2011
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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"Brilliant" was the best word to describe these two men. Thanks for an excellent review.
Comment from forestport12
Nice touch. I liked how you started it with introspective humor that made the reader want more and then how you closed with a touching references to your father and moved the argument from the brain to the heart in a seamless way.
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Nice touch. I liked how you started it with introspective humor that made the reader want more and then how you closed with a touching references to your father and moved the argument from the brain to the heart in a seamless way.
Comment Written 26-Oct-2011
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Thanks for an excellent review.
Comment from mountainwriter49
Hi TEACH,
I enjoyed this and admired how you acknowledged your father and mentor as important people that helped you learn what intelligence is, and is not. I like the concept that intelligent people know they've much more to learn. This is well written, thought provoking and interesting. Thanks for sharing.
-Ray
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Hi TEACH,
I enjoyed this and admired how you acknowledged your father and mentor as important people that helped you learn what intelligence is, and is not. I like the concept that intelligent people know they've much more to learn. This is well written, thought provoking and interesting. Thanks for sharing.
-Ray
Comment Written 26-Oct-2011
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Thanks for understanding what I wanted to convey.
Comment from Soledadpaz
You are so right, Alvin, in your definition of intelligence. It is almost a responsibility to help and mentor others. I trained many new nurses in my nursing career and I always told them they only needed to know two things. What they didn't know and where to look it up. Someone who thinks they know everything is a dangerous person. If you are intelligent, you never stop learning.
Sole
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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You are so right, Alvin, in your definition of intelligence. It is almost a responsibility to help and mentor others. I trained many new nurses in my nursing career and I always told them they only needed to know two things. What they didn't know and where to look it up. Someone who thinks they know everything is a dangerous person. If you are intelligent, you never stop learning.
Sole
Comment Written 26-Oct-2011
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Thank you for understanding exactly what I wanted to convey and for a good review.
Comment from TheCreativeMind
Awesome, well written, great what an intellectually stirring definition of intelligence! Your introduction and conclusion were short of 'brilliant' (which means I enjoyed them haha). Ok, now to stop the love fest, your prose seemed to have a nice flow to it, until I got to reading around your 7th paragraph, beginning with "I learned much...". You began using shorter, borderline, if not so, fragment sentences that through me off a bit while reading. This may have been done intentionally, and probably was, but for me it proved a little quirky. I realize also that this is only a 500 word format so you are limited to how much you say. Also the beginning line of your 8th paragraph seemed to be worded a bit funny. Is it not 'characteristics'? Perhaps that's just my own ignorance! Regardless, still very well written, and I believe you've hit upon a great truth. It reminded me a lot of Socrates', especially when you highlighted in your 9th paragraph 'intelligence, even brilliance and genius, is the knowledge that one has much to learn.' Did not Socrates' claim that he knew nothing =)? Good stuff, take care and God bless. - Ryan
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Awesome, well written, great what an intellectually stirring definition of intelligence! Your introduction and conclusion were short of 'brilliant' (which means I enjoyed them haha). Ok, now to stop the love fest, your prose seemed to have a nice flow to it, until I got to reading around your 7th paragraph, beginning with "I learned much...". You began using shorter, borderline, if not so, fragment sentences that through me off a bit while reading. This may have been done intentionally, and probably was, but for me it proved a little quirky. I realize also that this is only a 500 word format so you are limited to how much you say. Also the beginning line of your 8th paragraph seemed to be worded a bit funny. Is it not 'characteristics'? Perhaps that's just my own ignorance! Regardless, still very well written, and I believe you've hit upon a great truth. It reminded me a lot of Socrates', especially when you highlighted in your 9th paragraph 'intelligence, even brilliance and genius, is the knowledge that one has much to learn.' Did not Socrates' claim that he knew nothing =)? Good stuff, take care and God bless. - Ryan
Comment Written 26-Oct-2011
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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No, one of the "Characteristics" is plural --'One of the characteristics"--at least as I understand it. I wanted this to be short enough for all to understand, but intelligence for all to understand. Does that make sense? Thanks for a great review.
Comment from BarnCat
Excellent piece, Alvin. It is well-written, mingles humor with real examples of men in your life. They have influenced you well, as you have the qualities you admired in them: intelligence without pomposity; the ability to share your knowledge with all of your students, regardless of skill level or talent; and a genuine compassion for those around you. Sounds brilliant to me. D
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Excellent piece, Alvin. It is well-written, mingles humor with real examples of men in your life. They have influenced you well, as you have the qualities you admired in them: intelligence without pomposity; the ability to share your knowledge with all of your students, regardless of skill level or talent; and a genuine compassion for those around you. Sounds brilliant to me. D
Comment Written 26-Oct-2011
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Thanks for a great review.
Comment from Scribelle
What a wonderful description of the division between intelligentsia and intelligence. You have also shown one other division - that between intelligence and mentoring. A mentor is intelligent, but has a heart for others and respects them. This is yet another variation of intelligence. I truly enjoyed how you defined these differences. The open marketing comment was both humorous and effective.
I have a speech & language pathology degree from Northwestern University/Evanston with a B.S.S. and half a Masters. (Body wore out.) I homeschooled two multi-need gifted children who began with one-minute attention spans and ended up merit scholar and merit scholar finalist. The schools couldn't do it, so how did I do this? Mentors! Mentors! Mentors!
Because of my background, I find your distinction between intelligence and mentoring especially important. You show the importance of not only learning, but sharing. Very well-written, with many nuances within.
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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What a wonderful description of the division between intelligentsia and intelligence. You have also shown one other division - that between intelligence and mentoring. A mentor is intelligent, but has a heart for others and respects them. This is yet another variation of intelligence. I truly enjoyed how you defined these differences. The open marketing comment was both humorous and effective.
I have a speech & language pathology degree from Northwestern University/Evanston with a B.S.S. and half a Masters. (Body wore out.) I homeschooled two multi-need gifted children who began with one-minute attention spans and ended up merit scholar and merit scholar finalist. The schools couldn't do it, so how did I do this? Mentors! Mentors! Mentors!
Because of my background, I find your distinction between intelligence and mentoring especially important. You show the importance of not only learning, but sharing. Very well-written, with many nuances within.
Comment Written 26-Oct-2011
reply by the author on 16-Sep-2012
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Thanks for a great review; I am highly honored.
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Thanks for a great review; I am highly honored.
