Interesting article on the dangers of intellectualism

[Anonymous]

Old-Timer wrote:

Personal story:

When I started as a sale rep in the Educational Publishing world, I dealt mostly with Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Technology Directors and Principles – as well as Legislators and executives at philanthropic charities with lots of money to contribute. Since I was dealing with highly-educated people in the education industry, I didn’t bother hiding my own ability to speak intellectually. I didn’t try intentionally to sound smart or intellectual, but I figured those people would respect and respond better to “proper”, educated speech – to someone who obviously valued and could speak intelligently about education.

My Regional Manager pulled me aside one day and gave me some advice that made me a much better salesperson. He said, essentially:

Quote:

I know you aren’t trying to show off at all, but tone down your vocabulary. Nobody wants to have to think about what you mean when they are listening to you. They want to understand it easily the first time. They don’t want to feel stupid or inferior – and anything that makes them feel that way hurts your chance at a sale, no matter how much sense you make or how much they need what you are trying to sell them.

I still slip into academic verbosity (see? ) sometimes, but I try really hard to say things as plainly as I can – and I try hard not to use long words when shorter words will work just as well. It’s not condescension at all; rather, it simply is an attempt to be understood by everyone hearing or reading what I say – even if I am trying to say something that is incredibly complex.

Ya ray I agree. The real heart of the matter of being a intellectual with charity is that you have the knowledge and desire to be able to break it down into language someone can understand and relate to. If you can’t or won’t then it’s a lack of charity or deep knowledge to be able to break it down sufficiently for the person to understand that underscores the heart of true intellectualism and charity.

[Anonymous]

While CS Lewis’ non-fiction books have their flaws, I think their beauty lies in communicating complex ideas and arguments in relatively simple language.

[Anonymous]

Another thing to be careful of is talking about your education around people who don’t have one. I made this mistake when I took my first job out of MBA school. Told a story about what happened when I was working on my MBA to people who worked on the plant floor.

Word got around I was fixated and arrogant about my degree.

As a result, I never mention it around people who aren’t steeped in education. At work, where I’m surrounded by PhD’s and educators, it’s OK to mention the education I have — it’s common to all of our life’s experiences and we talk about it often. In most circles, it’s completely inappropriate — almost like talking about how big and wonderful your Mercedes is to people who drive a Corrolla — that’s not how I see it, but the reactions I’ve received from people who didn’t go to university is like that.

And by the way, I drive a Corrolla…

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I generally don’t mention I graduated from Harvard until people know me well enough not to assume an untrue stereotype about me. (that I grew up rich and attended private schools all my life, for example) I’ve been burned in the past more than once, so I simply say I went to college in the Boston area when someone first asks or when educational backgrounds come up in a conversation with people who don’t know me.

[Author]

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