Generally what is more important? Street Smarts or Book Smarts?

[NNN0LHI]

[lcordero2]

1. intuition falls under street smarts so

i voted for street smarts

[trotsky]

2. When it comes to what? n/t

[NNN0LHI]

8. Generally. I knew you were going to ask n/t

[laruemtt]

3. was going to go for book smarts

until i read lcordero saying intuition comes under street smarts, so there ya go!

[jody]

4. Taking a test or hustling a buck? n/t

[NNN0LHI]

11. Generally. We all know what the answer would be for the Bar Exam n/t

[panader0]

5. Street smarts

I am fairly well educated. I know authors and books etc. I've also been a bricklayer for 30 years and I know that book smarts are only important in academic situations. In real life you need to "make" the street every time you leave your home.

[Benhurst]

6. If I were going in for surgery, I think I'd prefer my doctor had

book smarts.

[smartvoter]

That's specific, not general... nt

[Ron Green]

7. Other: they're equally important.

I wouldn't want to be without the required amount of either one in any sort of situation.

[NNN0LHI]

16. As well as too much of either or both can be a dangerous thing for some n/t

[Bluzmann57]

9. Having lived a life of rejecting academics

I had to vote street smarts. Besides, what good is book learnin' if you lose your job and have to make do with less? As I get older and (?) wiser, I realize there really is something to being book smart, but nothing is better for survival than "street smarts".

[Ron Green]

22. The one who has to make do with less might want some book smarts

to be able to smile at the irony of life, and to put it in true perspective.

;-)

[Deja Q]

10. These days where book starts-type jobs are going bye-bye,

those w/ street smarts, ironically, will be the survivors.

My how humanity has degenerated.

[Robb]

12. Street smarts are overrated

Plus, they're not particularly adapted to rural areas, where we don't pave the roads. ;)

To wit, I've seen some obviously street smart folks out here in the sticks be made fools of.

That said, at least if you've read enough you might be able to fake street smarts. You can't fake book smarts.

[panader0]

18. Dirt roads

Street smarts can be on dirt roads too

[ret5hd]

21. i've never seen anybody able to fake street smarts...

not for very long anyway...
and i've never seen anybody able to fake book smarts either.

But i have seen people with their share of both...they get by the best.

[A Simple Game]

36. And who made fun of them,

people with county road smarts?

[Qibing Zero]

13. Street smarts are different depending on where you are

Overall I'd have to say book smarts are more important, though.

If you're planning on moving around, the most important thing is to have an overall understanding of everything. Street smarts help you survive in society, book smarts help you enjoy surviving - anywhere.

[Mz Pip]

14. Depends on where you are.

Have met some amazingly brilliant book smart people who have a terrible time navigating their way through simple social situations. Have also met some very street smart people who will probably end up in jail before too long.

You need both.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Spinzonner]

15. It depends upon the circumstances

When planning for complexity and within a controlled environment and situation, book smarts wll have substantial advantages.

When dealing with routine, execution of well-established processes, street-smarts and the real-world experience they reflect are most valuable.

When dealing with the unexpected, it very much depends on how out of the known and ordinary the situation is and whether breadth of knowledge contributes more to a solution or the ability to make decisions based upon the current circumstances is mostr beneficial.

[Faygo Kid]

17. Book smarts. Ultimately, best be educated. Or be led by the nose.

I have no doubt that street smarts will be the selection here. But that is vague and unmeasurable. I will take book smarts, which can lead and enhance any street smarts.

[NNN0LHI]

19. That is a good answer. Thought provoking. Thanks for participating n/t

[Faygo Kid]

20. And thank you for posting a provocative question.

Made me think. That normally hurts, but I guess we have to do it every now and then.

[heidler1]

29. I have a son who graduated from Berkley CA. I have a son in law who passed

The Ca. Bar exam. My own son believes that education makes you smart. My Son in Law believes that he had to be smart to start with and the books polished his knowledge to where he passed the bar. I agree with my son in law.

[NNN0LHI]

34. That would be an interesting debate of its own

Does education make someone smart? Or does being smart allow someone to become educated? Thanks and I am sure you are proud of your son and son in law as you should be.

Don

[Iris]

23. One can actually have both.

eom

[MazeRat7]

24. Street Smarts ? What does that mean, exactly ?

Does being "Street Smart" mean:

1) Being able to write software, build a skyscraper, or send a craft to space ?
2) Diagnose biological illness ?
3) Provide insight to our origins and the universe we live in ?
4) Provide representation in a litigious society ?
5) Help me understand climatological changes ?

Gezzzz.. this is a troll right ? Certainly you are not serious with this question.

MZr7

[heidler1]

39. IMO Street smarts is knowing what makes people tic. Generally it's

disguised selfishness and it's seldom mastered.

[bo44]

25. It's a Ying Yang Thang

Streets smarts coupled with the ability to analyze and reason with laser sharp precision creates a bad motherfucker. Streets smarts in the professional world without even the ability to project the appearance of intelligence much less the ability to communicate professionally creates a punk no one wants to deal with.

[Endangered Specie]

26. I doubt very much you want your house, buildings you work in,

roads you drive on, your car itself, the nuclear plant down the road etc... designed by someone with "street smarts" (which to me means someone more in touch with the 'latest trends', not any of the real knowedge from "book smarts").

[central scrutinizer]

27. In theory

In theory, theory and practice are the same.
In practice, they are different.

[rosesaylavee]

28. Book smarts - you can do most anything once you know

how to access the knowledge.

Come on people - anti-intellectualism is a Repug quality...


:kick:

[Book Lover]

30. Depends on the book. And the street.

This thread reminds me of the Carrie Fisher quote "I was street smart, but unfortunately the street was Rodeo Drive."

[Silverhair]

31. Depends on the situation.

Street smarts, only, is great for the streets, terrible for the professional world, and vice versa.

Of course, one can have both and move in both worlds.

[begin_within]

32. "people skills"

[proud patriot]

33. Both equally n/t

[NNN0LHI]

35. You are probably pretty close n/t

[soothsayer]

37. On The Apprentice, the book smarts won, didn't they?

[Quixote1818]

38. In life it's street smarts. In making a better world it's book smarts.

People who are street smart have good instincts which help them excel. A C student with street smarts can go much further than an A student who has poor instincts.

As far as making decisions for a better world and government I would say 'book smarts' because we learn best from the past and from trial and error. Thomas Jefferson without a great education would not have had NEARLY the impact on the world as he did had he not studied world history and the mistakes of society's from the past.

[htuttle]

40. They're both important -- they're like 'Research' AND 'Development'

I have five years of college under my belt, and drove a taxi for 9 years. Both life experiences help me everyday.

Book smarts helps you figure out what the possibilities are. Street smarts helps you take advantage of those possibilities.

[Kailassa]

41. Do "living skills" = "street smarts"?

I like to think a gentle manner and willingness to listen are usually better than street smarts. Of course it doesn't hurt to be able to give the impression of having a big stick handy when it's needed.

[htuttle]

42. I think there's definitely a time and place for both

Knowing which is which is what I'd consider 'street smarts'.

[mandyky]

43. Street smarts AND the ability to read

and a love of learniing.