Every conversation leaves an impression, and much depends on the level of intelligence of the conversational partner. Sometimes it is worth recognizing signs of foolishness in advance to avoid unnecessary stress and wasted time. We have compiled six main signals that will help you understand how smart the person you are communicating with is.
1. Lack of Sense of Humor
A sense of humor is an indicator of mental maturity. If a person does not understand jokes, sarcasm, or subtle irony, it may indicate a low level of intellectual flexibility.
Try telling a joke and observe the reaction. A foolish person will either not understand the humor or take everything literally, missing the nuances.
2. Excessive Fidgeting and Desire for Attention
If the conversational partner constantly tries to draw attention to themselves, speaks too loudly, or acts fidgety, it may be a signal of a limited mind.
It is important not to confuse this with charisma. People with natural charisma make communication more interesting, while fools tire others with their behavior and appear ridiculous.
3. Inability to Hold a Dialogue
A foolish person often speaks in monologues: interrupts, talks only about themselves, and does not listen to the conversational partner.
Smart people know how to build communication on mutual respect, ask questions, and respond to answers. If the dialogue is constantly one-sided, it is a troubling signal.
4. Lack of Doubts
Overconfidence without critical reflection is a sign of foolishness. Smart people doubt themselves, their decisions, and skills, assess risks, and weigh circumstances.
Fools, on the other hand, consider themselves better than others by default and see no reason to reconsider their beliefs.
5. Inattention to the Conversational Partner
A foolish person does not sense the mood of the conversational partner and the situation: they may speak at awkward moments or fail to notice that the person is not in the mood for a conversation.
Their primary need is to express themselves, rather than to maintain a dialogue or consider the feelings of others.
6. Black-and-White Thinking
Fools think categorically: "yes" or "no," "black" or "white." They do not see nuances, struggle to give advice, and do not take context into account.
A lack of flexibility in thinking prevents them from understanding people and situations deeply.
Communicating with such a person can be exhausting, so it is important to recognize these signs early on.
