9 Comments
User's avatar
Sneaky Hermit's avatar

I really enjoy these entries. They’re “intelligent without being too intelligent.” 😉

Expand full comment
John Wheatley's avatar

Thank you, like all respectable writers I pride myself on Gh'LWAAgh'L

Expand full comment
Sneaky Hermit's avatar

That isn’t what the ladies call it. Also, John, where is that beautiful brain? Dying for an update on New Orion over here!

Expand full comment
Gregory McCann's avatar

I think the main attribute isn't so much the level of intelligence but rather how much one "tries to be intelligent". Stupid people "try to be intelligent" because they want to feel and appear intelligent to others. Intelligent people don't need to try because it just comes naturally to them (if anything their insecurities would lie in more prosaic things...). Generally if I see someone trying really hard to come off intelligent to others, I assume they must be stupid (and then avoid them, or just politely make non-conversation so they get bored and leave me alone so I can get on with whatever it is they've interrupted me doing). Intelligent people are few and far between, but stupid people wanting to appear intelligent are common as muck, and dull as dishwater.

Expand full comment
Scorpion_Strike's avatar

Ah, crewman Tann reveals to us his romantic side! I agree, no intelligent species would ever reach the stars without a good vocabulary and sense for love and beauty, for without these things, how would one ever muster the wherewithal to get up there in the first place? It appears our protagonist is in pursuit of a majestic quarry, ranked first in mandibles, no less! I do wonder what contouring and coloring aids she might have applied to accentuate the particular aesthetic qualities of said mandibles... Though personally my eyes are drawn more to the rhythmic motions of well-sculpted coxae and femurs, I can relate to appreciating a well-uniformed thorax. Best of luck to crewman Tann!

Expand full comment
Maureen Peters's avatar

That 'intelligent but not too intelligent'-thing is actually a thing. Almost all men tend to pick partners who will be actually dependable spouses, i.e. bright enough to be good intellectual sparring partners, but not too smart so that they may run off to university, or only focus on their career and neglect their families.

Absolutely reasonable of course, but since this selection process works mainly in the subconscious, which immediately dismisses a lot of potential partners, makes it many much depressing.

I am rooting for Tann though. He deserves to be loved.

Expand full comment
Call of the Shieldmaiden's avatar

Things have taken a more spicey direction.

Expand full comment
Sneaky Hermit's avatar

Haha I love it! You know, as brief as these are, there is quite a bit packed in them.

Expand full comment
Gregory McCann's avatar

An Aesthetics Committee rating lasses on attractiveness could only have come out of a secondary school. xD

Expand full comment