This actually is Russ (the moderator) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yes, kindness is important, and I also want to mention this: If we feel that someone makes a foolish statement, perhaps it's best to let it stand. There is probably no need to point it out as others will have the opportunity so see it and make their own judgements. However, if we are compelled to point it out, let's be sure we do it in a way that inspires others to emulate.


About the IQ comments... Being a "people watcher" all of my life, I don't doubt that people have picked up on these IQ statements and perhaps feel a little "strange" about these kinds of comments.

Nevertheless, as I don't doubt that people on this forum are very intelligent, I also know that there are many kinds of intelligence. I have also found the amazingly-consistent pattern that a person who is very intelligent in one area is often equally unintelligent in another.

As an example, an intelligent research-oriented person "A" may provide excellent information in the course of their research that reveals great scientific secrets that can benefit the lives of many, perhaps in the area of health.

However, because of their personal makeup or style, person "A" often does not have the ability to apply the information to the lives of people, or even convince them to try.

That type of intelligence exists with person "B" instead, who is very personable and is very good at making complex ideas simple and appealing so they can be applied in the lives of people. This is another kind of very important and valuable—yet different—intelligence, and ironically (and by design, I believe) the intelligence of person "A" is useless without the combined intelligence of person "B".

In my own life, I have found that the the vast majority of doctors have excellent memory recall and math skills, but don't ask them to do anything artistic, especially caligraphy because you won't have anyone show up for your wedding. Also, don't ask them to hang a picture on the wall because they're liable to break their necks doing it.

On the other hand, if so many of the herbalists I know didn't have the emotional intelligence and personable intelligence that they have, they would not be able to reveal the vast advantages that alternative supplements offer over drugs in many/most cases.

I mention this to point out how dependent we are on each other. Remembering that we depend on each other should help us stay kind and humble towards others.

Even if the person we're kind and humble towards does not deserve it (which is normally not ours to judge), perhaps the onlooking person "C" will benefit from the example you set and gain respect for you while the undeserving recipient of your kindness may be moved or personally convinced to become a better person. Finally, you're reputation among all will remain high.

Everybody wins.