Wonder if I'm alone on this...

Am I the only person who prefers a congenial idiot to an impertinent genius?  Its true, RPG's do require a certain amount of intelligence.  But still, I've had more fun with likable dullards than I've ever had with even the most intelligent of trolls.  I know we can all be a bit beastly at times, but can't we all just get along?

Its not as if we have never done something ghastly or stupid during our lifetimes.  Lord knows, we all need a good kick in the crumpet every once and a while.  But not everyone can be perfect, and certainly not I.  Role Playing Games are the one time we can all set aside our generally hostile attitude towards the galaxy and come together and blather like genial idiots about esoteric subjects so obscure as to cause others to shake their heads and wonder, "Who let that guy out of the loonie bin?"

Just a post to say "I love this post!!"

If I can't have a straight conversation with someone about the way we all act, and how that affects the game, then I just avoid them.  Easier to do in a forum.   The words idiot and genius are more layered that most people want to talk about.  I know a lot of idiots that have done things that have amazed me, and a lot of "geniuses" with no friends that make decisions that make me wonder about how they can still be alive.  

Likability goes a long way, especially in the virtual tabletop arena.

idiot and genius both have very precise definitions. a person is considered a "genius" if they have an IQ of 160 or above, and is an "idiot" if there IQ is 60 or lower.  So basically, you either have the answer sheet or the proctor had to keep you from chewing on the scantron form.  You're right though, they are layered, when used in everyday speech.  But in general, someone who takes offensive at the term idiot is either the victim of tragic circumstance or is usually hyper-sensitive and adverse to any sort of direct confrontation.  I worked with the handicapped for a while, but even we get tired of tiptoeing around words like "retard" or "moron". But thats just my old salty sailor speak.  You'll forgive me, being out at sea so long.

 Idiots are cool, but I feel so god damned useless. I guess I'll just go smash something.

One of my favorite characters that I played was a congenial idiot that had amnesia and acted on a basis that every person could be friends... As he started remembering his past he grew as a deeper character, showing insecurities that he tried to hide under the major nature of friendly congeniality. Such a FUN character and such a deep game where there was a recurring character in a similar situation that acted as an antagonist that was also tied to his past... When playing intelligent characters... well you are just too SHREWD to do anything to stupid so fun things don't happen as much...