The Flip Side Of Intelligence

Our flight has been delayed for a couple of hours. Luckily for me, it’s a business flight so I have lounge access that I’m taking advantage of. Another passenger in the lounge appears to be on the same flight, so we’ve been chatting.

Passenger: “Coming home or heading out?”

Me: “Out. Going to [Scientific Conference] in New York.”

Passenger: “Me too!”

We chat some more and realize we work in the same scientific field, which is quite niche. He’s also a very well-respected figure in the field, and I’ve read some of his papers!

Passenger: “You’ll have to give me your details so we can talk more at the conference!”

I hand over my business card. He flips it over to the blank side and gets out a pen.

Passenger: *Looks at me expectantly.*

Me: “Uh… yes?”

Passenger: “Your name and email?”

Me: “I just… I just gave you my business card.”

He blinks, looks down, turns the card over, and looks back at me.

Passenger: “I swear I’m very respected in my field… usually…”

Amazing academic brains don’t always equal day-to-day smarts…