The World's Smartest Person

I noticed that it states he graduated "cum laude". Out of interest what does that mean? I'm under the impression that it equates to the British "Thora" but I may be wrong.
 
It's amazing how funny CFC posters are...
 
Such puns prove that ye will always be proximae accessit to nibbling on the true earlobe of Lady Knowledge.
As to the original fellow, he seems to be just a little swat who took to his books in a heavy way to avoid his inevitable destiny as a crumpet rack.
 
Simon Darkshade said:
Such puns prove that ye will always be proximae accessit to nibbling on the true earlobe of Lady Knowledge.
Click to expand...
Actually, I'd much rather be nibbling on her accessit;) Proxime is better than nothing, I'll take it.
 
The story of Sidis is quite true. Brilliant minds have shaped our history, but he hasn't been one of them. It seems he wasted his talents somehow, perhaps his skills were more a matter of beaing able to learn and remember than of imagination, creativity, and problem-solving. I suppose that should be indicated by a relatively low IQ, but that isn't the case here. I rather doubt the credibility of such post-humous "intelligence tests"...
 
He went crazy and died homeless. They mention his obsession with bus transfers. They were his great passion in life. He wrote entire books about bus transfers.
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[quoteImmortal]SN: His bus transfer book was referred to by a biographer as "the most boring book ever written" lol![/quote]

I thought this was a joke when Seleucus said it, but it is actually true?
 
Plotinus said:
Quite right. He clearly didn't have any creativity. I once saw a survey of likely IQs of historical figures (obviously a pretty daft survey, since IQ isn't really a serious index anyway) and, of all people, Goethe came out on top. I think Leibniz and Aristotle came pretty close, plus Newton. All those people were not only damned clever but original and creative too (not that IQ measures that, of course).
Click to expand...

This one?

Looks pretty daft to me.
 
a space oddity said:
Cum Laude means with honour in Latin. When your grades are above a certain level this title is added. There's a level beyond that BTW: Summa Cum Laude...
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I should have given more of an explanation. A "thora" is rhyming slang. Thora Hird equals third, a third class honours degree. From your explanation it does appear to equate to the same sort of thing - the lowest ranked honours degree. The usual response to being "awarded" a Thora is to run away to Angola and become a mercenary.
BTW nice to see you back Simon! How was Angola? ;) :)
 
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
 
Syterion said:
I thought this was a joke when Seleucus said it, but it is actually true?
Click to expand...

No, it's absolutely true. He even coined a Latinoid term for "bus transfer collection".
 
SeleucusNicator said:
No, it's absolutely true. He even coined a Latinoid term for "bus transfer collection".
Click to expand...

... what is a bus transfer?

And what did he call it?
 
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