I’m Kazu, a male member.
If someone confuses academic background with intelligence, I don’t find them particularly intelligent to begin with...
They don’t have to be brilliant, but I don’t enjoy conversations with foolish people, so I wouldn’t want to meet them again.
As for whether I’d be disappointed if someone described as “smart” turned out not to be, that depends on who at the club wrote the comment. If it was written by a staff member I like, I’d be disappointed in that staff member. Otherwise, I’d just think, “Well, that figures.”
I’m Taro, a male member.
People don’t normally say things like, “You’re smart,” do they? Things are getting pretty wild（笑). Before long, you might start getting requests to solve cold cases or challenges from criminals.
If people think that about you for reasons other than your academic background, there must be something about you that gives them that impression. The fact that you’re considering the possibility of bias when someone compliments you is pretty smart in itself（笑). Anyway, just be yourself. Lots of people will say all kinds of things, but you don’t have to let them define you. If you keep getting disappointed, you could ask the club staff, “Sorry, would you mind not writing things that set the bar so high?”
“Bright” is a nice word. I think a lot of people find intelligent, perceptive women attractive. I’m not sure how you define “smart,” but people with deep thoughts, rich imaginations, or exceptionally fast processing abilities are all fascinating. And I think it’s cute when a girl like that struggles a little because she has trouble fitting into the world.
Anyway, having a distinctive personality is a good thing, so be confident.
I’m Papahikoki, a male member.
> Do men care whether a woman is intelligent?
I don’t care at all about her educational background or whether she’s academically smart. As for being intelligent in the broader sense… hmm, I suppose that does matter to some extent.
You don’t need to think too much about the compliments, either. I think our responses just naturally click in terms of timing and content.
You’re simply talking about yourself in the same casual way you always have, and I think that’s exactly why things click so well—the conversation feels enjoyable and comfortable.
Also, the university mentioned in your question isn’t necessarily a particularly prestigious or intellectually outstanding one (academic background and intelligence are two different things). However, I think the man you’re talking to also finds it pleasant that you admire and respect him, believing that he’s smart. Just conveying that feeling is more than enough—in his eyes, you’re already an intelligent person.
