Quinn smart? You're putting me on.

Gentle readers, (Note: there are two mentions of early season three episodes, but I don't really think it qualifies for a spoiler)

It is an oft repeated maxim on this newsgroup to say that Quinn is intelligent, but doesn't use it. After thinking long and hard, and using Daria episodes to relax myself before trying to go to sleep,

I just don't see it!

Call me a country bumpkin, but

1) Daria insults Quinn to her face constantly and she never even has a clue; Val at least has a clue. That's someone who subverts her intelligence for beauty (to use Mike Quinn's theory in practice)

The classic, "Don't worry. It's a psychological test. You're automatically exempt" and Quinn's ready acceptance is a typical situation.

2) Even in Quinn the Brain, she didn't write the essay. Her only original contribution is "The Greasy Fry", which I don't think quite demonstrates intelligence. Daria's impromptu poem DOES, however, because it is parody. Quinn says she WROTE this poem. That means she had to "think" about it. If that's the best she can do with engaging her brain....woah, dude.

3) "Daria you're giving me a headache" from one of the early season three episodes. Don't want that to be a spoiler, but another QUINN-tesential line.

To paraphrase Wendy's, "Where's the brain?"

Wondering, Rev. Paul L. Vasquez

In article ,

episodes,

using

I don't think that Quinn is particulary intelligent (or stupid for that matter). It's just that she 'represses' any intelligence that she does have. IMHO, Brittany is probably much smarter than Quinn(in most measurable ways, anyway).

Hmm...

So we agree she's average or less, at least in the measurable ways. But, I don't know. She knows when Sandi is insulting her because it is obvious, both by expression and tone of voice. Jane and Daria, however, insult her constantly to her face and she doesn't even realize it. To me you have to be pretty dense to not even catch a glimpse of such a thing. It would be one thing if Daria was using uncommon or jargon words, but usually it's just plain talk. Quinn's poem/song I think can be well described as "stupid."

So..."A mind is a terrible thing to waste?" Regardless of whether she has a high potential or not, she never bothers to develop it, so she looks dumb? Am I getting this right? Or is that people _like_ Quinn as a character and it's hard to say she's not too bright?

You'll have to excuse my ignorance of all the internet abbreviations, but what is this again?

Hmm...is this a bit like comparing an electron and a quark? :-)

Sincerely, Rev. Paul L. Vasquez

I think people are just too embarrassed to admit that they sometimes find stupidity in a girl kind of cute. Mind you, although Quinn is pretty dense, she has a sort of animal intelligence, such as the social skills needed to get herself a mate. This is where Daria falls down, she may be exceptionally intelligent, but on a purely Darwinian level she's probably headed for extinction without outside help.

-Shez.

In article , Shez wrote:

I'm reminded of an old Family Ties episode. The older daughter (Malory?) has been pushed by her teacher to stop acting so dumb and use her inteligence. After Malory passes the test they have the following exchance:

Teacher: "There are so many girls who think they have to act dumb, so that all the guys will like them and ask them out." Malory: "Well? (all serious)... Does it work?" Teacher: "Well... yes."

father_v wrote:

"In My Humble Opinion."

And you made this point in your first post on this topic:

I disagree. I believe she wrote it, then said she didn't to keep everyone from thinking she was a brain.

In article , father_v wrote:

But here, you assume that she doesn't catch a glimpse. Try this theory: Jane and Daria are "geeks", "weirdos", and "losers", and Quinn is Popular. Why would a Popular person even bother to pay attention to the insults of the Not-Popular? Also, Daria is her sister. I don't know if you're an only child, but I know that I've learned to simply let my sibling's insults roll off me. Quinn is most likely doing the same.

Ignorance and lack of talent are not stupidity, and in fact are entirely different things. I mean, just because Daria doesn't know the difference between ecru and eggshell , and couldn't coordinate a spring wardrobe doesn't mean she's a dolt. It just means she has better things to do with her time.

Speaking as a member of the Jane Lane Stalker's Club, I'm pretty sure I don't like Quinn, and it's still hard to say she's not too bright. When we've seen her apply herself, she's good - sure, her essay from Quinn the Brain was definitely not Pulitzer material, but for someone who spends most of her time in the back of class chatting with her fellow Fashion Clubbers, it was decent.

                           Cappadocius,
              and I'll bet Quinn's reply to Daria's "Khmer Rouge"
comment in "Too Cute" was Quinn making a joke. Really.

On Thu, 01 Jul 1999 14:24:15 GMT, father_v wrote:

I use the show to go to sleep too.

I've often thought that Quinn is actually smarter than she acts and smarter than her awful friends.

After reading the posts here, I'm not sure if that's quite right.