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Do you find it difficult to engage in intellectual conversations with people in general?
It happens to me all the time. My wife encourages me to have dinner with her friend and her friend's husband. "It's the opportunity to socialize and meet new interesting people!", she proclaims. And yet the same boring conversations unfold. The guy rambles on about how many yards this guy ran, and how many interceptions this guy threw, and did you see how many spiders that guy ate on Fear Factor, etc, etc. I ask something like, "Hey, did you see that they possibly discovered the Higgs Boson at the LHC?" And the guy looks at me like I'm from Mars, "The LH what?". Then my wife makes a comment like I'm a nerd then everyone laughs. I'm far from a social misfit or hobbit, I just prefer to discuss things that stimulate me intellectually. I hope I don't offend anyone for saying so, but most of the time I feel like I'm surrounded by people that are intellectually challenged, to put it kindly. And maybe that's just it, if you consider that the average intellectual quotient is around 100. They're easily entertained and amuzed to watch television shows cataloging the "real world" of college kids living in a house together, arguing over who got the most trashed the night before at the club.
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John Moonstroller 20+
It wasn't the topics, because even rednecks talk about the universe and world politics, it was the way I was speaking --good diction, no cussing, no drawl, no physical animation. So, to have a place to hang out, I had to learn to speak redneck all over again. The result was more dates, more fun and my old pals welcomed me back into the fold.
I think just about everyone who achieve a higher education or learns to express their intense curiosity about the world around them has the same problem. That's one of the reason's I hang out on TED.
A husband should make his wife proud. Learn some football stuff and learn how to drag the conversation onto the physics of how the game is played "... he has the ability to put just the right amount of spiral on the ball so it achieves perfect a trajectory into the hands of the receiver....." etc. I'm sure your wife's husband will be willing to turn to other subject matters.
I sincerely believe that being a nerd can be a lonely life. I started my Armature Scientific career emailing physicist with questions and propositions. They were not only helpful but sometimes wanted to know more about my idea(s).
My suggestion is to join one of the many clubs that can found in your locality. There you will find an outlet for your expressive talents and satisfaction or your intense curiosity. Nerds like to party too.
But, yes, it is the small world we live in and it is a very exclusive clique. Intellectuals should spend more time entertaining one another and being more involved, especially with new comers and late bloomers. TED appears to be one such place.