Glasses mean you're smart - why?

[tb4000]

It's been a cliche since the beginning of time, but in entertainment, especially cartoons, why does wearing glasses automatically make you intellectual or a geek? Their main function is to improve eyesight, but why is that a correlation of intelligence? I know people dumb as a brick that wear glasses. I never really got that, but so many shows and movies do it, we've become conditioned basically.:confused: The only character that wears glasses and is a moron is Peter Griffin.

[Classic Speedy]

Martin Prince doesn't wear glasses.

[Dark Fact]

It's a bad, bad stereotype. I wear glasses all the time and I don't even know how to write a professional computer program even though I'm still taking classes.

[Hordesman]

It's mainly visual shorthand although I can think of smart characters who don't wear glasses, goofy sorts who do... and the anime archetype of a glasses-wearing individual (usually a waifish guy) who puts on a goofball front but is really some sort of badass or powerhouse.

[Dr.Pepper]

The reason why smart cartoons wear glasses is because back before the invention of contacts kids who wore glasses couldn't play sports, so they had to study all day long. That's where the sterotype came from.

[Cullen]

It's like the Simpsons episode where Homer finds a pair of glasses in the trash and puts them on, thinking they'll make him smart. And Mr. Burns chooses some employees to fire, but decides to keep Homer because the glasses make him look smart.

[FinnMacCool]

It's because reading, like exercise, can wear the body down if it's done too much. Someone who reads a lot puts a lot of strain on their eyes; if they overdo it, their vision can start to fail, so they need to use glasses.

[Gokou Ruri]

Yep, glasses are guilty by association alone. Reading/being on the computer too much ruins your eyes, thus, makes you wear glasses.

[V Man C]

Hmmm... the reason I wear glasses is because I used to watch too many cartoons. :sweat:

[The Myst]

Yep, glasses are guilty by association alone. Reading/being on the computer too much ruins your eyes, thus, makes you wear glasses.

Not necessarily. I wear glasses because of a hereditary astigmatism. It has nothing to do with those factors.

[Gokou Ruri]

Not necessarily. I wear glasses because of a hereditary astigmatism. It has nothing to do with those factors. Well obviously that's not the only reason people get glasses. :sweat:. It can be from diseases, genetics, accidents, and other factors. I was just saying that straining your eyes by reading/computering all the time is why "intelligent people" wear glasses a lot. A lot of reading/studying and stuff.

[J'onn J'onzz]

Yep, glasses are guilty by association alone. Reading/being on the computer too much ruins your eyes, thus, makes you wear glasses.

Not necessarily. Practically all I do is use the computer and read, and I don't have glasses. Then again, one of my eyes is a little short sighted... but I can still see fine most of the time.

[The Overlord]

Peter Griffin wears glasses and no one thinks he is smart.

[RonDrakenfan17]

Double D doesn't wear glasses and he's the smartes character on the show and the most attractive one from what I gathered in the fan base of Ed, Edd n Eddy :)
So you don't need glasses to be smart.

[tb4000]

Peter Griffin wears glasses and no one thinks he is smart.

I mentioned that.

[Scythemantis]

The reason why smart cartoons wear glasses is because back before the invention of contacts kids who wore glasses couldn't play sports, so they had to study all day long. That's where the sterotype came from.

Definately the best answer.

[Dark Fact]

The reason why smart cartoons wear glasses is because back before the invention of contacts kids who wore glasses couldn't play sports, so they had to study all day long. That's where the sterotype came from.
And that automatically makes them intelligent?

[OverMaster]

And that automatically makes them intelligent?

From a mere academic perspective (toon characters with the brainy stereotype usually lack social and emotional intelligence anyway; see Dexter, Yomiko Readman, Honker Muddlefoot, Brainy Smurf, etc), yes, studying a lot does generally make people more intelligent.

Anyway, a lot of cerebral cartoon characters lack glasses (The Brain, Lex Luthor, Professor Utonium, Dr. Wily, Dr. Light and Washu most of the time). OTOH, Keitaro from Love Hina is a clumsy guy with glasses... and below average intelligence. Ditto for Milhouse ("I'm not a nerd, Bart. Nerds are smart").

[Roman Legion]

Bah, you're all wrong! The truth is that glasses are unfashionable and make you look socially ignorant. Having the right look is critical to being part of the right crowd. Kids who were social rejects anyway -- possibly for enjoying education -- either don't realize this or don't care, so they wear their glasses if needed. The cool kids won't wear glasses, even if they need 'em. You don't need to see clearly to be cool. Getting clobbered in sporting activities because you can't see is badass, and you know it. Thus, statistically, you're more likely to be smart if you wear glasses.

There, case closed. :p

--Romey

[Junko Black]

I think it's a social thing.

People who usually have glasses have weakened eyesight from reading a lot, or that's the belief. And if you read a lot, that probably means you're smart.

[Hordesman]

When it comes to anime, it's another variation in its type of character design which differentiates characters more by hair and clothes than facial features or body type. Glasses are just another such variation.

But there are specific types who wear glasses in anime: goofballs, goofballs who are really hardcore deep down (I think there's a specific name for this type but it escapes me), flighty/clumsy girls, etc.

[dth1971]

What about Arthur Read? He wears glasses!