Character Standards(Sheldon Vs Leonard) How They Treat Penny

[SheldonCooperFan]

Sheldon doesn't seem to hold Penny to the same intellectual standard as Leonard does. Sheldon also seems to blame a person for spreading a lie rather than the person who is going to fall for it. Both Sheldon and Leonard have dealt with penny and the psychic thing. However Sheldon didn't seem to take out his disbelief on penny he took it out on the Psychic basically saying "Shes a dishonest con-artist that is misleading people in order to swindle them out of their money"(Im paraphrasing). He seemed to mostly take it out on the  psychic reader. Where when Leonard heard it he took it out on Penny mostly. Now Sheldon did insult Penny in this episode a few times but it was about different things and he didn't take to heart as much as Leonard did. Sheldon just thought it was kind of silly. Leonard for some reason took Penny's ignorance as insult to his intellectual integrity. Now Sheldon seems to have simply accepted Penny is not as smart as them. Leonard seems to expect more from her despite this fact. Sheldon also seems surprised when Bernadette knows what hes talking about. As though he didn't expect her to have any idea what he was talking about. 

Edited May 16, 2014 by SheldonCooperFan

[gsxdoug]

Don't know what show you're watching, but Sheldon insults Penny about her intelligence all the time. Leonard loves Penny for who she is, and thinks she is smart in her own way.

Edited May 16, 2014 by gsxdoug

[SheldonCooperFan]

Don't know what show you're watching, but Sheldon insults Penny about her intelligence all the time. Leonard loves Penny for who she is, and thinks she is smart in her own way.

I said he holds her to a different standard. If he thinks penny is stupid or not he seems to dismiss it a lot of time. Leonard seems to take it as an insult to him that Penny is unintelligent or believes in something he finds illogical. Sheldon also said "Given your education I would encourage you to ask me as many questions as you can". They both know Penny is not as smart as them but Sheldon doesn't seem to be as bothered by that fact. He seems annoyed when she has unacceptable behavior but seems to focus more on that than her actual intelligence. 

Edited May 16, 2014 by SheldonCooperFan

[gsxdoug]

Care to give a couple examples of Leonard taking Penny's intelligence as an insult to himself? Belief in psychic powers is illogical, and I would try to disabuse anyone of the notion, including a wife or girlfriend. Doesn't mean I consider it an insult to myself. In any event, your argument is flawed. Leonard was never face to face with a psychic in Penny's presence. You can't say with any certainty, had the situations been reversed, that Leonard would not have taken it out on the psychic, and Sheldon would not have taken it out on Penny, as you put it. Sheldon's history of belittling Penny's intelligence would indicate otherwise.

[SheldonCooperFan]

Care to give a couple examples of Leonard taking Penny's intelligence as an insult to himself? Belief in psychic powers is illogical, and I would try to disabuse anyone of the notion, including a wife or girlfriend. Doesn't mean I consider it an insult to myself. In any event, your argument is flawed. Leonard was never face to face with a psychic in Penny's presence. You can't say with any certainty, had the situations been reversed, that Leonard would not have taken it out on the psychic, and Sheldon would not have taken it out on Penny, as you put it. Sheldon's history of belittling Penny's intelligence would indicate otherwise.

Did you not watch the psychic episode? That is what this post is about. So either you did not read the post or you did not watch the episode where She told Leonard about the Psychic. In the psychic episode which I was referring to Leonard gets upset and starts mocking Penny for going to a psychic. He was a real jerk about it. When he told Howard he said letting her believe in a psychic and not speaking up would be "Giving up his intellectual integrity". Which it wasn't but he took it that personally. I cant link you the episode since we are not allowed to put unofficially posted content on this website and I already got in trouble once for that. So sorry if you missed that episode. In a later episode Season 7 Sheldon goes with Penny to see a psychic and he tells the psychic basically that "They are dishonest and spreading false information in order to swindle people out of their money".(Dont remember exactly what Sheldon said to the psychic so I am summing it up). He seemed to take it out more on the psychic and unlike Leonard did not take it personally as an attack on his own intellectual integrity. If you want to buy the seasons though you might be able to find 1-6 online just so you are caught up. The leonardxPenny episode was from one of the earlier seasons. That or you can purchase single episodes off amazon. This also seems to be where a lot of the conflict between him and penny comes from. Why penny often feels like Leonard is looking down on her. Sheldon ends up being blunt and saying rude things but usually he says exactly whats on his mind. Its not that he is trying to hurt anyone. He might even say it without really caring about the fact. Like when he points out Penny slept with a lot of men. He is simply pointing it out but it does not mean he necessarily cares either way. 

 

Oh and here I found the exact Leonard quote Doesn't make me psychic! ... In order to keep having a sexual relationship with Penny, I have to give up everything I believe in-- myintellectual integrity, the very nature of who I am?

Edited May 16, 2014 by SheldonCooperFan

[gsxdoug]

I've seen every single episode more than once. You have one example from early in the series and in their first attempt at a relationship but choose to ignore all the times that Sheldon has belittled Penny for her supposed lack of intelligence (I personally think she is very smart, but lacks the formal education the other characters have.) Your basic premise is that Leonard treats Penny worse than Sheldon when it comes to her level of intelligence, but I just don't agree that that is the case.

[phantagrae]

SheldonCooperFan, I find that your conclusions often amount to no more than sophistry.

[denajeanx]

Sheldon doesn't seem to hold Penny to the same intellectual standard as Leonard does. Sheldon also seems to blame a person for spreading a lie rather than the person who is going to fall for it. Both Sheldon and Leonard have dealt with penny and the psychic thing. However Sheldon didn't seem to take out his disbelief on penny he took it out on the Psychic basically saying "Shes a dishonest con-artist that is misleading people in order to swindle them out of their money"(Im paraphrasing). He seemed to mostly take it out on the  psychic reader. Where when Leonard heard it he took it out on Penny mostly. Now Sheldon did insult Penny in this episode a few times but it was about different things and he didn't take to heart as much as Leonard did. Sheldon just thought it was kind of silly. Leonard for some reason took Penny's ignorance as insult to his intellectual integrity. Now Sheldon seems to have simply accepted Penny is not as smart as them. Leonard seems to expect more from her despite this fact. Sheldon also seems surprised when Bernadette knows what hes talking about. As though he didn't expect her to have any idea what he was talking about. 

The short answer is simply that she is not as smart as them. Sheldon and Amy are geniuses, Leonard is beyond above average (I don't remember his exact IQ, but he could also be on the genius spectrum), Howard and Raj both have gone to respected universities and are highly intelligent; same goes for Bernadette.

 

Penny, on the other hand, did not even finish college. Now, that doesn't mean that someone is not smart but she has proven herself to be fairly ignorant over the past 7 seasons. She has street smarts and common sense (far more than any of the others) but she is clearly not an 'intellectual' equal to any of them.

 

Atomic magnets, anyone?

Edited May 16, 2014 by denajeanx

[AceMackenzie9]

Don't know what show you're watching, but Sheldon insults Penny about her intelligence all the time. Leonard loves Penny for who she is, and thinks she is smart in her own way.

yeah thats well put - plus Penny knows how to gut a fish - Lenoard , Raj and Howard find it sicking to even cut the fish!

[sECUREij]

Care to give a couple examples of Leonard taking Penny's intelligence as an insult to himself? Belief in psychic powers is illogical, and I would try to disabuse anyone of the notion, including a wife or girlfriend. Doesn't mean I consider it an insult to myself. In any event, your argument is flawed. Leonard was never face to face with a psychic in Penny's presence. You can't say with any certainty, had the situations been reversed, that Leonard would not have taken it out on the psychic, and Sheldon would not have taken it out on Penny, as you put it. Sheldon's history of belittling Penny's intelligence would indicate otherwise.

The first psychic episode

When Sheldon told Leonard Penny never graduated from college and his reaction was to try to get her to go back to college.

His reaction to penny's return to college and her work

[Tensor]

The first psychic episode

When Sheldon told Leonard Penny never graduated from college and his reaction was to try to get her to go back to college.

His reaction to penny's return to college and her work

Your mixing intentions, and the reactions to those intentions. Leonard suggested going back to college, because SHE thought she wasn't smart enough. As for her return, her work was terrible,

he was trying to help her. How, exactly does that show Leonard was insulted by her intelligence. Does helping her by buying a car mean he was insulted by her choice of concentrating on acting? The girls actually helped her, does that mean they were insulted by her intelligence? It is a fact that Sheldon is upset about and belittles her intelligence far more often than Leonard does.

[gsxdoug]

What Rick said!

[SheldonCooperFan]

What Rick said!

Im sorry but who is rick? 

[Tensor]

Im sorry but who is rick?

Me. Many posters know my actual first name in a variety of ways. For those I've had friendly extended or friendly multiple conversations or discussions about mutual interests other than the show, I will sign my PMs with Rick, which is my actual name. Others also know me from fan fiction, where I will sign my name on PM from those who review or follow my stories. Still others will know it from my twitter or Instagram account. gsxdoug has read preliminary drafts of stories or chapters and offered suggestions and as a result, he refers to me as Rick on occasion.

[SheldonCooperFan]

Me. Many posters know my actual first name in a variety of ways. For those I've had friendly extended or friendly multiple conversations or discussions about mutual interests other than the show, I will sign my PMs with Rick, which is my actual name. Others also know me from fan fiction, where I will sign my name on PM from those who review or follow my stories. Still others will know it from my twitter or Instagram account. gsxdoug has read preliminary drafts of stories or chapters and offered suggestions and as a result, he refers to me as Rick on occasion.

Oh alright. Thanks for clearing that up.