There are certain people who have a knack for teaching, and they can make the most complicated subjects seem very simple. However, there are others who have a knack for the exact opposite: they make certain, rather simple subjects seem extremely boring and complicated. But, at the same time, they are revered as very smart people. How can we become one of those persons? Here are some tips for those of you who wish to join this group.

1. Never use abbreviations/acronyms. Compare these two phrases: “I know HTML and CSS” and “I am fluent in the HyperText Markup Language, and can combine files made in said language with Cascading Style Sheets.” Which sounds more intelligent? Saying something about Random Access Memory is much more intimidating than saying RAM. Stick to the meaning, not the abbreviations.

2. Compare everyday circumstances/objects to geeky objects. If something is useless, you might say “Well, that’s about as useless as a bus without a controller”. People will be amazed at your knowledge and your comparative powers.

3. Throw in some geeky jokes to seal the deal. One of my favorites is, “Did you know that PCMCIA actually stands for People Can’t Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms”. Then, you should proceed to laugh your head off, and to top it all off, look at the others with pity when you realize they didn’t understand it.

Well, there you have it. It’s very satisfying to see the look on someone’s face when they have no idea what you’re talking about. If you don’t believe me, try one of the above tips to see for yourself.