Why do adults laugh when a child says something intelligent?

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Deep inside, I'd like to think it's a nervous laugh as if they're in the presence of a child just like in Twilight Zone who could wish them into the corn field if he didn't approve of what they did.


FEAR MY BRAIN POWER! BWUAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!

In reality, maybe they think it's just cute. Maybe they were the kind of people who picked on the school nerd growing up and it's just a reflex to laugh at the smart kid.

Goodness, aren't you abnormal? Tee Hee Hee

Yes, I read your second paragraph, but did not find it to be of much comfort. As a kid, I simply could not fathom that someone laughing in response to me could mean anything positive, unless I was specifically trying to be funny. And my parents' "it's a laughter of approval" explanation was a contradiction in terms. Even to this day, I have to restrain myself not to get angry when someone laughs at something I did or said.

There was a handful of adults who reacted quite positively to my astronomy talks. They must have been the ones in whom I triggered the good kind of "cute" response. But you know what? They did not show even a trace of laughter, a smile at the maximum. On the other hand, the laughter might have been caused by my aspie traits, which were probably far worse when I was little. You know, the poor eye contact, monotone voice, stiff posture, poor social skills, etc. They probably antagonized those people to the core, and triggered the "oh, how cute" laughter in response.

Well, I guess it's just because that's often how I responded to my little sister when she was three or four, and learning about things. She was very, very cute--and it was wonderful to see her learn. I taught her her first math facts when she was about four, and I think we were both giggling in delight when she figured out--by herself--that multiplication meant adding things over and over.

And yeah, I'm pretty sure she's gifted. Scratch that--I'm pretty close to absolutely sure she is.