SEATTLE, Wa–57-year-old Lenny Coleman was left speechless this week after being unable to explain why he isn’t wealthy. Coleman, who describes himself as a genius, routinely boasts of his IQ score of 146 and spends his free time interjecting himself in conversations to correct misstated facts or opinions.
Gene Donnelly, who manages the neighborhood bookstore, said Coleman is his worst customer.
“He’s always in here browsing, but I can tell he’s really just listening for an opportunity to patronize someone. He has read a lot of books, so it’s easy for him to point out when someone mispronounces a character’s name or leaves a word out of the title. I can’t even make a recommendation without him finding some detail I got wrong.”
But Coleman’s expertise isn’t limited to fiction. He is often seen in coffee shops, diners, and even the park. The Jest spoke to one local who said she was jogging several weeks ago when Coleman stopped her abruptly. “I thought he was going to hit on me or something, but he just told me I was running wrong and showed me a better form.”
Several members of the community have attempted to challenge Coleman without success. At the first sign of disagreement he will boast of his IQ and Mensa membership; he even has a catchphrase.
“Arguing with a genius usually doesn’t go well.”
Coleman’s targets say they aren’t so upset by his supposed knowledge but by his method, which often involves him correcting irrelevant details. From sports and cooking to politics and religion, Coleman appoints himself as the expert on any given subject. Rakeed Ahbidi, a local taxi driver, even said Coleman told him a faster route to his destination even though it conflicted with the cab’s GPS.
“I tell him the GPS was quicker, but he kept smirking and shaking his head. I was like you literally argue with computer. When I finally went the way he wanted it took two more minutes, but he said we lost four minutes because I questioned him and missed earlier turns,” said Ahbidi.
But Coleman was in for a rude awakening two days ago when he stopped by his favorite coffee shop. Carry Shoals, a barista working at the time, described the scene:
“There were these two men in line discussing artwork, and Lenny tried to correct them about who the painter was. He does this a lot so I didn’t think anything of it. One of the men, James, has argued with him before, and he ignored him, but he wouldn’t stop. Lenny kept telling him he was wrong, then pulled up something on his cell phone and showed it to them.”
According to the barista, that’s when James said, “Lenny, if you’re so damn smart then how come you aren’t rich?”
Coleman was shaken. “He looked just stunned,” said Shoals. “He tried to answer, but he got caught over his words. The men got their coffee and left, but Lenny just sat down at one of the tables and appeared very concerned. He must have sat there for ten minutes.”
Witnesses said Coleman left the shop in near shock and has not been seen in the area since.
According to state records, Coleman currently works for the department of human services as an administrator and earns $52,000/year. He has a high school diploma but no higher education. His IQ and Mensa membership have not been verified.
IQ tests measure problem solving and reasoning skills. Someone who scores 140 or above is generally accepted as a genius.