Social preference

A nice 'idiot'. To be more specific: I feel that 'idiot' is a bit rude as a term to address someone, so even if the person I interact with isn't smart, that doesn't automatically mean he/she is stupid.

I have no experience with working with assholes (had plenty of asshole teachers and classmates in school though), but I do know what that means thanks to my parents, and I sure as hell would prefer a nice but a bit stupid person instead of a smart SOB - intelligence isn't an excuse to be rude to anyone.

By the way, no one says that a smart person can't be polite as well, nor a dumb person can't be a jerk.

If I had to, I'd be with the nice idiot. More or less, "I only know what I know" is applied here, because I don't know everything, and the "idiot" might still know it. Plus, I find nice people to be an ease off stress, not an addition to it.

I feel like the nice idiot is getting allot of love here but, some one got to speak up for the ass hole here. Being nice can only get you so far without any other features. Unless your funny or entertaining in some way the idiot is just well, "Nice". A smart ass hole on the other hand is someone I can have a actual two-sided conversation with which in my opinion is better than just a "Nice" person. Besides I'm not really the type of person that is afraid to get my feelings hurt so I'm not worried about the ass hole thing as much.

An nice idiot isn't a threat because it's safe to bet he/she will consistently be predictable.
A smart asshole will always try to find your faults and point them out. They are reliable if some common ground can be shared but will take every opportunity to put you down.

I have friends of each but in the long run, I'll pick the person who goes in between the two.

I'd rather work with the smart asshole because no amount of niceness would allow me to tolerate idiocy especially if I am supposed to work with them. Sure, the asshole will probably try to put you down by pointing out your faults at every possible moment but I find that a motive to continue improving. A herd only moves as fast as the slowest member so I feel the idiot will be more a liability even if he gets along well with others.

Of course then there is the choice of neither which, when available, I would pick over either.

On the professional level it will have to be that smart jackass who won't let me off on even the tiniest mistakes because that competition is what keeps me striving to do my best at work. But after work, sometimes I just want to chill with my friends who aren't so bright and just have awesome conversations about the most randomest shit, from sports to porn to the next gen consoles.

I usually prefer a person who is nice rather than a a**hole. Lesser education or competency don't matter to me, but prejudice and ignorance may keep me from getting along as well. For the smart person if they are an occasional a**hole then I can tolerate it, but narcissism kills it for me.

A smart and nice person.