>Well, I'm a little unclear what you mean, but I think you're saying that if you have a great memory and you've learned incorrect things, then you "become less smart". How could I do anything but agree with that? But I am assuming that you learn correct things, not incorrect things.

This is the point. This is not true.

> All in all, you come out ahead when you have a great memory. If you are a historian and can remember large amounts of data you certainly will seem smart (and who's to say you're not), but a great memory doesn't mean you're a great deductive thinker (though, again, it probably helps greatly).