Fear of intelligence

[McclaudEagle]

If I could wish for two things in this world, it'd be to have much higher intelligence, and to have a better memory. I'm not ashamed to admit that I failed all but two of my GCSE exams. The only two I passed on were two different Science subjects, which I find ironic because I hated science. I only left school about 3 years ago, and I already wish I was back to make amends, and to improve on my education. I used to dislike highly intelligent people, even my brother, because of jealousy. I wished I was just as smart as them and that drove me to dislike them because they were something I could not be.

 

Today though, I admire smart people. I still wish I could be as smart as some people out there, but I have accepted that it's not going to happen. I know people like to be cool and fit in with the "cool crowd", but in the end it's not going to get you a good career if you act like that only. Now, I would have rather been hanging out with the smart people rather than the "cool" people I used to hang out with. Their influence, my terrible school and teaching, and my own stupidity has brought me to where I am today, unemployed, college drop-out, etc.

 

This is pretty much how it is:

 

Smart person with ambition - High salary career, expensive car, house, business, etc

 

Smart person with no ambition - Low payed job, cheap car, apartment, etc

 

Non-smart person with no ambition - Low payed job/no job, cheap car/no car, apartment/no housing, etc

 

Non-smart person with ambition - Medium/high salary, medium car/expensive car, medium house/expensive house, etc

 

Looking at that, it's not truly the end for many people who didn't get their grades, you just need the ambition to work better. I'll give you an example...

 

Alan Sugar, an English businessman who is now worth more than £500 million, started Amstrad (computers) in the 80s. It was so successful that Microsoft asked him to allow them to put their OS onto his PCs. Many years before then, Alan Sugar was just a regular guy with good grades, but no degrees. He did not study business like many do, and yet now he's among the top and most famous people in the UK, if not the World.

 

Just something to think about.

[HeyYou]

And there is a big difference between intelligence, and social skills. One does NOT imply the other. In fact, I have noticed quite the opposite. The more intelligent the person is, the FEWER social graces they have.

 

Could you define what you mean by social graces? I'll admit to not being much of a people person. I'm polite, friendly, all that good stuff you need to get along, but I'm an introvert. Dealing with people, especially in large groups, drains and annoys me. But I don't consider myself rude. I just don't have a lot to say. I'm also not one of those people who can't live without a cellphone glued to my ear, which probably goes back to not being very chatty!

 

Basically, things like etiquette, and what most would term 'manners'. You don't point out to someone they are fat, because they eat too much, and things of that nature. I suppose a more modern (if distasteful) term for it would be 'politically correct'. Now, some PC is ok, and maybe even a good idea, but, just like any other idea, it has the potential to be pushed to far. (which, in our society, it has...)

[Balagor]

If I could wish for two things in this world, it'd be to have much higher intelligence, and to have a better memory. I'm not ashamed to admit that I failed all but two of my GCSE exams. The only two I passed on were two different Science subjects, which I find ironic because I hated science. I only left school about 3 years ago, and I already wish I was back to make amends, and to improve on my education. I used to dislike highly intelligent people, even my brother, because of jealousy. I wished I was just as smart as them and that drove me to dislike them because they were something I could not be.

 

Today though, I admire smart people. I still wish I could be as smart as some people out there, but I have accepted that it's not going to happen. I know people like to be cool and fit in with the "cool crowd", but in the end it's not going to get you a good career if you act like that only. Now, I would have rather been hanging out with the smart people rather than the "cool" people I used to hang out with. Their influence, my terrible school and teaching, and my own stupidity has brought me to where I am today, unemployed, college drop-out, etc.

 

This is pretty much how it is:

 

Smart person with ambition - High salary career, expensive car, house, business, etc

 

Smart person with no ambition - Low payed job, cheap car, apartment, etc

 

Non-smart person with no ambition - Low payed job/no job, cheap car/no car, apartment/no housing, etc

 

Non-smart person with ambition - Medium/high salary, medium car/expensive car, medium house/expensive house, etc

 

Looking at that, it's not truly the end for many people who didn't get their grades, you just need the ambition to work better. I'll give you an example...

 

Alan Sugar, an English businessman who is now worth more than £500 million, started Amstrad (computers) in the 80s. It was so successful that Microsoft asked him to allow them to put their OS onto his PCs. Many years before then, Alan Sugar was just a regular guy with good grades, but no degrees. He did not study business like many do, and yet now he's among the top and most famous people in the UK, if not the World.

 

Just something to think about.

 

Let me add my self: Medium smart with average ambitions- No car, no other expensis, big house (but cheap) lots on the acount, lots of time, not stressed, happy

[Deleted472477User]

And there is a big difference between intelligence, and social skills. One does NOT imply the other. In fact, I have noticed quite the opposite. The more intelligent the person is, the FEWER social graces they have.

 

Could you define what you mean by social graces? I'll admit to not being much of a people person. I'm polite, friendly, all that good stuff you need to get along, but I'm an introvert. Dealing with people, especially in large groups, drains and annoys me. But I don't consider myself rude. I just don't have a lot to say. I'm also not one of those people who can't live without a cellphone glued to my ear, which probably goes back to not being very chatty!

 

Basically, things like etiquette, and what most would term 'manners'. You don't point out to someone they are fat, because they eat too much, and things of that nature. I suppose a more modern (if distasteful) term for it would be 'politically correct'. Now, some PC is ok, and maybe even a good idea, but, just like any other idea, it has the potential to be pushed to far. (which, in our society, it has...)

 

Oh! Well, considering i have a good common sense grounding in those sorts of things, it never occurred to me to think of those things. I was thinking perhaps it was something to do with the beyond the basics of getting along in society sort of thing, that's why I had to ask. I wanted to make sure I wasn't being a lout without realizing it :D

[HeyYou]

And there is a big difference between intelligence, and social skills. One does NOT imply the other. In fact, I have noticed quite the opposite. The more intelligent the person is, the FEWER social graces they have.

 

Could you define what you mean by social graces? I'll admit to not being much of a people person. I'm polite, friendly, all that good stuff you need to get along, but I'm an introvert. Dealing with people, especially in large groups, drains and annoys me. But I don't consider myself rude. I just don't have a lot to say. I'm also not one of those people who can't live without a cellphone glued to my ear, which probably goes back to not being very chatty!

 

Basically, things like etiquette, and what most would term 'manners'. You don't point out to someone they are fat, because they eat too much, and things of that nature. I suppose a more modern (if distasteful) term for it would be 'politically correct'. Now, some PC is ok, and maybe even a good idea, but, just like any other idea, it has the potential to be pushed to far. (which, in our society, it has...)

 

Oh! Well, considering i have a good common sense grounding in those sorts of things, it never occurred to me to think of those things. I was thinking perhaps it was something to do with the beyond the basics of getting along in society sort of thing, that's why I had to ask. I wanted to make sure I wasn't being a lout without realizing it :D

 

The mere fact that you questioned your behavior, leads me to believe that you are not part of the problem. :D

[marharth]

And there is a big difference between intelligence, and social skills. One does NOT imply the other. In fact, I have noticed quite the opposite. The more intelligent the person is, the FEWER social graces they have.

 

Could you define what you mean by social graces? I'll admit to not being much of a people person. I'm polite, friendly, all that good stuff you need to get along, but I'm an introvert. Dealing with people, especially in large groups, drains and annoys me. But I don't consider myself rude. I just don't have a lot to say. I'm also not one of those people who can't live without a cellphone glued to my ear, which probably goes back to not being very chatty!

 

Basically, things like etiquette, and what most would term 'manners'. You don't point out to someone they are fat, because they eat too much, and things of that nature. I suppose a more modern (if distasteful) term for it would be 'politically correct'. Now, some PC is ok, and maybe even a good idea, but, just like any other idea, it has the potential to be pushed to far. (which, in our society, it has...)

Wouldn't being politically correct be more of a social skill thing then intelligence?

 

If that's your point then okay.

 

I would rather people simply state the cold truth even if it is bad though.

[HeyYou]

And there is a big difference between intelligence, and social skills. One does NOT imply the other. In fact, I have noticed quite the opposite. The more intelligent the person is, the FEWER social graces they have.

 

Could you define what you mean by social graces? I'll admit to not being much of a people person. I'm polite, friendly, all that good stuff you need to get along, but I'm an introvert. Dealing with people, especially in large groups, drains and annoys me. But I don't consider myself rude. I just don't have a lot to say. I'm also not one of those people who can't live without a cellphone glued to my ear, which probably goes back to not being very chatty!

 

Basically, things like etiquette, and what most would term 'manners'. You don't point out to someone they are fat, because they eat too much, and things of that nature. I suppose a more modern (if distasteful) term for it would be 'politically correct'. Now, some PC is ok, and maybe even a good idea, but, just like any other idea, it has the potential to be pushed to far. (which, in our society, it has...)

Wouldn't being politically correct be more of a social skill thing then intelligence?

 

If that's your point then okay.

 

I would rather people simply state the cold truth even if it is bad though.

 

You are correct. Political correctness is a part of social skills.

 

I would rather hear the truth as well, but, it can be stated in such a way as to soften the blow..... :D

[marharth]

I would rather hear the truth as well, but, it can be stated in such a way as to soften the blow..... :D

Sometimes a soft blow isn't enough. Easy to ignore a slap on the wrist.

[HeyYou]

I would rather hear the truth as well, but, it can be stated in such a way as to soften the blow..... :D

Sometimes a soft blow isn't enough. Easy to ignore a slap on the wrist.

 

True, but, why start out with the spiked club, if it isn't really necessary?

[marharth]

I would rather hear the truth as well, but, it can be stated in such a way as to soften the blow..... :D

Sometimes a soft blow isn't enough. Easy to ignore a slap on the wrist.

 

True, but, why start out with the spiked club, if it isn't really necessary?

Not always the best idea to go into something with a spiked club, I am saying you shouldn't hesitate to use it if it comes to that point.