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Do you consider yourself intelligent?
- Thread starter iParis
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bartelby
macrumors Core
dilbert4life
macrumors regular
atszyman
macrumors 68020
Based on that graph I'd be in the top quartile. I never walk away from a test thinking I've done well, and I never feel confident walking in, but I usually manage to pull a good score without too much difficulty, probably added more stress than I needed in my studies.
I'm definitely book smart. GPA for undergrad and Master's pretty much confirm that. Of course I'm reluctant to vote because I've seen people on the extreme end of book smart where common sense just seems to have been lost in their pursuit of knowledge. I'd like to think I still managed to keep some common sense in my pursuit of knowledge. Of course being a huge introvert, I manage to avoid putting my foot in my mouth through sheer silence.
leekohler
macrumors G5
I think I'm intelligent, but not a genius by any means. I always wished my brain could grasp math better, because I find things like physics so fascinating. I barely got past algebra 2 though. It's like anything I guess- just because you like it, doesn't mean you can do it. I'm much better in the creative field.
MacNut
macrumors Core
I am more creative smart. I learn better hands on as opposed to reading books. I am horrible at math, and don't have the patience or attention span to read. I have a lot more common sense but that doesn't mean I am not intelligent. I like to have a wide range of skills and abilities rather than focusing all my energy on one subject.
I think I have learned more on my own than I ever did in school.
I think I have learned more on my own than I ever did in school.
leekohler
macrumors G5
63dot
macrumors 603
According to everything I read, you are likely both book smart and street smart.
Genius had never been agreed to as a number on an IQ test. Bascially, if you invent a type of math, philosophy, have 700 patents to your name, or are Einstein, that's a better gauge of genius and approaches the definiton.
There are probably many people with extremely high IQs who will never invent anything or contribute to society in any way. I know a man who was a 180+ plus IQ, and spent his whole time rummaging through trash and drinking themselves into oblivion. Maybe, on paper, that person is a genius, but the accepted definition is that they contributed in a "profound" way to their field, and "humanity", and additionally "radically changed the perception" of their field on a national or international level. Take the first 20 or so definitions under Google, Yahoo, Alta Vista and the consensus is that genius is an overused term today.
A great example of a "genius" artist who fits those qualities, one of the founders of modern pop art, one of the only artists who had million dollar+ plus pieces in his lifetime, and one who brought in that form into the serious, closed "NYC art scene" was Andy Warhol. IQ, about 60. Einstein, from his biographies I own, both claim his language skills were in the bottom quartile of the average population of his country at the time.
Moral of the story, a genius does something great for a lot of people, even for the world, not sit there and try and get the highest IQ or SAT score they can muster up. 🙂 Let's say Casanova studied human sexuality and held doctorate degrees from Cambridge and Harvard, but actually faints when he sees human nudity. 🙂 Genius has to be applied or the theory used.
fireshot91
macrumors 601
I do VERY decently in school- A-B honor roll. So i guess I'm sorta book smart. But then again. I'm VERY VERY VERY knowledgeable outside of school. So I'm a genius. 😱
gadgetgirl85
macrumors 68040
I'd say I'm pretty book smart. I have two degrees so far and in a couple of years I will have 3. I plan to do a doctorate after that. In saying that however, I have absolutely no common sense or logic 😱
ZiggyPastorius
macrumors 68040
I don't think I could ever muster up the immodesty to claim that I am a "genius" of any sort. Do I consider myself above average intellect? Well, yes. Perhaps it's unfair to judge, but I can't help feeling like I have serious myopia when I'm at work. I see the people who come in, the way they speak, the way they act, and very rarely is my thought "Man, I really like this person," it's usually "This person is a ****ing retard." Of course, I don't consider myself cynical, nor do I believe humans contain innate inanity, however I look at my skills, particularly in the field of linguistics, and I do consider myself somewhat adept, though certainly not genius. I know I'm no shakespeare, but I also know I'm not Joe Shmoe. I look at my musical abilities, which is where I strive and in most cases, succeed, but I don't see a modern Beethoven. I think the distinction with myself is that while I am not a genius, I am atleast somewhat intelligent, and have passions which drive me take that step further than the general populace. I believe my IQ is around 152, and my ACT scores are 28. I do Upper-level Sophomore (in College) music theory, and excel beyond my peers in musical ability. I am not the cream-of-the-crop, but I am pretty goddamn amazing.
That said, I'm terrible at math, socially shy, extremely nervous in high-tensity situations and I have no personal censor.
Does that answer your question? 😛
Edit: I answered "I'd say I'm book-smart.
That said, I'm terrible at math, socially shy, extremely nervous in high-tensity situations and I have no personal censor.
Does that answer your question? 😛
Edit: I answered "I'd say I'm book-smart.
neiltc13
macrumors 68040
Something I have found is that a degree (or any educational qualification) is worth absolutely NOTHING if you can't use it to find employment.
EricNau
Moderator emeritus
Perhaps, but the education behind the degree is priceless, regardless of your employment.
neiltc13
macrumors 68040
Is it really though? The only reason I'm at University is to ensure that I can get a better job than I could if I hadn't gone. I don't think there are too many people who go to University just for the fun of it or to broaden their mind.
I'm lucky that I live in an area where a full University education is completely free. Had I lived somewhere like the USA where the cost of attending is ridiculously high then I would certainly be thinking about putting a price on the education and comparing it to the earnings which I would gain afterwards.
Big-TDI-Guy
macrumors 68030
Dear god, you must be my biological brother or something. I'm that way to the letter. Not just my brother, my well-dressed, better looking biological brother, that is. 😉
Damn, describes me as well. Wish I was more aware of that when I was in school, would have saved me a lot of trouble.
There's a lot of personal stuffz to that statement (studied in a system basically unchanged since communism), but I won't go into that. But if I did describe the pressure, volume of work, expectations (in terms of quality first, and quantity second), the suicide waves before national exams, I'd dare you to not feel at least a little disturbed. There was absolutely no time anyone could figure out what their mental skills were or how to make use of them, let alone accept creativity as a valid one.
