I am not trying to brag, or saying that I am better than others, but I will just say that I am a smart person. I have a high IQ. I also hear it all the time from people who say that I am smart, and such. So, I simply accept the fact that I am smart as a fact. Like I say, I am not trying make it seem that I am something that I am not, just accepting that what people tell me is true.
The thing is, being smart is not necessarily always a good thing. There are times when being dumb, or at least pretending to be dumb is the smart way to go. If you are smart, people have very high expectations of you. Even if you can meet the expectations, doing so can sometimes only be done be exerting effort that maybe you don’t care to use at that time.
For example, I do a lot of work with computers. I can usually do just about anything I want or need to do with a computer. Frankly, though, I really don’t know how to do most things on a computer – I just figure it out by trial and error if it is my first time to try something new. I have to play with it for a few minutes, but it’s rare that I can’t get it doing what I want, if you know what I mean. Now, when other people see that I can do this or that with a computer, I am like a magnet. They are constantly coming to me wanting me to do things for them, fixing something on their computer. I live in the Philippines, and my Mom lives in the United States. Sometimes she will call me on the telephone and say “my computer is not working right, can you fix it?” “Over the phone,” I say? Of course, that is what she expects. I can’t even see her computer over the phone, yet she things I can fix it! Now, I am not talking bad about my Mom, I love her dearly, I am only trying to give an example of the kind of things that happen when people know that you are intelligent.
I have a friend who used to live here in the Philippines near me. He is also a very intelligent person. His IQ, in fact, is a bit higher than mine. He and I talked many times about what a burden it is to be smart. Gene, in fact, told me that in his life, there have been times when he moved to a new area that he lived an act, playing “Bubba” – a not so intelligent guy, just to avoid the burdens of intelligence.
You may read this and think I am crazy. But, if you are an intelligent person, I think that you know what I am talking about and have experienced this in your life too. If so, leave a comment and tell me about your experiences.
Hi, Bob, how interesting how high your IQ is. My cousin who happens to be a Mechanical Engineer has an IQ of 145. Is that a curse or a blessing? Thanks.
So true, so true Bob. This is another big reason on the plus side for entrepreneurship. When yu work for someone else, especially a large, structured corporation or government agency, the smarter you are, the less you’ll achieve. It is particularly difficult if you get assigned an immediate supervisor who, shall we say, hasn;t a clue.
I’m also very sceptical of today’s numerical IQ methods. They are perhaps the only thing we have for a yardstick, but I’ve work with (for example) engineers with very high IQ’s. literally rocket scientists, who couldn’t figure out how to adjust their swivel chair. There’s got to be some sort of a test that mesures a broader range of knowledge and aptitude, in my view.
Hello Fellow Sufferers!
A high IQ is definitely a curse placed on yourself the minute you make that final mark on the test’s answer sheet. Sometimes I’ve wondered if it would have been better to just stick the sharpened pencil in my eye instead – the pains a similar, but with the eye method, you get to wear that neat pirate’s eye patch.
The IQ number result is the level of your actual knowledge compared to the average knowledge of persons in your age (and development level). An IQ of 100 reflects an average intelligence. (All you having high IQs already know this – hope I don’t bore you!)
Some of the anxieties I’ve put up with:
- being separated from close friends in school only to end up in a classroom full of similarly sad nerds.
- feeling yourself turn into a nerd regardless of all counteractions you take to fend off the change.
- being labeled, categorized and ostracized; as well as being an available butt for jokes (oral, written and practical).
- forever explaining to councillors, potential mentors, potential employers, and the world in general your reasons for refusing to join organizations like MENSA because you really would rather hang with your barcada.
- forever receiving the title of, “Go To Guy” and carrying the extra load belonging to those not similarly “blessed.”
- getting the tough assignments that supervisors won’t “trust” to others.
- always being provided a higher than average number of opportunities to fail and an ever-growing audience waiting to witness your “moment of unsuccess.”
- presenting you forensic findings when asked to discover what went wrong, and finding that your earlier “opinion” of “what do you think will happen if we do this?” matches the your diagnostic results word for word.
- by pushing the edge of your personal envelope, you seal your fate by enhancing others’ expectations of you.
- the worst: early and total burn out.
As it is, I’m learning to be imperfect and not so bright. Toughest courses I’ve ever had to take.
Of course, on the positive side, my email signature sez it all:
Noted authority, unimpeachable source.
Those who think they know it all
are particularly bothersome
to those of us that do.
Hi Bob,First time ive looked at this site,you have so many lol.
Interesting subject,i’ve always been told i’m smarter than the average bear lol.I must admit i probably am, although i’ve never taken an IQ test.I have always had an insatiable thirst for knowledge since childhood,i have to know.
I can be sceptical of many things and have to find out for myself,do my homework etc.I find many people just cannot be bothered,but i enjoy finding out.Im still pretty much a novice with pc’s but taught myself and bought a manual to find out,then experiment.Maybe be its a gift some of us are born with,regards Chas.
Hello chasdv,
Can I have your Email adres so that I can ask you a question about divorce in the Philippines.
Thank you very much,
Nico de Graaff
the Netherlands
cool
I’m hesitant to write this comment because whenever I speak of my intelligence I feel as if I’m bragging, but seeing as so many others have spoken on how much of a curse being smarter than average is I thought I’d share my thoughts. I’ve been screened a few times by my school for the fact that I have almost no sympathy and a lot of trouble empathizing with people. Numerically for my age level (I am 16) my IQ score was 171, I won’t be one if those people that overly excels or ends up in college next year mainly because I’m lazy as hell. My main problem is that I find myself correcting teachers, and they dislike that, as well as I notice all the flaws in human morals and ethics amd I’ve grown to have a deep contempt for our species, wish I coud be born again and close my eyes.
Hi Vincent – I understand your thoughts, and wish you good luck. 171 is a high IQ (BTW, IQ does not change with age), and you should really try to do something with your intelligence.
Being smarter than others might be a curse, but if you're smart enough it can be a true blessing.
I can relate to the above comment written by Vincent, except I feel that I am lucky to have such an insight into reality. Let's not close our eyes, let's just put on a pair of shades and let the common man go his way whilst you make use of your intelligence in a way benificiary for your own happiness.
Hi Thomas – I would tend to agree with what you said. Much better to "put on those shades" and hide our intelligence. Better to mix among others that way.
finally learned someplace with some beneficial details. thanks alot and preserve it coming
Hi Danial – Thanks you, I'm glad you found the article to be beneficial!
Hi Jaime – Overall, being a smart person is a blessing, but it can have a side that is a curse too! Seems strange, but in my experience it is true.
Hi Dave – Well, thank you very much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on this issue. Being intelligent is not always easy, although I would prefer it to the alternative, I guess.
I agree with you about IQ. For the most part, IQ is only a number, and not a tell all about how intelligent you are, especially in a practical situation.
Hi Paul – Excellent, excellent! I enjoyed reading this, and I found it so true!
Hi chasdv – Just reading your comments on my various blogs (yes, I have a lot!) confirms to me that you are an intelligent person. Your description of yourself and your thirst for knowledge sounds familiar to me, because that is how I am too.