Thread: How intelligent do you think you are?

It's hard to just give one answer because I seem a lot more intelligent than others in some areas, but am mentally deficient in others. I seem to be able to come up with ideas and solve problems and be creative better than most people, so in that way it seems I'm in the top 5%. But I'm much below average in speed of thought, below 50%. It's difficult for me to follow along for 2 hours with what a teacher is explaining. If I get lost once, I'll be lost for the rest of the class. I'm also terrible at multitasking. If a professor makes us write down notes, and explains the material simultaneously, I can't do it. I can't concentrate on writing down the notes, comprehending the notes, and listening to the teacher at the same time. I have to choose one. Other students don't seem to have as much of a problem with this (although I'm not sure, since I haven't talked to anyone about this before). But again, I'm generally good at solving problems, and at thinking generally, given enough time. I'm also pretty rational and good at thinking critically. I think the evaluation needs to be kept at that, and not averaged out.

Originally Posted by Dianeva

I can't concentrate on writing down the notes, comprehending the notes, and listening to the teacher at the same time. I have to choose one. Other students don't seem to have as much of a problem with this (although I'm not sure, since I haven't talked to anyone about this before).

Bear in mind that most people are full of shit.

There were some guys in my sixth form who always made sure to copy down exactly what was on the board word for word and line for line, listen to the teacher attentively, etcetera, and always tried to project academic confidence. But whenever I talked to these people about whatever we were learning about, they literally had no clue. They could refer to words in their notes and recite the sentences, but really they had no conceptual grasp of what the teacher was talking about, or really any thorough understanding of anything in the subject.

I never took notes because we had textbooks that covered exactly what we covered in lessons, so it was utterly pointless. I just sat and listened and tried to understand, and whenever something came up where it conflicted with something else or anything, I'd ask about it. The annoying thing was my teachers would get pissy at me for not taking notes (so I ended up just doodling on some paper to look busy; I never worked out why they spent so much money buying the textbooks in the first place), and my school reports would usually say something about my being lackluster or whatever, basically for not asking dumbass, obvious questions every five minutes so as to appear knowledgeable. Irritatingly no matter how many exams I aced, especially in biology, I'd still be the lackluster guy, whilst the loudmouth projectors were still the future dazzling doctors who'd just had a bad day on that test (and every other).

Unfortunately now I'm at uni you kinda have to take notes because there isn't a single book, and photocopying your friends' notes afterwards just makes you look like a bit of a jerk somehow. Every now and then you'll get a pro lecturer who hands out printed lecture notes, but you're right, the rest of the time it is a distraction.

Originally Posted by Xei

I never took notes because we had textbooks that covered exactly what we covered in lessons, so it was utterly pointless. I just sat and listened and tried to understand, and whenever something came up where it conflicted with something else or anything, I'd ask about it. The annoying thing was my teachers would get pissy at me for not taking notes (so I ended up just doodling on some paper to look busy; I never worked out why they spent so much money buying the textbooks in the first place), and my school reports would usually say something about my being lackluster or whatever, basically for not asking dumbass, obvious questions every five minutes so as to appear knowledgeable. Irritatingly no matter how many exams I aced, especially in biology, I'd still be the lackluster guy, whilst the loudmouth projectors were still the future dazzling doctors who'd just had a bad day on that test (and every other).

It seems like this is a product of living in a society built for extroverts. The louder you shout, the more sense you make. I find it sad being quiet and reserved is always frowned upon in school and the workplace. For some reason, if you don't share every thought that pops into your head, there's something wrong with you. And in order to get anywhere in the world, you're required to climb the social ladder as well as work hard.

Introversion is often mistaken for shyness. When I was younger, I was very shy. I would only talk to close friends, never ask questions in class and would shake like mad whenever I had to speak publicly. Now that I'm older, my shyness has faded away. I don't have a problem talking to people and I don't think a public speech would bother me much. But I still prefer to spend my time alone rather than with other people. I hate parties and large crowds, and try to avoid them if I can. This isn't because I'm shy, it's because I like solitude. I enjoy the time alone with my thoughts. But other people seem to think I have a problem because I don't go out partying or socializing. Oh well.

Originally Posted by Heavy Sleeper

I find it sad being quiet and reserved is always frowned upon in school and the workplace. For some reason, if you don't share every thought that pops into your head, there's something wrong with you. And in order to get anywhere in the world, you're required to climb the social ladder as well as work hard.

Well that makes sense, what use in the workplace is somebody that doesn't share ideas and give feedback. Most good jobs require teamwork and leadership skills as well. Introverts will never climb to managerial positions or positions of authority.

Originally Posted by Spartiate

Well that makes sense, what use in the workplace is somebody that doesn't share ideas and give feedback. Most good jobs require teamwork and leadership skills as well. Introverts will never climb to managerial positions or positions of authority.

Originally Posted by Heavy Sleeper

I find it sad being quiet and reserved is always frowned upon in school and the workplace. For some reason, if you don't share every thought that pops into your head, there's something wrong with you.

Say what needs to be said, nothing more, and you're fully capable of climbing to those managerial positions or positions of authority you mentioned.
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@ Photolysis: That's exactly how it was with me in high school. My test scores were great, usually among the highest marks in the class, but my grades took a big hit because I didn't want to spend hours on something so remedial trivial. I hated the big projects the most, they made us spend days focusing on one thing, then regurgitating everything you learned via pretty powerpoint presentations. We may as well just hand in our notes or just have more quizzes/tests. I understand that may be the best way to teach some students, but it certainly isn't the best way to teach everyone.

Originally Posted by Heavy Sleeper

Introversion is often mistaken for shyness. When I was younger, I was very shy. I would only talk to close friends, never ask questions in class and would shake like mad whenever I had to speak publicly. Now that I'm older, my shyness has faded away. I don't have a problem talking to people and I don't think a public speech would bother me much. But I still prefer to spend my time alone rather than with other people. I hate parties and large crowds, and try to avoid them if I can. This isn't because I'm shy, it's because I like solitude. I enjoy the time alone with my thoughts. But other people seem to think I have a problem because I don't go out partying or socializing. Oh well.

This is my exact situation - almost. I do still have some social anxiety around people, but it's nothing compared to what it was when younger and that isn't the main reason that keeps me away. People will label me shy and some, especially my parents, will think there's something wrong with me. I have no desire at all to make friends and regularly hang out with them, but my parents, even though I've told them this, often try to urge me to go to events, join clubs, etc. They obviously view me as pathetic and lonely.

I agree with some other things said, but don't want to look back for the posts to quote. When people started telling me that to be successful I'd have to learn to work well with people and learn to make friends with everyone, I was upset by it and thought I was inferior in some way for not being naturally inclined to do that. Now being successful doesn't matter much to me, or it isn't high on my list of priorities, so it doesn't matter much to me.

And about working in groups. I'm terrible at 'group brainstorming'. I understand why it might be beneficial for some people. If everyone is able to keep a clear head, and no one is very good at thinking on their own, it might work. But when I've been forced to do it, two things have gotten in the way of any real progress. First, I can't think as clearly while around other people, so my ideas aren't as good as they would be on my own. Second, in groups people are less likely to delve very far into any particular insight. While on my own, I might come up with a good idea and continue to think about it, my thoughts branching off if I think it's important enough. But in groups, if I happen to think of an idea that I think is good, and I mention it, people will usually nod along, maybe give 1 or 2 more pieces of input, then someone will go onto something else. The conversation tends to go in the direction that the most social, loud people in the group decide it should go.