Faking the smarts

Jul 14, 2010 12:16

It's time for me to admit something that I have always kept secret. I don't really know why; maybe I'm maturing. Maybe my mind is disintegrating under the weight of all the doubts about my career. Maybe I'm so bored I'd say anything. Maybe I want to practice my one-handed typing (I'm getting pretty fast ( Read more... )

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scatmania July 14 2010, 15:31:29 UTC
Having a self-image of being of higher than average intelligence during compulsory education and then of a more-average intelligence during higher education is not evidence that you were of average intelligence all along; it's a fallacy introduced by the shifting of the mean in your peer group.

On the other hand, I appreciate what you're saying. As Elwood P. Dowd said in Harvey:

Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me."

I've always thought that was a fabulous piece of advice. Someday I'll follow it.

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matt_inthe_hat July 15 2010, 01:06:02 UTC
^ what he said.

Plus, I've watched your ability to adapt your thinking in a trice to new eveidence or a change of situation in everything from conversations through to training and back out the other side to tactics at Geek Night. I reckon you're clever. I fake a hell of a lot of the time and will claim as certainty that which merely seems logical to me rather than admiting ignorance.
Also, we're still young. If I met someone our age who claimed to have it all figured out I'd be so sceptical that I think I'd probably resent them.

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ich_bin_die_ruh July 15 2010, 23:37:36 UTC
I remember a certain classmate getting a 98% score on a maths paper at 6th form. Whereas I could certainly use corollary correctly in a sentence (I would be unable to face myself if I couldn't) I would score approximately 17% on any given A-level mathematics exam. There are different kinds of intelligence, and indeed of cleverness. I do think it's the maturing process that brings on a greater disregard for others' opinions though; that and coming through stressful situations largely through your own willpower/stubbornness and subsequently realising that that was how you managed it.

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