Poll: Are you smarter than your parents?

[Artina89]

Academically, I suppose so. I have just graduated with a BSc (hons) degree in Biochemistry and Biological chemistry from the University of Nottingham, whereas my mother doesn't have any qualifications (that I know of) and my dad has a few O-levels, but they have far more real world knowledge, and I have come to believe that they would have been very successful if their dyslexia had been acknowledged when they went to school (yes, both my parents have dyslexia). When I freak out over something, they are always the ones that help me back on my feet with some sound advice and with their excellent practical knowledge. So no, I don't think I am smarter than them past when you compare us all on paper. I have a lot of growing up to do. If I get to their age and have half of their wisdom, I will be proud of myself.

 

[scorptatious]

In terms of video game knowledge DEFINITELY. But in pretty much all other things, they are much smarter than I am. They've experienced more things and whenever I need help, I usually look to them.

 

[Sunrider]

I dunno. In sheer intellect, probably not. We are knowledgeable in completely different things.
They are more mature (duh), but I as times are changing, they are not, wheras I am, seeing as I'm not on the second half of my life yet.
Wow, this is a really hard question to answer. I guess I'm a quicker thinker, I'm far superior in lingual stuff (even our own language), but I guess they are more "street smart" from experiences. I stayed longer in school, but I didn't really study much after high school either.

I hate this thread, it's confusing me! I'm gonna have to think more on this!

 

[DSK-]

Pretty much. I'm sorry to say that my mum can't comprehend most things that I say/talk about. Unfortunately. My dad isn't so bad.

 

[maninahat]

Nope. Maybe more academic than my mum, but in some areas she is more worldly and experienced. I probably will be smarter than her within a decade though. My dad, is massively more intelligent, driven, and worldy. The guy came from a poor background and went to one of the worst schools in the UK, but was top of his class in most of his classes. I pale into comparison, despite having every advantage of a comfortable upbringing and high tier education (all at his expense). The fact that I can't even get a job right now, whilst he was already married and working abroad at my age, gives me a lot to think about.

 

[Yosato]

In terms of academic qualifications I'm leagues ahead of both of them. As for actual intelligence though, my mum can be as thick as pig shit so I beat her there, but my dad's really clever so I'd say we're about equal.

 

[Gustavo S. Buschle]

My mom is pretty smart but more like philosophically smart, so I would say that she is smarter than me in that way but I have more technical knowledge than her. I've never had a real conversation with my dad to know.

 

[Cap'n Ninja]

Depends. Are we going biological or adoptive?
Biological: No, my parents are Stephen Hawking and the sexy female physicist I always forget the name of.
Adoptive: Yes and no. My mother has no O-levels or anything, but my father is an accomplished lawyer who does lawyer-y things.

 

[Abbyrose07]

Yes my dad doesn't even know how to spell video if that is saying anything...lol and my mom acts so much like a blond, always gullible, always mixing up sayings etc...

 

[Jakub324]

I'm smarter than my mum in pretty much every way, but my dad beats me for general knowledge. I have a better imagination and language skills than either of them, though.

 

[Viral_Lola]

No. My dad was an engineer who speaks 5 languages and writes books in his spare time. (He attended schools in 4 countries so he had to learn another language fast.) He fixes my electronics for me but when it's a virus, I have to fix it. My mom is also a polyglot (6 F***ing languages!) but not tech savvy. I did get good traits from both of them though and I can speak 3 languages but I have a way to go just to catch up with them.

 

[Jodah]

Book smart? Easily. Knowledge from experience? In computers and related areas yes. In machinery and automotive my dad has me beat big time.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Book smarts? Yes. My parents are high school dropouts. How to make it in life/street smarts? No way.

 

[Murray Kitson]

My overall intellect is higher than both my parents. My father does know a lot about certain topics, but knowing everything there is to know about the first 3 star wars movies made isn't all that impressive. My mother on the other hand has no common sense or practical knowledge. I have to say, it was a very sad day when I discovered I was beyond them.

 

[Ailia]

My mom never went to university and keeps saying not to be stupid and do what she did. Me and my dad have the same education level, though I believe he's smarter than me... being ex-bomb squad and now in charge of the Canadian military's ammunition world-wide.

 

[kinapuffar]

No.

I know a vast amount of things my father didn't. But at the same time he knew a lot of things I don't. Massive amounts too incredible for for me to comprehend.

He was an amazing human being. If I turn out to be half the man he was, I'll be 10 times the man everyone else is.

 

[Plinglebob]

While in a couple of areas my dad probably outshines me, overall I'm definitely smarter then my parents.

Emotional Intelligence - I outstrip them both by a mile. Neither parent has much emotional awareness and while my mum is definitely better then my dad in that area, she's still fairly oblivious to what others are thinging.

Strategic Thinking/Planning - This is where my dad beats me. While I'm fairly good at planning ahead, I'm rubbish at changing stratagies mid-flow where as my Dad was an IT project mnager for 20 years and never had a project go over time or budget.

Reasoning/Critical thinking - I definitely beat my mum on this, and probably better then my dad, though its hard to tell as I've rarely ever seen him using these skills.

Achademicly - I suppose I lose here as both parents have a degree where as I didn't go to University as I felt it was a waste of time considering I could do a profesional qualification at the local college for less and have better job prospects at the end of it.

I have to say, it was a very sad day when I discovered I was beyond them.

I know what you mean. Pity it happened when I was 10.

 

[Caligulove]

Yes and No. The same as just about everyone else I know.

There are some areas that I know far more than my parents or any other given individual, and there are other, probably far numerous fields in which I really dont know anything about. That I don't really have to know anything about, at any given moment, until I'm aware of them. That's what learning is all about. That's all that matters.

Placing some arbitrary rank on how much you know, in relation to others, only serves to stroke your own ego or to inhibit your own willingness to learn more. Roadblocks that would have you think that someone simply being unaware or ignorant of something is something to be ashamed or embarrassed of. You let that get to you and I doubt you'd ever REALLY learn anything again. Just the motions, the little things to regurgitate and prevent yourself from ever being embarrassed again.

 

[Murray Kitson]

While in a couple of areas my dad probably outshines me, overall I'm definitely smarter then my parents.

Emotional Intelligence - I outstrip them both by a mile. Neither parent has much emotional awareness and while my mum is definitely better then my dad in that area, she's still fairly oblivious to what others are thinging.

Strategic Thinking/Planning - This is where my dad beats me. While I'm fairly good at planning ahead, I'm rubbish at changing stratagies mid-flow where as my Dad was an IT project mnager for 20 years and never had a project go over time or budget.

Reasoning/Critical thinking - I definitely beat my mum on this, and probably better then my dad, though its hard to tell as I've rarely ever seen him using these skills.

Achademicly - I suppose I lose here as both parents have a degree where as I didn't go to University as I felt it was a waste of time considering I could do a profesional qualification at the local college for less and have better job prospects at the end of it.

I have to say, it was a very sad day when I discovered I was beyond them.

I know what you mean. Pity it happened when I was 10.

When you were 10? I seriously doubt that unless they are mentally retarded and stuck at a low age of mental development, or you were a gifted youngster who started university at the age of 12. It's impossible because mental development would put you in a dependent role to them and thus you would still be learning how to take care of yourself. Everyone THINKS their smarter than their parents at that age, but they are never right. I was 19 before I discovered I was smarter than my mother. 20 when I discovered I had developed further than my sister. And 24 before I found where my father had stunted.

It's a lonely life up here at the top. Very few have the ability to keep up with a half decent conversation. Went on a date once when the girl let me know after that I was to smart and it intimidated her... very lonely up here.