Poll: Do you think you're more intelligent than the average person? (Be honest)

[nathan-dts]

Well, I'm doing my A-levels, and I choose 3 of the hardest ones (biology, chemistry and physics), and I'm getting B's, so yeah I'd say I'm above average. Even if we're not talking academic knowledge, I still think I know a lot more than your everyday guy.

What college?
I'm personally doing Maths, Further Maths, Computing and Physics at Runshaw College, Leyland.

 

[nathan-dts]

I can't help but look at everyone calling themselves above average intelligence and begin to wonder that perhaps average intelligence is higher than they believe it to be, therefore making them average.

I mean, isn't intelligence relative? If everyone is calling themselves above average, then surely that is average.

I'm just going by grades.

I predicted to get AAB and got a place to do Electronic and Electric Engineering at Uni, surely that would be enough to warrant calling myself above average even if it was only slightly above?

How then would you measure intelligence?

Certainly there are some people who have above average intelligence, what I meant was that because nearly everyone is saying they have above average intelligence, it's hard to actually tell what the average intelligence is.

P.S Are you doing A2? We have the same predicted grades Although I got places from Uni to do history not Electric Engineering.

Yeah, I'm doing A2.

Got a maths exam tomorrow. :O

Not looking forward to it.

What maths topic? Decision?

 

[Sam Warrior]

As far as intelligence goes I know I'm above average, IQ at least, seeing as I had mine properly tested when I was assessed for dyslexia (which took me a long time to learn to spell properly). I cant remember what percentile I fall into but my IQ is 124 or at least it was 2 years ago.

 

[oneeyemug]

Lets not forget the existence of other types of intelligence. It would be unfair to judge everyone's intelligence based on logical, mathematical intelligence alone.

 

[Vivace-Vivian]

Before working retail? No.

After however...

 

[OldRat]

I could have gotten into MENSA when I tried out of curiosity. I told them to keep their elitist club.
In general people tell me I'm really smart, and I do well with problems, and I apparently have some deep, profound wisdom everyone craves (which is really goddamn awkward since I don't really tell anybody anything all that incredible anyway). And people always ask me for advice since I'm apparently a level-headed individual. People, honest people with no reason to lie to me, whom I know aren't, tell me I'm intelligent. Or at least smart.

But I don't really believe any of that. I don't feel smart. I don't want to think myself somehow above the "common masses". That thought doesn't bring me any joy at all, I just really don't want to be part of some elite. I can sometimes give people advice, yeah, but that's because I mostly sit back and observe, not because I'm some incredible font of infinite knowledge. That MENSA test is just a bit of pattern recognition and stuff you really don't need to have some superbrain for. My philosophy has always been to be content with the average, and that has never done me wrong.
So no, I don't think I'm smarter than the average, and I have no desire to be. The only thing that worries me is that I'll actually start believing the people telling me how smart I am and become the kind of snotty elitist I despise.

EDIT: also, I cannot answer the poll because I cannot put in average. Could you add that?

 

[nathan-dts]

I can't help but look at everyone calling themselves above average intelligence and begin to wonder that perhaps average intelligence is higher than they believe it to be, therefore making them average.

I mean, isn't intelligence relative? If everyone is calling themselves above average, then surely that is average.

I'm just going by grades.

I predicted to get AAB and got a place to do Electronic and Electric Engineering at Uni, surely that would be enough to warrant calling myself above average even if it was only slightly above?

How then would you measure intelligence?

Certainly there are some people who have above average intelligence, what I meant was that because nearly everyone is saying they have above average intelligence, it's hard to actually tell what the average intelligence is.

P.S Are you doing A2? We have the same predicted grades Although I got places from Uni to do history not Electric Engineering.

Yeah, I'm doing A2.

Got a maths exam tomorrow. :O

Not looking forward to it.

What maths topic? Decision?

It's a C3 test.

What do you mean by decision?

I may have a different exam board to you (AQA) so yo might not do this unit.
Anyway, good luck and go ***** slap that quotient rule.

http://assets.cambridge.org/97805216/19165/excerpt/9780521619165_excerpt.htm

 

[deshorty]

I would guess that I am above average. I get fairly decent grades without trying and got into college with little to no help from my school (they have no idea how any college system but the English one works). I know a second language so I would think that would also help. Got common sense. Took a mandatory IQ test which put me under the "gifted" category. Based on these facts I would conclude that, yes I am above average.

 

[ace_of_something]

How come there isn't an average?

I'm average, but I work a lot harder than most people and from my experience it's a lot more valuable than being really smart.

 

[dyre]

Well, I academically outperform most of my peers (who are of similar socioeconomic backgrounds), in both the speed at which I learn new things and my ability to retain knowledge. Also, my test scores and GPA are both quite excellent, though that's at least partially because I was born with upper-middle class privilege and had parents who pushed me to study hard. So I'd say I'm more intelligent than the average person. Not saying I'm above the common masses, but I'm definitely on the more intelligent side of the spectrum.

Also, I'm willing to bet that most Escapists really are above average, if not in natural intelligence, then at least in knowledge. At least in the US, being "average" (measured by standardized tests) seems to imply you're somewhat retarded, and probably don't have the mental capacity to operate a computer.

 

[FourEyedTroll]

I would say above average, given I was clever enough to pass the entry test to get into a Grammar School at age 11 (Without the benefit of having parents who could afford to get me coached to pass the test I might add), and having attended University finishing up with a BA (Hons) to my name, I think that's fair justification.

That doesn't mean I don't do stupid things, like move a step-ladder whilst stood on it by jumping it across a bit, and I'm superbly clumsy in the right environment (or rather, most environments). Generally in my experience, knowledge/intelligence =/= good sense or wisdom, but that wasn't the question put forward...

 

[ablac]

Id consider myself average in certain thinks, above in others, and below in some as well. Not many people are truly above average on everything and not many are below average on everything (without a learning disability). Also it would help to give an average (of average intelligence) option as not having one will probably corrupt your results as you are forcing people to choose between smart and stupid which is not really representative of how many view themselves. From what ive seen every time somebody makes a topic such as this people always take it as an advantage to brag about any and all achievements whether they actually are achievements or not. Also an actual definition of intelligence if there is one would be nice as im not really sure what it is. Most people have talents and weak areas but this does not seem to matter. I think judging anyone by overall intelligence is a bad thing to do because you will give people labels they probably don't deserve

 

[twohundredpercent]

There's no "I am average"? Boo.

 

[AshtonF]

It may be arrogant (which i most certainly am), but being in the Gifted and Talented program at school, i feel a bit above average,that does mean, however, that my social skills are lacking by quite a bit.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

Every person in the world considers themselves smarter than the average bear. There's always a certain characteristic or trait people believe makes them smarter or better than everyone else.

 

[DarkRyter]

I don't really read that much, so no.

 

[ShindoL Shill]

i'm one of the smartest of my friends.
but the majority of them are dumbasses.
sorry, my friends.
but it's true.
one of them may have broken his fingers punching a shed. i say 'may' because he refuses to go to a hospital.

 

[ablac]

It may be arrogant (which i most certainly am), but being in the Gifted and Talented program at school, i feel a bit above average,that does mean, however, that my social skills are lacking by quite a bit.

It doesnt have to be a trade off.