How intelligent do you think you are?

SarahChambers · 20-09-2009 01:23PM #1

Most of the people I know think that they are intelligent, or at least more intelligent than the average person. Some of them did well in their leaving cert and are pretty smart, but others I don't think are that smart. I did well in the lc but I don't really think I am that smart I just worked hard for it. I think almost everyone thinks that they are more intelligent than average, but not everyone can be above average, so some of them must be wrong.

What about you, how intelligent do you think you are, and do you think a lot of people are deluded about their level of intelligence?

brummytom · 20-09-2009 01:29PM

I'm always told I'm decently intelligent, I just don't apply myself fully to lessons - according to teachers. I grasp ideas and concepts easily, don't get easily confused and remember information, theorems, quotes. etc.
If I put more into my lessons, I could (and am in many classes) be the top student.

That's not intended as cockiness or arrogance, that's the truth -substantiated by years of School Reports and Parents' Evenings :pac: I just hope I don't come across as a moron on here.

And yes, I do think many people are deluded. I have a mate who's a complete idiot, a lovely lad but thick as pigshit. He thinks that he's top of the class in maths, despite always answering questions wrong :P
People seem to think that if they have a good knowledge of a certain area or subject, this automatically makes them intelligent.

There's a great difference between knowledge and intelligence though. My nan was, and my uncle's girlfriend is, amazingly intelligent people, but because they had little education, felt the need to put themselves down.

Bob_Harris · 20-09-2009 01:30PM

I got a First Class Honours in my Higher Degree. Might do a Masters and kick ass in that too if I'm bothered.

I'm Quite intelligent, above average.

Dublin141 · 20-09-2009 01:32PM

I don't think I'm particularly intelligent, I'd say average at best.

When I was a kid, teachers used to rank us with me being top in the class but it was complete bull in my opinion. There are different types of intelligence for one and I don't think that something like the leaving cert is a good indicator anyway.

The majority of people put a lot of stock into their intelligence to the point where they are disappointed in their I.Q. if they test it. At least, that's what I've seen happen a lot. So I would say that many think they are more intelligent than a test tells them anyway.

SarahChambers · 20-09-2009 01:34PM

I think the reason why a lot of people are deluded about their level of intelligence is that there is always an explanation for evidence against your belief that you are intelligent. Oh I didn't do well in that exam because I didn't study, I don't understand that because I haven't read about it in a while, I am not good at maths because I don't try. People are obviously more willing to reach for one of these explanations that to say, oh well, I guess that is beyond me, I am not the smartest person.

Tomebagel · 20-09-2009 01:34PM

im the smratest man i no.

g5fd6ow0hseima · 20-09-2009 01:35PM

SarahChambers wrote: »

I did well in the lc but I don't really think I am that smart I just worked hard for it.

Anyone who uses the leaving cert as a measure of intelligence is an absolute idiot in my opinion.

Agricola · 20-09-2009 01:36PM

Bob_Harris wrote: »

I got a First Class Honours in my Higher Degree

Me too. Though In my case I wouldnt say it makes for being overly intelligent. My degree relied on alot of regurgiation of theory on exam day. If you had put in the hours of study and had a good memory you did well. There was little or no originality required, except for project work. Theres a big difference between that and intelligence.

Having said all that, id like to say Im not a dummy!, probably slightly above average.

Jet Black · 20-09-2009 01:38PM

Im on the dole and post in after hour's. What do you think?

ejmaztec · 20-09-2009 01:40PM

There are a lot of deluded people around, many of them thinking that they're smarter than me. They can't help it, and I kinda feel sorry for them.

Daroxtar · 20-09-2009 01:43PM

I'm a daft cunt but i'm not a fukkin idiot.

brummytom · 20-09-2009 01:50PM

SarahChambers wrote: »

I think the reason why a lot of people are deluded about their level of intelligence is that there is always an explanation for evidence against your belief that you are intelligent. Oh I didn't do well in that exam because I didn't study, I don't understand that because I haven't read about it in a while, I am not good at maths because I don't try. People are obviously more willing to reach for one of these explanations that to say, oh well, I guess that is beyond me, I am not the smartest person.

If that was in response to my post, I'm not using my lack of revision/effort as an excuse. If anything, I'm ashamed of myself for not fulfilling my potential consistently. I know I'm of a decent (I don't want to say high, that makes me sound like a prick) intelligence; but I'm more than capable of achieving A*s in all my subjects, indeed that's what I'm predicted. If I can attain high Bs/As with lack of revision and little effort, then when fully applying myself I know I can do well.

I'll happily admit when I'm bad at something. For example, I'm absolutely hopeless at all sports. If I had it my way, I'd much rather be sporty than clever; but alas, my genes obviously hate me

donmeister · 20-09-2009 01:51PM

Good thread,I like! I wouldn't think im intelligent in a conventional manner,such as doing well in school and exams but im very knowledgeable about a wide variety of random shite and very street smart which is very handy in certain situations!

Steve · 20-09-2009 01:54PM

The LC is a memory test - nothing to do with intelligence.

Intelligence is the ability to solve problems, not remember who was shot in the 1916 rising.

pikachucheeks · 20-09-2009 01:55PM

Firstly, there are many different forms of intelligence.

Being book smart and academic is only a tiny part of what being intelligent is.
I don't like the way often, people who did "badly" or "below average" in their Junior Cert / Leaving Cert / exams of any kind are made to feel stupid, or less intelligent than their peers.

I don't believe that's the case.

To answer your question, I'd consider myself to be relatively average. I'm not thick as a plank, but I'm a far way off being the next Stephen Hawking!

Daragh101 · 20-09-2009 01:55PM

its hard to awnser this Q...
people always overestimate their intelligence!!...
"o i got 500 points in my leaving cert"....imo this doesnt mean a hole lot to me anyway!:cool:

markok84 · 20-09-2009 01:56PM

I've got three degrees, one more and I've reached the constant temperature of a fridge.

Dudess · 20-09-2009 01:56PM

It's a difficult one to quantify - yeah, I'm intelligent, but I'm also dumb at some stuff (e.g. science).

I also think degree does not necessarily = intelligent, and lack of leaving cert does not = not intelligent.

Steve · 20-09-2009 02:00PM

Dudess wrote: »

and lack of leaving cert does not = not intelligent.

It takes intelligence to work out all the double negatives there Dudess :pac:

Earthhorse · 20-09-2009 02:00PM

Steve wrote: »

Intelligence is the ability to solve problems, not remember who was shot in the 1916 rising.

Padraig Pearse!

No wait, WB Yeats!

Hang on...I know this one...

dr.bollocko · 20-09-2009 02:01PM

Tomebagel wrote: »

im the smratest man i no.

:pac:

brummytom · 20-09-2009 02:01PM

Earthhorse wrote: »

Padraig Pearse!

No wait, WB Yeats!

Hang on...I know this one...

John F Kennedy wasn't it?

G_R · 20-09-2009 02:02PM

hmmm...

well i did brilliantly in school (6 A1's), i have a wealth of knowledge on a whole range of things no one needs to kno, but still find interesting, and according to my phone i have an IQ of 170

so in answer to your question, I am very intelligent, way above average

DISCLAIMER:
the above post may not be entirely true and no responsibility is accepted for said post

My name is URL · 20-09-2009 02:02PM

Oh look at you all with your wonderful brains

lah dee dah

Earthhorse · 20-09-2009 02:02PM

brummytom wrote: »

John F Kennedy wasn't it?

No, I think he's the guy who shot Abraham Lincoln.

At least, if you believe what the government tells you.

dr.bollocko · 20-09-2009 02:03PM

From my past experience with this forum I can safely say that the above poll does not accurately reflect a decent cross section of the AH population.

brummytom · 20-09-2009 02:04PM

Earthhorse wrote: »

No, I think he's the guy who shot Abraham Lincoln.

At least, if you believe what the government tells you.

Don't be silly.. Abraham Lincoln wasn't really shot was he?

I thought that was just a play

bubonicus · 20-09-2009 02:04PM

I think the question should be, Are you intelligent enough to know how dumb you are?, and if not, well....

wudangclan · 20-09-2009 02:05PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

From my past experience with this forum I can safely say that the above poll does not accurately reflect a decent cross section of the AH population.

cause we're all obviously highly intelligent in AH??

O'Morris · 20-09-2009 02:05PM

I have an IQ of 96 which is slightly above average for Irish people.

Tzetze · 20-09-2009 02:05PM

IQ of 143 (according to www.iqtest.com), but dropped out of school without a leaving cert. As my father used to be so fond of reminding me "brains to burn, but not an ounce of sense!" Working on a degree now though.

So yeah, quite a bit above average (if average IQ is 100), but I'm strong in some areas and weak in others. Especially strong in logic and spatial reasoning, but ridiculously weak in imagination and abstraction.

How intelligent do you think you are?

How intelligent do you think you are? 377 votes

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