A read a book that book that said intelligent people don't answer this kind of question with a simple yes or no. Instead they would ask "compared to what"? Am i smart compared to an ant? Yes. Am I smart compared to Steven Hawkings? No.

United States6173 Posts

April 01 2010 05:35 GMT

#43

Wow. Not many humility doesn't seem to be common around here...

Grobyc

Canada18410 Posts

April 01 2010 05:46 GMT

#44

Intelligence is relatively close to IQ IMO, and I have an above average IQ. I'm also pretty "book smart" and probably around average in terms of being "street smart".

Impervious

Canada4216 Posts

April 01 2010 05:57 GMT

#45

I voted no.

I've always considered "Intelligence" to be like the tools a person has. I've always considered "smarts" to be your ability to use those tools to the best of your ability.

As an analogy, an artistic mind cannot make a masterpiece without the tools allowing them to put their visions on the canvas (or whatever other medium of their choice). And, just because you have those tools, does not mean you can make a masterpiece. True geniuses have both.

If I was smart, I wouldn't be on TL at 2 am.....

RageOverdose

United States690 Posts

April 01 2010 06:01 GMT

#46

The problem with "Are you smart?" is that it is too vague. For one, smart how? And in comparison to who?

There are already intelligence models/theories that exist. Multiple intelligences and triarchic are a couple examples. People also tend to simplify intelligence into exclusive bits such as linguistics, logistics, creativity, spatial sense, etc.

Also, asking are you smart with out any sort of extra details does nothing but show you how many people think they're smart versus how many people don't (think being the key word). Unless that is what you are doing, attempting to attribute a culture's tendency to call themselves smart in general.

danl9rm

United States3111 Posts

April 01 2010 06:04 GMT

#47

On April 01 2010 12:36 lazz wrote:
No im dumb as bricks.

i busted out laughing when i read this.
i think that makes me dumb

seriously though, i subscribe to the notion that there are several kinds of intelligence. if you want more info i'll give it, but suffice it to say that rolling all kinds of smarts into just "smart" is impossible in my opinion.

i asbolutely believe everyone is smart, even possibly in their own unique way that no one else understands.

edit: as much as we pridefully exclaim to the contrary sometimes, God didn't create no dummies.

Dooba

Croatia588 Posts

April 01 2010 06:26 GMT

#48

Well, people did point out a lot of good points and while your choices are limited i still voted "yes". I believe im a bit above the average in terms of general intelligence and knowledge (much of it coming from actually playing games, thus learning english a lot better and immersing myself in other points of interest via games).

Nerd power, yo!

meegrean

Thailand7699 Posts

April 01 2010 06:34 GMT

#49

I play Starcraft because I am smart. Smart people join TL.

buhhy

United States1113 Posts

April 01 2010 06:45 GMT

#50

Lol, I remember a comic where there were a couple of people on a bus all thinking to themselves: "Everyone else here are sheep, I'm the only self aware person on this bus". Anyone know where it's from?

Personally I think everyone tends to overestimate themselves in areas that are hard to quantify like intelligence, poker skill, sexual ability, looks, etc. So lol, most people, especially optimists, aren't as intelligent as they think they are.

Actually, I also agree with the person who said intelligence corresponds with self awareness of their own intelligence.

love1another

United States1844 Posts

April 01 2010 07:18 GMT

#51

I think I'm so smart that I saw through your reverse psychology and selected no.

oh wait.

nayumi

Australia6499 Posts

April 01 2010 07:38 GMT

#52

I'm too dumb to realize that I'm actually smart.

Make sense?

Marradron

Netherlands1586 Posts

April 01 2010 11:16 GMT

#53

Do you think I am dumb ? I'm not gonna answer that poll

gLyo

United States2410 Posts

April 01 2010 11:18 GMT

#54

no offense bro but this seems like a pointless poll. it's a solid fact that everyone on the net thinks they are smarter than everyone else, so why ask them about it? unless there is something that you're not telling us about your project.

i didn't vote in your poll because it's stupid. like many have said already, people have multiple intelligences that can't be reduced down to a yes/no answer.

Magnificent

United States41 Posts

April 01 2010 11:46 GMT

#55

everyone is smart. just at different levles of smartness

Helium

59 Posts

April 01 2010 11:54 GMT

#56

I'd like to think so

KurtistheTurtle

United States1966 Posts

April 01 2010 11:54 GMT

#57

Compared to everybody else, I don't know and don't really care. I don't think thats an accurate assessment of intelligence. My definition is being able to look at situations with all the guiding thoughts of experience, like if some girl shows up at your fraternity house at 3 am bashing on a window of the guy's room she thinks her computer is in and he really doesn't wanna fucking talk to her but neither of them will tell you what the hell is going on, being able to take a step back from all that hate and tension and resolve the situation without the entire house waking up or police being called, thats intelligence. Like not that specific example but being able to respond and adapt to situations based on past ones, and also the ability to thoroughly think out cause/effect of various things which could happen. Intelligence is the ability to manipulate your environment to make it most beneficial for yourself/others.

My answer is yes, I'm intelligent to a point..I lack a lot of experience which could really change how I perceive things and deal with shit.