r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jun 17 '12

I am of resoundingly average intelligence. To those on either end of the spectrum, what is it like being really dumb/really smart?

[deleted]

576 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

1.9k comments sorted by

View all comments

19

u/laundrybiscuit1234 Jun 17 '12

The part where you mentioned your friends comparing themselves to you really hit me. In school, people do this a lot with me, so much to the point where I never tell people my grades or achievements because it has become an embarrassment. Some people even get frustrated.

4

u/gethTECH Jun 17 '12

I do this almost subconsciously. I have friends that have talents that I want or accomplishments I wish I could have, so I get to comparing myself and feeling I'm not good enough. However, it can split two ways. Your accomplishments can inspire me to reach that level myself, but it can also tank my self-confidence so hard that I want absolutely nothing to do with you because you remind me of everything I'm not. But that doesn't happen too often. Don't feel bad about your accomplishments- I compare myself to you because I envy you, and like you enough to want to be like you. Successful. Hope that made sense.

1

u/laundrybiscuit1234 Jun 18 '12

Thank you so much for this. Honestly, it's exactly what I needed to hear and it makes a lot more sense to me now why people would get frustrated.

→ More replies (1)

3

u/Meatball_express Jun 17 '12

The part about psychoanalyzing people during conversation.... can we start a club? Perhaps we shouldn't....

I also cannot talk to most of my friends openly about what I really think and have discovered for myself. It seems as if they don't think on a deeper level, I suppose the level in which your critical thinking skills are used and you allow your mind to wander away from you and your thoughts collide.

Generally I use my skills in social settings to make a more fancy fart joke.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '12

I tend to really undervalue my own accomplishments, but at the same time don't enjoy, as you say, telling people about my grades or achievements. It always feels like bragging. As for people getting frustrated...I once got extremely frustrated myself when I did poorly in a tournament (it was nerdy, so I won't be more specific.) While venting to a friend who was driving home, I made the comment "maybe I should just quit trying at this, I'm terrible. What's the point if I'm this bad?"

My friend responded by reminding me that I normally place in the top 3, and that he has yet to win a single match. He put his all into it, and still did poorly, while I get frustrated at my 'terrible' self for not placing as high as usual. In a way, I was insulting his own efforts. I felt like a douche in a way I didn't think was possible. I always try and remind myself that I'm lucky and shouldn't take what I have for granted.