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If everything works out, I'm gonna get my Phd in computer science in 2 years. A lots of people think I'm smart. Although I myself have seen way too many smarter people to actually think I'm smart. I'm not being humble, I don't know if God's messing with me or something, I have a nasty habit of bumping into people who are freakishly smart, who can put some serious dent on my self-esteem despite I have my share of casual admirers who happen to think I'm smart.
I think I'm about average. I'm not smart but I don't think I'm a complete moron either, though the latter is definitely debatable.
Edit- This thread has made me think about all the ridiculous things I've done in my life, so I have to change my answer. I am, without a doubt, an idiot.
I don't judge my intelligence by what I think I judge it by what other people think. Quite frankly, I have no idea how I rate compared to others.
You can judge from some examples if you care to.
When I was starting out in the workplace (many years ago) I took a job as a draftsman. At that time we still used slide rules. No calculators or computers. After I started I was told I had to know Trigonometry to keep it. I went to a book store Friday after work, bought a book named "Plane and Spherical Trigonometry", and worked through it over the weekend. Monday when I went to work I knew Trig.
I'm pretty good at Jeopardy and trivia games in general.
My wife says I'm smart. She tests at the 99th percentile.
I'm a computer tech, mostly self-taught, and find i can resolve issues that stump other techs. Not always, but often.
I'm not ashamed to ask questions if I don't know something.
I'm still alive. If you knew my past you'd understand. Possibly falls under street smart.
If I had to give an estimate I'd say I'm probably about average.
Define "intelligence".
Do I learn quickly? Am I relatively well-educated or articulate? Depends on the group we're using as a norm, but I'd accept a spot in the top half, anyway.
Do I breeze blithely through the tax codes each spring?
I'll take the fifth.
Can I program my $%^# computer?
Er...well...I'm waaaay below the average tech-savvy seventh grader on that one.
I think I'm more well-read than most people I've met, and I know I'm a very good writer, with many years of successful employment in fields that focus on this discipline. Few unintelligent people are good writers or avid readers, so, yeah, I'd consider myself smart. I'm also a fast hands-on learner, and pick up skills with reasonable facility independently. I always enjoyed academics and hands-on learning, and continue to in adulthood. However, I'm not technically inclined in the least, know virtually nothing about finance (and lack the interest to learn), rarely use anything beyond simple math. I suppose people skilled in those areas would deem me as unintelligent as I deem those who don't read and/or lack the ability to string together a written or verbal sentence without error.
Thanks for the votes and replies so far, everyone. So far it looks how I thought it would be. This is hardly a solid sampling, but about 84% of the 37 voters feel that they are in the top 25% in terms of general inteligence (for the sake of full disclosure, I voted top 25% myself).
I can't wait to see how this turns out. Thanks again for participating.
Funny how some posts rely on what they do or what others tell them...
Well, let me tell everyone that I am as dumb as a bag of hammers.
I find it great being at the bottom and looking up 'cause I enjoy seeing the self ordained smart people run in gastly circles.. ZZZZZZZ
LOL The great thing about being dumb is that no one expects much from you, and when you actually do something above mediocre people act like you've cured cancer! Maybe I should change my screen name to VillageIdiot.
The thing with being street smart is that it is something that has to be learned as well. Some people are just naturally intuitive, whether it be on the streets or in the classroom, but even a common thug needs to learn what and what not to do. We learn from experience, immersion, and our own needs and desires. Who is the smarter of the two? Neither, but at the same time both are in their own respects.
Intelligence is not about how much you know. It is acknowledging what you do not know. It is about taking various bits of information and then using that information to form your own opinions, thoughts, and actions. Intelligence is the ability to back up your opinions and actions with rational, well thought, conversation and behavior, regardless if anyone agrees with it or not.
When it comes to my peers I am probably somewhere in the middle. I only hang out with people whom I perceive are just as, or, smarter than I am (and for those who think that makes me snobbish or elitist, just keep in mind that I am fully aware that some people would consider me "dumb" by their standards).
LOL The great thing about being dumb is that no one expects much from you, and when you actually do something above mediocre people act like you've cured cancer! Maybe I should change my screen name to VillageIdiot.
What is so great about receiving a low opinion from everyone? And, when you do come across doing something great, nobody is going to think that it was an act of genius but rather a fluke and that you got lucky.
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