| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/24/2007 6:56:15 PM | I have never referred to myself as a genius. And everytime I hear "way to go...genius!!" I am still smart enuff to know that means I am a retard...  | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/24/2007 6:58:04 PM | Isn't a genius some one that comes out of a bottle and gives out wishes???
If I have been pretending to be smart my whole life with some modest sucess, does that make me a genius?
Or does someone just have to rub me the right way? | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/24/2007 7:16:40 PM | Just Different mentions 'arrogant'. I was thinking about arrogance last nite, and I think that a daffynition is a behavior with no consideration or tact concerning anyone elses feelings. Now, I have often not had any consideration or tact when I am doing the right thing, and it is of no consequence to me if I get crapped on as a result. But that does not mean I don't value or consider others' feelings. Just means that 'tact' will not motivate me to do the WRONG thing. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! But still, I probably need to learn to be showing some consideration, before going full speed ahead.  D | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/24/2007 7:20:45 PM | | Someone who tells you they are a genius, isn't a genius. Because a person who is a genius would know they wouldn't have to tell you because you would already know. Like me showing people my photo and saying "I'm attractive". If they see my photo, I don't have to tell them that because they would either think I am or I'm not. Make sense?? | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/24/2007 7:37:23 PM | Everyone is differently intelligent.
IF someone feels the need to express their own level of intelligence, they are, most likely, trying to convince you via verbiage because they are in doubt that you would be convinced by their actions.
Be a lady and walk away without commenting . | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/24/2007 7:51:30 PM | I'm a member of MENSA, which means I pay $50 a year for dues, and I tested in the 98th percentile on a test--that is ALL it means. I learned to read early, but I still had to learn like the kids who didn't learn until age 10 to read--it only means that I hvae the POTENTIAL to "learn faster" or to retain more information. What I DO with that information, and how I get along in society has little to do with how "fast" I learn or don't learn.
I don't generally go around wearing a MENSA tee shirt, because most people don't even know what MENSA is or if they do they don't care!
Playing well with others is more important in "success" in life than how "smart" you are. Lots of people who are DENSE play well with others and get along much better in life than "smart" people who are arrogant and hateful.
There are lots of "smart" people who literally can't write their names, I have a friend who fits that catagory, he only attended 3 days of school in his life, but he is well liked, respected, and was financially successful in his business. I don't look down on him because he is illiterate, and he doesn't think I am arrogant because I went to university and got my degree.
There are plenty of fields that I know very little about, and there are others that I know quite a bit about...no matter how smart you are, you can't know everything about everything or be an expert in all fields.
I enjoy hanging around with people who have a wide range of interests and talents, and I enjoy learning from each one. My late husband was very very bright, by anyone's estimation and he had talents and was expert in many fields (which is quite unusual) and most people who were around him for very long easily figured out he was "smart" and that was part of what I liked about him, we were never bored or at a stand still for things to talk about, debate, learn from each other, etc. He respected me, and my fields of expertice and I respected him and his. As far as I know, though, neither of us ever intimidated anyone or put anyone down because they didn't have as much "education" as we did--in fact, my husband was entirely self taught in most of his fields of expertise, including Aviation in which he had every instructor's certificate issued by the FAA ground and air except balloon pilot instructor and at the time he died, he was working on that.
I think, however, that is someone has to "toot their own horn" it is because they are insecure of their own worth, either intellectually or otherwise. Just like if a person has to show everyone how "rich" they are or how many toys they have to "impress" them with what fine folks they are...again insecurity. The "Mine in bigger/better than yours" syndrome.
The OP dating someone young enough to be an offspring I think is the problem. No matter how smart you are at age 25, even a person who is much less smart may have much more knowledge and wisdom than you do if they are 45. Just living is an education in itself. Though there are folks that have "thirty years experience" vs those with "ONE year experience 30 times."
A person who is WISE is not necessarily the smartest one--lots of "smart" people are poorly adjusted and do very UN wise things. I did plenty of unwise things when I was a teenager and thought I knew everything, but as I have gotten older, and WISER, I realize there are many more things than I don't know than things I do know.
Being a MENSA member doesn't get me anything except a membership card and some neat friends I have met through the group--but there are lots of MENSA members in prison or drug rehab--so being "smart" isn't all it is cracked up to be. I have a son in prison who qualifies for the 99.9% group but has wasted his potential and his life. | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/24/2007 9:06:30 PM | I thought I'd offer this quote ,
"A man of genius is unbearable, unless he posses at least two things besides: gratitude and purity" (Friedrich Nietzsche)
In light of this, it has helped me to understand the arrogant behaviour of people such as Sir Isaac Newton (which is not widely publicized). | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/24/2007 10:17:44 PM | He may be a genius but does he make your heart race? Do you get excited to see him? Does he make you laugh?
'Genius' is just another label we put on people. It doesn't mean a whole lot in the overall scheme of things. Like others have said, it measures potential, not achievements. | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/25/2007 3:47:56 AM | | I would be attracted to a man who could stimulate me physically, emotionally and mentally. At the same time I would be turned off if he went around boasting about how handsome or how intelligent he was. Humility is more attractive. | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/25/2007 8:41:38 AM | Genius is a subjective word. Where one person may consider someone a genius, everyone else might think he's an ignorant ****. It's also important that someone works within their skill sets. One example would be, I can fix an avionics issue on a live flight with little or no delay. Do I dare try to write a classical music piece? Heck no! I don't have the knowledge or skills in music.
ETA: As of right now I would fail Robert A. Heinlein's test of a competent man. | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/25/2007 9:54:10 AM | QuickStang, Actually you passed his test! At least you know what the Heinlein's test IS! I have a paraphrase of it on my profile--and I am a woman, and I can ALMOST pass it--I can't program the computer though, and doubt that in this lifetime I will learn!
I have a feeling that you might be closer than you think to passing it! Specialization is for insects! | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/26/2007 10:42:18 PM |
Someone who tells you they are a genius, isn't a genius. Because a person who is a genius would know they wouldn't have to tell you because you would already know.
Unless you were so arrogant as to claim to be a super-genius, in which case you might be too dense to know when you're up against real intelligence! LOL
Seriously, though, well said. I'm amused by the number of people who have used this thread to advertise their IQ, Mensa status, etc. Some of the smartest people I know will tell you that they aren't actually all that smart - and list all their limitations.
I've found that attitude is much more important than IQ. If one partner is threatened by the other's intelligence, it's not going to work. And I find a person's intelligence is irrelevant if they have a closed mind.
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/27/2007 8:45:02 AM | Rederer1-- what is an ****ing telephone? That's one I have not heard about and would like to maybe buy stock in the company. 
"Being smart" is nothing that anyone can "brag" about--it's genetic. Like being tall, or being short, or having blue eyes or brown, or being "good looking" (by whichever standard you are judged by)--it is the luck of the draw. On our profile we are asked the color of our hair, our eyes, our height and our weight, etc. You can change the color of your eyes with contacts, you can dye your hair, you can diet to change that if you don't like your weight (either up or down) you can exercise to shape your muscles if you wish (within genetic limits) or you can have plastic surgery to "improve" your looks. You can educate yourself to the capacity of your IQ and time--but essentially, your CAPACITY for learning at a certain speed and the volume and complexity of the concepts you can grasp are there at birth.
A 7 ft 11 inch guy that choses to play piano instead of persue a career in basket ball may not have used his "potential" to best advantage--or if he is clumsy or shy he may have used all his available talents to best advantage, just not that particular one because he could not do both. We all are born with a certain quality and quanity of "talents"--and not equally so--we are all individuals. If we become arrogant because of any "talent" with which we are born we are failing to realize that this talent was a GIFT not a RIGHT, and we did NOTHING to EARN it. People who have "more talents" or "better quality talents" should, instead, be grateful for this/these talents and use them to the best ability for themselves and for society/humanity and the world to pay back "the gods" or God who gave those talents to them by genetic toss of the dice.
Some people either "waste" their talents by using them only selfishly. Others take their talents, improve them with education and compassion and accomplish something for others---inventions, teaching, marketing, philosophy, humanitarian works, medicine, nursing, ....giving back as well as receiving benefits from this "stroke of luck" they received. Being in the "top 2% of test takers" (and that is all it means) only shows that I have one or two kinds of talent--maybe only shows that I can take tests well. Even if it shows that I am "genius"--that says nothing about what I am as a PERSON, or if I have used my talent or talents to good use, or selfishly, or not at all. It doesn't denigrate other people with "less" talents--it only m eans that more is expected of me because I have more (in some fields at least). I would love to play a musical instrument but I am totally without talent in that area. I do play one, but very poorly and more practice doesn't improve it...I reached a low level of competence by lots of perspiration not inspiration and I know 8 year old musically talented kids who are better in music from birth than I am.
IQ tests only measure a minor part of what makes a "smart" person, and nothing of educational attainment. I only have a masters degree because I got started late at college, needed to make a living, and then when I had the time to go back and get a PhD I no longer had a desire to...there were other things that interested me.
I thought this forum was for discussion about "calling yourself a genius or super genius"--not for being hateful to someone who is answering the question with more than a "no I would never do that, I am too humble"--but expounding upon the question and answer with solid, thought out reasoning and logic as well as opinion.
There is a big difference in stating facts and in arrogance. If I say "I am 5 ft. 5 inches tall" --is that arrogance? It is a fact. Does that make you think I am feeling superior to you because of my height? I am a member of MENSA. That's a fact. The only requirement to get a membership card is $50 and a high test score. I generally don't go around in a MENSA Tee shirt (I don't own one) or put a sign at my front gate that says "MENSA member"--but if the subject is brought up, I may mention it, like I did on this thread. I don't find any shame in being a MENSA member or in being born smart anymore than I find shame in my blue eyes, or the shape of my face or my height. They just ARE. What I DO with anything I inherited, be it looks, money, smarts, talents, that is what determines the person I am.
I know lots of smart A$$holes, and I know lots of dumb A$$holes. I know lots of smart nice people, and I know lots of dumb, illiterate nice people as well. Being smart doesn't make you better than anyone else, it simply means you have a bigger responsibility to humanity and the universe not to waste your talents--unfortunately our streets and our prisons are full of people both dumb and smart who are wasting their talents.
PS anyone who would like to, feel free to "flame away" | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/27/2007 11:03:53 AM |
I thought this forum was for discussion about "calling yourself a genius or super genius"--not for being hateful to someone who is answering the question with more than a "no I would never do that, I am too humble"--but expounding upon the question and answer with solid, thought out reasoning and logic as well as opinion.
Who's being hateful?
The statement was that intelligent people don't need to state that they are intelligent.
There is a big difference in stating facts and in arrogance.
Fact: "I am intelligent." Arrogance: "my IQ is ..."
I was speaking in general, but if you want to get into specifics: expounding on the question did not require a statement as to your Mensa membership. That was a detail you very deliberately chose to include. Did you even catch the irony? You START your post with
I'm a member of MENSA... I tested in the 98th percentile on a test You then go on to say
I think, however, that is someone has to "toot their own horn" it is because they are insecure of their own worth, either intellectually or otherwise. Just like if a person has to show everyone how "rich" they are or how many toys they have to "impress" them with what fine folks they are...again insecurity.
Your a smart person; you figure it out.
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/30/2007 8:37:07 AM | Hey, I'll one better you! I didn't invent the telephone or sticky notes... I invented the sticky telephone! If you're expecting a call, it sticks to the side of your head so you won't forget about it and miss the call.
So there! | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/30/2007 8:42:16 AM | I'm a genus...homo sapien to be specific...DEE DEE DEE!
If they claim to be a genius, make 'em take an IQ test. That should be simple enough. Who cares? I'd rather date someone who can keep up on most topics of discussion and if they could give a crap less about string theory...that's fine, I'll find someone who I can discuss it with who enjoys talking about it.
A supermodel that is shallow and dumb as a box of rocks gets old real quick.
Cheers! | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/30/2007 11:32:53 AM | Some people are "threatened" by other's smarts, or education, money, looks, or anything that someone else has that they may feel (rightly or wrongly) that they were "short changed on."
I dated a very sharp guy once, and though he o nly had a high school education, he was really quite bright and self educated through much reading in a wide variety of subjects that I like to discuss. However, he was so "self conscious" about not having a college degree that if he talked about anything with some one who did have a college degree he always felt that they were "talking down to him." (This wasn't just his perception of me, but ANY person with a college education.) If anyone else knew something (like about their speciality field) that he did not know, he had to "prove them wrong" in order to feel good about himself.
I am a person who is sort of a "Jill of all trades, mistress of only a couple." I have know very sharp people who were actually experts in four or more different fields--my late husband was one of those---and actually self educated in several of them--but he was always willing to discuss anything, and if the other person knew more about it than he did, he picked their brain until he learned more than he had known before...he was not threatened by anyone else's education or knowledge, he saw it as an opportunity to learn. His breadth of information was exciting and he could talk to just about anyone just about nearly anything. Even if a guy couldn't read or write, my late husband could learn from him and was glad to do so.
People who have a "chip on their shoulder" about other's smarts or education are that way because for whatever reason they feel "inferior"--no matter how smart they actually are. Conversley, if a person is arrogant about their education, smarts or anything else, they also are usually feeling "inferior" as well. That is why lots of times people call PhDs as short for "piled higher and deeper"--because sometimes people with advanced degrees get the "expert syndrome"--kind of like a doctor who thinks he is "God." I trained with and worked with one of the smartest and best physicians I evern knew and he frequently would tell a patient, "You know, I have no idea what the heck that is, but I'll find you someone smarter than me who DOES know."
I have also seen other physician's ignorance and lack of humility literally kill patients. I worked with one once who overheard me tell a patient I didn't know. He brought me into his office and ordered me to NEVER say those words to a patient because "it made me lookj stupid." Ah, contaire, my dear--it showed that I was smart enough to not attempmt "brain surgery" when I wasn't qualified to do so. I very shortly gave my notice. I can't work with or for a person who has to "put up a front" and doesn't have the good sense to say, "I don't know, but I will find out."
A resident physician told me once that "Getting a medical education is like trying to drink out of a fire hose, no matter how thirsty you are, or how fast you swallow, much of it gets by you." Few people today can get into medical school if they aren't in the top 2% in IQ and top 5-8% of their undergrad class...soo there aren't too many dumbies in medical school, but 100% of the time, IMHO the arrogant ones are not good physicians. It's that way in many fields of study. | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/30/2007 1:15:10 PM | Genius doesnt mean you " know everything". It means you have the ability to problem solve better than average, on a sliding IQ scale.
Someone can be a genius and know nothing about knitting. Just because they have a friend that knits doesnt mean they're any less smart.
People often confuse intelligence with knowledge. Big Faux Pas.
A genius is anyone with an IQ over 140. I've taken the test, thru British MENSA. I wont post my results here however :) .
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/30/2007 1:52:15 PM | In my book, intellectuals gather information. Intelligent people apply that information to solve problems. Therein lies the difference.
Nuff said. | |
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| When someone says they are a genius!?
Posted: 4/30/2007 2:55:32 PM | ^^^
Great Analogy... I like the quote by Mark Twain...
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. " | |
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