Why is intelligence punished???

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  1. Sheep's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Location: Southport
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by Octohedral)
    2. 'Lad' culture. Work is uncool. This is just tragic, particularly coming from people writing on computers.
    This is so true tbh

    In China it is the opposite, they take their work so seriously, and it is very respected quality to be hard working and to do job properly / to a good standard

    No wonder their economy is so much better lol

    so much laziness in Britain
  2. Negaduck's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
    • Location: Northern Ireland/ Brighton
    • Posts: 1,114
    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    I got 3 A's without doing any real work... Does that make me cool or uncool? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
  3. Brutal Chav's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    No. Intelligence is respected as long as it's mixed with a bit of modesty.

    Also, how you say people get bad press for getting high grades - that doesn't mean intelligence is frowned upon, it means grades are frowned upon.
  4. cambio wechsel's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by Sheep)

    No wonder [China's] economy is so much better lol
    "lol" is right. China has a per capita GDP of $5000, as against $35000 in the UK.
  5. derangedyoshi's Avatar
    • Peer Of The TSR Realm
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    OP has a recipe for raking in pos rep on TSR.
  6. tpxvs's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Posts: 858
    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by Skaði)
    Nope. I think you're overreacting, though. You might need to work on that.
    Lol what..
    (Original post by Skaði)
    My mother's intelligent, and hardworking, but her job pays her £20,000 a year. In a similar vein to your first words, I hate how people judge intelligence by how much they're earning in a job.
    Did you not notice the bit where i said "intelligent and have well paying jobs" the two parts of that sentence are mutually exclusive it didnt say "intelligent therefore have well paying jobs".. I actually agree intelligence alone doesnt equate high paid job, theres so much more to it like opportunity, ambition etc..
    (Original post by Skaði)
    I...don't really know how to reply to the rest of that :confused:
    Exactly.


    (Original post by Skaði)
    Good. Safety first. My point was (a point you seem to have misunderstood) that I've come across lots of people who think that people don't like them because they come from more affluent backgrounds, and that in many cases it's not due to jealousy but because they're assuming that it's jealousy that gets on people's nerves.
    How is the bold bit anything to do with myself? I'm neither "disliked for coming from an affluent background" nor do i dislike those who do come from well-off backgrounds. You have no idea where i am on the socioeconomic scale. I do agree with the latter though, people assuming you're jealous of them can be irritating.

    (Original post by Skaði)
    Besides, many parents can barely afford to buy one car, let alone one for their kids.
    I know this. Who says my parents even own a car?.. I think you need to stop making assumptions.

    (Original post by Skaði)
    It's not a matter of safety, it's a matter of income: some people aren't as well off as you.
    Stop making assumptions, you do not know how "well off" I am. All you know is that my parents are "intelligent and have well paid jobs", you do not know if the vast majority of their earnings is going to a better cause (such as someones health) than my education or my well being etc.

    (Original post by Skaði)
    One girl in my English class complained the other day because her parents had only given her a (brand new) Ford Ka, and she wanted a better car.
    Cool story bro.
    (Original post by Skaði)
    I have nothing against rich people (I can't even believe I have to type that out)
    Great, neither do I.

    (Original post by Skaði)
    but my mum's car's a second-hand Ford Ka. It's all she can afford.
    Good for her. That's better than not being able to afford a car at all. Not that it matters but I've had to walk to everywhere I wanted to go up until 17. Sometimes, I'd have been extremely grateful especially on those rainy days I had to carry all my school stuff along with my art portfolios etc from school - home which is a half hour walk in a hilly area (such as my hometown) if there was somebody to pick me up in any automobile.

    (Original post by Skaði)
    Wanting to keep your child safe has nothing to do with it; it's whether or not your parents can afford to keep you as safe as they like.
    Yes it does. At least, in my case. There isn't a one-rule-fits-all. My parents insisted on helping to get a car that they thought was safe (again you dont know - perhaps someone close died in a car crash so this is an extra sensitive topic). Though I insisted I was perfectly happy to use my savings from part time jobs over the years to buy myself a car which I thought would totally be worth it! They gave me the ultimatum it was either break my relationship with them or no car or go with a car they deemed safe. Hence why I've ended up with the car I have. So with no choice of my own, maybe they helped to buy a car for myself though they are living their lives and making do without..

    Bottom line: do not make assumptions and do not judge, especially strangers on the internet you know nothing about. Have a nice day


    Jesus :facepalm:
    Last edited by tpxvs; 03-06-2012 at 00:04.
  7. Aeschylus's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Posts: 2,278
    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    No intelligence is rewarded in society. What you want though, is for people to defer to you on behalf of your A levels. If people are being nasty to you it's not because you are being 'intellectual' it's because you are being a dick!
  8. Skaði's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Posts: 73
    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by tpxvs)
    How is the bold bit anything to do with myself? I'm neither "disliked for coming from an affluent background" nor do i dislike those who do come from well-off backgrounds. You have no idea where i am on the socioeconomic scale. I do agree with the latter though, people assuming you're jealous of them can be irritating.
    Good. That was the point I was making in the first place.

    (Original post by tpxvs)
    I know this. Who says my parents even own a car?.. I think you need to stop making assumptions.
    If your parents can afford to pay for your car, I'm gonna go ahead and assume here that they're not taking the bus to work every day.

    And looking at your original post directed at me, I'm not the one who should stop making assumptions.

    (Original post by tpxvs)
    Stop making assumptions, you do not know how "well off" I am. All you know is that my parents are "intelligent and have well paid jobs", you do not know if the vast majority of their earnings is going to a better cause (such as someones health) than my education or my well being etc.
    I was using 'you' as opposed to 'one'. I was not directly addressing you.

    (Original post by tpxvs)
    Cool story bro.
    ikr, bbz?

    (Original post by tpxvs)
    Good for her. That's better than not being able to afford a car at all. Not that it matters but I've had to walk to everywhere I wanted to go up until 17. Sometimes, I'd have been extremely grateful especially on those rainy days I had to carry all my school stuff along with my art portfolios etc from school - home which is a half hour walk in a hilly area (such as my hometown) if there was somebody to pick me up in any automobile.
    In your words (and attitude): Cool story bro.

    (Original post by tpxvs)
    Yes it does. At least, in my case. There isn't a one-rule-fits-all. My parents insisted on helping to get a car that they thought was safe (again you dont know - perhaps someone close died in a car crash so this is an extra sensitive topic). Though I insisted I was perfectly happy to use my savings from part time jobs over the years to buy myself a car which I thought would totally be worth it! They gave me the ultimatum it was either break my relationship with them or no car or go with a car they deemed safe. Hence why I've ended up with the car I have. So with no choice of my own, maybe they helped to buy a car for myself though they are living their lives and making do without..
    No it isn't. Lots of people can't afford to keep their kids as safe as those from more 'well-off' backgrounds. I have no idea why you've said 'one-rule-fits-all', before proceeding to tell me about your family history and why you have a car. In fact, why have you become so angry about my post? I know I went off-topic but I said so. You're throwing your toys out of your pram based on an offhand comment that I said in jest. What's the problem? :lolwut:

    (Original post by tpxvs)
    Bottom line: do not make assumptions and do not judge, especially strangers on the internet you know nothing about. Have a nice day
    (Original post by tpxvs)
    i hate how people judge wealth by holidays and cars?!
    (Original post by tpxvs)
    So far, i bet youre thinking im a spoilt brat?
    Oh, the irony :rofl:

    Bottom line: do not be a hypocrite. I do not know anything about you and judging from the attitude you've shown, I don't really want to, either. Your attitude makes you sound like a twelve year old child. Don't tell me I'm making assumptions when you've done so continually.
  9. Miryo's Avatar
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by cambio wechsel)
    "lol" is right. China has a per capita GDP of $5000, as against $35000 in the UK.
    Don't use those moronic figures, we all know cost of living is way less in China.
  10. koolkelv's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Posts: 295
    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    I don't think it's any of those.

    If you ask someone what grades they got and they say that they got 5 As, getting jealous creates them to create a reaction which could continue on the conversation. Saying a simple "well done" ends the conversation there. I'm presuming that if someone asks them what grades they got, this scenario is for when you first met them.
  11. Sheep's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Location: Southport
    • Posts: 816
    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by cambio wechsel)
    "lol" is right. China has a per capita GDP of $5000, as against $35000 in the UK.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._external_debt

    also growth
  12. Octohedral's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by Aeschylus)
    No intelligence is rewarded in society. What you want though, is for people to defer to you on behalf of your A levels. If people are being nasty to you it's not because you are being 'intellectual' it's because you are being a dick!
    Just to clarify, nobody's being nasty to me, and I don't ever tell people my results, including, incidentally, in this thread.

    I do, however, think it's an important issue generally. Of course people shouldn't 'defer' to people with better grades - we all know intelligence and personality are about more than that - but there shouldn't be stigma associated with bringing it up in the correct place in a conversation. School has become all about making everyone equal by abolishing the idea that academic success is worth anything.
  13. Aeschylus's Avatar
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by Octohedral)
    Just to clarify, nobody's being nasty to me, and I don't ever tell people my results, including, incidentally, in this thread.

    I do, however, think it's an important issue generally. Of course people shouldn't 'defer' to people with better grades - we all know intelligence and personality are about more than that - but there shouldn't be stigma associated with bringing it up in the correct place in a conversation. School has become all about making everyone equal by abolishing the idea that academic success is worth anything.
    I'm very British and would never bring up my grades, even when asked. I feel that you wish to bring them up because you did well. This comes under a larger umbrella of people wanting to show off about what they have done well in, in that someone wants to boast about they time they've run, or the car they've bought. And I wouldn't say school has abolished that idea - unless you go to a remarkably 'avant-garde' school
  14. MrHappy_J's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by Brutal Chav)
    No. Intelligence is respected as long as it's mixed with a bit of modesty.

    Also, how you say people get bad press for getting high grades - that doesn't mean intelligence is frowned upon, it means grades are frowned upon.
    well done in getting to cambridge.
  15. robin22391's Avatar
    • Peer Of The TSR Realm
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by Octohedral)
    I don't get it. If you say you got 5As at A-level on this website you get negged, if you say it in real life people tell you to stop bragging, and instantly dislike you. If you say you got 3Cs, but are trying really hard everyone likes you.

    I'm willing to bet that in most cases the person who got 5As tried harder than the person who got 3Cs. Maybe that's not always true, but very few people get 5As by lazing around, so why is it a taboo topic? A couple of answers;

    1. Jealousy. A bit of jealousy is healthy, it makes us stronger people. What's the point in just pretending someone didn't do better than you rather than using it as motivation to improve yourself?

    2. 'Lad' culture. Work is uncool. This is just tragic, particularly coming from people writing on computers.

    I think society has become far too overindulgent - at school we literally weren't allowed to do well because it would 'upset the other children'. Gifted and talented courses were opened to everyone in the interest of 'fairness'. Well, how about helping the other children, and giving them something to aspire to?

    Thoughts?

    Edit: I'm talking about school here, as it's important in how people develop - I know nobody cares when you grow up

    Edit 2: Ok, lots of people are saying arrogance, or that A-levels don't mean you are intelligent (I disagree, particularly for humanities), so lets expand this. Why is it arrogant for someone to talk about what they've done well? What does that mean? Surely if they've tried hard it's not luck, they've earned it, so it's hardly the same as boasting about wealth?

    On the other hand, very good points with the fact that intelligence brings its own rewards in life


    Edit 3: I got 3 Cs at A-Level.
    there is the feeling that some people get 5 A's or similar good grades through trying very hard and constant revision using mechanical learning rather than by being naturally smart.
  16. desijut's Avatar
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    No one's really hated on me for having good grades???

    Everyone said to me well done/DON! or some other funny stuff. It must be the way you say it then. I think people say it with an arrogant tone which can easily piss people off. Unless you say it in that way or bring it up saying "i got this at A level", people are generally impressed with your achievements. It makes you look like an attention seeker if you bring it up yourself, as if to say "look at how clever I am"
    Last edited by desijut; 03-06-2012 at 01:46.
  17. Super Mario 64's Avatar
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by gemnomnom)
    Aha one of the best written posts on TSR.
    Hahaha thanks man
  18. Deep456's Avatar
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    It's the way you come across and how you tell people your grades. If you tell them your grades when they themselves ask you, obviously you aren't bragging. However, when you know you have done miles better than someone and ask them to rub it in their face, that's different.
  19. cambio wechsel's Avatar
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by Miryo)
    Don't use those moronic figures, we all know cost of living is way less in China.
    There's truth in this. Adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) per capita income in the PRC is slightly under a quarter, rather than only a seventh, of that in the UK.
  20. That Bearded Man's Avatar
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    Re: Why is intelligence punished???
    (Original post by tpxvs)
    Ahaha this was hilarious! I feel bad LOLing though as i have friends that have left school and work in mcdonalds (with no future prospects as yet) .. oops .

    Rant over
    Well I have two mates working in separate Mickey D's, one is on benefits after dropping out of tech and failing army training (feel bad for him)

    The other is currently studying Law at Queen's (Belfast)

    I try not to judge
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