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Why am I so intelligent?
No, seriously! It's a heavy burden I must bear.
Not the fact that I am "intelligent" and able to be myself...
But the fact that I can't explain it to myself.
Maybe that's what - afterall - makes me at least a little stupid. You judge...
Look ---> I lived a calm and tranquil life quite aware that I'm "beyond everyone else" in my class and in my school, but I never made a point of it; I was neither proud nor did I feel discriminated about it. Or different from others, for that matter.
I was a happy, simple, modest person exploring the curiosities of the world in the most natural and spontaneous way I could do, and according to others I'm simply a genius and overintelligent and whatever.
This didn't last, however.
Unfortunately even the most modest intelligent people can't escape popular-science debates, and not very long time ago I encountered my greatest existential problem: nature-nurture debates about what causes intelligence.
Unfortunately I'm not joking, since I truly suffered depression, identity crisis and other uncomfortable thigs after I read that stuff.
I know that most of it is based on statistics, and sometimes statistics don't apply to everyone... but still.
Okay, this is what I don't understand about myself
(which totally contraddicts all explanations about intelligence I have read so far, nurture, nature, genetics, whatever)
1. My parents are the opposite of me.
1.1. Both my parents are from very poor backgrounds.
1.2. My mother dropped out from school quite early. She can't read properly.
1.3. My father finished A-Levels below average and remains in working class.
1.4. The most "intelligent/intellectual" person in my family is a priest.
2. My parents never encouraged me to be "intelligent", to do well at school, to read books and such things.
2.1. They actually try to discourage me from engaging in intellectual stuff.
3. I lived in the same environment of other working class kids.
4. I'm dark-skinned. According to certain nurture theories, dark-skinned people should have lower IQs etc.
In behaviour, attitude, beliefs, everything... I reflect neither my family nor my social environment. And I'm quite sure I'm their child, or maybe an alien with the same DNA. Physically, I and my parents are quite identical.
I was "discovered" in preschool and sent to a private school with full scholarship, and I was the most "brilliant", "outstanding" with prizes etc.
until I read that stuff.
There are two possibilities:
a) I'm abnormal, an alien or something like that.
b) That stuff is totally wrong about intelligence being inherited or influenced.
What I'm quite sure about is that ever since I read that stuff I can't be in harmony with myself.
I even wonder whether I should stop "being intelligent" and become like my parents and my socioeconomic environment, as nature and nurture both would want me to be (and also many of my rich classmates).
Maybe I'm "out of place" and should return to where I belong?
As silly as this might sound... maybe these are the drawbacks of being "intelligent" but not being able to explain it to oneself...
I'm so depressed.
Not the fact that I am "intelligent" and able to be myself...
But the fact that I can't explain it to myself.
Maybe that's what - afterall - makes me at least a little stupid. You judge...
Look ---> I lived a calm and tranquil life quite aware that I'm "beyond everyone else" in my class and in my school, but I never made a point of it; I was neither proud nor did I feel discriminated about it. Or different from others, for that matter.
I was a happy, simple, modest person exploring the curiosities of the world in the most natural and spontaneous way I could do, and according to others I'm simply a genius and overintelligent and whatever.
This didn't last, however.
Unfortunately even the most modest intelligent people can't escape popular-science debates, and not very long time ago I encountered my greatest existential problem: nature-nurture debates about what causes intelligence.
Unfortunately I'm not joking, since I truly suffered depression, identity crisis and other uncomfortable thigs after I read that stuff.
I know that most of it is based on statistics, and sometimes statistics don't apply to everyone... but still.
Okay, this is what I don't understand about myself
(which totally contraddicts all explanations about intelligence I have read so far, nurture, nature, genetics, whatever)
1. My parents are the opposite of me.
1.1. Both my parents are from very poor backgrounds.
1.2. My mother dropped out from school quite early. She can't read properly.
1.3. My father finished A-Levels below average and remains in working class.
1.4. The most "intelligent/intellectual" person in my family is a priest.
2. My parents never encouraged me to be "intelligent", to do well at school, to read books and such things.
2.1. They actually try to discourage me from engaging in intellectual stuff.
3. I lived in the same environment of other working class kids.
4. I'm dark-skinned. According to certain nurture theories, dark-skinned people should have lower IQs etc.
In behaviour, attitude, beliefs, everything... I reflect neither my family nor my social environment. And I'm quite sure I'm their child, or maybe an alien with the same DNA. Physically, I and my parents are quite identical.
I was "discovered" in preschool and sent to a private school with full scholarship, and I was the most "brilliant", "outstanding" with prizes etc.
until I read that stuff.
There are two possibilities:
a) I'm abnormal, an alien or something like that.
b) That stuff is totally wrong about intelligence being inherited or influenced.
What I'm quite sure about is that ever since I read that stuff I can't be in harmony with myself.
I even wonder whether I should stop "being intelligent" and become like my parents and my socioeconomic environment, as nature and nurture both would want me to be (and also many of my rich classmates).
Maybe I'm "out of place" and should return to where I belong?
As silly as this might sound... maybe these are the drawbacks of being "intelligent" but not being able to explain it to oneself...
I'm so depressed.
Scroll to see replies
Are you drunk?
Yeah being intelligent is a burden, but so are things such as being musically gifted, being an amazing footballer, etc etc.
Deal with it and make the best you can with yourself.
Being intelligent is not a bad thing, at least you can go down to someone's level instead of attempting to jump up...
Yeah being intelligent is a burden, but so are things such as being musically gifted, being an amazing footballer, etc etc.
Deal with it and make the best you can with yourself.
Being intelligent is not a bad thing, at least you can go down to someone's level instead of attempting to jump up...
Reply 3
"remains in working class"?
You're either a very clever tory or a very ignorant liberal.
EDIT: Didn't read the entire post as I'm one of those intelligent guys who gets the gist of things from the first word. Mate, slap yourself in the face, do what the hell you want to do. You are superior.
You're either a very clever tory or a very ignorant liberal.
EDIT: Didn't read the entire post as I'm one of those intelligent guys who gets the gist of things from the first word. Mate, slap yourself in the face, do what the hell you want to do. You are superior.
Reply 5
''They **** you up, your mum and dad...''
Reply 7
why you become so depressed on such a matter puzzles me. why does the lack of knowledge of the origins of your intelligence upset you? i'm sure it's very interesting to know considering your family background and environment as well as something to be looked further into, but it's hardly traumatic!!!!
just stop whining and play in the sunshine if this makes you so sad.
just stop whining and play in the sunshine if this makes you so sad.
Reply 8
Anonymous
4. I'm dark-skinned. According to certain nurture theories, dark-skinned people should have lower IQs etc.
4. I'm dark-skinned. According to certain nurture theories, dark-skinned people should have lower IQs etc.
First of all, those "theories" are crap.
Secondly, I'm dark skinned and intelligent, but I don't feel depressed about it. Who cares, be happy, do well with your life and you'll be fine.
Reply 9
LOL I cracked up when I saw the thread subject! Dude you can't be "modest" and then post a thread like that. I have no idea why you are smarter than your background would imply, maybe you are adopted I don't know. But I wouldn't dwell on it. If you are actually intelligent (and there are alot of people in the world who are as intelligent and more intelligent than you are), then you will join the rest of us making use of our heads instead of mulling over how we got here.
Reply 11
Appanouki
Join the rest of us making use of our heads instead of mulling over how we got here.
True, use witty chat to sleep with stupid girls.
Reply 12
Actually I kinda like being smart. 147 IQ smart. Yeah, I just boasted - blow me.
Reply 15
Ghost
Wait til you finish school and get to the real world. You'll realise you arent half as smart as you think you are.
Absolutely! Getting loads of As and A* is often and erronously mistaken for intelligence. And, no offence meant, OP, but you can't be that intelligent to write such a post - you may be clever at schooly stuff but any one with real superior intelligence should be able to debunk most the above theories you listed with a wave of their hand.
Firstly cool down, Theres nothing wrong in being intelligent. Its normal for a student to think bout things they shouldnt be bothered about. Even if u get the explanation what difference is it going to make?
All u can do is to accept urself the way u r and be thankful for what u have and the others dont. Life is really short, so always take it positive and dont waste ur time thinking about silly things.
All u can do is to accept urself the way u r and be thankful for what u have and the others dont. Life is really short, so always take it positive and dont waste ur time thinking about silly things.
Reply 17
Firstly: I'm not whining; I'm [desperately] looking for an answer. The "Why I'm intelligent" is more a question than a lament...
As I said, I'm puzzled about my true "identity".
Take this last post for example... All u can do is to accept urself the way u r Problem is ever since I started being worried about my being different, I'm not sure about "who I am".
Darwin may say one thing, Jesus says another - you follow?
I can follow my own voice... but would that be productive and beneficial?
Or yes, the only alternative is that all those theories are just a bunch of theories... and I'm the living proof of it.
As a responsible citizen, should I go and make scientists/debators aware of this difference? Or should I simply retreat since most of the reactions will be like "Don't boast, stop whining and have a life"?
Think about it: What if I am really different?
None of you knows me in real life; you make assumptions - it's natural and I understand it. But what if I am something or someone abnormal?
Should I just act normal?
To those who read a bit of boasting between my lines...
If I needed to "boast", I wouldn't be posting anonymous...
Ok, let's cool down and let me ask you again the question: why am I different? Is there a scientific or cultural explanation to it?
As I said, I'm puzzled about my true "identity".
Take this last post for example... All u can do is to accept urself the way u r Problem is ever since I started being worried about my being different, I'm not sure about "who I am".
Darwin may say one thing, Jesus says another - you follow?
I can follow my own voice... but would that be productive and beneficial?
Or yes, the only alternative is that all those theories are just a bunch of theories... and I'm the living proof of it.
As a responsible citizen, should I go and make scientists/debators aware of this difference? Or should I simply retreat since most of the reactions will be like "Don't boast, stop whining and have a life"?
Think about it: What if I am really different?
None of you knows me in real life; you make assumptions - it's natural and I understand it. But what if I am something or someone abnormal?
Should I just act normal?
To those who read a bit of boasting between my lines...
If I needed to "boast", I wouldn't be posting anonymous...
Ok, let's cool down and let me ask you again the question: why am I different? Is there a scientific or cultural explanation to it?
Reply 18
usman_s
Firstly cool down, Theres nothing wrong in being intelligent. Its normal for a student to think bout things they shouldnt be bothered about. Even if u get the explanation what difference is it going to make?
All u can do is to accept urself the way u r and be thankful for what u have and the others dont. Life is really short, so always take it positive and dont waste ur time thinking about silly things.
All u can do is to accept urself the way u r and be thankful for what u have and the others dont. Life is really short, so always take it positive and dont waste ur time thinking about silly things.
I agree so true.
Reply 19
But what if I am something or someone abnormal?
Should I just act normal?
Should I just act normal?
Do whatever you like.
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