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My views on being intelligent

168 Views 14 Votes 24 Comments

Such a self-centered title. MY VIEWS.

I don’t want to sound like what I am truly, the possessive adjective is there to warn you that, what I’m going to share, is of very little value.

I went for a Q&A format to make reading more enjoyable, and turn this post into a poll.

What does it mean to be intelligent?

Intelligence is the ability to understand. Really, that’s it.

Sympathy, insight and awareness are the qualities of an intelligent person.

When you understand something, you’re aware of how it works, and that gives you power.

And knowledge, but knowledge is power, therefore I say power.

Is intelligence a talent you are born with?

Well, I didn’t mention “talent” but “ability”. It’s a skill, something you can develop.

I think reasoning is about questioning: you are intelligent when you ask yourself the right questions. Some people might be at an advantage, but there is hope for everyone.

I would say children are the most intelligent creatures. They are curious!

They ask so many questions. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

Intelligence has a keyword, and I’ve just said it five times.

Do you think IQ and race are related? You know, that theory that makes Asians the smartest and Africans the dumbest.

No.

First of all, I don’t consider IQ tests to be that accurate.

Second, the environment looks like the most logical cause that explains the gap.

The brain needs proper food and stimulation, and it’s quite obvious these two factors aren’t spread evenly among people, on the globe.

From what I’ve experienced, I doubt intelligence is strongly affected by genetics.

Is there more than one type of intelligence?

The theory of multiple intelligence lists 9 of them:

intrapersonal, understanding yourself;

interpersonal, understanding other people;

naturalist, understanding nature and her creatures;

existential, understanding what life is about;

spatial, understanding where objects are located in space, sense of direction, visual arts;

linguistic, knowing how to use the right words to express yourself;

logical-mathematical, quantifying things, making and proving hypothesis;

musical, discerning sounds and their pitch, tone, rhythm and timbre;

bodily-kinesthetic, coordinating your mind with your body.

Do you think you’re intelligent?

Honestly, I often think I am.

I have so many flaws I need something positive to rely on.

Have you ever been told you’re intelligent?

Countless of times: thankfully more compared to how many times I was told to be stupid, but more compared to how many times I was told to be pretty.

And this makes me ask: which do you value the most? Beauty or intelligence?

It’s a tricky question. If it’s about attraction, both qualities can make a person attractive. If it’s about admiration, intelligence is likely to be the winner.

  • Question of

    Do you think intelligence is a gift, a talent you are born with?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Do you think IQ and race are related?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Do you think you are intelligent?

    • Always
    • Most of the time
    • Sometimes
    • I’m not entitled to judge (you might be intelligent, but you’re surely boring)
  • Question of

    Do you think?

    • What?
    • Therefore I am
    • LOL
  • Question of

    Have you ever been told you are intelligent?

    • Yes
    • Of course
    • Obviously
  • Question of

    Which do you value the most? Beauty or intelligence?

    • Looks
    • Brains
    • Difficult to answer (come on, try harder)

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Written by sabtraversa

24 Comments

  3. Why should we choose either intelligence or beauty? Every human being contains both in various proportions and this mix gives each personality a special vibe, sometimes attractive sometimes not… I read your article with great interest, there’s so much to reflect on…

    Intelligence is beauty of brain… maybe 😉

    1

    • Yes, beauty has a very wide meaning, mostly about what is pleasant and enjoyable. That’s why I ended up putting “looks” and “brains” instead of “beauty” and “intelligence” in the last poll choices, as the term was closer than “physical appearance” than beauty itself was. We are not robots, we definitely need both, however, it wasn’t really about choosing one or the other, but more like what the priority was. ?

  4. It’s a good presentation of what you believe in. I can say I am only an average but different. I think differently. One proof is my being an active blogger and working on different areas online while having my day job. Most of my offline friends cannot absorb this because they are also trying but to no avail.

    1

    • That’s a great point! It sounds like you mean the attitude (or mindset) is what eventually shows how talented and resourceful you are, while intelligence might never be enough if you don’t take action or do something about it. And I would totally agree with that. However, I think that having the right attitude (or way of thinking) is actually a sign of intelligence by itself, and that makes you smarter than your friends, at least in this specific field. ?

      1

  6. Hmmm… This is one of the most fun themes for me, especially those related to insight and awareness. As far as my personal experience, meeting beautiful people is not as difficult as to meet intelligent people I can talk to.

    1

    • So do I, though I value the right to privacy. I’m optimistic enough to believe it was clicked by mistake. I would have expected a comment by them either way.

  11. I have never had a good, not intelligent … I am a simple, normal person … For me, this is already an intelligence that the person is at least normal

    2