That feeling when you are the smartest person in the room.

[trevo4311]

Only happens when you're in an empty room.

 

[Jackooboy]

Hahaha... If/when this happens I usually get cocky and then do something stupid that brings me down to reality... Pride comes before the fall...

 

[warryer]

Eventually you'll learn the workings of socializing. If you believe you are the smartest person in the room then you are. Your reality is what you make it. You will of course fail at first but, you will learn what it is to be smooth. I am on my way to that road- almost but no cigar. Put yourself out there no matter how painful it is because thats the only way you'll learn. It really helps to have a drinking buddy or something.

 

[zycia]

Feel it most of the time...but at the same time feel stupid for feeling that....then feel lonely in my mind.huh.

 

[Cogwulf]

For me, the feeling lasts until I open my mouth.

 

[snafupants]

For me, the feeling lasts until I open my mouth.

There's an easy solution to that problem...

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

There's an easy solution to that problem...

Liked^

 

[kantor1003]

For me, the feeling lasts until I open my mouth.

Hahaha!

I can relate to that sometimes as I often experience great difficulties explaining my thoughts. It can often result in, what must sound like, incoherent rambling for the people listening. In addition, verbalizing them often seems to have the unfortunate effect of making it sound more mundane than what I perceive the thoughts themselves to be and I'm often stuck thinking wether I'm actually as stupid as I sound and if not, how many people, that can be passed off as unoriginal, boring or unintelligent thinkers, are in the same unfortunate position as mine?

 

[Fallenman]

Do you guys often assume you're smarter than you are? I personally take to heart Socrates philosophy, the wise man knows that he knows nothing. But as I get older and set more in my ways, I've found that I'm less open to new information and then I begin to be under the delusion that I may actually know a little bit of something hahaha.

But ummmm ya, I don't often go around comparing but sometimes you just know you're the smartest person in the room.

 

[Deridaburi]

This is entirely relative to the kind of intelligence that you are thinking about. Which makes the statement more and less valid.

 

[Roni]

I'm a little dismayed by the self-deprecation in the comments so far.
I would think INTPs, being NT (rationals), would commonly score very highly on IQ tests (which mostly measure logic processing).
I know I do. My IQ is in the top percentile. That means it's statistically probable I really am the smartest person in a room (of <100 random people).

This has very real, often painful implications. Far more than being the richest or prettiest or best footballer in the room. It seems being a bit smart is valued but being a lot smart is despised.
Self-deprecation is a common and obvious defense, but surely that's not necessary on this forum?

Instead you could be discussing the social and academic damage done in your early education when your teachers effectively ostracised you by directing their efforts to the kids who needed assistance; or who scolded you for laziness or stubborness on those rare occasions you truly didn't grasp a concept first go.
You could be discussing the lifetime of self-consiousness inflicted on you by important people in your life who pounced on your slightest error when you were too inexperienced to understand that was their insecurity at work, not your own failing.
You could be discussing the spark of life you feel when you meet that other smart person in the room and sink into a fabulous, pointless analysis of some minute aspect of the universe; or the awful loneliness of having to walk away from that conversation because someone's friend or spouse is getting jealous.

Yeah yeah I know - I sound arrogant. I've given too much credence to IQ and disregarded other kinds of intelligence. I'm probably not as smart as I think I am. Blah blah blah.
I'm usually as self-deprecating as the rest of you.
I just thought perhaps there's no need for it here.

 

[digital angel]

LOL.

Perhaps we're humble. I also like Socrates.

 

[boondockbabe]

If somebody else brings it to my attention I'm always kinda suprized. I dont feel that smart.
If I feel I'm the smartest person-which happens pretty frequently when I leave the house and have to interact with "normal" people. I'm usually frustrated because I'm surrounded by Idiots.

 

[Roni]

If somebody else brings it to my attention I'm always kinda suprized. I dont feel that smart.
If I feel I'm the smartest person-which happens pretty frequently when I leave the house and have to interact with "normal" people. I'm usually frustrated because I'm surrounded by Idiots.

Agreed.
Perhaps a better title for this thread would be "when you are the most abnormal person in the room."

I have a good friend with an extremely low IQ. We're friends because we're both abnormal. The difference in IQ means only that I need to adjust how I communicate (short sentences etc) but not what I communicate.
Her observations on interacting with "normal" people frequently show far more wisdom than I have myself.
[This is not socratic humility. She rocks.]

 

[boondockbabe]

I am almost always the lamest person in the room when it comes to interaction. Sometimes I get lucky and say somthing cool. But its a rare occasoin.
I can look cool. But it goes away when they talk to me. I get so uncomfortable and nervous I usually make an ass out of myself.

 

[Roni]

.. I usually make an ass out of myself.

My friend would say "so what? They'll get over it. It's their problem if they don't."

I've found this to be very true. There is no fixed definition of 'normal' behaviour. If you're too lame or quirky or nerdy or whatever they'll generally adjust their concept of 'normal' to fit you in.
Some people will be mean and judgemental of course, but such people are barely worth worrying about and certainly not worth changing for.

 

[boondockbabe]

I like you Roni.

 

[Kurious Kat]

I remember feeling like I was smart when I was younger, but I find, the older I get the less often I feel that way. It's the paradox of the more you know, the more you realize you don't know.

 

[boondockbabe]

Hell Ya. I feel like an idiot at least half the time. I'm always suprized when someone comes to me for advice.

 

[BigApplePi]

I don't know what rooms you visit, but I always hope not to be the stupidest person in the room. Sometimes my hopes are not realized, lol.

 

[xbox]

Hell Ya. I feel like an idiot at least half the time. I'm always suprized when someone comes to me for advice.

me too..

 

[boondockbabe]

How do you know if you're the smartest person in the room?

 

[Roni]

I'm often (usually) the most ignorant person in the room. Everyone will be discussing some tv show or football game or office gossip that hasn't even registered on my personal planet.

If I'm in a grumpy mood sometimes I'll shout out 'hands up everyone who doesn't give a damn about this crap!'
It doesn't usually go well from there

 

[trevo4311]

Just in case nobody noticed, this thread was meant as a joke. I frequently walk into a room and I know i'm the smartest person, either because they're people I've talked to before, or because they are agreeing on something that is just completely unfounded. I also have a pretty high IQ (130-140) and I grasp most concepts much easier than my peers. I also have to put little effort into what I do to be good at it, but I notice most people struggling with the same concepts.

However the key is not letting it go to your head and not letting it manipulate your actions and interactions with others. If you know you're the smartest person great, but don't get arrogant or stuck up because of it. If someone is wrong you can correct them but if they frequently get angry because of you correcting them then just let them be wrong, it's their loss. Also just because you're smart about some things doesn't mean you know everything!

 

[boondockbabe]

I have and IQ of 135-140. Is that really a high score? btw I'm not joking. I knew it was kinda high but whats genius?

 

[digital angel]

My friend would say "so what? They'll get over it. It's their problem if they don't."

I've found this to be very true. There is no fixed definition of 'normal' behaviour. If you're too lame or quirky or nerdy or whatever they'll generally adjust their concept of 'normal' to fit you in.
Some people will be mean and judgemental of course, but such people are barely worth worrying about and certainly not worth changing for.

Right on.

I wear the term "geek" proudly. I know there are some that wouldn't; to each his or her own. Nothwithstanding that, I don't consider myself to be smart. I think there's so much out there to learn.

 

[boondockbabe]

you are a butiful person angel.

 

[Melllvar]

Only happens when you're in an empty room.

This is probably going to sound horribly arrogant, but the older I get the more I realize just how dumb-as-hell so many other people really are.

I used to think that most of the people I knew were about equal in intelligence (without getting into debates on the definitions of and types of intelligence), and we all just had different skill-sets and ways of thinking, but it seems now like I was greatly mistaken about that. Obviously it depends who else is around at the time, but overall I think you're giving the rest of the world too much credit.

 

[Gather_Wanderer]

I have and IQ of 135-140. Is that really a high score? btw I'm not joking. I knew it was kinda high but whats genius?

Nope, nope...nuh uh, nope. You used a conjunction when there was only need for an article. I call bollocks on that notion.

 

[warryer]

Why can't us smart people take the center stage? Maybe we aren't that smart after all.

 

[lucky12]

I have plans to take center stage, don't worry though cause ill be righteous

Smartest person in the room? Sometimes.. often I don't really care.
Stay thirsty my friends.

 

[Jesse]

I don't think I have ever thought I was not the smartest person in the room. I also know that Intelligence doesn't help much in most situations.

 

[BigApplePi]

If you look carefully you will see everyone is smarter than you are in SOME way. It might be of interest to seek that out.

 

[Gather_Wanderer]

I have plans to take center stage, don't worry though cause ill be righteous

Smartest person in the room? Sometimes.. often I don't really care.
Stay thirsty my friends.

"At his job, he once figured out a way to solve everyone's most urgent problem simultaneously...but didn't do it because it was too easy.


He has a computer with processing speeds 10x faster than the world's fastest computers......20 years from now.


A time machine was built for all the greatest intellectual minds in history..... just so they could make it to the present and attend one of his lectures.


He is......The smartest person in the room."

 

[BigApplePi]

Abject terror ... from an enemy kidnapping and that they will force you to reveal your secrets.

 

[boondockbabe]

Nope, nope...nuh uh, nope. You used a conjunction when there was only need for an article. I call bollocks on that notion.

Contrary to popular belief, A person's bad grammer is not always indicative of their IQ. I checked with my mother-in-law and she was able to locate my online mensa test from a few years ago. My score was 134. Just shy of the cutoff. They did invite me up to take the official test, But I did not go as I did not believe I could get better than a 134. I might consider the 4 hour drive if you guys are gonna keep giving me shit. Un-educated is not equal to stupid.
Bad grammer in my case is caused by laziness and the fact that I am a self-taught typer.

 

[Cogwulf]

Contrary to popular belief, A person's bad grammer is not always indicative of their IQ. I checked with my mother-in-law and she was able to locate my online mensa test from a few years ago. My score was 134. Just shy of the cutoff. They did invite me up to take the official test, But I did not go as I did not believe I could get better than a 134. I might consider the 4 hour drive if you guys are gonna keep giving me shit. Un-educated is not equal to stupid.
Bad grammer in my case is caused by laziness and the fact that I am a self-taught typer.

My grammar is poor sometimes, but there's a difference between bad grammar and ungood grammar.
My problems with grammar arise from problems aligning my internal syntax to rules.

 

[boondockbabe]

So which do you have? And what is the difference between Bad Grammer and Ungood Grammer ?

 

[Gather_Wanderer]

there's a difference between bad grammar and ungood grammar.

This is a good line, somehow. I ask for your permission to use this in general conversation from now on.

 

[cheese]

I'm a little dismayed by the self-deprecation in the comments so far.
I would think INTPs, being NT (rationals), would commonly score very highly on IQ tests (which mostly measure logic processing).
I know I do. My IQ is in the top percentile. That means it's statistically probable I really am the smartest person in a room (of <100 random people).

This has very real, often painful implications. Far more than being the richest or prettiest or best footballer in the room. It seems being a bit smart is valued but being a lot smart is despised.
Self-deprecation is a common and obvious defense, but surely that's not necessary on this forum?

Instead you could be discussing the social and academic damage done in your early education when your teachers effectively ostracised you by directing their efforts to the kids who needed assistance; or who scolded you for laziness or stubborness on those rare occasions you truly didn't grasp a concept first go.
You could be discussing the lifetime of self-consiousness inflicted on you by important people in your life who pounced on your slightest error when you were too inexperienced to understand that was their insecurity at work, not your own failing.
You could be discussing the spark of life you feel when you meet that other smart person in the room and sink into a fabulous, pointless analysis of some minute aspect of the universe; or the awful loneliness of having to walk away from that conversation because someone's friend or spouse is getting jealous.

Yeah yeah I know - I sound arrogant. I've given too much credence to IQ and disregarded other kinds of intelligence. I'm probably not as smart as I think I am. Blah blah blah.
I'm usually as self-deprecating as the rest of you.
I just thought perhaps there's no need for it here.

Aww, this is such a pretty post! *nudges GW*

Also, it really IS a pretty post. And the sentiments expressed, yum.

On topic:
I seem to be surrounded by people as smart as or smarter than I am. I don't know why. I don't have much esteem in the superiority of my intelligence. I just know it's there, and it's enough to get by with, and sometimes I'll be impressive because I have a few cognitive tricks up my sleeve developed while everyone else was playing footy. But other than that - I feel on equal footing with most people I can think of. (But maybe I forget the dumb ones?)

And I've found it to be very true that people with 'low intelligence' can be remarkably sharp and wise, about *people*.

*edit
Er - yes, I have considered the possibility I'm simply very average, many times, and I've decided I am, but not in terms of IQ. (I've had enough experiences with academic ease, especially relative to peers - though not to the level of a lot of the forumites - to know that, plus tests and stuff.) I've written about this elsewhere, but I think a lot of people conflate 'average intelligence' with 'average IQ', where the latter is talking about an IQ of 100 (that being the statistical average). Whereas when someone says 'intelligent', generally they don't mean a person who's 101, perhaps, even though that's 'above average'. They're probably talking more about someone in the ranges of at least 140 and above. An averagely intelligent person - an average person, in normal parlance - will be between 120 to 135, I'd guess. That's 'average intelligence'. They're intelligent, but not astoundingly so, and they're not significantly rare enough in daily experience - especially when your social set consists mostly of college grads - that they are considered 'above average'. I don't think we'd class 105 as 'smart', generally. And 135 may be approaching....something, I dunno what, but it's not amazing. It's pretty common. You don't hang out with a representative cross-section of the population every day. (I think.) But you'd have to for 1 out of 50, or 1 out of 100 or whatever to be accurate. (I think. Unless you're truly talking about random people, and not your friends/acquaintances.)

*editedit
Also, I'm very bad with math and stats especially so I may have done a doo-doo here.

 

[Cavallier]

"At his job, he once figured out a way to solve everyone's most urgent problem simultaneously...but didn't do it because it was too easy.


He has a computer with processing speeds 10x faster than the world's fastest computers......20 years from now.


A time machine was built for all the greatest intellectual minds in history..... just so they could make it to the present and attend one of his lectures.


He is......The smartest person in the room."

GW is now my hero for the day.

I get really frustrated when I've been thinking over a problem for a while and then try to bring somebody in on what I'm thinking. Here I am all prepared to wow people with my intelligence and I have to bring them up to speed? WTH? It's as if they've been thinking about something completely different from what I've been thinking. Don't they know better?

This has very real, often painful implications. Far more than being the richest or prettiest or best footballer in the room. It seems being a bit smart is valued but being a lot smart is despised. Self-deprecation is a common and obvious defense, but surely that's not necessary on this forum?

Being in any way outside the norm causes problems. If you are too ugly people disregard you. If you are too pretty people treat you like a bimbo. If you are too dumb people treat you like an idiot. If you are too smart people treat you like you're arrogant. I think many use self-deprecation to make themselves more acceptable to the group. This maneuver makes them more likable since self-deprecation is so much more attractive than perceived arrogance.

I'm assuming a person is still smart no matter how much that person might downplay their intelligence. Thus, knowing you are smart but downplaying it is actually a smart move because it encourages the group to accept you (making life easier) while not actually doing yourself any harm to your intelligence level.

I think it's ridiculous that we can't just let our intelligence shine through without having to play games but I also don't know what to do to break that societal problem. People are so often jealous and easily bruised creatures.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

For me, it's weird when I am not the smartest in the room. (although others may not have realized this yet.)

 

[Yet]

bored and frustrated to a near suicidal level

so I retreat in my own happy little place in my head ... which fortunatly has 'tardis' qualities.

I luv to wake up now and again meeting interesting people who actually have interests and something to talk about, who have a normal sense of humor, normal cognitive abilities etc.

someone thinks that's big headed? --> shoot me, I do not care

 

[trevo4311]

I think it's ridiculous that we can't just let our intelligence shine through without having to play games but I also don't know what to do to break that societal problem. People are so often jealous and easily bruised creatures.

Solution: All the NTs get Australia and North/South America, all SFs get Europe and Asia and Africa. The penguins get Antarctica.

 

[trevo4311]

Why can't us smart people take the center stage? Maybe we aren't that smart after all.

I think we can't take center stage because dumb people relate to dumb people. And the average person isn't that smart. So for smart people to take center stage they either have to be really good working with dumb people, or get rid of all the dumb people.

 

[Cavallier]

Solution: All the NTs get Australia and North/South America, all SFs get Europe and Asia and Africa. The penguins get Antarctica.

Ah, well then I think it's clear where I'll be going.

Now where did I put my parka that's good to -50 F?

 

[Deleted member 1424]

If you are the smartest person in the room, then go find smarter people. If you can't find the smarter people, then you are not the smartest person in the room.

Recognize that intelligence is not measured by a single flat dichotomy. Nor is it always immediately apparent, as it most often needs encouragement to manifest properly. There is also much to lean from fools, though it is unwise to let them influence you without your complete cognizance.

 

[Meer]

I said something really stupid yesterday, while half asleep in a lecture, in front of a ton of people.

Apparently, not everyone knows about the Fibonacci sequence and the spiral thing and the golden ratio, so I didn't beat myself up over it. A huge victory against crippling social anxiety.

Being the smartest (or whatver) person in a room can be a good thing, since people will assume that what you say isn't stupid.