Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

In ternms of intelligence I am way above average. I do not think I am a genius or anything even remotley special, but just your average (if this even makes sense) guy who is alot smarter than most people. I am not saying this to brag as I am sure that many many posters on this forum are much more intelligent than I am, but its just the way I am. The problem I have is that I while I'm certaintly intelligent in my own right I just pale in comparison to some of the peopel around. This bothers me alot.

I realize that I should be thankful to be born with above average intelligence, but its just so frustating to see people automatically understand concept I struggle immensely with and can only understand after a great deal of effort is devoted to the subject. Sometimes I wonder if it would almost be better just an average person who wouldn't be bothered by this kind of stuff at all. Mainly this is just a rant, but I would be curious to see if any one else gets irrated by this.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

Yes and people with better memories and those better than me at tennis and especially those so much younger.

but at least I'm not australian this week

edit: or Welsh

chez

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

Not really, mostly I get bothered when the dumber people have better results/ are more succesful than I.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

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In ternms of intelligence I am way above average. I do not think I am a genius or anything even remotley special, but just your average (if this even makes sense) guy who is alot smarter than most people.

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This sounds a lot like something Sklansky would say except for the part about not being a genius and the other self deprecating stuff.

pokervintage

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

I fit into the same category, and no it doesn't bother me at all.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

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but at least I'm not australian this week


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If I had a DS-type list you'd have dropped a whole bunch of places just then... [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

Yeah, this bothers me. I'm probably the smartest of all my friends and usually the most intelligent in my college math classes. But, yeah... there are many groups in which I'd be the idiot in the room. It shouldn't be a big deal, but it still inspires some level of annoyance/jealousy in me.

Same thing goes for creative talent- I write songs on occasion, but the vast majority of them are terrible. Listening to my favorite bands leaves me dumbfounded at how they manage to create what they do. Oh, well. It's really no big deal, but it's still a bit of a bother.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

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In ternms of intelligence I am way above average. I do not think I am a genius or anything even remotley special, but just your average (if this even makes sense) guy who is alot smarter than most people. I am not saying this to brag as I am sure that many many posters on this forum are much more intelligent than I am, but its just the way I am. The problem I have is that I while I'm certaintly intelligent in my own right I just pale in comparison to some of the peopel around. This bothers me alot.

I realize that I should be thankful to be born with above average intelligence, but its just so frustating to see people automatically understand concept I struggle immensely with and can only understand after a great deal of effort is devoted to the subject. Sometimes I wonder if it would almost be better just an average person who wouldn't be bothered by this kind of stuff at all. Mainly this is just a rant, but I would be curious to see if any one else gets irrated by this.

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I think people with less mental capacities are also less capable of enjoying the aesthetics; seeing beauty, colors and patterns in works of art and structures around us.

So they may be less 'bothered' by it all, but it works two ways.

i.e. I'm not jealous of a worker ant who is clueless of what his life is, and rushes to his death.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

I am very thankful to be as smart as I am. However, that's smart enough to realize my own limitations. I know my intelligence is several levels below anything profound, yet, occasionally, I catch a glimpse of what it must be like. It's a tease, and it definitely piques my intellectual ego. But, as I said, I'm just happy I'm not any more stupid.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

You can turn your distress into a positive. Most of the supersmart are specialists. Many highly successful people are generalists who, while reasonably intelligent, fully realize that they can't compete with the geniuses. But they can utilize them to further their overall goals. Either through studying their work or perhaps employing them. Eg Jeff Yass or Mason Malmuth.

Ironically though the people who are a notch above these pragmatic types often waste a lot of time arguing with, or getting irritated with those few whose brains are yet one notch above them. I say waste time because if they let that stuff go and instead just used the genuises in the same way that those not as gifted as them did they would obviously succeed to an even greater degree. Eg Bill Gates.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

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But, as I said, I'm just happy I'm not any more stupid.

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I'm grateful the bulk of 20 million or so born smarter than me were born in 3rd world countries, or snorted their way to a similar level.
I personally know somebody who is better at everything I do except one thing ... I'm 2nd best ( 2nd tier) at a wide variety of endeavors.
There is some consolation in the fact that there are a lot of people who think they are in the 20M AND play poker.

luckyme

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

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Eg Jeff Yass or Mason Malmuth.

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This is why we love you.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

No, I get very fascinated by people who seem very intelligent and knowledgable, I very rarely reflect on if people are more or less intelligent than myself. Skilled people can teach you alot if you ask them, and I don't really care if its a mechanic or an astrophysicist (I swear skilled car mechanics are amongst the coolest people to talk to in the world).

Then again, with the danger of sounding very arrogant, one of my talents is understanding base systems so if someone knows something new to me, I very easily 'fit it'.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

I'm at the lower end of the intelligence spectrum. It doesn't bother me at all that most people are smarter than me, since I think I've made the most of what I have in that regard.

However, I'm a moderately talented musician, and it used to bother me when, during a gig set break, I'd walk down the street to go see other bands who had a bass player that I perceived to be much more accomplished than I (which isn't difficult to find) . On numerous occasions I had vowed to quit playing altogether.

For some reason I got over that, and now I'm just happy that I can play well enough at all to be in band which plays in public.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

I personally believe that measures of intelligence are, by their very nature, relative.

In my experience, the truth is, you can learn something from everyone, if you'll only pay close enough attention. I used to feel that I was more intelligent than some, while others were more intelligent than I. Now I've realized that no matter who I meet, I am more knowledgeable about something than they are, and they are more knowledgeable than I about something as well.

Take, for example, auto repair. Generally, auto mechanics are not thought of in the same vein of intelligence as biologists. However, wouldn't it be a fair assumption to assume that the average auto mechanic is more intelligent in some areas than the biologist?

Judging intelligence by IQ or another standardized measure is a rather shallow practice, in my opinion.

I once read an article in which Howard Lederer stated:

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assume, hypothetically, that there are 1000 skills that make the perfect poker player. Now, assume you've mastered 800 of those skills. Also, assume that you have an opponent whom you beat consistently, who, lets assume, has mastered only 700 of the 1000 skills that are in the make-up of a perfect poker player. Can you learn anything from this player? Of course you can. It would be folly to assume that the 700 skills he's mastered match perfectly with the 800 you've mastered. I would estimate he probably does at least 50 things better than you.

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When you begin looking at intelligence from this measure, you stop thinking of people in terms of being "smarter" or "dumber" than you.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

No. Many of the greatest geniuses had unique ideas and we
are fortunate to still have some of their written works.
Anyone already smart enough can do himself/herself a favor
by reading works by (or about) any of them, especially:

Wittgenstein
Leibniz
Goethe
Pascal

(Many works are translated into English, so you don't have
to know German, French or Latin.)

BTW, you'll run into some very smart people on SMP because
many geniuses can't help but have strong interest in at
least one of (if not all of) mathematics, philosophy or
physics.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

It doesn't bother me that other people are smarter than I am. Actually, I think I actually like this fact. It feels cool knowing that there are guys out there searching for a cure to AIDS and alternative fuel sources.

What bothers me more is that so many people are less intelligent than I am.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

It only bothers me when I see them doing evil things. Otherwise I just try to freeride as much as possible off of their intelligence.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

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Take, for example, auto repair. Generally, auto mechanics are not thought of in the same vein of intelligence as biologists. However, wouldn't it be a fair assumption to assume that the average auto mechanic is more intelligent in some areas than the biologist?

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This is not a fair assumption using any standard language definition of "intelligence".

The difference is that given a few months the biologist could easily learn auto-repair, whereas the same cannot be said in reverse.

You are describing some sort of measure of snap-shot usefulness, but not intelligence.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

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Take, for example, auto repair. Generally, auto mechanics are not thought of in the same vein of intelligence as biologists. However, wouldn't it be a fair assumption to assume that the average auto mechanic is more intelligent in some areas than the biologist?

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This is not a fair assumption using any standard language definition of "intelligence".

The difference is that given a few months the biologist could easily learn auto-repair, whereas the same cannot be said in reverse.

You are describing some sort of measure of snap-shot usefulness, but not intelligence.

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In a few months? I think I'd need some clarification as to what level of mastery we're discussing here?

If you're saying that in a few months, the biologist could have the same level of mastery as a seasoned auto mechanic, I believe you're wrong.

True intelligence, in my opinion, if it can be measured uniformly at all, must be measured in the ability one has to master a new skill they have zero knowledge of.

I'm not so sure that an auto mechanic, given the same time frame and education as the biologist, could not learn biology, anymore than I am convinced that the biologist, given the same time frame and educational opportunities as the mechanic, could not master auto-repair.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

I guess I could be bothered if I ever met someone way smarter than me - I haven't.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

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but at least I'm not australian this week


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If I had a DS-type list you'd have dropped a whole bunch of places just then... [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

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sorry mate. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Have you noticed Snowballs avatar grinning at you?

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

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What bothers me more is that so many people are less intelligent than I am.

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Same here

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

I'm was and am into cars, it is a passion of mine and I've met a few frightfully intelligent auto mechanics with extreme ability to think and problemsolve in 3d space, invent new solutions and great intuitive understanding of forces/physics. To make some claim that someone can learn their skillset in a few months simply on the basis of previously having mastered some theoretic field strikes me as simply untrue.

I've met fine scientific minds almost uncapable of boiling an egg.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

I think a lot of the time people tend to look a lot smarter then they really are. A few of my friends consider me to be a genious because I'm a mathematics student and can always help them with their homework, but I cringe at being called that because I know its not true. Same thing with the guy in your classes that always answears the professor and points out mistakes. If you start talking to them outside of class you usually realize that they were exposed to the subject before and they're really not much smarter then you. I think people tend to try to look as intelligent as possible to the outside perceivers, and a lot of the time they do that well. Certainly there are people smarter then me, but I think some of them may consider me to be one of the people smarter then them. So all in all it doesn't bother me too much. I am much more proud of the talents I have acquired through hard work then through genetics; and the further I go in mathematics for example the more I realize that the really talented people are the really hard workers.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

Dbblbrrlj made some nice points...I used to think intelligence was something to be admired but the older I get the more I appreciate nice...what DS said about utilizing others gifts is true, but there are certainly almost as many misuses of gifts as their are reasonable uses of them in this world...we unfortunately have both our Bill Gateses and our Hitlers...

There is just so much intelligence that is not measurable in this world...The ancient Indian intellectuals and founders of Yoga said that intuition is the highest form of intelligence:Just knowing something is smarter than striving to know things...Besides so many of the true discoveries in this world are made by accident...it was only intelligent observation that was able to identify the implications of the "accident" as in the recent discovery by Kanzius that saltwater could be an alternate energy source...

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

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Dbblbrrlj made some nice points...I used to think intelligence was something to be admired but the older I get the more I appreciate nice...what DS said about utilizing others gifts is true, but there are certainly almost as many misuses of gifts as their are reasonable uses of them in this world...we unfortunately have both our Bill Gateses and our Hitlers...

There is just so much intelligence that is not measurable in this world...The ancient Indian intellectuals and founders of Yoga said that intuition is the highest form of intelligence:Just knowing something is smarter than striving to know things...Besides so many of the true discoveries in this world are made by accident...it was only intelligent observation that was able to identify the implications of the "accident" as in the recent discovery by Kanzius that saltwater could be an alternate energy source...

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[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

No. I envy greatly people with endless motivation and strong discipline. An average person with those qualities can travel very far.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

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What bothers me more is that 95% of people are less intelligent than George W. Bush.

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Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

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Not really, mostly I get bothered when the dumber people have better results/ are more succesful than I.

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Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

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It doesn't bother me that other people are smarter than I am. Actually, I think I actually like this fact. It feels cool knowing that there are guys out there searching for a cure to AIDS and alternative fuel sources.

What bothers me more is that so many people are less intelligent than I am.

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Exactly what I was going to post. Also I think intelligence is pretty useless on its own---you have to also be able to marshal a certain level of satisfaction with life and creative passion as well.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

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The ancient Indian intellectuals and founders of Yoga said that intuition is the highest form of intelligence:Just knowing something is smarter than striving to know things

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Intuition is either the sub-concious level of intelligence, or a mental defect by which people believe they know something they do not.

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...Besides so many of the true discoveries in this world are made by accident...

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So what? Accidents happen, that doesn't mean it's best to leave all to luck instead of making scientifical analysis and deriving rational conclusions.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

david,

i agree.

what type of person, in general, would you say is the most successful type to succeed at no-limit holdem cash games?

i would think it's the generalist/pragmatic types you mention...or is this to broad to say?

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

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What bothers me more is that 95% of people are less intelligent than George W. Bush.

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Where is your source for this? Unless you're thinking conspiracy here, I think it's clear that most people, even those way below average IQ, are smarter that what Bush appears to be.

I don't know if you were being sarcastic here or what. I mean yeah, Bush is really stupid, but I wouldn't go as far as to say he's say in the bottom 10%. Perhaps bottom 30 or 35% would be right.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yourself?
 

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what type of person, in general, would you say is the most successful type to succeed at no-limit holdem cash games?

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Whoever resembles him the most, obviously!

LOL...

I'm sorry but I just had to make a crack about his cockiness. I actually don't think he's an arrogant person, but it's really funny how he manages to look like one of the most arrogant guys you've ever seen. My friends and I always laugh about most of the stuff he says about himself

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

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Exactly what I was going to post. Also I think intelligence is pretty useless on its own---you have to also be able to marshal a certain level of satisfaction with life and creative passion as well.

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That's like saying vision is useless on it's own. Intelligence helps you understand the world around you, and while that doesn't mean it's 100% that you'll live a pleasant life, it can certainly help.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

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What bothers me more is that 95% of people are less intelligent than George W. Bush.

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Where is your source for this? Unless you're thinking conspiracy here, I think it's clear that most people, even those way below average IQ, are smarter that what Bush appears to be.

I don't know if you were being sarcastic here or what. I mean yeah, Bush is really stupid, but I wouldn't go as far as to say he's say in the bottom 10%. Perhaps bottom 30 or 35% would be right.

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Three separate methods have put Bush's IQ around 125. That puts him in the top 5% of the population. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Presidents_IQ_hoax

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

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What bothers me more is that 95% of people are less intelligent than George W. Bush.

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Where is your source for this? Unless you're thinking conspiracy here, I think it's clear that most people, even those way below average IQ, are smarter that what Bush appears to be.

I don't know if you were being sarcastic here or what. I mean yeah, Bush is really stupid, but I wouldn't go as far as to say he's say in the bottom 10%. Perhaps bottom 30 or 35% would be right.

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Three separate methods have put Bush's IQ around 125. That puts him in the top 5% of the population. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Presidents_IQ_hoax

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I've got a couple of methods of my own, and they disagree with whatever methods you are talking about.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

Whatever I said before is worthless. What really pisses me off is being decent at everything yet good at nothing.

Re: Does is bother you that other people are much smarter than yoursel
 

If you look at old videos of Bush, he used to be quite a smart and sharp man, even while governor of Texas. Both highly articulate and switched on. I'd definitely put him around 120. See this for example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw4Bhmm22xo

I'm pretty sure what we see now is a drug [censored] mind starting to age. He has a long history of drug and alcohol abuse and combined with a lack of natural intellectual curiosity and extreme job pressures, it seems obvious why he's like he is today.