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:
[ QUOTE ]
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.
[/ QUOTE ]
When you begin looking at intelligence from this measure, you stop thinking of people in terms of being "smarter" or "dumber" than you.
|