Kate Hackett
I am of the belief that truly smart people do not want anyone else to feel less-than. They want everyone around them to understand a concept as much as they do and will help people comprehend difficult things.
So being smart comes with a little bit of a social contract and that pompous attitude of “know it all” is not, in fact, a sign of intellect.
Redditor u/Indianfattie recently asked:
“What is incorrectly perceived as a sign of intelligence?”
And we gathered the best replies.
1. In charge
Always maintain a healthy skepticism for anyone claiming to be authority, at least till they prove themselves capable.
2. Grades
Scoring an A when I was 14.
3. Arguments
Cornering people in arguments with bullying tactics and acting like it means they “won”.
4. Arrogance
Arrogance portrayed as confidence
5. Simple.
Glasses
6. A strong opinion
Strong opinions, held with confidence.
7. Wealth
Having money
8. Rubik’s cubes
I learnt how to do it quite fast once I looked on Google. It’s just consistent practice until you memorise it
9. Quiet
Some people are quiet because they don’t know what to say.
10. Dumb stuff
Talking fast even if you’re saying the dumbest shit
11. College
A college degree
12. Big Words
The use of “big words”. You know the ones. “I was roused in the predawn hours, a time I usually set aside for self pontification, by the voluminous caterwauling of my quad-appendaged feline domicile companion”
13. Memories
Being able to memorise. Having a good memory is definitely helpful and often shows intelligence but just being able to spout facts does not mean you understand them or can think about things critically.
14. Opinions
Having an opinion on literally everything. Especially having the need to share the opinions with everyone they encounter.
15. Low EQ
Being emotionally stunted. High IQ does not equal low EQ, you can be a dick and stupid and you can be smart and charismatic. It’s not one or the other.
16. Pi
Knowing lots of digits of Pi. It just prove that you took the time to memorize something useless. No one will ever need to remember more than 3 or 4 digits.
17. Accents
Americans often attribute Brits who speak in English accents as smart, but minorities who speak in other accents (and speak multiple languages) as not as smart
