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AMA

I am highly intelligent, ask me anything

858 replies

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 09:01

Using standard IQ scales/assessments I am highly intelligent. I have also done some research into high intelligence. Being highly intelligent has advantages and drawbacks. Ask me anything :-)

(Just to preempt some comments: No, I don’t think intelligent people are better human beings than other people. I think qualities such as being kind are more important for example. No, intelligent people are not always ‘better for society’, there is some evidence, for example, that really highly intelligent people carry out proportionally somewhat more crimes (white collar). No, I don’t look down on less intelligent people (sometimes I envy them), but it can obviously be a bit difficult to connect if you have very different frames of reference. No, intelligence does not have any direct links to social skills (positive or negative).)

OP posts:
StopWindingBobStopWinding · 22/02/2026 12:48

OtterlyAstounding · 22/02/2026 12:42

Clearly it should be bow tie at the top, but tie and collar at the bottom.

I think this depends entirely on the giraffe’s other sartorial choices. It goes without saying that a bow tie should only ever be worn with a dress shirt, with a a stand-up collar, so the first question is how high this collar sits. If some sort of two-toed ungulate Harry Hill, this might mean that the bow tie ends up at chin height. Otherwise, if the shirt collar presents itself at the base of the neck, then that is the place in which the tie should sit. And of course, with a good old Windsor knot, it must always be in that position. This then raises a further question: if the giraffe is wearing a shirt, of either type, what do the giraffe’s trousers look like, and on which pair of legs should he wear them?

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 12:49

Random321 · 22/02/2026 12:25

I find this fascinating in a bizarre way.

You are skipping what I consider a lot of the more interesting questions posted.

I would love to know why. They aren't of interest to you? They hit a nerve? Or you don't have a response?

Are you intelligent enough to realise that the reason people are frustrated with your AMA is due to the avoidance of what people actually finding interesting?

Are you intelligent enough to understand why so many posters have asked about autism?

Are you also intelligent enough to realise that being a highly intelligent person with autism isn't something to view negatively?

Whether you are autistic or not and it's none of my business anyway, is irrelavant to these questions.

The language change as your posts progress is also interesting. People called you on your ability to communicate and you softened your language to make it appear more casual in your last 3 posts. Is that a conscious decision?

I'm not trying to catch you out just a tad bewildered at why start a discussion about this when you then avoid so much of the proposed discussion?

It's clear there are a lot of intelligent people on this thread (and not necessarily the ones which reference their IQ). I've far more questions for them because they are open to engagement and actual conversation.

Surely with your intelligence, you can see where I'm coming from?

You do realise that this thread has had almost 500 responses? Try it yourself, and you'll see how easy it is :-) I haven't even been able to read all responses! I'm doing my best to keep up and haven't knowingly avoided anything other than the ones I commented on, and the religious questions - the latter are too complicated to answer briefly.

OP posts:
BuffetTheDietSlayer · 22/02/2026 12:49

Why are you such a mardy bum, OP?

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 22/02/2026 12:50

BuffetTheDietSlayer · 22/02/2026 12:49

Why are you such a mardy bum, OP?

😂😂

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 12:50

SixtySomething · 22/02/2026 12:28

I think the problem with this thread is that OP is deeply unhappy with herself and seeking external validation.
It odd in the circumstances that she doesn’t state her IQ score, I’m wondering what the reality is of her career.
Really don’t want to be unkind but don’t know what to say….
Perhaps she needs to concentrate on more on other aspects of her of her identity?

To those who questioned my comment about people trying to diagnose me/assess my mental status, here is another example!

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 22/02/2026 12:50

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 22/02/2026 11:43

Perhaps, but a lot of that research may be flawed. For example, a lot of the "evidence" may be based on self reported experience. And if that's the case, all that it tells us is that some highly intelligent people believe that their social connection problems are the result of their high intelligence. It doesn't tell us whether or not that is actually the case.

It's interesting that you decided to selectively quote my post, and that you chose to edit out my earlier question, which you chose not to answer. I'll try asking it again.

If you think that some highly intelligent people struggle to connect with others because of their high intelligence, then what exactly do you think is different about the many highly intelligent people who do not struggle in this way?

Surely if high intelligence was the cause of such struggles, then all highly intelligent people would be affected in the same way?

I would really like you to answer this question, if you are willing.

That's a huge question, with an even bigger answer.

I think there's a mixture of things at play, including neurodiversity, the social environment, socioeconomics, cultural capital and early familial relationships.

If somebody has a secure, safe, loving and supportive childhood, one where there is always 'enough' of everything, from food and clothes to affection and joy is expressed in their existence, their abilities, they're supported and encouraged to try in everything, they're in a position where they feel safe and confident in people, not just themselves.

Then put them into education, where they encounter a welcoming, warm and happy school environment. This then helps them to learn to form friendships and play, further increasing the feeling that the world and people is a benevolent place. They're encouraged and supported to grow and maintain friendships of all kinds, creating further positive feelings and relationships intermingle between home, school and where further encouraged in outside activities, there's a strong network of interconnected support and communication. As part of this, they learn in a safe, caring way that maybe there are people whom you don't necessarily become friends with, but that's OK, you can still have pleasant interactions with them (or not, they fade out of view).

As they progress to adulthood, that network of connections changes but there is always sufficient support that they feel safe. So the person is always able to find ways to connect with others - they don't have any reason to feel awkward or confused - and if they encounter any unpleasantness, they're not isolated.

Compare that to a child whose parent actively despises 'clever people' and spends their time knocking the child down, criticising them for the things they are good at and taking pleasure or becoming angry at the things that aren't so effortless for them. Add in children who have been taught by their parents in turn that clever kids are weird, all up themselves and should be brought down a peg or five - or are angry that this kid gets something - and instead of this being stopped and resolved, the able child is told it's all their fault and the reason it happens is because of something wrong with them 'No wonder everybody hates you', 'Why do you keep on showing off about how smart you are? Nobody likes a smart-arse', 'Not so smart are you? You can't even go to school without somebody wanting to hit you'. This then, because of a lack of home and financial/environmental security, is accompanied by insults and criticisms designed to deflate them, based upon such things as not having a nice home, not having the right shoes, their physical appearance, anything that will make them shrink.

As they grow up, they learn that there will always be somebody ready to attack them and it's all their fault, as even their parent hates that about them. Nobody wants to talk about things they like, they are mocked if they open their mouth, mocked if they don't. Maybe there's somebody they do get along with - but even that's up for criticism 'You're playing with that weird kid. Stay away from them, you'll end up just like them'. People are scary. People are mean. People don't like me. And it's all my fault.

If every time you put a hand out it gets slapped hard, you learn to not do it. Soon enough, even if there isn't anybody there that would slap it, you can't bring yourself to take the risk.

Perhaps they're stopped from continuing study because a) the parent doesn't want it, so won't fund applications, won't complete forms, threatens them with being kicked out on the street if they don't get a job at 16/18 or b) b has told them for so long that it's not for the likes of them so they don't believe it's possible.

Maybe somebody then gives the impression that they at least like them some of the time. And before you know it, there's an abusive/coercive/controlling romantic relationship to add to the mix - any signs of getting along with others is treated as cheating, attempting to cheat 'they don't like you, how stupid can you be to think that anybody would ever like you?'.

We can also add in gender based ideology - girls don't like computers, men don't like women that are too smart, ugh - maths, girls don't do maths, you must be a boy if you like Physics/dinosaurs/science fiction, why aren't you interested in makeup and hair like a normal girl, never ever let on to a man that you know more than him, don't think she's suitable for the promotion above James as he wouldn't like that, I'm not sure she would be suitable for that role, she's very, very smart, but I'm not convinced she would be the best candidate in charge of hundreds of thousands of pounds (ie, really smart people are more likely to commit crimes), HOW DARE YOU show me up by talking about Medieval architecture/renaissance music/Ealing comedies/ cars/whatever?

They might continue to feel shame at themselves, they might think 'fuck it, it's part of me and I will not apologise for it', but it still tells them that other people won't like them for something they cannot change.

If you chuck in some ADHD bull in a china shop enthusiasm, some hyperfocus, Autistic special interests that everybody around them make clear are not in any way special to them, some incredibly irritating tapping or stimming that heightens any difficulties around others or just being very easily distracted on top of all that, it's pretty easy to see why one person with high intelligence can find it easy to get along with others whilst another would feel that they don't because of their intelligence; one has a pleasant world where, whilst it still has challenges, their intelligence is part of what makes them 'good', 'nice' or 'likeable', whereas the other is in a precarious place where their intelligence is behind the majority of negative experiences.

Have a tl;dr.

Some people don't struggle because their intelligence isn't a problem for the world around them and they have developed the skills to be able to navigate around other humans and relationships. Some people do because their intelligence is a problem for the world around them.

StopWindingBobStopWinding · 22/02/2026 12:50

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 12:45

Yes, there are obviously a lot of times where there is not one answer (and I am often the first one to point out that you can look at something in two ways).

I'll try to think of a logical example. If you imagine that you're organising an event consisting of many talks for 100 people where some need to be in the same room sometimes, some must hear some talks, others must hear others. Some will arrive late and still cannot miss a certain talk. Add additional constraints etc. To me it would be a quick exercise to figure out how to plan that day. To others it would take quite a long time to think about this - I'd probably do it in a very short amount of time. I'd then have to spend time explaining 'ok so x needed to be there, and they are there; z and y will be late and that's been catered for...'. Not a great example perhaps but to give you an idea.

That is, though a maths equation - quite a complex one, but still a maths equation.

Are these the only sorts of questions where you tell other people they are wrong?

RosyCam · 22/02/2026 12:51

The cleverest people I know don’t feel the need to join Mensa.

tramtracks · 22/02/2026 12:51

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 12:09

What makes you think that Mensa is 'full of people who are unhealthily preoccupied by their own ability to score highly...'? Some probably are - there are annoying people everywhere - but this probably says more about your lack of understanding that people have many different sides and the IQ is just one (often very small) part of it.

I thought you applied to join Mensa voluntarily….
There must be plenty of ‘intelligent’ people who haven’t. So it appears to be full of people who want or need validation if done kind.

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 12:52

OtterlyAstounding · 22/02/2026 12:32

Why are you starting AMAs if you don't think you should share your thoughts? And why on earth would you think that people would want to know your thoughts so that they can then use them as a reason to think the same as you? Perhaps they're just curious to know what a self-proclaimed 'highly intelligent' person has to say on the issue, even if their knowledge is lacking.

Ultimately, it's an AMA. There's no reason not to give an answer, is there?

One very good reason is that I simply don't have time to answer everything - lots of comments about me not responding after about five minutes!

OP posts:
blythet · 22/02/2026 12:52

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 10:02

I think most people think about people they meet and people they know. I have a lot of thoughts about my friends. (Obviously I did not mean how people who post here think about me.)

My high intelligence is not that important to me, but I've often been asked about it, unfortunately. I prefer to talk about other things with real people and friends.

Your intelligence is not that important to you. You prefer not to talk about it. You prefer to talk to people you know IRL.

Yet here you are - on a virtual forum - inviting discussion with people you have never met, actively wanting to boast about discuss your intelligence.

Doesn’t sound particularly intelligent to me!

tramtracks · 22/02/2026 12:52

Tsfor2s · 22/02/2026 12:09

I’m no intellectual but I’m bright enough to know this is just a daft wind-up thread.

😂

tramtracks · 22/02/2026 12:53

dontcallhimpunch · 22/02/2026 12:09

People aren't trying to diagnose you, that's a very simplistic reading of the contributions here. Many of us have first hand experience with highly intelligent people and there is undoubtedly a strong association with autism and ADHD. This is not to mean that all people who score highly on traditional IQ tests also are neurodivergent.

You haven't connected very well with your 'askers' and in fact do not come across as a particularly bright spark but then that's probably because you are communicating and not problem solving (are you good at problem solving?).

Being able to analyse thing on the fly can be very helpful but it is the ability to emotionally connect to situations in the moment in real life that is equally important otherwise you will always feel out of step with the world.

This. Best answer so far.

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 12:53

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 22/02/2026 12:33

I think a lot of parents of highly intelligent children end up doing their kids a massive disservice by fixating far too much on their child's "giftedness" and - intentionally or unintentionally - teaching their kids to view their intelligence as somehow being central to their identity.

I agree that OP would probably benefit from concentrating on other parts of her identity, but sadly, I don't think she will welcome this suggestion.

And another hobby diagnosis :-)

I completely agree that too many parents fixate on academic ability, btw. But it is a feature of a education system where life chances are decided very early and young people can be considered to have 'failed' when they are 15.

OP posts:
SixtySomething · 22/02/2026 12:53

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 11:57

It is more or less only exams that pave the way for education at the next stage in the UK!

So in which country do exams not pave the way for the next educational stage?

dontcallhimpunch · 22/02/2026 12:55

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 12:45

Yes, there are obviously a lot of times where there is not one answer (and I am often the first one to point out that you can look at something in two ways).

I'll try to think of a logical example. If you imagine that you're organising an event consisting of many talks for 100 people where some need to be in the same room sometimes, some must hear some talks, others must hear others. Some will arrive late and still cannot miss a certain talk. Add additional constraints etc. To me it would be a quick exercise to figure out how to plan that day. To others it would take quite a long time to think about this - I'd probably do it in a very short amount of time. I'd then have to spend time explaining 'ok so x needed to be there, and they are there; z and y will be late and that's been catered for...'. Not a great example perhaps but to give you an idea.

Great! That’s a really valuable skill to have. It reflects a kind of operational intelligence the ability to anticipate issues, coordinate moving parts and think a few steps ahead.

That’s especially useful in roles like project management, event planning, crisis management and any position where logistics and foresight are critical. Maybe being an academic isn't the best professional environment for your as (generalising here) academic thinking is rather very different to operational thinking. You could be making lots of money and be more appreciated in a different work environment.

Just one further note
(and I am often the first one to point out that you can look at something in two ways).

Surely more than 2 ways?

CarlaLemarchant · 22/02/2026 12:55

I’m going to ask my question again because I think you missed it.. How much do you earn?

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 12:56

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 22/02/2026 12:40

You did.
You said that where you went to school there wasn't enough emphasis on exam success, so you stood out.
However, you've been highly critical of the UK system, which, you claim relies "too much" on exam success.
Contradictory.
"Try again". To borrow your phrase.

Please show me where, I cannot find that (possibly because I'm trying to respond to many people at the same time). I know I have said that there needs to be a balance.

OP posts:
MonstrousRegimentRocks · 22/02/2026 12:56

SixtySomething · 22/02/2026 12:53

So in which country do exams not pave the way for the next educational stage?

Apparently where he/she/they went to school. They stood out and were unhappy because of the lack of focus on exams.
I've no idea where this country might be.

Random321 · 22/02/2026 12:57

I think your "Learn to Learn" comments in your reply at 12.20 is one of the most overlooked aspects in the education and parenting of highly intelligent children.

Everyone needs to learn how to learn.

A child sitting in a classroom who can read the entire book with easy or who can do the maths of the last page of the book whilr others are getting to grips with the basics at the beginning, learns absolutely nothing.
It's natural, intuitive and requires no learning - their brain is just wired that way.

Teachers and parents really need to find something that the child has no experience off and no interest in and then question & exam them on this instead. So many people never given an early opportunity to learn to learn. I think it's only of the failings of education - teachers know these kids will ace exams do they are largrly left uncatered for.

That's why driving or even learning to swimming as an adult, assembling flat pack furniture (highly intelligent people usually don't have to read instructions regularly!) can throw off a highly intelligent person disproportionately.

Academic intelligence is really helpful in life but I've seen street smarts beat it time after time. People who couldn't pass a written exam on any topic but have survival skills, people skills, that would buy and sell most academics.

Creative intelligence is also largely overlooked in terms of intelligence/IQ/education system etc. As someone with very limited creative intelligence, I find actors, musicans, painters etc. so fantastinating and impressive. My brain couldn't do half of it as it's wired to pass exams and feck all else.

I think who the work is changing to allow people excel in their best place (for want of a better term) is fantastic. Earning is no longer linked to academics but the education systems hasn't yet caught up.

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 12:58

dontcallhimpunch · 22/02/2026 12:40

OP, in real life, when you re not writing a research paper, the concept of a rigid right or wrong generally doesn't apply.

So I am very curious, do you feel the need to correct people in your private life or at work? I'd be surprised at work if you work with high achieving academic colleagues.

I am concluding (rightly or wrongly) that you struggle with accepting that other people have different experiences, perspectives and 'truths' - that is very odd as you appear to be an academic in a humanitarian subject, where subjectivity is actively sought and embraced.

No, I don't feel a need to correct people. I rarely do. Noting that someone is wrong is something else.

OP posts:
blueshoes · 22/02/2026 12:58

Where parents fixate on academic ability, it may not be the academic ability per se but the potential for high earnings in the future.

Have you thought about how you could have monetised your intelligence better than a career in academia? Why didn't you?

OtterlyAstounding · 22/02/2026 12:58

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 12:52

One very good reason is that I simply don't have time to answer everything - lots of comments about me not responding after about five minutes!

But you've commented several times about the trans question...you could've just answered it much more quickly! Fair enough to not answer every question, it's just always interesting to see what comments an AMA poster doesn't answer.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 22/02/2026 12:58

What’s your favourite colour?

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 22/02/2026 12:59

nolinkname · 22/02/2026 12:56

Please show me where, I cannot find that (possibly because I'm trying to respond to many people at the same time). I know I have said that there needs to be a balance.

You can read back your comments with "see all".
I am accusing you of being contradictory, but perhaps I am being unfair. I am seeing contradictions, but perhaps you just struggle a bit with logic? Or perhaps you're just trying to answer too many questions at once and forget what you've said?

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