I'm highly intelligent

[commonfactors]

OK, clickbait title.

How much do you think about how intelligent you are (or aren't)? What's the view like from where you are? Would you choose to be different?

I've never tested but guess I'm about 125-130. It's a weird level: like being the best sports person in high school. Enough to make it an important part of one's identity growing up (well, mine. Not cool, but we're all anonymous here), but not rare enough to be genuinely noteworthy or impressive to anyone else. I think I'd choose to be much smarter if I could, out of curiosity or vanity, but I also think it might be quite a lonely life up there.

Apparently I could just about join Mensa but I would likely be the stupidest person there… and who wants to be the stupidest person in Mensa 😂

I know what you mean about being clever but not so clever that it’s noteworthy (except at school lol).

IMO it’s weird to tell people how intelligent you are. A very clever old friend of dh once told me ‘I am an intellectual,’ which frankly I thought a very weird thing to tell anyone, but then he IS a bit odd, and I suspect mildly autistic.

I’m pretty sure you can’t guess your own IQ!

Define ‘intelligence’. I’m quite smart in a few areas and have built a good career in some of them. I am also a bit dim in other areas.

It’s not something I’d build an identity on though.

We should form a club!

What @pastabaker said.

I really don’t think you can guess IQ, people also tend to think they are smarter than they are (not speaking about you specifically but generally). If it was really important to me I would just go get tested.

I was always top of my class at primary school - middling at Grammar. Didn’t go into higher education as a result of not feeling good enough due to pressures at school (and regret this). Now in a good job after starting working life at entry level jobs but do feel I’m probably at my ceiling. I know I’m not ‘clever’ enough to ever be in a senior role but I am good at what I do and where I am. It’s not a problem for me and I’d probably say I’m slightly above average in intelligence but not that you’d notice lol. What I do have, though, is a very good way with proper and that stands me in good stead

That’s nice dear

Yes this - there is something called the dunning Kruger effect which is this exactly

I work in a profession where everyone or at least most people are highly intelligent and so is my son, which helps.

I'd say im comfortably in the 120-140 range.
I work with people smarter or more knowledgeable than myself on a daily basis and dont think I'm particularly remarkable or special.

The main time I am reminded of it is only when I see how geniunely challenged some of the general public are. Eg adults who dont understand how percentages work... my mil who is confused my how childrens toys operate.... etc.
Banks actually have to write t&Cs so they are at the level a child can understand (one of our friend is an executive at a high street bank)

I purposefully didnt "fulfill my potential" as a lot of ultra intelligent people seem miserable.
Im mid management in big tech i have some flex in my schedule and make decent money without much responsibility which is fine by me.

I've been tested twice, both times as a volunteer (different tests, different people, 10 years between the two). So going purely on IQ, I'm intelligent. However, IQ is bullshit, the tests are highly culturally biased and they tell you nothing about the vast majority of skills you'll need in life. I'm really good at some things and really bad at others, just like a regular human being.

I was the cleverest person at school etc, but I tried hard not to make it my identity. I've never wanted to be known as cleverer than average, but I do secretly like being like this because it's highly useful in real life. I see people struggle with comprehension, analytical thinking, logic, problem solving, and so on, but these come easily to me and that makes absolutely everything in life easier. It's very convenient.
I wouldn't want to be cleverer though, because I think I am in the normal intelligence zone at the moment and am able to enjoy the company of people with all levels and types of intelligence. I wouldn't want to find people boring as I think that would lead to social difficulties.

Does it matter?
I have no idea what my IQ is. I guess I'm maybe slightly higher than average? I think DH is very bright - he's got a double first from Cambridge, a PhD in a scientific field etc - but on a day to day level it doesn't really man much.

DH does grasp new concepts quicker than I do, and can think much more laterally than me, And I've definitely got more "brain fog" since the menopause.

I can do The Guardian cryptic crossword quicker than he can though!

When Stephen Hawking was asked what his IQ was he replied: "I have no idea. People who boast about their IQ are losers."

I did a Mensa test once. Got an IQ score of 147. All that proves is that I'm really rather good at that sort of test.

Do I wonder whether I'm more intelligent than other people? No. I don't really think about it very much at all. Unless I'm mansplained at, in which case I let go with both barrels.😁

I had my IQ tested at school. It was very high. I thought about it recently as I read something which said Oppenheimer’s IQ and mine was allegedly higher.
This makes me feel like an abject failure (lighthearted) as I have achieved nothing noteworthy in life. 😂

I’ve often been told that I’m intelligent, as an adult that is, never at school. But in fact, I always score decidedly moderately on IQ tests. I’m really not bothered because it is what it is and it’s probably all hokum anyway. IQ tests seem a very blunt way of measuring all the different abilities.

I’m Mensa level, it doesn’t make my life better.

This is interesting:

85 to 115 - Two thirds of us have an IQ in this range: the ’average’ IQ is 100.

Over 115 - Only a third of people have an IQ this high

Over 120 - Only 9% of people have an IQ this high

Over 125 - Only 5% of people have an IQ this high

Over 130 - Only 2.5% of people have an IQ this high

Over 135 - the top 1%.

Mine is 142. We were all tested at uni in the days before ethics were important. It just means I’m good at sums and words. Still can’t cook a pizza without burning it and I can’t throw a ball straight.

No idea but the one thing we all know is that the over confident are cringe.

I’m fairly intelligent, found school really easy. BUT I’m generally a pretty useless human/adult 😂. I’m terrible at organising my life, my social skills are shit, and I’m not good at practical stuff!

You don't know what you don't know.

You are in the top 1%! That's pretty impressive.