Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Dark Cobra · 07-29-2003, 04:57 PM

I'm not saying I'm the smartest person in the world. It's just that pretty much every teenager I have come across isn't exactly... smart. Some people are wasted potential due to this crap society which doesn't encourage being smart, at least not to the extent I wish it did.

Dark Cobra · 07-29-2003, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by phlebas
I have to wonder what other teenagers on these forums would think of this attitude.

If there is even one intelligent girl out there that you would consider attractive, who is sufficiently skeptical, and who is not so superficial that she would write you off immediately because of your physical appearance, your little comfy fiction is shot to hell.

Of course, Bellevue, Nebraska, is a microcosm of the world. If it doesn't walk past your face in Bellevue, it doesn't exist anywhere.

Assume for a minute that this rarest of creatures is not as extinct as you think. I know, I know... There's no way I'm as intelligent as you are, and there's no reason you should play along. But having lived for 17 years twice, just humor the senile old fart.

You encounter this amazing person somewhere in the not-too-distant future. Doesn't matter where, but you're forced into conversation somehow and you realize she might be approaching your impressive levels of intelligence. She looks at you warmly and smiles, and even makes a humorously snide remark about some nearby religious iconography.

Okay, assuming you can imagine this scene (and surely imagination is a hallmark of intelligence), ask yourself:

What can I offer her that makes me a better companion than anyone else?

What we've seen so far is an award-winning recipie that includes arrogance, defeatism, poor social skills, and a dash of sexism wrapped in some nice, doughy misogyny. If there was an Iron Chef competition for unappealing teens, Chairman Kaga Takeshi would give you four stars.

(I apologize for the pop culture reference. My subliterate self cannot help it. To make matters worse, I almost compared you to a "Hildi room," but went down Iron Chef avenue. I do not deserve the love of the hot, hot skeptic chick with the Gaiman fixation that I currently enjoy.)

Now, maybe it's me, but I don't believe in that particular instance you'll be playing from a position of strength.

So, until you do some serious introspection, what you've got here is a self-fulfilling prophecy. [Serious introspection != whining on a message board]

I think we've pretty much gone as far as we can with you. The thing about this place is that people are always willing to help, but only if you're willing to pitch in, too. Probably another side effect of lesser intelligences, but so what? Give me someone who enjoys laughing and talking over some surly whineball who can ace his SATs.

We've only got one trip on the planet. Intelligence is valuable, but it's not all-important.

I'm not exactly mean or rude to people in their faces, you know. But on here, I'm not going to pretend that the not-so-smart are smart like I might in real life.

If I met someone in real life with equal or greater intelligence than me, I would have tremendous respect for them.

pariah · 07-29-2003, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dark Cobra
I am "better" than my peers because they are idiots, and I am not.

Nothing wrong with a little arrogance if you can back it up I guess...

Just curious, how smart are you? Are you in the upper 2% in terms of IQ or something...?

You know you could try Mensa meetings eventually, although not now...everyone will be at least 10 years older than you. But thats just an example of social groups that exist where people would be similiar to you, I'm sure there are others. And you will likley go to an excellent university like oxford, harvard, whatever if you are indeed the child prodigy you say you are. So there will be a lot of other intelligent people like you there...

Dark Cobra · 07-29-2003, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pariahSS

Nothing wrong with a little arrogance if you can back it up I guess...

Just curious, how smart are you? Are you in the upper 2% in terms of IQ or something...?

I've had my IQ tested once, and that was during a psychological evaluation.

I.Q. tests aren't exactly accurate, you know. I don't judge anyone by their score on an I.Q. test. I do score high on standardized tests, in the 95% and up range, but I find that irrelevent.

I prefer to look at how someone thinks instead-- how rational, logical, and receptive to learning they are. One of the people I would consider the closest thing to a friend is starting to show some real brilliance now, I will watch him and see if I can perhaps guide him a little.

Dark Cobra · 07-29-2003, 05:21 PM

For example, the kind of person phlebas described is unlike anyone I know in real life. I simply doubt I will come across anyone like that.

pariah · 07-29-2003, 05:24 PM

what is your SAT or ACT?

its not really a great deciding factor but you have to admit it does weed out the idiots and im just curious.

you are an uprising junior? maybe you can switch to a "special" school?

well, you say its unlikely. but if you look in the right places the chances get better and better

Dark Cobra · 07-29-2003, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pariahSS
what is your SAT or ACT?

its not really a great deciding factor but you have to admit it does weed out the idiots and im just curious.

you are an uprising junior? maybe you can switch to a "special" school?

well, you say its unlikely. but if you look in the right places the chances get better and better

I haven't taken the SAT or ACT yet.

I will be a junior this school year. I do not intend to switch schools, I like mine quite well because it offers adequate classes.

I do, however, get good grades, and if you want an example of my expectations: I don't even like getting B's (well, if it's a subject I don't care much about like Spanish then it's "OK", but I feel horrible if it's science).

pariah · 07-29-2003, 06:05 PM

Well you live in bellevue which must suck.

Go to a large, liberal university in a large city. You might still think the chances are low of finding someone, but you have to admit they will be significantly higher that way.

phlebas · 07-29-2003, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dark Cobra
For example, the kind of person phlebas described is unlike anyone I know in real life. I simply doubt I will come across anyone like that.

With your current attitude, I simply doubt it too. However, it's not because they don't exist.

openeyes · 07-29-2003, 06:49 PM

I don't envy your age, Dark Cobra. That 16-19 year old time can be really sucky in some ways because your mind is growing up rapidly but the reality of life keeps you usually dependent on others and with options limited. Sometimes because your mind is flooded with such insight and contemplation you may think you've got it pretty much all figured out, but please try to remain open to much that you still need to learn.

One other thing I wanted to mention, based on my experience, is that I think for many girls, especially the intelligent, studious ones, the likelihood of risk taking by associating with someone outside the "norm" is fairly low at your age. Even if they harbor "freethoughts" and don't necessarily agree with their parents on everything. You may have to wait until these intelligent girls get more confident with themselves and their own judgments. In the meantime, do what you can to make this leap more likely by practicing being as personable as you can. Intelligent women tend to like intelligent men, but they don't need them as badly because they are more likely to be able to take care of themselves. Therefore, don't expect they'll accept you just for being intelligent if the rest of the "package" takes too much away.

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07-29-2003, 04:57 PM	#141
Dark Cobra Banned Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Bellevue, Nebraska Posts: 107	I'm not saying I'm the smartest person in the world. It's just that pretty much every teenager I have come across isn't exactly... smart. Some people are wasted potential due to this crap society which doesn't encourage being smart, at least not to the extent I wish it did.

07-29-2003, 05:21 PM	#145
Dark Cobra Banned Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Bellevue, Nebraska Posts: 107	For example, the kind of person phlebas described is unlike anyone I know in real life. I simply doubt I will come across anyone like that.

07-29-2003, 05:24 PM	#146
pariah Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: الرياض Posts: 6,456	what is your SAT or ACT? its not really a great deciding factor but you have to admit it does weed out the idiots and im just curious. you are an uprising junior? maybe you can switch to a "special" school? well, you say its unlikely. but if you look in the right places the chances get better and better

07-29-2003, 06:05 PM	#148
pariah Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: الرياض Posts: 6,456	Well you live in bellevue which must suck. Go to a large, liberal university in a large city. You might still think the chances are low of finding someone, but you have to admit they will be significantly higher that way.

07-29-2003, 06:49 PM	#150
openeyes Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4,215	I don't envy your age, Dark Cobra. That 16-19 year old time can be really sucky in some ways because your mind is growing up rapidly but the reality of life keeps you usually dependent on others and with options limited. Sometimes because your mind is flooded with such insight and contemplation you may think you've got it pretty much all figured out, but please try to remain open to much that you still need to learn. One other thing I wanted to mention, based on my experience, is that I think for many girls, especially the intelligent, studious ones, the likelihood of risk taking by associating with someone outside the "norm" is fairly low at your age. Even if they harbor "freethoughts" and don't necessarily agree with their parents on everything. You may have to wait until these intelligent girls get more confident with themselves and their own judgments. In the meantime, do what you can to make this leap more likely by practicing being as personable as you can. Intelligent women tend to like intelligent men, but they don't need them as badly because they are more likely to be able to take care of themselves. Therefore, don't expect they'll accept you just for being intelligent if the rest of the "package" takes too much away.

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