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From: richl@daemon.UUCP (Rick Lindsley)
Newsgroups: net.singles,net.social
Subject: Re: Intelligence
Message-ID: <839@daemon.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 2-Jun-85 16:34:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: daemon.839
Posted: Sun Jun  2 16:34:21 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Jun-85 01:48:28 EDT
References: <253@unc.UUCP> <270@looking.UUCP> <371@h-sc1.UUCP> <2763@nsc.UUCP> <1209@cbosgd.UUCP>
Reply-To: richl@daemon.UUCP (Rick Lindsley)
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 30
Xref: watmath net.singles:7168 net.social:592
Summary: 

>>Why do we judge people on the basis of their intelligence?  Why do intelligent
>>people often have it so much better than unintelligent people?
>
>Those of you who grew up in a small town as "the smartest kid in the class"
>may want to dispute the comment that intelligent people have it so much better.

You said it. I was one of those at the upper end of the SAT scores in high
school, and it took tremendous effort to be invited (or even considered) to
any social functions. It wasn't a cruel crusade or anything -- it was just an
attitude of "well, I didn't think you'd be interested." Girls did not want to
be seen with "a brain"; they'd rather be seen with "a jock". (Please no
comments on overgeneralization -- remember this is from someone who necessarily
has a rather colored view.) It was only after I both moved up in the high
school government AND joined the basketball team that I became "acceptable".
The same thinking also persisted through most of college, unfortunately.
Because I did not like to get blind drunk or sky high at least once a week,
I was at best peculiar and at worst an outcast, rarely included in any
social events.

Now that I'm through college and in the "real world", I have to say that the
same intelligence which caused me social problems in high school have enabled
me to get a well-paying job doing something I enjoy. So in that respect,
perhaps, I DO have it better than less intelligent people who had to settle
for something less. Now. But I've only had one steady girlfriend in six years,
and that for only four months. So I would not say I've had it all that much
"better" or "easier" -- emotional support is as necessary as financial
support.

Rick Lindsley
...{ihnp4,decvax,hplabs,allegra}!tektronix!daemon!richl