Is it normal to have a reasonably high iq and yet feel stupid?

I have an IQ score of 133 but when I think of that there are a lot of people who are a lot smarter than me I always feel so stupid and that I will never accomplish anything... Because I don't seem to be really good at anything, I'm not pretty or gifted at science or arts or sport... :/

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92% Normal
Based on 209 votes (192 yes)
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Comments ( 38 )
  • Mando

    Its the dumb ox thats the know-it-all and is too ignorant to see otherwise. You're blessed with the ability to perceive how little you'll ever know.

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    • Very well said!

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  • dirtybirdy

    No matter how smart a person is, there's always more to learn.

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  • FrancoisDillinger

    I think it is difficult for people who are considered "smart" to find what they want to do. In most cases, they're interested in a bit of everything.

    you probably know a lot about a bunch of different things, but are too interested in everything to be able to pick one. This may be why you don't see yourself as not being really good at anything.

    when I read this post a quote immediately came to mind.
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    "We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many different languages. The child knows someone must have written those books . It does not know how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but doesn't know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being toward God. We see a universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws, but only dimly understand these laws. Our limited minds cannot grasp the mysterious force that moves the constellations."

    - Albert Einstein

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    • Short&2thepoint

      Duuuuuuuuuuude, for one, you've got it spot on, im interested and fairly decent at a little bit of everything, and can't really decide what the hell to do. Secondly, I love this quote. I thank you immensely for putting it down here, and i am putting it on every web-based thing I own. :D

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      • FrancoisDillinger

        thank you.

        I really like that quote because Einstein doesn't pretend to know everything.

        He acknowledges his inability to grasp something so complex.

        If he can do that, anyone should be able to.

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  • You must be gifted at something. If it's any consolation, I was in the exact same boat as you when I was 16. I didn't see anything in myself that was special or unique.

    And like Mando said, you have the self-awareness to realize that you're not the most intelligent guy around.

    A sure mark of intelligence!

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  • Saycheese

    IQ scores are just plain ridiculous to go by. I'll never know what my IQ score is first of all. I have a genetic disorder that effects me, it effects my hearing and which it effects the way my brain processes from what I hear. I've gone through so much testing in my past and everyone that has tested me is so surprised on how I function. They pretty much are saying that I have a genius level of intelligence because or else I wouldn't be functioning the way I am. One side of my brain is slower at processing than the other and they say it would be normal if I was fucked up but I'm not. I even had a doctor that told me that I would never be able to walk, talk, make friends or have a sense of humor "ever", from the way my brain looked. They were WRONG!

    But anyways never go by your IQ scores, just do what you enjoy, what you are interested in and what you are good at. Don't care about how smart others are, just be yourself. Do what you are good at and continue to do so. :)

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    • dalmationUntoyourSoul

      fuck yeah, i like stories like that, and your point on the invalidity of IQ scores is valid too. i think doctors sometimes cripple people by telling them what they won't be able to do. they thought i was retarded until i got tubes in my ears. still have a lot of other health troubles but i think i function well and can do as i please, and that's what matters to me.

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      • Saycheese

        Yep, same here. Just live your life and not care what others think. I myself have more troubles than what I had posted too but I don't see them as serious as others do. Come on' I can live life and get over shit. lol

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  • Imsupernormal

    No one can know everything.

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  • westoptic

    Yes. I also have a high IQ and feel stupid frequently. I know a lot about a variety of topics, but when I don't know the answer to something I feel like a complete shit head because I'm always looked upon as "the smart one".

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  • Every time someone says their IQ is above 121 the chances are it isn't. Mine's 118 and i'm the smartest person on IIN.

    Look up the stats, fuck all people have above average IQ's.

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    • Kaczynski

      167...in fifth grade. That's insane, but I am not.

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      • lol

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        • Kaczynski

          Normally, I blow up when people laugh at me, but as a fellow Ted, I'll allow it......going away now...for life

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          • To your cabin maybe? Don't forget to pick up some lead piping for the boom booms.

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  • Kie3PO

    Whoever disliked my comment has the mind of the mindless.

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  • tinahn

    My IQ is 122 and I feel really stupid sometimes, but I know I'm not. I am probably the smartest of my friends but sometimes I'm just stupid cause it's fun sometimes to not overthink everything ^^

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  • saddenedunicorn

    I don't believe IQ tests are accurate enough to reveal how intelligent someone is. I've met plenty of people with very high IQs but if you ask them a simple question, they can't answer it. Basically, some people just accidentally score high.

    Also, what IQ test did you take? I took 3 online ones and scored between 150-170 and I'm pretty sure that can't be true. Don't go by the online tests as they're not as good as the official ones. Take a MENSA test if you're REALLY curious but still..I wouldn't go by IQ tests. Maybe you're really not as bright and the IQ was inaccurate.

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  • Mmmpfh

    I was told while growing up that I was above average. I don't know my actual IQ. Probably never will. And I certainly don't feel any bit above average. At all.

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  • BlueAlice

    Last time mine was checked, it was 150-odd. One of my nicknames was Malteser (dark on the outside, blonde on the inside).

    http://www.ashrita.com/system/files/malteser.jpg

    I am incredibly ditzy and have asked some very silly questions in my life.

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  • Boo!

    Hmm for some reason now I have the urge to go to google and learn how to get some nice abs. Bye.

    P.s It's normal to feel that way, your giving yourself way too little credit. Search harder, there is probablly a talent in you going unoticed. Maybe it burping or farting. I dont know doesn't have to be amazing a talent is a talent. :)

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  • That's more than a "reasonably high i.q." that's a very high i.q.

    You just haven't found your niche. It's there...you just aren't looking in the right places.

    Skilled labor, which takes about a year of tech school to achieve, averages higher income than liberal arts post graduates. Maybe you could be a welder or an HVAC tech? Odds are...you'd be the best in your area, and you'd actually find a job doing it.

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  • disthing

    I have scored about the same as you in IQ tests, but it doesn't mean anything really. It equates to "You can solve these questions more accurately than (insert %) of other people who attempted to solve these questions". It gives you an indication of your potential to be good at certain tasks, but it's in no way a guarantee.

    So you have the potential to be academically successful, but there are many other factors that have equal and greater influence over how well you do in life:

    Your environment, your personality, your relationships and social status, your life experience, your health etc. Whether you can identify the odd one out doesn't mean much if you're using skills you have no opportunity or reason to transfer to a real life situation.

    In other words, yes, it's normal to feel stupid despite your above-average IQ, because an above-average IQ is like a superficial badge. It's virtually pointless without some tangible evidence of how you've used your intelligence to improve yours or other people's situation.

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  • fiy

    I feel stupid yet I do most online IQ tests pretty good. most of them average 110-117. Also some years ago I did an official IQ test and the test said that I was a little above average. Interestingly I still think I'm dumb dunno why

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  • My IQ is 124... Intelligence is as intelligence does.

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  • Fanayvea

    But why? Why would you feel syupid if you have such a high iq?

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    • I don't know... like the word says, "feel", I FEEL stupid and I can't really explain why...

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      • Short&2thepoint

        I'm the same way... I took a random online IQ test when i was tired as fuck and not all there, and got mid 130's, don't remember exactly what. But my friend and I asked, pondered and think we figured your question out a long time ago, the smarter you are, the more you know that WHAT you know is almost nothing in comparison to all knowledge. Our thoughts anyways...

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  • Fanayvea

    why am i the only one who voted no?

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  • Queen^of^Spades

    It took me 12 years to realize that my "talent" is a terrifyingly accurate sense of perception and intuition. Don't be sad, there are plenty of fields out there besides science art or sport. You could be looking in the wrong direction.

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  • NeuroNeptunian

    Hey, that's funny because that's what the school told me my IQ was!

    Normal. Find something that you enjoy. If you enjoy doing it then the chances of gaining proficiency with it will increase. Also, IQ isn't an indicator of intelligence rather, it indicates the speed and proficiency at which you learn and process information as well as connect that information.

    And... your IQ doesn't affect your looks much, sorry to say.

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  • Kie3PO

    You may not have found you're talent yet, but you will. Think how many activities there are out there that you have never attempted (I'm not judging, this applies to me too). My point is, you might be naturally gifted at the saxophone or boxing, skiing,taming wild animals, learning new languages, being a detective, medical procedures or carving stones etc. I know this doesn't answer the feeling stupid because of the abilities of others, but where they lack, you may possess.

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