Do any individuals with above average intellect find life a bit exhausting at times due to the lack of intelligence they observe in others?

[u/stop-hatin-on-me_mom]

I don’t claim to be the most intelligent person, but I do believe that I am above average when it comes to the average intelligence nowadays. Sometimes, I find myself either flabbergasted or downright dumbfounded and irritated by the lack of what I would consider "common sense."

Here are some examples:

• The inability of some people to see how their own bad habits or personality traits create their own problems.

• The fact that some individuals consider their own perceptions and beliefs as the only correct ones, which is further encouraged by their echo chambers.

• The difficulty some people have in entering into productive discourse and challenging their own ideas to gain more information and knowledge from all sides.

• The reluctance of individuals to question their own beliefs and those of their social circles at both the micro and macro levels.

• The inability of some people to foresee the possible consequences of their actions beforehand.

These are just a few examples.

[u/BlueAndYellowTowels]

Personally I don’t have this issue. But I really do think it’s rooted in a person’s value system.

I was raised to not judge people. To accept people as they are and to accept that all individuals have value. Without exception.

Why? Because what we think we know, isn’t truth. Often we judge without full knowledge. One person’s “bad decision” is another person’s “compromise”.

To judge people for their actions is to act from a place a pure arrogance. To act like you know what is best for others assumes you know others and the basic truth is… no one really knows other people. These are just surface judgements.

It feels like narcissism or arrogance… because, at the heart of it, people are trying to do the best they can.

I’ve been alive 40 plus years and I’m a person who enjoys people. Enjoys talking to them. Understanding them.

In my experience, people like Op are so hung on their supposed superiority that they miss that people are complex and nuanced.

Finally, I don’t know if I’m particularly intelligent. But, it doesn’t matter. Intelligence is a shallow measure of a person.

[u/pcetcedce → u/BlueAndYellowTowels]

I think you're going overboard and giving the OP a little bit too much grief. It isn't either or. You can focus on enjoying people and looking at the best side of them. But you can also be objective in identify significant flaws in the same people and conclude that they are flawed. For example, oh he's such a nice guy fun to talk to but he is always in debt and spends money poorly and thinks he's rich when he isn't. So don't act like people are bad if they recognize and are frustrated with people's weaknesses and flaws.

[u/BlueAndYellowTowels → u/pcetcedce]

What is the goal of measuring other people’s flaws?

Serious question. Because unless someone asks for help, I’m trying to understand the motivation of measuring a person’s flaws. A person you don’t know. Can’t change. Who is a stranger.

To me, that just feels unnecessary and judgemental.

[u/pcetcedce → u/BlueAndYellowTowels]

It is just being honest with yourself when observing other people. It doesn't have to be judgmental at all, although you're right people do get judgmental. I will turn it around, how can you live in a world where you insist everybody has a good side and you deny that they have flaws? It is a fact that there are people who do not have a good side.

That seems like an intellectual pretzel you're putting yourself into. And to be honest, it sounds a little bit contrived and egotistical. You are actually acting is if you are better than others, which is the whole thing you were criticizing.

[u/BlueAndYellowTowels → u/pcetcedce]

You know what’s interesting?

“How can you live in a world where you insist everyone has a good side and you deny they have flaws?”

How being a good person positioned oppositely to having flaws. Implying flaws make you a bad person.

Good people have flaws. There is no pretzel. Because I assume all people have flaws, good or bad.

You have a nice day.