What makes less educated people pontificate that there are "highly intelligent"

1. 84

   gmwilliamsposted 9 years ago

   What makes less educated people pontificate that there are "highly intelligent" people who don't
   
   have college nor graduate degrees while rationalizing that there are college & graduate degreed people who "aren't that intelligent" ?  Is there a subconscious envy that these less educated people feel towards the more educated?  What makes less educated people make such illogically erroneous, even fallacious remarks regarding the intelligence of college & graduate degreed people?
   
   

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2. 71

   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   
   
   Actually I don't believe people with average intelligence (care) about comparing themselves to those that have high IQs.
   It's not a typical topic of conversation that comes up for the most part.
   Once everyone leaves school most comparisons if there are any have to do with career success and bank accounts.
   No one should knock anyone who has a high IQ and those with high IQs shouldn't underestimate those people who weren't great students.
   Not every genius ends up financially successful and not every high school drop out ends up being a janitor. That's life!
   There are lots of variables that go into succeeding in life.
   People's egos are always looking for comparisons and differences..
   In many ways the American dream is about overcoming challenges.
   Fortunately for both groups there are successful people they can emulate if they so desire. Where one ends up is all that counts.
   Personal happiness is everyone's goal!

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   1. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer! I am somewhat guilty regarding the latter part of the 4th sentence In elementary school & college, there were 2 girls who were low C students; however BOTH ended up MORE successful career wise than me who was an A-B student! Go figu

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   2. 71

      dashingscorpioposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I hear you!
      Every time I see someone like "Lil Wayne" living in a mansion in Miami I say to myself WTF! LOL!
      And then I remember life isn't about "comparing".
      It's about learning and enjoying!
      Life is a (personal) journey.

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3. 86

   HeadlyvonNogginposted 9 years ago

   Having a college education doesn't equate to intelligence. You're either intelligent or you aren't. You can be educated whether or not you're intelligent. You can get a college education whether or not you're intelligent. You can recall what you're taught, but that doesn't mean you're intelligent. People who are intelligent, regardless of whether or not they have been educated through a college, can do for themselves what colleges do for you. If you're intelligent and driven, you can educate yourself. All college is is an accredited form of formal education. Something that is known to impart a certain level of knowledge and education. Something socially recognized to qualify those who have a degree as being properly educated. A credential.

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   1. 71

      dashingscorpioposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Good points.
      The lack of a "formal education" does not reveal one's IQ.
      Nevertheless most people looking for a job will be measured against their peers based upon their level of education & GPA. Selling & entrepreneurship are performance bas

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   2. 86

      HeadlyvonNogginposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Right, they're performance based. A line on your resume that says you've earned a degree is simply something that shows others you're more likely to perform, but not certain. Someone without a formal education can be just as capable of performing.

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   3. 58

      Insane Mundaneposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Good answer! It is amazing how many people don't realize that...  In some areas, educated idiots are in extreme abundance!

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   4. 86

      HeadlyvonNogginposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, it's important to remember that humans have managed to educate themselves and become very wise without the benefit of a formal education system. It's not the end all be all. And considering the cost and loans, I'm not sure it's worth it.

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4. 68

   Gordon Wrightposted 9 years ago

   Empiricism. You see lots of stupid people with college degrees, and you conclude that lots of stupid people have college degrees. Lots of them had majors that ended with the word "studies." Studies are where they put the dimwitted scions of the rich. The gifted ones go into engineering and medical science.
   
   Not that there aren't stupid engineers, but they're only stupid in specific ways. I've known lots of MIT grads. Most of them were pretty sharp, but there was at least one clueless guy.
   
   There was a time when entry into college was determined solely by social standing. Lots of smart people had no college degrees because they had no money or connections to get into college. There are large parts of the world where this is still true.
   
   Bill Gates went to college but he didn't bother to graduate.
   
   I went to college, then I found out in the real world that a lot of what they'd taught me was garbage.

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5. 72

   PoetwoPoemposted 9 years ago

   Jealousy..., been there, done that, I had no other excuse but God has forgiven me.

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