Ask Lemmy

Believing that you are smart, is the first sign of not being it. Even the smartest people will admit that they are mostly good at maybe a few areas, and at best average at everything else.

Structurally I know how things should work, but sometimes trying to program it tho...

Adding on to what many have already said to give it a name: multiple intelligences

Being confused often by people and not being able to apply yourself to simple intellectual tasks would be good hints but they could also indicate other underlying disorders and atypicalities different from intellect.

This is further exasperated by the fact that most people specialize in one or more brainy tasks such as mechanical visualization, language comprehension (spoken and/or written), rhythm, mathematics, etc.

There are also behavioral differences that are judged as more or less smart depending on the person. For example, is selfish self serving actions smart or stupid? Do we prioritize long term satisfaction or short term? Does a smart person care about betraying trust of others?

TLDR: Idk man, its real hard to tell, dude

There are many types of cognition. I don't feel I know much more than how pieces move but certainly I look at the board and possibilities. Some of it is spacial modeling and some is a sort of logical progression. That being said people that have particular chess gambits memorized. well that is just memorization. There is also talent and such to consider. That being said when you personally know somone who is good at some particular thing. Its sensible to follow their lead. I know folks who I would take their medical advice above others and others where I trust their economic viewpoints and others for their scientific.

I have been always terrible in maths, and this deficit represent imho a major obstacle in getting a decent job these days.

I'm a designer. I work with engineers.

I'll stay a designer, lol.

There are very different kinds of "smartness". The currently favored (by most modern societies) kind weighs logical and structured thinking very heavily, that doesnt mean someone "isnt smart" if they dont possess those qualities. Also, chess does not even rely on the commonly referred to "smartness" that much. The most important aspects are long term memory ( for remembering situations from games and acting accordingly)and thousands of hours of practice.

I was told smarter people are more likely to be cursed with things that count as mental illness.

No idea, I'm just here to chill with da boyz

I also know how chess pieces move, other than the rare en passant, but will lose to anyone willing to challenge me and I don't think I could get much better than mediocre with any amount of practice. However, I got full marks on a Mensa IQ test so I'd say I'm intellingent in a way but with my mild autism, likely ADHD and lack of practical skills, it's hard to tell. I have done lots of stupid decisions IRL, often repeatedly.

Would I say I'm "smart"? Depends. Intelligent, probably. Wise, hell no.

[off topic?]

The book 'Starship Troopers' is a lot different from the movie.

In the book the Bugs have space ships and other tech, so it's obvious that their leadership in intelligent. The question is whether the soldiers in the field are thinking for themselves or just genetically programmed to fight.

The narrator opines that if the Bug can kill you, that makes it smarter than you.

There is so much I don't know, so when I do know something there's still someone who knows more than me.

I suck at maths or anything that has to do with numbers. But besides that, so many do say I’m intelligent. Though tbh, I’m far from it lol, there’s so much I need to learn about and the list just keeps building up so I guess it ain’t a bad thing after all. It’s just I’m always willing to open my eyes to new things.