Understand how IQ makes someone different
Some people don’t realize that it’s normal for higher-IQ individuals to seek socialization with those in their range. It’s not about seeing people as numbers; it’s just about compatibility. Conversations flow better when there’s a shared way of thinking, and ideas don’t need to be constantly simplified. But average-IQ people often frown upon this, assuming it’s elitism instead of a natural preference.
I had one guy tell me that I “see people as a number.” He wasn’t open to discussing it, just dismissive. That kind of reaction bothers me - not because I expect everyone to agree, but because it lacks both empathy and curiosity. Instead of asking why I feel this way or considering the logic behind it, he just framed it as a moral failure and shut down the conversation. It’s frustrating when people assume they’re taking the high ground but refuse to engage critically.
At the same time, I know this isn’t just about intelligence in a general sense - it’s about range. I sit around 128 (which is not very high), and I’d likely have trouble truly connecting with someone at 145+ for the same reason I struggle with average-IQ people. Their way of thinking would be too different, their processing speed too fast, and their insights too detached from what feels intuitive to me. The gap in perception works both ways, which is why compatibility isn’t just about being “smarter” but about being close enough in how we process the world.
I wish awareness about this was raised so there would be less bias toward higher-IQ people. Too often, there’s an assumption that seeking intellectual compatibility is snobbery, when in reality, it’s just a preference. No different from any other trait that makes relationships easier or harder to maintain. The simplest way to put it is: "I’m just more socially compatible with people around my IQ level." It’s direct, neutral, and true. If someone still wants to argue, that’s on them.
Talking to people of average IQ and lower is just so frustrating because they lack the empathy and curiosity to try to understand other people's point of view when it contradicts whatever narratives and ideas they follow. However, that's not a problem among themselves, because they are either content in either not debating or categorizing each other as "enemies". It works for them.
One analogy that could help people understand this is how autistic people have a lot of trouble understanding the non-autistic because of different cognitive and sensory processing styles.
In that sense, it's fair to say that large IQ differences might contribute to a form of neurodivergence, especially when it comes to how people relate to and understand each other. Just as autistic people may seek out others with similar experiences for easier communication, people with similar IQs may also find it easier to connect because their thought processes align more closely.
image https://pixabay.com/pt/illustrations/iq-pergunta-pensando-c%C3%A9rebro-4715301/