I try not to call myself smart, wise, intelligent, genius, etc. I have been called all of those things a lot of times by OTHER people in my life. Sometimes I felt a little embarrassed as I personally think they are labels misused so often these days and often unwarranted. I will say that to me they only have merit when someone else says them. If my actions evoke such labels that is better than if I just decide to say those things are who I am.
I also get concerned because I've seen people in my life who do act as though the labels fit and sometimes (not always) it almost becomes a crutch and they miss things, don't put in the effort, and can be blinded to some things due to staring at their reflection in the puddle of water.
I don't plan to apply such labels to myself. I will apply them to other people though.
I personally consider some people that traditional IQ would indicate as being low intelligence to be particularly intelligent and wise just not in ways that are measured or captured by those tests.
And MENSA. I laugh at Mensa. I've known many people as members of that and yet to have met one I was actually impressed with. My wife uses things like their testing manuals as fun puzzle books to play with much like buying puzzle books at a convenience store.
All well-said.
And I kinda admire the graceful diplomacy with which you approach this particular thread. Lol.
Very well put. And there’s probably a bit of the autistic “idiot-savant” dynamic at play in some of these cases too - excelling in some aspects while significantly impaired in others.
🥂