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As Charles Bukowski famously said: “The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.”

Despite the fact that we have infinite knowledge at our fingertips with the internet, it appears that being online has only made some of us dumber. Or it has at least allowed us to showcase our stupidity in front of more people than ever before!

We took a trip to the I Am Very Smart subreddit and gathered some of their most hilarious posts down below. Enjoy scrolling through these examples of people believing they’re much smarter than they actually are, and keep reading to find a conversation with Scott Carter, CMHC!

#1

Murdered By Words

Murdered By Words

DASLKOPWRT Report

#2

Show Me Your Words Per Minute And I'll Show You Mine

Show Me Your Words Per Minute And I'll Show You Mine

myownpersonalreddit Report

#3

Said He Had An IQ Of 150

Said He Had An IQ Of 150

reddit.com Report

To learn more about the phenomenon of people feeling the need to assert their intelligence online, we reached out to Clinical Mental Health Counselor Scott Carter, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda.

“I find that most people aren't nearly as aware or conscious of their own actions or behaviors as they ought to be,” Scott shared. “They assert themselves as experts, partially because they're failing to exercise sufficient enough awareness to realize that they aren't an expert, but it's more than a lack of awareness. It goes well beyond that.”

“Humans can easily be pulled into their own individual ego's need for superiority. People are always looking for ways to be better or look better than other people, but it's all rooted in the insecurities that they aren't willing to acknowledge,” the therapist continued. 

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#4

Clearly This Man Studies

Clearly This Man Studies

GromitTheOmlette Report

#5

Ah Yes, *now* I Understand

Ah Yes, *now* I Understand

BGCompton Report

#6

So Nerdy UwU

So Nerdy UwU

Weary_Section_1430 Report

“Deep down, they feel inferior, and this can seem like an obvious way to overcome that inferiority when it's not. It's a misnomer. People compensate for their deep-rooted insecurity and inferiority in many ways,” Scott explained.

“It might seem like the solution to insecurity and inferiority is for others to view us as smart or having expertise but again, it's a misnomer. When you speak as an expert to things that you know nothing about, you only deepen your own inferiority because you're creating a greater dissonance between what you think you know or making it look like you know versus what you actually do know.”

#7

Ah Yes, Family Guy, The Smartest Show Yet Written

Ah Yes, Family Guy, The Smartest Show Yet Written

Xros90 Report

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#8

Dude Claims He Settled For His Wife Because He Can’t “Find A Woman At His Level”

Dude Claims He Settled For His Wife Because He Can’t “Find A Woman At His Level”

WiccanOrca Report

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Squiffle Noses
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I am a very smart twat. My wife is very understanding about it - sometimes my highbrow condescension gets on her nerves but she deals with that by cheating on me whenever she feels like it." - There... I fixed it.

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David
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What makes this pretentious twaddle even funnier is "for her sex". The general consensus is there is no statistically significant difference between male / female IQ scores AND when a difference is noted - it usually gives a very slight edge to the females. So stating it like being female means her expected IQ is lower just displays his ignorance as well as his s****y attitude.

Pittsburgh rare
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awww...he invests time and patience to communicate with his "dumb" wife. The day the "dumb" wife serves him with divorce papers is going to be a real shocker.

EarthGrowl
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the fact that he's a misogynistic little worm and think his wife is an inferior creature contributes to the communication difficulties? The fact that he could write this garbage shows he has a negative emotional IQ. Every couple has communication difficulties at time, because people learn different life lessons at different speeds, men seem to learn those basic life lessons slower.

Kimbowa
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This made me put my coffee down. “this is the best I could do”? Eff you. “with love and patience we make it work”?!? Are you effing kidding me? Please shut up you are a tragedy.

Jinx (she/her)
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

he speaks about this wife (about whose existence i have doubts) as though she were a different species, like me trying to understand what my dog or cat wants when they're trying to get my attention

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Tabitha
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh Mr💩. May I call you Mr Poop? Anyway, all you’re saying is that you have an IQ of 15 to 20, because plastic blow up sex dolls—-which your make believe “wife” most likely is, unless she’s merely another of your many delusions—-have an IQ of 0.

lfc73
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

not only are you twat, as Brindle Nutter noted so very astutely, you are also a complete luddite. wanker.

Trophy Husband
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My wife's IQ is one point above mine, and she never lets me live it down...

James Peters
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm in a mixed intelligence relationship, my husband is way smarter than me, that's something I love about him. He is also very kind and loving and would never admit that he is smarter because he is not a douche like this guy.

xWILTED_ROSEx
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would anyone get mad if I actually murdered this guy? IDK I just have a very strong... urge... to stab something into him

Leslie Jabine
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The kind of woman who will marry this guy will downplay her intelligence and defer until she's holding the cards.

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Cpt. Robert "Panda" Christian
Community Member
10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What he does not realize, is that his wife has probably, and rather smartly, taken out a life insurance policy with high death benefit payout on him. Because, she knows that one day her husband is most likely to be murked by somebody else, because he decided to "prove" how much smarter he was to them, in a bar. At which point the offended individual, proceeded to use her husband as a cross between a crash test dummy x pogo stick x punching bag.

kansasmagic
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

TBF, he didn't specify who is the patient and loving one in the relationship.

Rafael
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She is also imaginary, like his score and his self esteem.

Svenne O'Lotta
Community Member
10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That sounds like my clue to steal yo girl. It's gonna be easy too since she's used to dating a complete tôsser

Cindy Brick
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

....aaaannnd ask his wife what she thinks about him and his poop emojis...

Nikki Sevven
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone send a screenshot to his wife so she can divorce him and end his suffering.

GB
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I somehow doubt he's had sex with enough women to make the judgement call that his wife's in the 90th percentile.

A. Starhawk Hunt
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s wonderful. She’s obviously a magnificent caregiver since you are an utter and complete MORON!

j miller
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...yeah, i'd imagine trying to communicate with someone with head so far up their behind WOULD be difficult....

OnlyMe
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"for her sex" If she's so intelligent, why's she with him?

A Jones
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see why they used the poop emoji to cover that POS. heheh

Dread Pirate Roberts
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like she's gonna be the one who needs the patience to put up with his arrogant, sexist a*s.

Angelshark
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are certain people you hope catch their private parts in a car door.

eame
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone with real intelligence knows that IQ tests are stupid and designed to measure a narrow part of intelligence.

Zobi123
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really think this one is poking fun at the question.

Stephanie M
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's very likely lying , and actually sits alone in his room, (probably still lives with his parents) telling himself how marvellous he is.

Heather Wolmarans
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Mixed intelligence relationship"???? Man, the human race is so f*cked up.

John Dilligaf
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

must be loads of love and patience on her part; it's the only thing I can think of that's kept her from kicking your @$$ to the curb long time ago.

Sue Denham
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I fully understand why "communication is sometimes difficult".

CanadianDimes
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well it’s probably not too difficult to be 15-20 IQ points higher than your blow up doll.

jennifer brinkman
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Must be true...a smart woman never would have wasted her time with him

Mama Penguin
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Communication is sometimes difficult because he's such a douche nugget.

DC
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The louder they scream about their high IQ, the less I believe they even know what that means.

Nizumi
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe if someone got him a shovel, he could dig down deeper to find someone at his level.

AndThenICommented
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do they hide these dill holes’ profile face? It was a public post afterall

The Original Bruno
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The percentiles are virtually identical; IIRC, there's a little more variation among males, but the variation is declining steadily, is not found universally among various cultures, and occurs only in certain types of test, indicating that the variability gap lies in testing, not intelligence. If he has difficulty in communication, it's probably because he's less intelligent.

Ka Se
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He did not mention the kind of level he means. Probably idiocy.

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#9

This Was Their Response To "Treat Women Like People"

This Was Their Response To "Treat Women Like People"

Nana_knows Report

“But what else should we expect from a culture that is obsessed with hierarchies?” Scott asks, noting that status is everything these days. “Without status, we can't justifiably care about ourselves or see worth or value in ourselves, right? That's how it seems, anyway. Most of us fall for this illusion,” he continued. “That status equals importance, and importance equals respect and love. Making oneself look like an expert seems like an easy way to acquire status.”

#10

Not Mine, But Her Name's Not Maria

Not Mine, But Her Name's Not Maria

reddit.com Report

#11

Scary Fact: He's Delusional

Scary Fact: He's Delusional

zoltecrules Report

#12

"I'm An Engineer"

"I'm An Engineer"

reddit.com Report

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The therapist went on to note that people do tend to do this in real life as well, but it’s been accelerated by the internet. “There's a strange phenomenon in which the least qualified and most biased people are the loudest and most aggressive about their perspectives,” he told Bored Panda.

“It's not necessarily that they think they're an expert, it's that their lack of awareness prevents them from seeing that they should probably just say nothing. The ability to be anonymous on the internet though really emboldens some people,” Scott added. “The anonymity of the internet is so much safer, it gives people something to run and hide behind when things get messy.”

#13

Only The Truly Superior Minds Can Understand Italian

Only The Truly Superior Minds Can Understand Italian

themacity Report

#14

My Man Can Count

My Man Can Count

reddit.com Report

#15

Guy On Facebook Whining Because His Words Are “Too Intellectual" For People To Understand

Guy On Facebook Whining Because His Words Are “Too Intellectual" For People To Understand

abarne34 Report

Scott went on to note that he’s spoken to many young people who have built and engineered an entirely different identity for themselves online. “They can easily lie about their age, their money, their status and anything else like expertise with little or no consequence,” he shared. 

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“If you remove accountability and consequences, it emboldens people to do some really nasty things and there isn't much nastier than deception. They are seeking status, and they are sometimes willing to say or do whatever is necessary to get there.”

#16

They Only Teach One Thing In Business Schools

They Only Teach One Thing In Business Schools

Montague-Knightley Report

#17

Elon Musk Is Too Smart For Chess

Elon Musk Is Too Smart For Chess

fleker2 Report

#18

I Didn't Reject The Trad Life, The Trad Life Rejected Me

I Didn't Reject The Trad Life, The Trad Life Rejected Me

preservemwg Report

We also asked the expert if he had any advice for people who feel the need to prove their intelligence online. “Each person should learn to ask themselves, honestly, if they have any ability to speak about an event or an issue, and they should also examine whether or not they have any experience with that situation,” Scott shared. 

“When the conflict in Israel popped up recently, I saw a meme that said, ‘I'm no longer an expert on Ukraine because now I'm an expert about Israel,’ which I thought was incredibly accurate,” he continued. “I have no doubt that many of the people who have been vocal about these issues could find these places on a map. But everything that I've suggested so far still requires some awareness and insight which has become a rare and precious commodity these days. We first have to ask people to look at themselves, honestly, in the mirror.”

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#19

Will Anyone Finally Date This Intellectual?

Will Anyone Finally Date This Intellectual?

reddit.com Report

#20

And Then Everyone Clapped

And Then Everyone Clapped

Broken_Infinity Report

#21

"Silly Woman, You Can't Use Mathematical Terms Figuratively!"

"Silly Woman, You Can't Use Mathematical Terms Figuratively!"

reddit.com Report

Scott also wants people to accept that it's okay to not know everything. “It's okay to say you don't know, and it's okay to shut up and listen to those who know about it,” he shared. “It's okay to yield to the experts. It doesn't make you less of a person. In fact, admitting that you don't know and you're there to listen and learn is the real strength and the real virtue.”

“The bottom line piece of advice is simply this: For people to practice their own awareness and be honest with themselves,” the therapist noted. “Become more conscious and more aware of your actions, don't just mindlessly do whatever and don't just follow any and every impulse that pops up. Learn how to be more intentional and deliberate about your actions and learn to ask yourself the hard questions. ‘Am I one of those people? Should I take a step back here? Do I really know what I'm talking about?’”

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#22

Me Just Trying To Help A Customer On Our Website Chat Today

Me Just Trying To Help A Customer On Our Website Chat Today

reddit.com Report

#23

Internally Rolling My Eyes

Internally Rolling My Eyes

reddit.com Report

#24

Ruining Friendships With Facts And Logic

Ruining Friendships With Facts And Logic

FapMaster0069 Report

“Intelligence doesn't mean that you know everything. In fact, the most intelligent people that I've known have realized that they know next to nothing and aren't afraid to admit it,” Scott added. “Now that's being smart. The smartest people are also the people who exercise their awareness. Being aware of one's own actions is a sign of true intelligence. A truly intelligent person freely admits when they don't know something.”

#25

Guy Talking About His Experience With Women

Guy Talking About His Experience With Women

ceeKayNine2 Report

#26

You Cant Make This Stuff Up

You Cant Make This Stuff Up

Brezelund Report

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#27

Good In Math = Better Human

Good In Math = Better Human

shre3293 Report

Are you feeling much smarter after scrolling through this list, pandas? Even if you don’t know much more than these people, at least you know not to broadcast your stupidity online! Keep upvoting the pics that give you secondhand embarrassment, and then if you’re interested in checking out even more photos from I Am Very Smart, you can find Bored Panda’s last article featuring the group right here!

#28

He Was Saying That Women Inherently Had Lower IQs And This Was His Response To Me Calling IQ Tests Pseudoscience

He Was Saying That Women Inherently Had Lower IQs And This Was His Response To Me Calling IQ Tests Pseudoscience

Kalnb Report

#29

A Real Baby Genius

A Real Baby Genius

guesswhomste Report

#30

Even Plugged The Autobiography

Even Plugged The Autobiography

justplanecrazy_ Report

#31

Pretty Sure Most People Got The Reference...

Pretty Sure Most People Got The Reference...

alexqarbuckle Report

#32

This Guy Definitely Thinks He’s Will Graham (Hannibal)

This Guy Definitely Thinks He’s Will Graham (Hannibal)

HueyLewisNo1Fan Report

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#33

Trying To Appear Smart By Being A D**k To His Mom On FB

Trying To Appear Smart By Being A D**k To His Mom On FB

ergoegthatis Report

#34

Laughing In The Face Of A Vengeful God

Laughing In The Face Of A Vengeful God

oceanicnoise Report

#35

Enjoying Music Is For Stupid People

Enjoying Music Is For Stupid People

powertotheuser Report

#36

Look, I Know Words

Look, I Know Words

todlakora Report

#37

"I Am The Smartest Person I Know Of"

"I Am The Smartest Person I Know Of"

QuadNarcaLover Report

#38

Xray Vision

Xray Vision

DR-AP Report

#39

King Ashurbanipal Of Assyria (685 Bc - 631 Bc)

King Ashurbanipal Of Assyria (685 Bc - 631 Bc)

_fkc_ Report

#40

Not Just A Genius But A Model As Well

Not Just A Genius But A Model As Well

Venice_Wizard Report

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#41

Too Big Brain For Tinder

Too Big Brain For Tinder

reddit.com Report

#42

On A Meme About Getting Better Grades On Online Tests

On A Meme About Getting Better Grades On Online Tests

reddit.com Report

#43

“I Realised How Much Of A Nerd I Am”

“I Realised How Much Of A Nerd I Am”

yulecogs Report

#44

Looks Like He Didn't Understand The Assignment

Looks Like He Didn't Understand The Assignment

i_am_number_eight Report

#45

On A Reel About Einstein Blah Blah Blah

On A Reel About Einstein Blah Blah Blah

mommysprettyboy Report

#46

This Quora 13 Year Old

This Quora 13 Year Old

Guilherme14o Report

#47

Wish Him Good Luck Guys

Wish Him Good Luck Guys

reddit.com Report

#48

Better Remind Everyone Of My Phd On A Video That Visualizes The Pythagorean Theorem

Better Remind Everyone Of My Phd On A Video That Visualizes The Pythagorean Theorem

reddit.com Report

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#49

Tired Of The Cycles Of Life

Tired Of The Cycles Of Life

Anut__ Report

#50

Someone Has Figured Out Pretty Privilege

Someone Has Figured Out Pretty Privilege

reddit.com Report

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#51

Probably Not Even True

Probably Not Even True

AliceGentle4 Report

#52

Being Sapiosexual Doesn't Mean You Should Be A Complete Snob To Others

Being Sapiosexual Doesn't Mean You Should Be A Complete Snob To Others

reddit.com Report

#53

I'm Too Smart For This Video About SCP Creatures

I'm Too Smart For This Video About SCP Creatures

noting_i_say_is_true Report

#54

He Said This After Making Several Jokes About My Mum

He Said This After Making Several Jokes About My Mum

iloomynazi Report

#55

Who Would Have Known

Who Would Have Known

trollawaaay Report

#56

Watching A Show Clearly Makes You Smart With Indispensable Skills That Can Run A 30B Public Company

Watching A Show Clearly Makes You Smart With Indispensable Skills That Can Run A 30B Public Company

kimchipower Report

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#57

Only Genius-Brained Max IQ Tech Entrepreneurs Can Comprehend The Word "If"

Only Genius-Brained Max IQ Tech Entrepreneurs Can Comprehend The Word "If"

Ferociousaurus Report

#58

He’s So Smart

He’s So Smart

4391150 Report

#59

When You Need To Point Out How Technically Incorrect A Joke Is To Demonstrate Your Intelligence

When You Need To Point Out How Technically Incorrect A Joke Is To Demonstrate Your Intelligence

bestoboy Report

#60

Yes, I'm My Own Role-Model

Yes, I'm My Own Role-Model

scamara91 Report

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#61

Asking If He Would Have Made It Into Mensa As A Kid

Asking If He Would Have Made It Into Mensa As A Kid

mementoTeHominemEsse Report

#62

Oppenheimer Needed More Science Less Emotion

Oppenheimer Needed More Science Less Emotion

ComplexAdeptness3723 Report

#63

In Regards To A 5 Year Old Business That He Thinks Should Not Be Thriving

In Regards To A 5 Year Old Business That He Thinks Should Not Be Thriving

mick447 Report

#64

This Guy Wants His Starting Rating On Chess.com To Be 2500

This Guy Wants His Starting Rating On Chess.com To Be 2500

Sea_Exam_4732 Report

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#65

A Very Valid Point Made By Mr Smartypants

A Very Valid Point Made By Mr Smartypants

LucknowiNAWAAB Report

#66

"If You're Debating Me, You're At A Severe Disadvantage"

"If You're Debating Me, You're At A Severe Disadvantage"

ladydovahkyyn Report

#67

Teacher Is Too Smart For Students

Teacher Is Too Smart For Students

KaptnSolo Report