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25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group

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Sometimes we consider someone smart and intelligent just because they can do something we can’t. Maybe they have a good memory and they don’t need to study as much for a test or they can play chess, but you can’t figure it out and think it must be because you’re not smart enough.

A person being able to do one thing that you can do doesn't necessarily mean they are a genius. Actually, people on Reddit listed some of the signs that we consider indicators of intelligence but they don’t always mean that, and you realize it only after talking to the person a bit more.

Do you think there are other qualities that we consider to belong only to smart people? Do you agree with the ones that were listed in the Reddit thread? Let us know in the comments.

More info: Reddit

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group I’m a PhD student and the one that really irks me is using academic jargon and long-winded terminology. Just because you know a couple fancy words — that most do not know — doesn’t mean you’re intelligent. It is usually an indication of the opposite. “If you can’t explain it to a ten year old, you’re not that clever” is what I’ve told undergraduate classes before.

mknbeans , ICSA Report

Final score:

119points

Thomas Bentley 1 year ago

my dear associates in The Jaded Ailuropoda Melanoleuca, with much debate, I have come to the conclusion that I Thomas Howard Bentley, am superior to all others due to my mammoth intelect, and higher up bringing. thank you and good day.

24points

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#2

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Education. Just because you managed to get one is not a reflection of your innate intelligence

BlockHeadJones , Emily Ranquis Report

Final score:

73points

Stardust she/her 1 year ago

As someone with a PHD (from University of Shitheads), I believe that you are wrong and that I really am very intelligent

16points

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#3

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group f**k_korean_air said:

Confidence!

Sauerteig added:

Confidence/arrogance for sure. One incident I can give is someone years ago who confidently replied (yelled) to me he knew what confirmation bias/cognitive dissonance was in a disagreement.. asked him to explain them for the group, since they may not know.. he almost dissolved in embarrassment because he didn't. Yes it was political.

f**k_korean_air , Andrea Piacquadio Report

Final score:

68points

Red Ruffensor 1 year ago

Confidence? Braggadocio may be a better term.

2points

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#4

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group BubblesMagic18 said:

Going to an Ivy League.

Allmightydohllah

That just shows you're connected. Now if you went to MIT, then it's safe to say you're smart. You have to be to get in.

BubblesMagic18 , Ian Lamont Report

Final score:

61points

Hypoxia Smurf 1 year ago

MIT, CalTech, Harvey Mudd, all tough, all worthwhile.

9points

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#5

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group "good memory"

Often a sign with intelligent people but doesn't guarantee inteligence ...

Lots of kids just memorise and then write in exam and get good marks but they just can't apply it in real life

Ningerbreadman , kalhh Report

Final score:

53points

Thomas Bentley 1 year ago

why, thank you for confirming my suspicions that, due to my ability to remember, i will not be cursed to consider how i could have responded better on the 31st of december, 2015, at precisely 0807 Am to my sister who called me, by text 'a single celled amoeba brain fart'

21points

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#6

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Money. “I have it, you don’t. You should listen to me”

Alfalfa4Idaho , Pixabay Report

Final score:

50points

Donkey boi 1 year ago

A great man once said 'Money cannot buy intelligence. In fact, it mostly make you dumber.'

15points

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#7

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Knowing a lot of facts.

I have a friend who is knowledgeable about a lot of stuff (geography and history, for example, not just things we would think of as “trivia”) and has other markers of intelligence, like a big vocabulary and a career in the sciences. He’s worldly, handsome, and yes, wears glasses. Mutual acquaintances have comnented about how smart he is, usually citing his impressive storehouse of facts.

I know him better than they do, and he is dumb as a box of rocks. He has zero critical thinking skills. I marvel at his imperviousness to logic. He believes some of the weirdest s**t - even in the field of science. (Note that I discovered this long before covid-related idiocy came along. Fortunately he’s not an anti-vaxxer)

Squidwina , Ketut Subiyanto Report

Final score:

48points

Chez2202 1 year ago

I know so many things that I have no business knowing and that I don’t need to know. If I forget something people stare at me in shock. Having a good memory doesn’t make me bright (although I am apparently). Having a good memory makes me a freak show in some places and a popular choice for a pub quiz team in others.

17points

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#8

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Being old

Ozydrax , Pixabay Report

Final score:

45points

Lovely Luna 1 year ago

Age does not always equal intelligence/wisdom

3points

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#9

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Lack of empathy and/or hating people.

"Everyone is a bastard" does not deserve a Nobel Prize.

Needydadthrowaway , valeriygoncharukphoto Report

Final score:

33points

Emptycaketin 1 year ago

Also, insulting people does not win arguments.

11points

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#10

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group From a 3rd world country here. Speaking fluent English increases your value 10 times more than usual

AnIgnorablePerson , Polina Tankilevitch Report

Final score:

32points

Mindy Keys 1 year ago

I disagree. As a (so called) educated American - I struggled with a basic 2 year course in a second language. It does not help that we start in junior high school when we are 16 or so, but in my book - anyone who can speak more than their native language is a freaking genius to me! Huge respect to them.

6points

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#11

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Narfu187 said:

Being good at chess.

Frank_Woodford added:

Being good at chess is a sign of being good at chess. Most good chess players are not significantly more intelligent than average.

Narfu187 , Kampus Production Report

Final score:

31points

Michael Largey 1 year ago

I would imagine that great chess players need to have advanced spatial perception skills. But then so do dentists. (It's part of the exam to get into dental school. Would you want someone with lousy spatial perception skills to be poking a buzzing drill in your mouth?)

3points

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#12

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Wearing glasses

Odd_Adhesiveness4804 , Dominika Roseclay Report

Final score:

27points

Imperial Guard 1 year ago

Bro, I'm not smart, I just can't see s**t

34points

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#13

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group throwaway3132710 said:

School grades

No_Instance_1851 added:

They can be a reflection of intelligence, but they're definitely more a sign of competence. Great, you do your homework and pay attention in class. Grade inflation has gotten ridiculous. My daughter has a couple of friends that have well over 4.0 GPAs and miraculously don't even come close to breaking triple digits on their SATs (I know, I know, standardized tests are problematic in this realm, as well).

throwaway3132710 , jennimareephoto Report

Final score:

27points

OnAFreakingRollercoaster 1 year ago

I did very well in school, sure not proud of how my life has turned out 🤷🏼‍♀️😓

11points

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#14

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group The simple fact that somebody has a YouTube channel, they are seen as an authority on a subject…

DonJuanDingdong , Joshua Miranda Report

Final score:

26points

Thomas Bentley 1 year ago

as long as they are indian, and it is to do with maths, then this is true. /s

5points

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#15

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group quite simply, politeness. A well spoken, silent, polite individual will almost always be perceived as somewhat intelligent even if he or she isn't. A polite individual shows a good upbringing, perhaps a good education etc. Be polite!

Defiant_Cookie_5668 , Panos Sakalakis Report

Final score:

26points

Thomas Bentley 1 year ago

Being polite is the most basic form of intelligence I have observed, but it has to be taken with many different factors to give a good indication of intelligence.

19points

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#16

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Starting every online article with "according to science". So much bs out there that isnt according to science at all but they use it to seem more factual than they really are.

rilles94 , Vlada Karpovich Report

Final score:

25points

Robert T 1 year ago

If you are going to do that and be perceived as intelligent, you need to cite references and what you have taken from them.

1point

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#17

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Citing reporting from FOX News

HurricaneDitka1985 , Johnny Silvercloud Report

Final score:

25points

Jason 1 year ago

I was at a car dealership a few weeks back and it was on. The anchor was going off about how poor people can't make decisions to eat healthy food (not because it's expensive). How food stamps need to be regulated so the poors don't waste their money on soda to get fat and cost the healthcare system more money. Literally panned over to him drinking a coke. He said it's different because he's drinking a small one cause that's the size it used to be and it's fine. Thought it was the onion at first

10points

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#18

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group A PHD.

Too many people who have no clue about real-life also have a PHD.

bulletmissile , debarshiray Report

Final score:

23points

Stardust she/her 1 year ago

But my PHD (from University of Shitheads) disagrees with you

6points

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#19

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Professional-Salt-31 said:

British Accent.

Gibbonici:

Honestly, people need to get over our accents.

Of all the things they denote, intelligence is at the bottom of the list, if it's on the list at all.

All they are to us are regional and social markers. That's it.

Professional-Salt-31 , ASphotostudio Report

Final score:

21points

XanthippeⓐWulf🇨🇦 🇬🇧 1 year ago

I laughed way too hard at this! So unfair, lol. We currently live in the states, and when I speak (Canadian) people are like "say 'about', say 'sorry', say 'eh' teehee!" 🤭 and when my partner speaks (Brit) it's like f*****g magic!✨️🌈🦄

3points

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#20

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Debating skills

Moceannl , Farknot Report

Final score:

21points

E2U&U2 1 year ago

I was a nationally ranked high school debate champion many irrelevant decades ago. I was made to join the debate team or serve a ton of detention hours for basically being a PITA for my teachers. Debate taught me critical thinking and the ability to successfully argue both sides of the prompt with commitment and passion. It taught me to dispassionately analyze an issue by putting aside my own biases. It has helped me communicate and learn from people that I would have thought I was diametrically opposed to their point of view. Using debating skills to be a blowhard and overwhelm other's points of view isn't cool. But the ability itself can be very useful.

1point

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#21

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Criticism. It’s easy but people use it to look smart.

zapatocaviar , Pressmaster Report

Final score:

18points

T. 1 year ago

Giving good and productive criticism is pretty hard sometimes.

7points

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#22

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group robb911 said:

Quietness.

SvenBubbleman added:

Some people are quiet because there is nothing going on inside.

robb911 , nikolast1 Report

Final score:

16points

Thomas Bentley 1 year ago

Others, are loud and the same is happening inside

27points

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#23

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Being Articulate. Not all who speaks eloquently are smart.

ThirdCultureFreak09 , Christina Morillo Report

Final score:

14points

sofacushionfort 1 year ago

Did they deliberately blend the singular and plural to somehow prove their point?

25points

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#24

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group Being able to quote random Greek or Latin…

stuntedmonk , greekboston Report

Final score:

13points

Thomas Bentley 1 year ago

"Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus"

4points

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#25

25 Qualities That Are Often Falsely Perceived As A Sign Of Intelligence, According To Folks In This Online Group The presence of a personality, social, or communication disorder or serious mental illness.

FoldedaMillionTimes , Stefan Stefancik Report

Final score:

3points

Max M 1 year ago

Who the poo thinks disorders makes people more intelligent?

15points

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Jurgita Dominauskaitė

Having started as a content creator that made articles for Bored Panda from scratch I climbed my way up to being and editor and then had team lead responsibilities added as well. So it was a pretty natural transition from writing articles and titles as well as preparing the visual part for the articles to making sure others are doing those same tasks as I did before well, answering their questions and guiding them when needed. Eventually I realized editing gives me the most enjoyment and I'm focusing only on that right now.

Having started as a content creator that made articles for Bored Panda from scratch I climbed my way up to being and editor and then had team lead responsibilities added as well. So it was a pretty natural transition from writing articles and titles as well as preparing the visual part for the articles to making sure others are doing those same tasks as I did before well, answering their questions and guiding them when needed. Eventually I realized editing gives me the most enjoyment and I'm focusing only on that right now.

Monika Pašukonytė

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

What do you think ?

Bi-Polar Express 1 year ago

Nothing means you are intelligent. Apparently, intelligence has no definition and no measure.

4points

mayaexists 1 year ago

I mean I think that's the point. Intelligence has no one measure.

1point

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Sonja 1 year ago

Scoring high on an IQ test. IQ is what the IQ test measures. It's not necessarily a viable measure of intelligence. Up to today, we do not even have a valid, universal definition of intelligence that scientists truly agree on. And a high IQ can be an indicator of great intelligence, but so far it's biased and not the ultimate tool to measure intelligence. It's just like a BMI without a muscle to fat ratio analysis, just a number that can be indicative but also worthless without context

2points

Mickysixxx 1 year ago

Aristotle said something along the lines of "the sign of an intelligent mind is somebody who able to entertain ideas without accepting them"

4points

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Two_rolling_black_eyes 1 year ago (edited)

There is a difference between knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom. Sometimes you need to know something to be effective. Sometimes you need to know how to apply it to be effective. Sometimes you need to know whether to apply it to be effective. I know the 1970 Egyptian built VW Bug can use a log to replace its rear axle. I can figure it out how to do it to get back civilization in an emergency. However, I'm not going to replace my broken axle with a log just to avoid paying for the parts to fix it for real.

2points

Hypoxia Smurf 1 year ago (edited)

>"There is a difference between knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom." < Also skill. I'd a childhood friend, a very amiable sort with seemingly little brainpower, whose hands skillfully worked on small machines. Norm was skilled, but little more. Or maybe wise, for not trying to over-extend himself.

0points

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Bi-Polar Express 1 year ago

Nothing means you are intelligent. Apparently, intelligence has no definition and no measure.

4points

mayaexists 1 year ago

I mean I think that's the point. Intelligence has no one measure.

1point

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Sonja 1 year ago

Scoring high on an IQ test. IQ is what the IQ test measures. It's not necessarily a viable measure of intelligence. Up to today, we do not even have a valid, universal definition of intelligence that scientists truly agree on. And a high IQ can be an indicator of great intelligence, but so far it's biased and not the ultimate tool to measure intelligence. It's just like a BMI without a muscle to fat ratio analysis, just a number that can be indicative but also worthless without context

2points

Mickysixxx 1 year ago

Aristotle said something along the lines of "the sign of an intelligent mind is somebody who able to entertain ideas without accepting them"

4points

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Two_rolling_black_eyes 1 year ago (edited)

There is a difference between knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom. Sometimes you need to know something to be effective. Sometimes you need to know how to apply it to be effective. Sometimes you need to know whether to apply it to be effective. I know the 1970 Egyptian built VW Bug can use a log to replace its rear axle. I can figure it out how to do it to get back civilization in an emergency. However, I'm not going to replace my broken axle with a log just to avoid paying for the parts to fix it for real.

2points

Hypoxia Smurf 1 year ago (edited)

>"There is a difference between knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom." < Also skill. I'd a childhood friend, a very amiable sort with seemingly little brainpower, whose hands skillfully worked on small machines. Norm was skilled, but little more. Or maybe wise, for not trying to over-extend himself.

0points

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