so you're a genius? well, how do YOU think?

[lightthecandle]

I'm fascinated by those who do well academically, or are geniuses. I'm specifically interested in your thought patterns..

1. how do you think? in patterns, opposites, etc?
2. How do you relate to people? do you care much about what they think about you?

[jsot]

I used to go to a school that only accepted people who scored greater than 135 on an IQ test. Seeing as that genius level is 140, there's a pretty good chance I'm a "genius". Don't know my actual IQ and I don't want to.

1. how do you think? in patterns, opposites, etc?
Whenever I think, I find myself visualizing whatever it is I'm thinking about, then comparing it to other things I have experienced/know about. I can't really imagine any other way to "think" really. Or are you asking me to be more specific?

2. How do you relate to people? do you care much about what they think about you?

Fortunately with my old school I was able to meet people like myself, and so my best friends are also "geniuses". With other people I get along just fine, but I might have I hard time relating to them. I try not to set other people apart from myself just because of something as trivial as their IQ though; not to say that I look down on anyone.
Yes I do care what other people think about me. I think about a lot. Not exactly the healthiest thing imo.

[Zukin]

I don't necessarily consider myself a genius, but I got one of the top ACT scores in my state and I read a few hundred nonfiction books a year, so I'll take a stab at the question.

What's more important than natural thinking skills is being able to access techniques that will allow you to think in a certain way when you want to. Books like Thinkertoys do a good job of this:

Amazon.com: Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques: FIRST EDITION: Books: Michael Michalko

I also keep a list of things to not spend too much time on, which includes: television, music, movies, reading fiction books, hanging out with unsuccessful or unrewarding people, etc.
Once you define what you don't want to spend time on (e.g. unrewarding activities) you can spend much more time on rewarding activities and work on becoming a genius.

Also, a genius in one subject might not be a genius in another subject compared to the theory of multiple intelligences:
Theory of multiple intelligences - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In terms of dealing with other people, I've had problems relating to them in the past but I'm better now after using the techniques in How to Win Friends and Influence People, which are listed on this page:
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And it doesn't matter what most other people think of you. The only thing that matters is what successful people and people who can help you get what you want think of you.

[silicon toad2000]

I think it depends on the field these people are genius in. I dare say an engineering genius would think very differently to an artistic genius.
My IQ tests around the 130 mark but I am blessed with a high EQ also. I always strive to understand where others are coming from, what is prompting them to do or say what they have. As far as what they think of me, I don't particularly care.
One of the managers at work caught me still there about 6pm and told me to go home as there was no-one left to impress. I told him that I didn't give a (expletive) about anyone else, I was there to impress myself.

[Saeros]

I'm not a genius but I don't agree with you(Zukin) that you say music, movies and fiction books are not rewarding activities. They are art. I think art is a very rewarding activities.

Maybe I'm not a genius so I think they're rewarding

[Zukin]

Originally Posted by Saeros

I'm not a genius but I don't agree with you(Zukin) that you say music, movies and fiction books are not rewarding activities. They are art. I think art is a very rewarding activities.

Maybe I'm not a genius so I think they're rewarding

You're right, Saeros. Forms of art can be rewarding to many people, especially if they have the musical intelligence.

It depends on what you're interested in. I'm interested in business and technology, and I found that if I got involved in art-related things, I ended up regretting spending time on those pursuits instead of working with my passions. Someone whose goal is to be in an orchestra would obviously feel differently.

[Alex2007]

IQ zest is not a measurement of ability but a test of how well you manage your mental processor. It is nothing more than a PsychoMetric test. So don't get dissapointed if you score 0 on it.

On the other hand don't consider your self genius if you score 1000000 on it. Be modest. You will be happier in the OneNess without IQ measurements and judgments. IQ is worthless.

A

[sri]

I recommend this book. It gives a nice summary of "genius":
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck


Here is a intro to that (by the author):
YouTube - Psychology professor discusses 'growth' versus 'fixed' minds

[Jim11]

lightthecandle,

There are many strategies for doing well in school. I won't speak about IQ or genius, as anyone with average intelligence can develop strong thought patterns and be an excellent student. And I think you were asking in another thread how people do well academically.

There are some people who just spend hours memorizing and studying everything and regurgitate it on an exam. This is simply dedication and perseverance and requires limited intelligence.

The main thing that made school easier for me was my approach. When learning anything I always focused on UNDERSTANDING the material, not just knowing phrases, formulas, things to regurgitate, etc. If you take the time to make sense of things you'll find you don't need to spend much time memorizing everything. Learn to apply logic, make inferences, etc. If you are reading a textbook and understood the core concepts, and just glance at the other material, usually you will be fine.

Next time you open a textbook and you read a statement that you know you will be tested on, don't just memorize the content... reread the statement and ask "why is this so?". Once it makes sense to you it will be locked in your brain and you'll recall it with ease on future exams.

There are a lot of other things, but I'll stop now.

[openeyes]

you may get some use out of this thread:

How do people with high IQ think?

I'd answered most of your questions there. I'm lucky to have many highly intelligent and creative friends, so socially things go pretty well. As for whether I care about what others think of me, it's nice to sense admiration in others, and it can make interactions much smoother, but I also have a high threshold for rejection, so others people's approval doesn't limit what I let myself do.

[geekchic9]

I think in natural languages. I've always excelled in reading and writing -- I taught myself to do both when I was 3.) My scores on "official" IQ tests have ranged from 118 -- 137, with the mode being 137. On online tests I have peaked at 145, but I don't think those online tests are as accurate, but who knows. I am a sales associate at a department store now. I'm not financially successful by any means.

My ex-boyfriend doesn't think in words. He thinks in logical patterns and spatial patterns. He's earning his doctorate in mathematics. Interestingly enough, he has taken an IQ test, and it was only 130 (compared to my 137.) I thought that was interesting. He did better in undergrad than I did, but I think that's because my mental disorder flared up near the end of sophomore year and continued to give me trouble until I graduated. Plus, I had little interest in most of my literature classes, which is not good for an English major.

My point is that IQ is not a great factor for success in my experience. If you just don't care or have emotional problems, or both in my case, you're going to have trouble no matter how high your IQ is.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Zukin

Also, a genius in one subject might not be a genius in another subject compared to the theory of multiple intelligences:
Theory of multiple intelligences - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In terms of dealing with other people, I've had problems relating to them in the past but I'm better now after using the techniques in How to Win Friends and Influence People, which are listed on this page:
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And it doesn't matter what most other people think of you. The only thing that matters is what successful people and people who can help you get what you want think of you.

Excellent thank you for your post in this. When I was younger in grade school My mother and a few others family, babysitters....etc Knew I was smart but I never believed them because the public school system made me feel like an idiot. I was sent to a private school and excelled immediately. They figured I was literally "bored" of the regular teaching in public school and would "waste" my time since I didn't know where to direct it.

Anyway, at this day and age I had to fight and argue all my self hatred and criticism away. I now have a decent self image and learning to be comfortable in my own skin. Im not so ruthless to myself knowing that my core self is still as wonderful as I thought and that no outside source can deteriorate my inner self.

I went to that page and Im going to buy his book. I can see one of my friends has a very logical intelligence and hes happy being a tech employee. I have another friend from the military that used to get us out of trouble with his superior linguistic skills. I believe that ones purpose in life is directly affected by this superior intelligence in a given category.

I read the criticisms and whatnot.... It annoys me. None of it is legitimate.
First of all kids love to learn I know I did and still do. However, I HATED school with a passion and I still do.
Its like when you recognized that you were lacking in interpersonal skills so you had a greater understanding on WHAT to work on.

I see can see even clearer into the big picture than I used to. I still dont know what MY superior talents are yet but I think this put me a step closer into figuring it out. So thank you and kudos on reading HtWFaIP. Great book.

-Halcyon

PS: My mind was jumping all over and I couldnt put everything down. Just the enough to get my point across. lol so sorry if it makes less sense to you. Im workin on the communication skills.

[shivraj]

I am genius because I know I am not genius ..

There is always room for improvement.Everybody is genius or nobody is genius..
Newton once said.. I am standing on shoulders of giants.. this tells everything. IQ IS NOT A MEASURE OF GENIUS. EINSTEIN WAS NOT THE HIGHEST IQ PERSON !.. Study shows that very high IQ people are less creative .....

[m18pak]

Originally Posted by lightthecandle

I'm fascinated by those who do well academically, or are geniuses. I'm specifically interested in your thought patterns..

1. how do you think? in patterns, opposites, etc?
2. How do you relate to people? do you care much about what they think about you?

I have an IQ that nearly, but not quite, qualifies for Mensa, so I'm not sure if this applies to me or not, but I'll post this anyway.

1. I think in words - as in I have a constantly running internal dialogue - because I am a verbal and aural person (i.e. I have a natural aptitude in writing and music.) but I often draw patterns between completely unrelated topics (e.g. one day I was listening to Schumann Toccata Opus 7 and I started analyzing why some parts of it were more melodic to the ear than others, and the conclusion I drew then produced a corollary that, in my mind at least, could help me with making my writing easier to follow. ). This pattern-construction is not achieved via internal debate but rather intuitively.

2. Honestly, I don't relate to people at all. I suppose this could be because of the past that I have had, but in all honesty I never think about people at all. I mean, I can not really say that I have ever had a real friend. I don't care about people, only what they go through and how it shapes and molds them. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I only see people as things to be dissected and analyzed, but then again that is how I treat myself, so this could just be a trait unique to me, with nothing at all to do with the common characteristics of "geniuses".

[Phil Parkinson]

A true genius realises that hard work and taking consistent action is the most improtant part of achieving anything... Quite often when people are intellectually gifted, it is to the detriment of the hard work ethic that is also a vital component in getting from A to B.

Phil x

[Uplift]

I came top of my schools, until I virtually stopped attending in my last years. In grade 3 teachers ran out of work for me, I had already finished grade 7. This uni came and did all these tests on me. I used to get tested for all sorts of things, and lots of people used to say that I was a genius. I won a debating contest against student teachers when I was in grade 5.

I left high school in 4th year. I was on the verge of getting kicked out, because all I did is practise basketball and surf. I had 'F's for most of the inter-year exams. Back then all that counted was the final exam. I didn't do a thing all year. I had no folders, notes, nothing. My class teacher who was also the school maths teacher, used to love pointing out that I was lazy and doomed, as did his friend the English teacher.

On the day of the maths exam I remember glancing up at his sneering head. I knew nothing about the year's work. Suddenly I began seeing all these ways to answer the questions and check the answers. It was deluxe. I was grinning from ear to ear when I handed in the mountains of paper I used to formulate my answers. I got A's, and some guys came to the school to see me. The teacher had to sit and listen to them tell me how awesome it was how I had come up with my own ways of deducing and answering, and that I was a mathmetical genius. They said if they hadn't seen all my working out, they would have assumed I cheated. They also wanted me to join some maths group, but I wasn't interested.

For the English exam we knew that a lot of the exam was based on one of three novels. I hadn't read them, so the night before, picked one and read it. This exam was even better. I had read the very novel the exam was on, and it was totally fresh in my head. The rest of English was always easy for me, so I finished in no time and had a nap. I got an A, much to the horror of the English teacher.

I ended up with nearly all A's and a couple of B's.

I did a Uni degree in my late thirtees, and hardly did any study, but got regular high distinctions, and am on the Deans honour roll, and got in some society.

I know I see things from different angles to lots of people. My friends always joke about it. But they also always comment on how I often do things or utilise things years before they become popular or accepted, and how I am still like a young person, mentally and physically, even though I am in my early fifties.

I get lots of insights which I just follow regardless of what people think.

Its really easy for me to stay self motivated and passionate, and I am naturally full on in whatever I do.

At school I soon realised people don't like it if you think differently, and are successful at it, especially some teachers, and especially if there is nothing they can do about it.

I decided to be open about success, and celebrate things I like about myself, as I think it is beneficial for anyone, and enjoy seeing it in others. I can't see the point of the societal creation and promotion of keeping quiet about it, or downplaying it. Well, thats not true, I see it as a good tool of control for those that wish to have power over others, those that prefer to instill that outlook in them by whatever means. I can get sick of people trying to get you to be the same as them, not allowing difference, and don't tolerate force of any kind in that respect.

[songwriter]

Originally Posted by lightthecandle

I'm fascinated by those who do well academically, or are geniuses. I'm specifically interested in your thought patterns..

1. how do you think? in patterns, opposites, etc?
2. How do you relate to people? do you care much about what they think about you?

1.I've always done well academically (I failed only 3 exams in my whole life, I mean from being 6 to finishing the Whole Degree in the Faculty ). Genius is a very tricky word, I'm very very creative... but I'm not genius in.. flirting for instance... lol... or in analizing logically like... for instance I think Steve Pavlina is, or in memorizing things. I'm more of a generator of ideas. I'm not so good judging them.
I think "out of the box" as you say in English. I try to think what's never been thought or what's not usually thought, because you already know that...
And that thing may be useless (I realize some time after...) but hey, it can be a very good thing! . It's like making songs, you write a lot then forget the bad ones and keep the good ones forever.

2. No, I don't care what people says bout me or think... except a little situations like my family... or someone very attached to me... but I'm the one who feels free to do anything anywhere and does it. lol.
I'm obviously "complicated" for most of the people, but not much for people here... I guess...
I've got some true friend that sometimes says to me "Sometimes I don't know if to ask you for an autograph or to tell you to f*ck yourself", that's it. I come with such creative/strange/new ideas, concepts and quotes that I know is hard to react (or respond!) but it's interesting too... It's very usual with me that people agrees with me in something weeks, months and even years later after having explained my point of view. Sometimes it's me who realizes my idea was absurd.

you'll never get bored with me... but you can get tired of me.

[Jugga J]

If your interested in geniuses, then do so reading up on the subject. I've done a fair bit, so I'll give you what i know.

When i talk about geniuses, I'm mean the rare universal geniuses, the ones we all know i.e. (Einstein, Tesla, Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Archimedes etc). Not just 140 I.Q + (top 98.77 percentile) because thats just absurd.

To say that I.Q doesn't matter in determining whether someone is or is not a genius is also a mis-understanding. Geniuses must always posses raw brain power, if I had to put it on an I.Q scale i would most likely say anything between 130-140. I've seen these with sites, which 'estimate geniuses' I.Qs. They estimated Goethe at 210. Which of course, completely stupid.

They most likely have very low levels of latent inhibition, which the high I.Q allows them to stream effectively. Allowing them to think creatively and innovative.

Most tend to be left handed or ambidextrous. Most likely it causes both hemispheres of the brain to co-ordinate better. Left handers and ambidextrous have a bigger corpus callosum, which divides the hemispheres. Also considering one side is slightly more random and the other slightly more linear in its processing, so if someone can use them more equally then they will mot likely be more prone to genius. I did see a piece of research that said ambidextrous people tend to update there opinions much more often that right and left handers, which could be key.

If they ever went to school then they most likely didn't do exceedingly well as students, especially as they grew up and developed. Thats not to say they didn't do well but they most likely weren't at the top. Tends to be that there thinking is too advanced for the work there doing i.e. their focus tends to be elsewhere.

They have intense curiosity about life, plain and simple, this is the one trait that distinguishes them from a non-genius. If you thought you were curious, then you should check out these people.


Geniuses tend to be plain queer. Because most are borderline schizophrenic.

and they think in patterns, really they do.



I notice more.... but i won't babel.

[Lauxa]

I am not a genuis, but pretty smart, probably about 140 IQ. My cousin is a genius, maybe 155 IQ, and I can see some differences that makes.

First, he is insanely creative. He's got an entreprenureal mind, and can think of a money-angle on almost anything. He comes up with several business ideas per week.

Second, he is very skilled in math, and intensely curious about all things related to math and science. He's the one who tells me about the new quantum computers and the private rocket launches and the new YouTube video of some wacked-out science experiment.

Third, he has a very good memory and near-complete recall of everything that has happened to him since he was about 10. He also has very good recall of everything he has read, and will often dominate arguments because he has so many facts ready at hand to support his points. He spends more time reading first-hand information sources and forming his own opinions of what the patterns mean rather than reading opinion pieces.

[Halcyon]

lol Jugga J... Your definition seems like myself almost exact.


<Halcyon>

[Jugga J]

Haha, well, theres obviously loads of others. But if you've got them your probably be pretty dam clever.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Jugga J