September 29, 2010
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Are You Smarter Than Your Parents?
It is always sort of funny that the people on xanga think they are smarter than average.
Consistently, we will say we are smarter than our friends and associates. We will describe ourselves as smarter than average.
But what is funny is that such a high number think they are smarter than everyone else. It is always like 80-90%. It either means everyone is smarter than average or we have an elevated view of our intelligence.
Now you have had your whole life to watch your parents.
Are you smarter than your parents?
Comments (157)
I’ll bet I’m not smarter than that girl’s parents. For example, I don’t live on the beach.
I am not smarter, but am better adjusted to the times.
I know for a fact that I am. Neither of them have gotten a college education, don’t know how the government works, don’t know basic algebra, don’t read, believe reptiles nurture their young and my mom believes that water makes a fire WORSE.
Enough said.
I am smarter than a fifth grader. Wait, what?
You don’t know how many nights I’ve spent trying to convince my Dad Obama is not a Muslim and wasn’t born in Africa.
Smarter? Yes, my current education level has exceeded their education levels many years ago.
But wiser? Nope.
In some respects, such as religious debate, history, and skepticism, yes. In others, such as life skills and personal finance, no.
Smarter and better at some things,but as a whole they are smarter.
@ShimmerBodyCream - Obama’s not a Muslim and he wasn’t born in Africa? But the email I got from my conspiracy theory friend said otherwise. And he always says he’s right, so I believe him.
By the way, Dan, I noticed you visited my blog about this subject earlier today. Did I motivate you to write this?
Definitely.
@aWishfulCynic - Yeah my mother is way wiser than I am its crazy how she like can sometimes predict exactly what is going to to me happen before it does. lol
My mother and I are probably on the same level. She might have more on me, though.
I mean base intelligence, not educational level. When it comes to education, she’s *way* above me.
I do think that, but only because the definition of “smart” is rapidly changing. It’s not what it was when they were in school.
For example my parents cannot operate a blackberry….AT ALL!
Fuck no. My parents are Columbia and NYU smart. I’m only Northwestern smart.
I don’t know that it’s really meaningful to say anyone is smart or not smart without a good definition of intelligence. Since there’s no all-encompassing way to define it, there’s really no way to say who does and doesn’t fit into it, and I honestly think that everyone has strengths in at least some sort of intelligence. My parents are definitely smart, and I don’t claim to be smarter.
i am in no way smarter than my dad.
seriously, he’s one of the smartest people i know. about everything. and i look up to him so much.
i would say i’m smarter than my mom… but i still love her! haha.
but seriously, anyone that could successfully raise two teenage girls is smart in my book…
@PervyPenguin - lolwut
@PervyPenguin - That depends on the kind of fire. If it’s a chemical fire, electrical fire, or grease fire, she’s right in most cases.
yes.
definitely not smarter but i’m still learning…
Only when I’m topless.
@grammarboy - In most cases, yeah, but not all of them. Also, if you burn your finger, will rubbing it in your hair do anything? She insists it does.
My parents, in their day and in their family situations, never had a chance to go to college, but they definitely got training for their jobs and worked hard every day of their lives – my dad is 85 and still going strong. Both my parents were smarter than whips, and both knew/know how to do so many things and know so much about life and about practical, financial things and about the world around them. They know so much more than I do. I’m still learning from my dad, every day. I have the degrees and the college education and the world travel, and am possibly more “well read”, but my parents are definitely not lacking in the wisdom and intelligence department. I look up to them so much, and know they would have been wildly successful at whatever field they chose, had they had the opportunity to go to college.
Academically perhaps, but in terms of skills I still think they have much more.
@PervyPenguin - I have no idea. I’ve never even heard of anyone doing that. That is odd.
I think I usually talk about how I feel stupider than my peers. I think I have more common sense but when it comes to educational knowledge I tend to get lost in their conversations.
I absolutely am.
No. I’m pretty stupid actually. I can barely make anything work these days. It’s really disheartening.
My parents are both very intelligent. So I would have to say no. I would say that I am an equal though. As far as wisdom goes, however, I hope to someday be their equal.
I’ve never thought of myself as smart. I know my limitations
It is a tie with my mom, though experience gives her the edge. My father is in another world, almost everyone is less intelligent than he is
oh definitely.
haha, in some ways, not all though… academically i need to catch up to them, but i know i’ll be surpassing them soon enough.
There are days where I smack my forehead in disbelief of my mothers stupidity, but I think my father makes up for it. Although my father has this huge ego where he thinks he knows everything and is the wisest of them all. Those are days where I want to just smack my head against the wall.
So all in all, I don’t think I’m smarter then them, but they are no smarter than me. We just have better knowledge on certain things where the other may not.
Well each generation learns more than the previous in more ways than one. Mom has admitted to me I know more than she does on some subjects but mom has a wealth of life experience I havent yet begun to experience. There’s varying degrees of wisdom. Book smart isnt everything.
I am. They tell me so all the time. I think I even wrote about it once…
I never really got to know my parents before I grew up, but I think they were wise people because they had me
I’m only smarter than people who disagree with me.
Hard to say. They insist that I am, but I’m uncertain. I definitely have less common sense than my father.
It depends on which area you are asking of.
Hard to say. I had more opportunities than them. I know for a fact my dad invented his own way of multiplying and dividing both small and large numbers, but I haven’t so probably not hah
i’m smarter than my dad. no way in hell i could ever outwit my mom.
@trunthepaige - then again your father is your brother.
Smarter? No.
More educated, and with a greater understanding of the world around me? Yes.
I have opportunities my parents never had. I’ve taken advantage of those possibilities in ways my parents couldn’t dream.
I have met people of different faiths and backgrounds, and actively seek them out.
My parents live in an enclave, in an insular world they create for themselves, in which they refuse to allow the possibility of difference.
So yes, I know more about some things.
But I’m not smarter.
I wish I were smarter than my parents. But sometimes I know things they don’t know
YAY!
I rather remain dumb and sponge like even if I do know a lot, that way I will learn something and I won’t look stupid. I am not smarter than my parents, they have seen and been through too much, never mind what they learned in school.
Erm, my mom was in special education classes in high school. She’s not naturally smart. She had to work like a dog just to get her associates…I know I am smarter than her, but I don’t feel elevated because of it. Natural intelligence doesn’t really say much about who a person is, in my eyes. It’s desirable to me, but I like seeing someone have to work for it and appreciate it, not flaunt the fact that it makes them a greater being.
It’s debate-able.
My dad is smart, in ways. But in other ways, he doesn’t open his mind like he should.
I’m only 20, so ask me again in 10 years.
I’m smarter than my mom.
My dad however..he may have not went to college, but he’s more intelligent than a lot of adults I know.
Maybe my mom, but i dont compare to my dad, although his is the same age as most people’s grandparents, so he has a bit of time on his side.
It depends on which one.
My mom is really smart, but she’s hideous and mean, and she’s an alcoholic, so I don’t know what’s happened. My dad is really stupid, but he’s manipulative.
I never pay attention to anything, so a lot of times, I look really dumb. My nickname growing up was “genius child” because I do the random things, and I get into so much trouble. I have some sensory issues that make me prefer the night, and I have a difficult time not thrashing around in cities and stuff. Nothing stresses me out. I had people stalking me for awhile insulting, and I was like, and I heard them, noise. It isn’t like this because I’m different now but I randomly focus on things, so I have to look interesting sometimes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Stq_fqKqF74&feature=related I have no fear.
I only know what I come across, which isn’t much. I also don’t understand what I’m supposed to do if I haven’t seen an example. I often just ignore it. I make methods. When thsi first happened, it was really terrible, but it’s gotten better. I’m not autistic, but something similar seemed to happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHyR3Z-M5Kg
Suddenly, I understand how this happens. In the future, they’ll do this to people on purpose because you won’t care, especially if you dont’ have a memory of how you were.
And everybody will be the same intelligent-wise.
I must say, we have our differences. It’s part of our pride.
maybe I’m smarter than my parents in technology
but in life experience? they are smarter than me
Yes, I am smarter than my parents. My mom is a lot of ways, and my dad in not so many ways. I cant say im smarter than my dad because he is really smart and has a high IQ but I know about more stuff than he does in different subjects and he is kind of close minded. My mom is just a ditz that never really got out of her teen years and doesn’t care to. She has been through a lot of shit but has gained seemingly no wisdom through it… unless she has been hiding it all these years and refuses to let it out…
I’d say I’m average when it comes to intelligence. I lack in some areas just as I excel in others. I can say confidently that I am smarter than my parents though. Both biological parents as well as my guardians (aunt and uncle) whom raised me. My mother never even graduated high school and is a convicted felon. I also believe my father did not graduate high school, this I’m not sure of. But he does work two shitty jobs to make ends meet and has 4 kids with 3 women. My aunt and uncle are so far in debt they will never be able to retire. My aunt will have to work until the day she dies so they can struggle through bills each month. Not to mention she’s a workaholic and an alcoholic. She and my uncle both did not graduate high school but I’ll give my aunt this much, she did get her ged. I’m smarter than all of them because I would never make the stupid choices that they did. Smart people just don’t end up with shitty lives the way they all have.
Smarter? perhaps.
Wiser? not in the slightest.
Depending on what subject in, as for choices and skills probably them in some cases.
It’s kind of a funny scenario, really. When it comes to my father, he went straight from high-school to working with glass and eventually went into the construction industry doing windows for high-rise buildings. Last year I completed my BA, and while I’m better educated than he is (which he is incredibly proud of. Education was always very important to him) I have no doubt that is smarter than I am when it comes to instinct and common sense. I’ve always enjoyed watching him work, though we generally work pretty efficiently together, his problem-solving skills are incredible when he doesn’t get frustrated.
My mother, on the other hand, has a MA, so she is still better educated than I am, and despite that I am fairly confident that I am smarter than she is. She hasn’t said it outright, but she has offhandedly implied it a number of times as well, it doesn’t really seem to matter to her.
Ha, ha. No. My mom is a freaking genius.
depends on what type of intelligence… my parents never went to college, and I’m going to have 2 possibly 3 degrees soon, but when it comes to life skills they have more.
I certainly hope so, they are both dead and aren’t smart at all any more.
They tell me I am, but they still have more experience.
My father was definitely more intelligent than I am. My mother is definitely more experienced and creative than I am. I’d say I am more practical than my father and more cerebral than my mother.
Overall, I think we’re all about the same in “smarts”.
~V
There are a lot of areas where my parents are definitely smarter than me.
I know different things than my parents. different life experiences. different education levels. etc… not a fair comparison
Yes.
No I am not.
My dad has me beat. ♥
“Smartness” is pretty subjective. My father did not even graduate high school but I am not sure I could have survived in the same time and situation that he survived and succeeded through… so it depends on the age old argument of measuring “smartness”…
I used to be smarter than my parents, then I got married, got a job, got a house note, and had kids, then my parents seemed a whole lot smarter.
@ShimmerBodyCream - LOL
I’m not. they have a much wider variety of knowledge than I do because of their life experience. But, in some aspects I am. I believe that I understand other people and how they work/why they do the things they do way more than my dad ever will in his life.Â
Smarter? No. They were the ones I always turned to for advice. Being smart isn’t about what you learn in school; it’s how you respond to life. My parents always met life head-on and ready to rumble. I tend to get overwhelmed and retreat from life.
Possibly. I’m better-educated. My dad is CRAZY smart, but only got a 2-year degree. My mom doesn’t have her college degree, but she’s not unintelligent, either. I guess I’ve always held the belief that people are smart in different ways. I might be really book smart, but my dad–whose 2-year degree is in agricultural management–can think of something he needs to make, draft rough blueprints, and build it from scratch, wiring and all. He built his own paint oven, for cripes’ sake.
So, better-educated? Yes. Smarter? Tough call.
@contrarians - Wow that was so cleaver. So that profile picture is your mother.
Hint I called you an SOB. I realize that insult was way over your head.
I am smarter, more worldly, but I am not more wise or experienced.
@grammarboy - I agree
Wrong question. The question should be “Are you wiser than your parents?”
No. Everyone says my dad is a genius. That’s a bit hard to live up to. But then I think I am smarter in other areas, like music. I am a composer, and that takes intelligence. I don’t know if that means I’m “smarter” or I just worked harder in that area. I also have different perspectives on things because of my experiences, but that doesn’t necessarily make me smarter. I think that with all things considered, we’re probably about equal. (even though I doubt anyone will start calling me a genius anytime soon…)
I’m smarter than my father. I’m not smarter than my mom though.
My dad is smart in a very different way than me, that sometimes makes me want to think that he isn’t smart at all, but that isn’t really true.
My mom is dumb, though.
Maybe in terms of skill, but she’s book-smart.
Academically speaking I am smarter than my dad, but not my mom. Common sense-wise I am smarter than my mom, but not my dad.
Maybe not smarter, but definitely wiser.
Both of my folks have masters degrees. I do not. So no I am not. I will say that I am smarter than the tea baggers on xanga but that is like boasting that I have higher vertical than a double amputee.
i’m smarter than my parents, but most people are smarter than my parents.
Smarter, maybe in a few ways, Wiser, I don’t know if that will ever be possible because life is much easier for us than it was for them. Technology seems to drain street smarts from people!
I am in no way smarted than my Dad was he had only a 3ed grade education and was a master at math and designed and built beautiful homes
80-90%? That seems like an exaggeration. I should hope, at least, that I am smarter than my mother. My mother is emotionally unstable and legally defined as learning deficient. She just knows how to speak in a clear voice, strangely enough.
Probably not.
Father yes, mother no. I am currently a pure and applied mathematics major, but currently my mother outperformed me in comparison to her undergraduate. Maybe once I begin my PhD. in mathematics I wil be smarter or just have tried harder haha.
Oh, no doubt, no doubt, yo.
My father is an extremely intelligent man, which has always surprised me since he never finished high school. My mother has more life experience than I do, and I think in that way she is smarter than I. I am young, and I’ve got a lot of learning left to do.
I’m probably “smarter” academically, as in what my mom was taught in school vs. what I was taught in school…and the length of time we’ve been out of school.
Common sense, hell no. My mom is much, much wiser than I am.
I see much in their lives that I would never have done and cannot for the life of me fathom why they did. They, together, each have caused me so much pain that many many times and to this day I wish they had never even met each other. My dad is definitely smarter than my mom, but he is a class A jerk. He hasn’t a clue about those things that matter most in life. But he knows history and electronics. I think I might be smarter than both of them, but I hope I never end up like either of them and that none of my children ever think of me the way I think of them.
@ShimmerBodyCream - considering he basically sits back and lets the Muslims stomp on him, it’s a common misconception that doesn’t look too far from the truth.
Me? Uh. No. I’m not. I don’t think. In the end, we all have inflated egos and assume we’re better than everyone else–but the same person you’re saying you’re better than is saying the same shit about you.
@mtngirlsouth - What, then, matters most in life? It’s an objective answer. So what matters most in life?
I am at least as smart as my parents. I would not venture to say more. My mom is more socially aware than I am, also, and my dad is smarter with money than I am.
@nanoJAM - When you adopt a son it should matter enough that you do not tell him as a teen to do the world a favor and commit suicide. Also, it matters to provide for your family and not force them to do such things as count tater tots so that you do not fight with your children over who got more food. Those things are more than objective.
Yes. And my children would answer yes also.
I’m more booksmart than they, but in terms of experiences and such, obviously they are much more shrewd in that area.
Yes. I am smarter than my parents. Im not afraid to say it. I am one of those 80-90% … I always think that my ways are better. And most of the time they are. haha… that’s just me. Im not ashamed. I may have some areas that I dont always know and I also admit to calling Mommy. BUT, there are definatly cases in which my parents just wouldnt know how to handle the situation. I know what to do because Im an observer. I watch others and learn from their mistakes, thus making me smarter. When I go down a road Ive seen others take and I get to a fork in the road…. I remember when they went left they tripped over the log in the middle of the path. I take a right at that turn then instead. But do I know what to do during a depression?? I’d go to my grandparents for help. Im smart because i know how to ask for help, my parents dont.
@mtngirlsouth - Not causing fights? Sounds moderately humanitarian. Saying that? A lack of familial values.
The problem is, you’re assuming the more important things of life, to everyone, is relationships [familial, friendly, romantic, close, etc]. That is not the case.
I think in certain situations I am, just as they are smarter than me in others. For example, I’m a lot smarter when it comes to dealing with people my age because I understand their sarcasm but if someone makes a threat jokingly, my parents don’t understand it and completely freak out. My mom and dad are smarter when it comes to things that I’m still learning about. I think I’m able to learn a lot faster than they are, but I think they’re a lot wiser than I am in the areas of life that I haven’t been able to experience yet.
I have had much more education than both of my parents, and am much more in tune with technology and current events, but as for smarter, who knows?
Hm. Well both my parents are pretty smart, but dad seems like a genius to me. I don’t think I’m smarter than them, but I’m happy they passed on their intelligence to me, because i’m pretty smart too. Anyways, somebody who commented earlier (i don’t feel like going to look) said his/her parents are dumb for not going to college? I feel like that’s bullshit, because my father never went to college and my mother only has her associates degree. Just because people don’t have college degrees doesn’t necessarily make them less smart than the average. Get a grip.
@interstellarmachine - And that’s one of the reasons I like you.
Speaking strictly IQ-wise, I am right on par with Dad and smarter than Mom. Mom has way more common sense than I do.
my rents r dumb as rocks, im da smart nerdy girl
Or maybe it’s because Xangans really ARE smarter than the average person on the street. Perhaps smart people gravitate to Xanga.
Hell no. I have a high IQ but they are definitely smarter than me, even though neither have had tests for it.
America has a failing educational system. This is the first time in years that kids coming out of school are going to be less educated than their parents. Usually education increases, kids learn more as time marches on. This generation of kids is the exception to the rule.
about certain subjects,
my dad knows more about business, so he’s smart in making money.
my mom knows more about life, so she’s smart in saving money/ solving problems.
about most academic subjects.. probably. (except history)
With the technology & english/ reading skills, I’m smarter, because neither of my parents read well, or can write well in the least bit.
With everything else? They win.
My dad is a math GENIUS…
And my mom is incredibly wise. so yeah. xD
I wish I was smarter than either one of them… but alas. I am smarter than a lot of people with regards to many things, and not so smart with regards to others.
I don’t think I’m that much smarter than my parents. However I do think that I have applied my intelligence alot more than they have and developed it past thiers.
@PervyPenguin - Depending on the source of fire, it does.
I wasn’t smarter than my dad. Then again, his IQ was wayyyy up there so he was smarter than everyone.
I know I’m smarter than my mom. I hate to say it, but she’s an idiot.
I’m an effin ‘tard compared to a lot of my peers. And I know it. — I think this is the problem when going into a good engineering school. =|
as for ‘smarter’ than my parents. That really depends on what ‘smarter’ means. Do I ask my parents for advice still? hell yeah. Does that mean that they can help me do my multi-variate differential homework– doubt it.
I used to have the opposite problem… I think I’m stupider than most people when I am actually not
@nanoJAM - It must be nice to think you know so much. Did you know that human babies will die if they are not given love? They can be given every thing they physically need, but if they do not get enough love, they will still die. And babies with medical problems heal faster when they are given attention from a loving person.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maia-szalavitz/how-orphanages-kill-babie_b_549608.html
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19720110&id=qk8fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vdEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=850,2890227
Humans were designed with a need for human love. And anyone who does not know that relationships, especially with ones own blood kin, are more valuable than much of anything else, then they are simply very sad people. Mentally emotionally healthy people are never isolated.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_n2578_v122/ai_13196253/
yes, I am -if you need proof I can give examples
mom and dad had the hardest time understanding DNA and genes-mother said that all we had from dad was a sperm but we got her blood from her family and that the last 2 kids have other peoples blood that we don’t know cause she had a blood transfusion before they were born.
dad just sat there and agreed.
Without a doubt
@mtngirlsouth - Babies, yes, teenagers, no. Ahhh, and one forgets the story of Genie, where she was neglected for 13 years… did not die, just had issues with learning as the gap of learning was passed.
I understand our natural instincts of the need of being accepted, you don’t need to inform me.
I’m not mentally and emotionally healthy? I have few friends, I take months off in my lone, locking myself indoors not to talk to other people until, eh, I feel like coming back ’round. Are you gonna say I have an issue? You are thinking of the extroverted mentally sound person, not the introverted mentally sound. People are different.
My family doesn’t mean shit to me. But I seem to have an idea that only those who deserve it should receive it. I cannot say my parents deserve that. I cannot say my brother deserves that.
People are different. There is no one case where everything goes, except that we are born and that we die, of course. And personally, close relationships don’t mean as much to me as the state, politics, the pursuit of knowledge.
@nanoJAM - I don’t think my parents, especially my father, deserve it either.
@aWishfulCynic - I agree.
I’m a different type of intelligent than my mother. I’m book clever whereas she’s wise. My dad thinks I’m more intelligent than he is, but I’m not convinced he’s right because he thinks I’m better at everything than everyone else (and believe it or not, he isn’t always right.)
Personally, I have an “above average” IQ if that’s worth anything. That doesn’t mean much to me, because I’ve seen Big Bang Theory and I realize that you can have an IQ of 160 and still be hilariously dim witted.
But, my parents gave me their genes and I owe every ounce of intelligence I have to them. They were intelligent enough to raise me to value education. Without that childhood, I might not be as smart as I am. I don’t know if I’m more or less intelligent than them, because I certainly am not a book keeper, or a salesman. I’m not an engineer, or a manager. And I’ve never bought a house. Let alone sold one, and bought another within 3 days.
My parents have a lot on me. But we’re all three smart people.
Being smarter and being more intelligent are two different things. I think to myself that I’m smarter than my mom, but that’s because my mom, in terms of her behavior, doesn’t really do “smart” things, and she always has to be right or get overly emotional (the overreacting kind). I think to myself that my dad’s smarter than me on the other hand. He goes on about his business with a good attitude, can answer questions as best as he can, and doesn’t tell me to ask my mom because he’s too stressed or tired, even though he’s most likely both.
However, when it comes to intelligence, I may have a higher understanding of mathematics compared to both of my parents, but my mom is quite knowledgeable with nutritional information, and my dad is good with social science information. They have different strengths and weaknesses in different areas. If you asked specific categories, I can give an opinion of who I think is smarter between the three of us. Their overall knowledge should be greater than mine, though, since they have years of educational experience ahead of me, not to mention that they’re both, at the minimum, bilingual.
Their first language not being English, my dad has a great grasp of the language. My mom can speak fluently, too, but she’ll still say things such as “Open the TV,” or something like that. In terms of her native tongue, that would be acceptable to say to turn on the TV. That being said, people speaking another language may not seem as intelligent due to language barriers or words getting mixed up or even lost in translation. Even if you understand your parents, you still might compare them to others within the community you live in, finding their speech patterns sub-par, then compare yourself with how others communicate, feeling yourself closer to their level. I wanted to point this out because there are people like that who can’t really say how much smarter they are than their parents/guardians because you can’t communicate effectively with them.
My dad is a prof at my school…so nope!
No, my dad is very smart. I am about average.? lol!
Um, multiple intelligences.
People tend to judge their peers with their own best area in mind. I’m an arts/humanities person, and I’m 100% guilty of this. If I see someone fail to comprehend a classical philosophy text/art-house film/historical primary source, I’ll be more inclined to think of them as dim. Logically, I can appreciate that they might be skilled in other areas, but emotionally I can’t seem to shake the feeling of superiority.
I would imagine that most people feel some variant on this. I’m trying to resist it, because I’m aware of how ridiculous it is.
Anyway, am I smarter than my parents? I’m not entirely sure. They’re both extremely intelligent people, and the consensus seems to be that they’ve produced a good “specimen”.
Welll… I’m smarter then my dad in the book smarts way. However my mom has a PhD, so no…
I am not smarter then my dad in the common sense way. I believe I inherited it from my mom, who I outrank there. I mean, she’s the type of person to…. I don’t know spray a bees nest with a gardening hose, while watering her flowers, because she doesn’t want them to sting someone. But then they all attack her. So in the grand scheme of things, yes and no. It’s all in how you look at it.
No. My mother lived through history (The Great Depression) so did my Dad (World War II).
I don’t think I’m smarter, but I definitely have a different way of thinking than they do. I have studied a lot more than they have, so I’m more erudite. But that doesn’t mean that I’m necessarily smarter.
hmm. i have a better education. I’m better with cars, psychology, history, computers, and religion. My mom’s a nurse, she’s got me beat hands-down on medical knowledge, and my father’s math skills and construction knowledge far outweigh mine
my parents have told me multiple times that i’m smarter than they are. that doesn’t make them bad people, it just means that they couldn’t ever help me with my homework in high school…now that i’m in college, i have to explain a majority of my assignments/classes, but that’s fine too. it gives us something to talk about.
i think my parents are smarter than i am in a lot of ways too…i mean, if they weren’t i wouldn’t ask them for advice so often, right?
My parents were above average intelligence, but they had no wisdom. I would say I equal them in intelligence and exceeded them in wisdom.
I know things they don’t, but the same is true of them. They’ve also had longer to learn though, so it’s not surprising.
My mother and father are absolutely brilliant. I am not.
probs, or will be anyway
No. My parents run rings around me. My father is a maths wizz, my mother has common sense, something that I am severely lacking.
Sure I have a couple of universities degrees, while they have primary school education, but being “smart” is not about university education.
mama’s going for a PhD, and papa’s always been the smartest man to me. i still listen to their wise advise for help every so often, so no.
if i was smarter, i wouldn’t need all the help i’m getting.
It’s always irked me that people of what seems like average/slightly below average intelligence are always the ones who talk about how much smarter they are than everyone else.
Uhh. I’m definately smarter than my mom… Hard to say with my dad. He says I’m smarter than he is, but I think he just doesn’t give himself enough credit.
Most definitely. I can problem solve and elevate my thinking in order to accomplish whatever it is I want. I think a lot of “wisdom” they gained through experience doesn’t apply to me because I’m growing up in a different country during a different time.
@PervyPenguin - being smarter and being more educated are two different things. I doubt you realize that, which in all honesty isn’t very smart.
Oh dear Lord no. My dad is a retired Plant Operations Engineer, Trekkie, random fact spewer, and mid-level carpenter. I’d have to study non-stop for the rest of my natural life to try and catch up to him.
I think I have the upper hand with technology (computers, touch-screen cell phone, etc.), but that’s only because he’s responsible for getting my first computer at the tender age of 9. No no. Daddy Bear reigns supreme and I’m proud to be the spawn absorbing his wisdom. If my mother were still around (bless her radiant soul), I’m sure she’d be just as scholarly and worldly. She was a Kindergarten teacher with a love for old languages, cooking, and art.
This is an INCREDIBLY broad question. What exactly is smart?
There’s people with hardly any education at all who make it very big in this world. Are they considered smart?
There’s people with very extensive educations who go nowhere. Are they considered smart?
Do lots of mistakes make someone dumb? Do many successes make someone smart? If that’s the case, what endeavors that people pursue are classified as smart? You can succeed at many generally useless or non-productive tasks, while you can screw up many incredibly difficult and extremely productive tasks.
I don’t know what I am, but I’m willing to learn and learn from/admit my mistakes, so I hope that accounts for something. I’m a dipshit teenager so of course I believe I’m smarter than my parents at times. But I know that my mother at least is extremely intelligent, does what’s right, and is a very caring compassionate woman who’s achieved what’s important in life. I may not be able to define exactly what smart is, but I know she would fall under any definition of the word.
I also realize I’d probably fall short of any definition of the word.
I think your made up statistic of 80-90 percent is highly innacurate, because many MANY people are very self critical and forever resent themselves here and there for ‘stupid’ mistakes they’ve made in their lives. Since there’s no clear cut definition for what smart is, of course people will believe they don’t live up to that title, just like many will believe they fit and excell that title completely! It’s really conditional anyways, I think if anyone said they haven’t done a single thing in their life that wasn’t smart, they’d be full of shit.
Some People are just flat out stupid.They may be good at one or two things but in general they are stupid. Can we help that? I really cant help that the stupider people are the better jobs they get and the more money they make with the less work they do. Does anyone else see this point?
My father is alomst 90. He reads Natl. Geo, Scientific American, can build wooden colonial style furniture and paint landscapes and still life, and has the financial acumen of an accountant. We discuss philosophy, history, and politics. About the only thing I can do better than him is climb stairs, program a VCR, and run a PC.
Yeah, academically and scientifically speaking I am smarter than them but they definitely know how the world works and how to handle certain situations better. And the latter can sometimes be quite more beneficial lol.
There are different kinds of smarts. In some ways, I am smarter. In other ways, I am far from it. I am more about knowing how to make things work than memorizing things. I also have better insight into people than my mother did.
About the same. But I’m more street-wise i guess you could say. For example my mum doesn’t think sexual harassment happens anymore. =S
Yes. I’ve had more education though. My parents unfortunately did not get to do the whole college thing.
I think I’m as smart as my parents.
Book smart, yes.
But no way in hell I will ever be smarter than my parents. They immigrated to America and made a life from having absolutely nothing to living comfortably in New York City, and enough money to bring their large families to New York & to send their two kids to college and grad school. I don’t think I could ever be able to do that.
I have the higher IQ, plus more education with better grades. That’s not everything though, and they seem to have more of what really matters.
Nope. Different then them, and in some ways smarter sure, but that’s where the rub is…we all have area’s where we excel and are superior then average.