how to cope with being smarter than everyone around you?

I think you have to. Dumb yourself down that is.

Honestly, we are dealing with this topic right now in marital counseling with the help of very qualified professionals.

Shrinkydinks recognized the issue immediately - they said it's a shame my parents didn't. I have issues because my family does not perform up to my expectations - I feel like they just don't "get it". I feel like I know what they need to do to solve their problems but they refuse to listen or change. Spouse knows I see things differently and is "just trying to keep up".

The thing is, even though my solutions to all the (relatively minor) problems are likely right and effective, I am not the boss of them.

In my line of work, I know a whole lot of people who are at the top end of the curve, and many of them (if not most) have MAJOR social problems. At work, I'm an anomaly because a I have family and real family problems. My spouse is always floored when meeting people from work. They are very different from the norm.

The trick is to remember that even though you are "smarter" than most, there are people "smarter" than you. How would you feel if they, the smarter people, constantly told you what is best for you?

The bell curve is a fact. People on either side - top 5% and bottom 5% - perceive the world very, very differently from those in the middle 90%. The trick for those in the top 5% is to realize that, logically, there is nothing gained from reminding others that they are "smarter" than the rest. The world benefits from the action of these people, but there is likely a huge negative result (definitely personal and possibly sociological) from making others feel inferior.

Use your brain and the logical constructs that it recognizes. Think everything through with a calm, clear mind, and do it on a good day. It will soothe your soul and the souls of those who love you. Be grateful and humble that you were born intelligent.

I speak on their level and avoid sounding too intelligent. To simple-minded people, high intelligence sounds like stupidity.

Also, you have to love people.

Childhood trauma and the like can block that, and, for the logical, intelligent person, that has to be worked out.

If you can get past the negative that you perceive to be a result of your intelligence compared to the intelligence of others, you'll be a master.

I'm still working on that.

OP, I use this quote from Jesus to keep me humble:

AND there was a certain man who was blind from his birth. And he denied that there were such things as Sun, Moon, and Stars, or that colour existed. And they tried in vain to persuade him that other people saw them; and they led him to Iesus, and he anointed his eyes and made him to see.
11. And he greatly rejoiced with wonder and fear, and confessed that before he was blind. And now after this, he said, I see all, I know everything, I am god.
12. And Iesus again said unto him, How canst thou know all? Thou canst not see through the walls of thine house, nor read the thoughts of thy fellow men, nor understand the language of birds, or of beasts. Thou canst not even recall the events of thy former life, conception, or birth.
13. Remember with humility how much remains unknown to thee, yea, unseen, and doing so, thou mayest see more clearly

Jesus, Gospel of the Holy Twelve

start your own business and get their $.

lol

That's my take on it too. Nobody like someone who things they know everything.
How do I cope? Not well. I'm pretty much disgusted with humanity and my fellow Americans. I can't believe they got away with 911, but it looks like they did. I keep my interaction to a minimum, and try not to let loose on the people that I meet. Women (and men) driving while talking on cell phones drive me to apoplexy. People at the checkout lines (and talking on their cellphones) have me taking deep breaths to stay in control. old women who hold the line up writing checks because they can't understand a debit card make me cry inside.
People who want to control everyone else irritate the shit out of me.

I want to live in a cabin deep in the woods, away from society.

I don't think that was in my bible.

I agree. To soothe me I moved to the mountains. We have neighbors, but they are few and leave us alone.

I love this mountaineer culture.

Every man for themselves is appealing.

Watch the movie Idiocracy. It'll help you communicate with us "dumb folks".

OP, don't worry. Most people are not nearly as smart or nearly as good looking as they think they are.

If you really are so super smart, then use some of your Rhodes Scholar money to buy yourself a beer. That'll take the edge off.

AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Yea it's real tough with an IQ of .308!!

MMMMMM you have heard of the ignore value YES?

AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

You avoid the morons, like the plague.

Just because someone doesn't conform to whatever your personal definition of being smart is, it doesn't necessarily mean what they're said isn't valid or without merit.

Everyone deserves the respect of having their ideas heard, whether good or bad.

It's not what they say, rather how someone with intelligence answers them.

While you might want to tell them their an absolute idiot, it's hurtful to them, nothing is learned, and it makes you look like a pompous ass, and that's not good for either of you.

There are better ways. A true mark of intelligence is being able to tell someone they're wrong, without insulting them, while at the same time educating them without them thinking your a arrogant jerk.

When you can do that, you can call yourself enlightened.

Cope by practicing humility.

I'm smart and good-looking.

Terrible curse.

What's very difficult for me is that I want to listen to people and exchange ideas even if it's on their level. The problem is that most people are egodriven and get very emotional whenever you discuss real ideas. It's very hard not to shut down when they get all crazy and start talking emotional nonsense instead of rising above and using rational thought.

My partner and I have genius level IQ's yet we are some of the most dysfunctional morons you may ever meet :). When I was younger, I had the occasion where I thought as you did but with age comes perspective. Being "smart" is no arbiter of success. Being "stupid" is no sentence to misery. I have learned not only that peoples IQ's fluctuate greatly over time, but that each person has their own special field of talent, no matter how mediocre or challenged they me be in other areas. I guess though, to answer your question... don't sweat it. We are all different. Yes, there are some people that are maddeningly dense, but the only thing you can do is simply ignore them and their existence. Just as you would ignore a madman or a thug who harrassed you. Just deal with the encounter when it happens and toss it from the memory banks so it doesn't get you down.....

People who are obsessed with the written language and spelling are left brainer, they are too much into details, and most of the time do not see the big picture, and un- able to connect the dots...

I usually have my mp3 player in my ears so people don't try to talk to me. When I am forced to enter a conversation with someone with below average intelligence I usually just listen to what they say, and try not to comment much. Even if i think they are way off I just agree with whatever they say, and think of what an idiot they are in my head. There's no use trying to correct them because a) it will just upset them b)they probably still wouldn't understand.

Not necessarily...

I am left handed/right brained. Artist/Poetess/Inventor in the past (no time for such frivolities now) and web designer now. Yet, I have always been obsessed with the written word. Spelling bee freak in school. Language arts major in college. So on and so forth. Generalities are crap.......

Same story for me.

Ditto.
While I realise there are more intelligent persons than myself, I cannot stand to listen to some dipstick (male or female) who thinks they know it all and won't listen to reason. They don't WANT to be informed on anything except gossip. I guess that's all their little brains can handle.
You can't hold a reasonable conversation with these people.

I don't go outside much, eh

When I do, I talk on their level (I spent years learning to make 'small talk'...heh).

I'm friendly; I say something encouraging or funny.



They usually like me...

I refuse to dumb down to get along. Really, I'm easy to get along with because I assume people are smart until they prove they are not. then, I do all I can to shield myself from the damage they always inflict if they get the chance.

My greatest problem isn't how I treat others. It's how others treat me when they realize just how smart I am. they like to do things to hurt me, and then say if I was so smart I would have prevented their damage. I encounter a lot of jealousy. It's unfounded, fear based.

I do not use my intelligence to hurt anyone. That is what really pisses my siblings and my s.o. off. They can't cause me to do mean things the way that they do.

So, I keep to myself mostly. I'm very social by nature, but the more people I let in, the more likely I am to be hurt deliberately. I'm fed up with fixing the messes they make in my life.

If you believe GLP is full of people with IQs in the 130+ range, you can't be that bright. They haven't even given a copy of an IQ test, verified by the an authority on IQs, to show they have any IQ whatsoever. That's right, I find much on GLP can only come from the brainless.

I do the same thing.

:Distractio:
She looks like here IQ is far below 85
Nice tits though

Not at all.

I just refuse to socialize with anybody i think is a moron, i actually know people who think reading is boring.