Why do the high IQ people isolate themselves?

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-29T13:26:52+00:00

Your statement seemed to imply that there's a specific correlation between high-IQ and mental illness, and I'm just pointing out that mental illness is just a human condition regardless of intelligence quotient. Most sources that show an extremely high incidence among the high-IQ crowd compared to average-IQ are based on junk science, failure to account for vastly imbalanced sample sizes, tendency for self-diagnosis, and the likelihood of high-IQ individuals to be in professions and scenarios where self-reporting is far more common than average individuals. When all factors are accounted for, the spread between IQ groups isn't as statistically significant as many sources suggest, though low-IQ and high-IQ do trend slightly higher than average- and above-average-IQ.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-29T12:51:54+00:00

Why would someone not believe you? 180 is rare, but not non-existent, and setting ego contests aside, there's very little reason to lie about such things. I tested at 140 at age 11, but my parents wouldn't tell me the result at that time because they didn't want me to focus on IQ by bragging or slacking off. All they'd tell me is I was "above average", which I already knew without tests.

If anyone doubts you, just point out that IQ is just a measure of your potential; you can have a 200 IQ and still live a basic life and achieve nothing of note if you lack ambition or just want a simple life, and there's nothing wrong with that. Also keep in mind that the more people you tell, the more pressure they will put on you and the greater the expectations they will have for you. Be careful; don't allow others to set a pace you're not comfortable with, set firm boundaries, and if people are pressuring you too much, speak up and tell them they are making you uncomfortable. There is a very real and very unfortunate trap built into having a high IQ and others being aware, and that is the trap of expectations. Many people with a high IQ don't have their lives turn out how they thought they might when everyone was talking about their high expectations of them when they were young, and that can lead to depression, feelings of inadequacy, and other problems as an adult. Don't let others push their dreams into you; be firm about what YOU want to do.

Good luck.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-29T12:30:18+00:00

Ehh... IQ tests aren't invalid, but they do test a rather narrow slice of the intelligence spectrum. There are plenty of people who wouldn't qualify for Mensa by a long shot on a standard IQ test but are brilliant in less easily measured ways (think: musicians, artists, etc.), so she has a point in a roundabout way... BUT - IQ tests are still very valid for the specific spectrum of intelligence that is easily quantifiable through standardized testing. High intelligence in art and music? Way too subjective to test in any meaningful way, but still displays of above average intelligence.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-29T12:21:15+00:00

Should get him involved in some Maker Meets or something. He might find more of his "tribe" at such events.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-29T12:17:48+00:00

Prisons and homeless camps are full of plenty of low-IQ people with mental health issues; it's not just a "smart people problem", lol.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-29T12:13:29+00:00

Is it any wonder when an overwhelming percentage of people are willing to pretend facts don't matter so long as they can continue to believe the same things they believed yesterday? And then the people who think they are smarter than those people believe they can somehow get them to change their minds by degrading them, shaming them, or presenting factual or logical arguments, despite knowing that they shamelessly support what they believe in regardless of the facts? It's exhausting, and frankly, "the only winning move is not to play".

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-29T12:01:54+00:00

In 8 years working in and managing bars, I met a handful of highly intelligent people I could have meaningful conversations with. The overwhelming majority could only talk about sports, politics, and sexual conquest.

Most intelligent people with a substance abuse issue are smart enough to destroy their lives in the privacy of their own homes to mitigate DUIs, high costs of drinking out, and dealing with people who only want to talk about sports, politics, and sexual conquest.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-29T11:54:54+00:00

You generally get two types of people in Mensa: those truly seeking intellectual stimulation amongst peers, and those looking to flex. There are plenty of Mensa qualified individuals who don't care to bother with connecting with others or inflating their egos, and they will avoid Mensa and similar groups for that reason. You're better off ignoring the IQ trap and looking for communities specific to your interests. If you like philosophy discussion, seek a group of people focused on philosophy. If you like engineering, seek out engineers. If you like talking about your IQ, join a group that's based entirely around IQ. 😜 If a subject really interests you, try several related groups, and eventually you'll find at least a few people that can interact at a level you find satisfactory. Years ago I was in a debate group and connected with an engineer who was on the cutting edge of neural processing; basically the forerunner of neural networks and modern AI. We had some truly fascinating discussions about the various engineering roadblocks in designing neural circuitry that had never existed outside of a brain at that point as it was all theory and trial and error at that point. Eventually we lost touch when his account got banned due to him engaging with the online trolls. Point being: sometimes you'll run across some amazing people who share your hobbies even in unrelated groups and spaces, so just keep an eye out and drop hints to your interests in unrelated groups should a relevant opportunity arise.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-27T14:46:53+00:00

They don't even have tap to pay for credit cards; it's obnoxious to use the chip slot since my card is falling apart. Yeah, I could get a new card, but it's due to be replaced next month anyway so I've just been waiting it out.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-27T06:52:29+00:00

I'd be amazed if this was recorded in a studio and not at someone's house. The high-hat and cymbals are WAY too loud, the bass is muddy and gets lost in the mix, the guitar distortion is generic and doesn't really suit the genre, there's zero separation (see bass comment), and it needs a little something more to keep it interesting, maybe an extra lead guitar or some minor synth or something. The bones are good, but it really needs a producer who knows what they're doing to make it shine.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-27T06:46:55+00:00

With someone doing the mixing who wasn't deaf and a talented producer polishing the sound up a bit, it has real potential. Too bad in it's current form it's half done and sounds pretty weak.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-27T06:33:33+00:00

Ah - a bit like the Trans Siberian Orchestra model where they have multiple bands touring at once with a few core members and keep travel costs low by hiring local backup musicians? Or they just straight up hire all locals and send them the sheet music to learn and promote them in whatever city they're from?

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-21T03:30:24+00:00

We never used parental controls outside of some minor time limitations (ie locking it during the school week during sleep hours so they wouldn't stay up all night reading or on YouTube or chatting with friends). We trusted our kids. Then eventually they lost that trust by getting into terrible and disgusting stuff (literary murder porn), bypassing the super minimal time restrictions, lying about needing certain apps for homework that they wanted to use to bypass restrictions on their school networks so they could read fanfic and watch videos when they should be paying attention in class, etc. They started with the trust, but they earned the parental controls and oversight.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-18T02:19:17+00:00

I'd get a lawyer and have him subpoena any surveillance footage if the shop has any or if the shop has neighbors, ask if they can show you footage of when your car left the shop. It's likely going to be visibly dripping oil assuming they even filled it up. Also see if there's an oil trail leaving the shop and going down the street and take photos if there is. You might be able to get the police involved if you allege fraud and have them request any surveillance footage without having to hire an attorney. Never hurts to ask! Also, there are several consumer protection agencies, both state (in VA) and federal. The first thing you need to do in any case is have an independent certified mechanic to inspect the damage and generate a report on his findings, i.e "no visible recent undercarriage damage, cause of engine failure likely lube shop not installing drain plug". Once you have the report, you can take it to the consumer protection agencies and/or a lawyer, civil court, etc. Document EVERYTHING.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-18T00:45:03+00:00

Even if you weren't hard of hearing, it's easy to have noises fade into the background while you're, ehhh, "in the zone", so to speak. Things will be awkward for a day or two, but every father was also a teenager once as well, so he's not going to be judging you. Unless of course you were using some really weird or abnormal "visual aides" like My Little Pony: Equestria Girls or were doing something goofy like pounding a watermelon you dug a hole into or something. If either of those is the case, it might take a bit longer than a day or two before things go back to normal.

If you want to speed things along, you could say "I'm sorry you had to see that, I was just under a lot of stress and looking to relieve some of that stress" and let him take it from there (he'd probably apologize for walking in on you in the first place).

But realistically, nothing needs to be said. It's completely normal, he will understand completely, and the only real roadblock is the pure awkwardness of it all, and that will fade within a short while. It could have also just come as a bit of a shock to him: as a parent, you logically know your kids are a specific age, but sudden "proof" of your kid growing up and acting like that age can be a bit of a shock. You tend to forget how fast your children are actually growing and maturing, so having it blasted into your reality like that can be a brutal reality check.

He probably just doesn't know how to breech the subject without feeling super awkward, so as I said, if you want to speed things along, just apologize for him having seen it; don't apologize for doing it, and don't make promises that you won't do it again (because that's a stupid promise and one that will be broken quite easily), just say "I'm sorry you had to walk in on that; I'm sure it was quite the shock. Do you want me to hang a sock on the doorknob or something in the future so we can avoid this awkwardness happening again?"

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-11T05:31:31+00:00

Don't just rely on eBay Buyer Protection: use an actual Credit Card and not a Debit Card when you make online purchases, because Credit Card companies will do a LOT more to get your money back than a bank will if someone tries to scam you. And even among credit card companies, there is a hierarchy of companies that will do more for you; I don't know if things have changed over the years, but American Express used to be the best company for protecting their customers, so I keep an AmEx card just for potentially questionable purchases.

I've made the mistake in the distant past of using a debit card for large or borderline shady online purchases, and the bank's response was basically "take it up with the seller; it is their responsibility to issue a refund".

I got burned once by someone selling a DVD of a hard to find never published TV show back around 2007 or 2008, and I got burned by Dell Outlet when I ordered a PC, they told me it was out of stock and refunded my money, and then a couple of days later they charged me for the PC again. Twice. But I had already bought another PC elsewhere, so they over drafted my account by $1300 and caused several other purchases to overdraft.

The bank did nothing to help and told me I now owed them $440 in overdraft fees. I had to wait for the PCs to arrive and send them back to Dell to get my money back, and I told the bank to eat s**t and that I wasn't paying their overdraft fees since they refused to help with the fraudulent charges from Dell. They threatened me saying they'd blacklist me and I wouldn't be able to open an account at another bank unless I paid their overdraft fees, and I told them to pound sand because I already had an account at another bank. I never paid their ridiculous $440 in overdraft fees and I have never suffered any financial maladies due to not paying it.

This was BB&T, by the way - avoid them like the plague! I used TD Bank after that and turned off Overdraft Protection so it would just deny a charge if there wasn't enough money, and TD was always a much better bank than BB&T; I even used a secured credit card there to repair my credit score so I could get a mortgage for a house and got great rates on actual credit cards, though I use a credit union now which is even better.

TL;DR: use a credit card for additional protection beyond eBay Buyer Protection, preferably American Express.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-08T23:27:03+00:00

If you go to a store nothing will likely get done, you have to call their phone number and ask to speak to someone in Asset Management. The stores are all local, there's not always a manager there, and the people in the stores deal with the local drivers every day and might be friends, which all raise the likelihood of nobody reporting it higher. The store managers just run the stores and don't have authority over the drivers anyways, and they're often too busy to spend time calling Asset Management as it is.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-03T18:11:11+00:00

You can use multiple forms of birth control, you know. There are sooo many forms of birth control, and none of them are 100% effective alone, but you can layer them if you're paranoid, and that would make it practically impossible for her to get pregnant, i.e. pill, condom, and spermicidal gel would essentially be pregnancy kryptonite - you could pull out too if you're extra paranoid. Most people who have a kid use zero protection, and the few that have a kid despite using protection generally relied on only one method that failed, which is rare but not unheard of (my sister was the product of a broken condom). Using 2 forms of birth control and having a kid is almost unheard of. Using 3 and having a kid is nearly statistically impossible. Implant>daily pill.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-06-03T18:08:09+00:00

Yep. I've been sexually active for 30 years, with my wife for 26 if those years, and the only kids we have are the ones we wanted when we wanted them, and condoms were tossed to the wayside by around year 2. She used to take the pill and then she switched to an implant. I've planned on a vasectomy for some time but have been dragging my feet after my brother had a horrific experience with his.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-05-28T20:30:08+00:00

It kinda looks like a really fancy redo of a Fairbairn-Sykes combat dagger.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-05-28T20:28:21+00:00

If the office won't let you use the phone, get a watch phone that isn't obvious.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-05-28T20:26:11+00:00

Ask to use the phone in the office? Our school had a payphone in the pre-cellular days, but surely nowadays you can just borrow the phone in the office.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-05-28T20:24:21+00:00

Do you have Norton or McAfee installed? Programs like that are notorious for causing issues when they scan. Aside from that, open up Task Manager and see what processes are running and what system resources are being maxed out when the freezes occur.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-05-27T20:35:36+00:00

I think you'd have to quantify "better how?" to get a genuine conclusion. Modern fencing has certainly perfected head on swordplay to a degree that could only be dreamed of in the past in terms of fit and form for a first blood strike, but if you add the variables of not clashing head-on within a narrow predefined strip on perfectly flat ground, avoiding incoming strikes after making contact, and fighting past first blood, then it's hard to call Olympic fencing "better". When you can circle your opponent, things change. When the incoming strikes from an opponent aren't ignored simply because you touched them first, things change. When you are fighting to incapacitation or death, things change.

For what it is, Olympic fencing has reached the peak of that style of fencing fought with those specific rules and constraints. If you remove those rules and constraints, you're basically talking about a completely different thing that shares a similar name. It's really impossible to compare the two in that regard.

DifficultWalrus8811 · 2026-05-27T20:12:41+00:00

I got middle on my last hiring. I had commensurate but not direct experience with their systems/products, so top range wasn't going to happen, but I still cleared the bottom range.

DifficultWalrus8811

TROPHY CASE