[1337biz]

You assume that complying with social norms attracts the most brilliant/informed people.

[GenerocUsername]

It's very 'reddit' to assume the brightest people share the same societal conventions as themselves.

[subsistence234]

from the perspective of average redditors, intelligence is obedience to social norms. obedience is their highest virtue, and the more intelligent you are, the better at obeying you can be.