| > And then there are smart people. Like, what’s it even like to have a brain that works that fast? There are many strategies for intelligence and they may diverge such that one doesn’t necessarily have the advantages and disadvantages of another you might as an outsider compare. In fact it is usually the case that smarties too similar despise or avoid each other, surrounding themselves with those antithetical to themselves. > For them, life must be a breeze—understanding stuff in school, solving equations, or explaining things to others. You’re mixed up. The ones who do well in school are conventional, they usually do above average and rarely take risks. The ones who outshine everyone else do terrible in school and often rough it for a few years before pulling their shit together. > They’re just... built different. They don’t need to try too hard; they just know they’re right or wrong, and convincing others? Easy. Now I’m a masterful convincer, and I have to say it was all that time fighting my own compulsions and spinning thoughts that pulled me through. The smarties are those learning from their mistakes and self improving without external drama. The normals are rationalizing their faults and blending their errors into averaging successes. > Their confidence is unmatched. And their parents? Even if they don’t say it, they must feel so proud. But let’s be real, smart people don’t even need validation—they get what they want through sheer brainpower. This is not true. It is those of persistence and tenacity of will who get what they want. Being a confident smarty is real nice don’t get me wrong, yet it is the decade and more of enduring spirit and ability to improvise and self improve that stand the test of time. You are young, and it is the chronic delusion of the young to think they’ve tried it all and nothing works. Patience and persistence is perseverance. |
>You said convincing skills only come from personal struggles.
Convincing actually depends on other factors too, like communication skills, empathy, and understanding the audience’s perspective. Struggles might be part of it, but they’re not the whole story. Not every smart person goes through intense struggles. Some people are naturally skilled and can be convincing without dealing with major internal battles. And even if we agree that struggle builds convincing skills… what about the people whose struggles impact them negatively instead of helping them grow?
>You also said the core of smartness is persistence and willpower.
Smartness isn’t just about persistence. It’s multidimensional—creativity, problem-solving, and adaptability play a huge role too. Plus, persistence alone doesn’t guarantee success. Opportunities, environment, and even luck are equally important.
>you said young people usually think they’ve tried everything and failed.
That’s not fair. Young people have their own way of seeing the world, and their experiences matter, even if they’re limited. Calling them “delusional” dismisses their efforts and doesn’t give their struggles the respect they deserve.