From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Intelligent underachievers
Date: 19 Aug 92 16:43:17 GMT

In article <l92qubINNspr@dimebox.cs.utexas.edu>, jonabbey@cs.utexas.edu (Jonathan David Abbey) writes:
> 
> 
> Okay, to start a new topic --
> 
> One of the things I find most aggrieving about having been tested as
> very intelligent (99.5% percentile on CATTEL, SAT),  is that it just seems to
> make anything less than a perfect performance seem a failure.  Having
> grown up with my intelligence as my prime attribute at the same time that
> my apathy and lack of focus has made me less than a stellar student has not
> made for a combination conducive to a high self esteem.  One the one hand,
> I'm smarter than 99.5% of the population.  On the other hand, that leaves
> well over a million people in the United States smarter than me.
> 
> In my experience, on of the purposes of Mensa has been to serve as a
> social and support group for people in this position.. I find that the
> things I focus on, the things I think about (continuously) are rather
> abstract and rather global in extent.  I find that I am always thinking
> of the mechanics of intelligence, of the working of the brain, and suchlike
> things.  But I also believe that I don't have the emotional strength and
> discipline to be able to make a real contribution to the field.  So where
> does that leave me?
> 
> I find that my propensity to continual thought enhances my
> appreciation of the limitless complexity of the world, but does not
> really help me to excel in achievement (and may in fact be somewhat
> detrimental to my well-adjustment and/or "sanity").  My lack of
> extraordinary achievement then haunts me (for I can always find
> someone smarter and more successful) and I feel obligated to prove
> myself through academics, which I do not find to be terribly easy.
> 
> Is it common in the experience of r.o.m to have this sort of an experience?
> 
> I find it very onerous, and one of the central Mensa experiences, and perhaps
> one of the qualities of intelligence that is particularly well correlated with
> Mensa membership is this continuity of thought and depth of consideration,
> academic performance issues aside.
> 
> So, I'm not sure what kind of a response I'm looking for here.  I've got
> a project due in 27 hours, and I felt like holding forth.

IMO, the only degree of achievement that people should strive for is that degree
that satisfies themselves.  I personally do not find it necessary to attain
"extraordinary" achievement.  Others may consider me to be an underachiever, and
say that I have not lived up to my potential--and consider it an affront to them
and to humanity (I know; I'm exaggerating a bit here by using "affront.") that I
have not done so.  That is their problem; it is not mine.  I believe that I have
added to society at least as much as I have taken from it; that is all that any
one should be expected to do.

Some may say that if everyone believed the way I do, we'd still be living in
caves, huddled around a fire.  That is not true, however.  Even if everyone did
believe that, there have been, are, and probably always will be, those people
aren't personally satisfied unless they are the best at what they do, and feel
the need to push their own limits.  They will be causing the advances in science,
medicine, engineering, social development, etc. throughout history.  I, and
people like me, will be there to fill in some of the holes they leave, and to
help keep us from backsliding.

As I said, IMO only.
From: Craig.Wagner@p2.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Craig Wagner)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP