Going to WP makes me feel stupid

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I'd like to propose that you might be a little intimidated because you are mistaking wordy, nerdy, fact-filled Aspieness for "genius" rather than just the typical hyperfocused, special-interest-oriented way we tend to communicate. Talk to an Aspie about his special interest, and he'll often sound very smart, just because he knows so much about it and is fond of pouring out facts at every opportunity. NTs often read this as "intelligence". In reality, it's just what happens when an autistic person is fascinated with something.

Some of us just seem like geniuses because we're so pedantic. We have a hard time implying and suggesting, so we state everything very specifically and precisely. Writing filled with jargon, overly long and detailed, is completely normal for an autistic person, and it doesn't have much to do with being particularly smart. In fact, we have to work hard to write in a more simple, understandable way. In order to be more understandable, we have to think harder.

Yes, some of us are gifted and some of us are not. But when autism is involved, people are usually very good at some things and very poor at other things, so that the specialists of average overall ability will, within their own specialties, surpass the gifted people. For many of us, "gifted" or "average" or "below average" have no meaning because our IQs are simply not measurable--there's too much variability; we're hitting ceilings and floors on the same test. Somebody with a specialty in writing will sound awfully smart, but they might just be good at writing. Or they might be writing about something they really love.

Fight the impulse to try to categorize people like that. You can't put people on a one-dimensional intelligence scale because intelligence is just not one-dimensional. You could pick any given person here, and just because we're so diverse, you'd be nearly guaranteed that they'd be better than you at some things and worse than you at others.

Somewhere in our world, somebody thought up the idea that people have to have a pecking order, that one person has to be more valuable than another. Well, I don't like that. I think we're better off when we recognize that nobody can be superior to anybody else. Better at one thing, sure. Celebrate your talents. But globally superior, more valuable? Nope. that's nonsense.

Okay, gonna try to reply on my tablet.I can't leave this tab either ormy screwy browser just refreshes and kills my entire post.editing as I go.

First page there was a post on physiological. Good points, reminded me to get some multi vitamins becauseof possible long term deficit s. Thyroid..I don't know, but one of my stims is to constantly clear my throat cause I feel that there's something there..though there never actually seems to be anything. As for amalgam fillings,I know about 16 or so years ago I had awful teeth from candy and I had a lot of dental work.I do rem remember some silver fillings or something on many teeth, but I don't know what it is.my brother says though that amalgam fillings haven't been used in Canada for the last 15 years or so, but who knows.there also send to be inconclusive evidence in the verdict of mercury poisoning there.

Second page there was a post on anhedonia.. that got the nail on the head too. I really don't find deep satisfaction in anything, perhaps for most periods of my life.all joy I feel seems to be totally whimsical. Oh hey, that's a beautiful set of sculptures at the Louvre.oh, what a satisfying breeze.But nothing chips away at deep seated problems about how major things in life don't work out, not simply relationships, but I can't even provide for myself in the future. I can't really do much of anything for very long unless I'm autistically addicted to it, and I feel addicted to nothing. What do I study in school? It's a total waste of time.I just got an email talking about registration for next semester.what do I even do?

That's the reason why I feel inferior and left behind. It's not because I give a Damn how smart or success ful others are, it's that I'm going nowhere myself.as a kid I had hope that there's always more time.But things haven't really changed much at 20.

I've learned a little about multiple intelligence theories.thing is I really can't say I have a strength in any major category. I have a slightly above average vocabulary because one gathered words since about 8 years ago. But I'm nowhere near hyperlexic and weak at applying the vocab. My writing is stereotyped as heck and it's use is limited for reading since I'm severely ADD. Used to be much more ADHD, but less hyper now.

Math I can barely do a 9-10th grade level.in fact I failed all that.same with sciences. I'm atrocious at picking up languages other than English despite very heavy exposure of Chinese since I was born, nor have I had success elsewhere.

Computers are interesting. But only in tertiary aspects.benchmarks..games..not very useful.music is interesting.But only in listening, and I'm finicky about that too.

I don't even know. The conflux of ADHD and autistic disinterest has permanently ruined my enjoyment and progress in so many areas of life.they both ruin my ability to behave in social contexts. As a result I've been perpetually unhappy. Various ADHD meds seem to do very little for me, perhaps because the symptoms appear as from co morbidity with autism.anti depressants have fared slightly better but it seems to have had little impact on motivation. Ahh the spiralling staircase of doom.

If I could only find a direction, an interest that realistically had a future,I would latch to it in a heartbeat and I have confidence that everything will get much better. But yeah, that hadn't quite happened.

Why don't you watch a few TED talks? I find some of them very inspiring. They have over 28000, on all sorts of topics, usually up to around 20 minutes long.
There is a new one by Simon Baron-Cohen about Autism, Sex and Science (I think) (gender sex, not sex sex)
One of my favourites was by Eric Whitehead and how he started his virtual choir.

They are on youtube - maybe you will find something to inspire you, or at least give you something to think about to keep your mind occupied for a while until something else comes along.

Last edited by BlackSabre7 on 05 Jun 2013, 6:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I know there aren't really that many geniuses here, but look at the IQ scores people post on the Wrong Planet.

We live in a world that's increasingly ashamed to be average. Even on other forums, people either don't post scores that aren't well above average or moan about them.

I also think many numbers posted on forums tend to be fudged or come from online tests.

Most people overestimate their IQ anyway. Internet tests are not accurate. People with Asperger's, statistically, do not tend to have a higher IQ's than the average population. So while there are some very intelligent people here, we are not that atypical from the general population in terms of IQ. Many people here do have a specific knowledge base on a specific subject though. I wouldn't feel inferior in any way here. As someone said before in this thread, our society increasingly does not want to accept average. However, most of the population has average IQ. Average IQ though does not mean average person. People are made extraordinary by what they contribute to society and how they use whatever level of abilities they have. People are remembered by how they treat others. There are so many more important things than IQ. Personally, I think that while there is a place to discuss issues related to being gifted, there is fair to much "I think I have a high IQ because...". People spend to much time trying to prove how smart they are. There are better things to be trying to prove. Be kind, be a good person, do a random act of kindness, and contribute what you can in the world That's the kind of exceptional our planet really needs.

I strongly agree with this. Although I know occasionally people post their proper WAIS results but often they'll post their 150 IQ from some random 15 minute online IQ test with no validity.

This too....and I'm one of those who can be really pedantic in the way I describe things but I'm no genius......I just suck at describing things and getting to what's really important sometimes.

This is something that became apparent when I began useing Facebook, everyone else writes in one sentance where as I write at least a paragraph in my replays to state a simular point, its actually more of a defect in my writing and talking style becouse if I try to condence my thoughts like everyone else appears to do people then can't understand me. Perhaps its also a natural way of over compansating for a lack of theroy of mind, if I give all of the details and discriptions all of the time then I can be sure i'm likely being fully understood.

On the IQ's, how meny people with 150 or simular IQ's are actually better off in life then those with say 90-120? Useing this forum is evdience the anwser is not too meny. A high IQ is great only if you can utilitze it in practice.

You are about the same age as my grandson who has had his own variety of problems, as do many young people. Life can be a struggle...

The lethargy you are experiencing sounds to me like a low grade depression. Something like that can go on for many years. The solution---not so easy...You may have to fight (yourself) to survive. By fight yourself, I mean go against the negative tendencies. Harness the horse that is your emotional self. To begin, start in little ways. On one level this horse does not want to be harnessed, but on another level it craves to not just run capriciously in any direction. Deep inside this horse really hungers to know the intelligence and touch of the conscious person which is your birthright and which you can be.

Of course you are interested in something:-) You were interested in writing this message, and you will be interested again. The thing is, when a young person does not have a direction and is struggling to find meaning.he may need to look in places he does not ordinarily look...and also in ways he does not ordinarily look.

Personally I would not find travel interesting for long, though maybe this is just me. One of my children found a new direction by spending a year in another country, but I like to look inside and begin to understand what is happening with me at a given moment, and for that a person can be anywhere. What is a mechanical reaction? Is there another way?. It is a puzzle to be solved, but the reward is not just solving a particular puzzle. It is the understanding that results. Also, I suggest to think little rather than big, because to take a step in the right direction one only needs to be pointed there and put one foot in front of the other, but in order to go in the right direction one needs to be tuned, so pay attention to yourself. Watch. Be sensitive to who you are and what you are experiencing.

Also I suggest not to compare yourself to other people. That is a bad habit which can drain the strength and power from a person's life, so I would try not go in that direction, which is one example of what I mean by harnessing the horse....

Don't think it all come from online tests though... 42% o f those who answered the poll in this thread got to TAG http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt88733.html
Aspies are not prone to lying too.
I do feel stupid sometime, like from this thread... http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt231967.html
Doesn't help that I wish I was "gifted" more than anything, but I'm not.

Seems there is a cool kids club, every where you go
I'm pretty much excluded everywhere.

Do we live up to the status quo, or do we speak our minds? I know what id rather do and I don't think the OP should be worrying so much, he is only voicing some concerns over well, the site in general. It can take a long time to adjust to everyday sites or ones in working progress, its only a matter of time before we realise what we stand up for, and what is not within grasp.

So, is a swim forever a chore or does one big tidal wave threaten to wipe us all out? just keep channelling on my old boy and you will soon find the answer to these questions- even if it takes all night or all day

If WP makes you feel stupid and insignificant, then I envy you. All it does it make me feel miserable by reading about other peoples' self-sustained misery.

Yes, self-sustained in that their own thinking is causing most of it. Still there must be some reason for coming here. I am looking for really smart people who think outside the box, and I have found some.

There is a formula many unhappy people seem to use on WP: I am this way because it is genetic: therefore, nothing much I can do about it except blame other people for how I am.

I know it hurts and people are hurting-- not discounting that---but anyone who encourages the kind of attitude pinpointed above is causing even more suffering, and it is sad to see.

^^ This is so true. IQ is inborn (to an extent), but not fixed. I was tested as a child and found to be "gifted." When I was 15 and struggling with suicidal depression, I tested as "average". When I was evaluated recently, my IQ was found to be "above average" after being mildly depressed (and not exactly seeking treatment) for several years. I've used weed (cannabis) on many occasions to dull myself before unavoidable periods of social interaction. If I'm in a terrible mood you may think that I'm an angry, brooding, dull person.

I feel like I'm in the same situation as the OP - I've been clinically depressed (mostly without realizing it) for several years now. Additionally, I've had moments of extreme self-hatred which have crippled my motivation, to say the least.
I still find that it's rather intimidating to post here, but I'd rather not be defined by my (not wholly rational) fear. I'm pretty sure that I'm not alone in taking time to compose my posts. I would rather be long-winded once than need to post multiple times to accomplish the same thing. It's my preference, but I wouldn't mind limiting the number of words in each post for the sake of being... more coherent. I also tend to write about my thoughts as they appear to me, and re-order the sentences until it "looks right."

My father used to force me to play sports (I've since forgiven him), and the first time I ever played football I scored a touchdown for the wrong team. I abuse the word "actually" and my math skills are terrible, though I'm in a field which requires abstract thinking. I barely graduated from high school. I failed out of college Freshman year. I've worked in IT for a decade, gone through several different parts of the industry, and I'm not even sure I care anymore. It's like a large portion of my brain has switched off. Technology is my primary interest, but I can't really say that I feel much "joy" where what I've done and what I'm currently doing are concerned. I've taken at least 30 minutes to write this (edit: add an hour to that total[edit: add another half hour]). I have a brutish appearance(people say that I look like Shrek, who is an animated ogre), and most people will never see past that (especially if I'm upset!). But, I keep trying because there aren't any reasonable alternatives.

OP, It seems like you have a talent for getting to the point without sparing detail. Do you enjoy writing poetry?