HACKER Q&A
📣 m0ck

Do you think you are smarter than average person?


Alternate questions: - Do you think you are smarter than average citizien of your country? - Do you think you are smarter than average HNer?

This type of question has been intriguing me for some time, as I feel almost everybody deep down thinks he is not a genius, but he still knows better than average Joe. I would be really curious if there were surveys with this question and how would different countries compare in results.

  👤 Xenon54 Accepted Answer ✓
I've tested out with an IQ beyond 200, not exactly sure what, but I lack street-smarts. I can negotiate, but I can't "politic". I can code, but I can't design, I can plan, but I can't execute.

Does this make me "smart"?

I don't know what "smart" is, and I'd bet everyone has a different definition. It's like being a "good driver" ... What exactly does that mean? Safe? Perfect Control? Excellent Anticipation? Fast? What makes a "good driver"?

No, I'm not smarter than average, I just have different skills, and the skills I have let me do well on IQ tests. That doesn't make me "smart".

👤 brudgers
One of my favorite HN reads, https://sivers.org/below-average
👤 verdverm
No, but I study and learn more