Do you consider yourself smarter than the average American?

Question

I weep for my country....

Answer 1

I think the American Idiot is overexposed...they get all the headlines.

Answer 2

I really don't know. This is one of those questions that I'd probably end up being surprised at the answer by. I know I've met a lot of people who are a lot smarter than I am. Strangely, I don't know that many people who I think are much dumber than I am.

I am not quite sure what to make of that. It might just be that people who are of the same intellectual level hang out with each other more. If that's the case, I don't know if we can ever really decide if there is a larger amount of dumb people or a larger amount of smart people.

I can see why you'd ask this question but, I think the answer is totally relative both to the individual and to their mood. I tend to be more critical of people when they drive like A holes around me. I tend to give them more slack in workplace type settings.

I'll state my answer like this. I know statistically there is likely to be a guassian distribution for intellectual capacity in any region. The frequency of any level of that distribution changes from region to region. Since that is the case, I'd argue that the more of the world you've seen (other regions) the more likely you are to be smarter so long as you aren't from the smartest region (rejecting statistically irrelevant incidences--if you rank say 10th percentile it's unlikely that sending you to Russia to learn Russian will help a whole lot). Is the average American well traveled? I don't know but, that's a lot easier to determine than relative intellect.

Sorry, guess I feel like being philosophical.

Answer 3

I never thought so. Then I went to a State Fair.

Oh, can't resist two other comments:

1. Canadians? Please shut the hell up. You're nothing but our northern most state and you know it (and it drives you f-in crazy!!!). Go accomplish something in the way of industry, science, or education and then come back and respond. Otherwise, continue driving American and Asian cars, wearing Indian garments, and drinking European beer. Wait, isn't it Canadian law that if I insult you, I have to do it in French as well? I'd better be careful.

2. Brits? Please! You guys are so smart that you've stopped prosecuting ALL crime and just started videotaping it. It really helps to have seven camera angles of the guy that nicked your car stereo, so you can watch him go free. I spend two weeks a year in your country, and while I love the people, it's the scariest and most unsafe country in the West. I'd rather take the 1 in 300,000 chance of getting shot in the U.S. than the 1 in 4 chance of being burgled in England any day.

Americans have PLENTY of faults, but we're the most industrious, caring, and wealthy group on the planet.

Answer 4

Not only am I smarter than the average American, I also think I'm smarter than the not-so-average stooge. Of course that could be because now that you are a pretty boy sex object, I find it impossible to take you seriously.

Answer 5

Well if I go buy the accomplishments in my academic career I am in the top 1/2 percent in the country. So technically I am in smarter than 99.5 percent of the country's college students. My IQ is in the the 95 percentile.

However there are other things that I am not really good at. I am not a charismatic person.

Answer 6

A "birdbath statue" is smarter than the average American...

And although I do not weep...

I do think that I'll pound this next beer very fast...

Thanks for reminding me...

(A tiny tear suddenly forms, and rolls down my schnoz, and comes to rest, poised to drip from the tip of my nose...

...oops! I'm sorry...that was just some beer I just splashed on my face...sorry...so sorry...)

Answer 7

lol, good question! I think most of the smart people are out working and doing other stuff....unless your like me and just taking a break from work, homework, etc. You have to admit yahoo answers isnt exactly the best place to view the cream of the crop when it comes to peoples inteligence. Look at all the stupid or random questions people ask! For instance ill bet you know what my name (hairy_coconuts) means..... I normally wouldnt name myself that anywhere else, the only reason I did here is because I dont really care what anyone thinks on here.....Im ususlly not serious here ethier.....I could sepll lkie siht if I wnated and not crae waht aynnoe tihkns of me. ha ha ha

Answer 8

22 years previous, shifting into my 5th twelve months in college, and on the real 15% in my cal state.i might anticipate i'm on the better end (the better 50%) whilst examined on academia, SAT, or IQ attempting out. i can assert with self assurance that i'm greater recommended than maximum human beings on present day activities (not perplexing whilst many are apathetic), yet with reference to smarts/intelligence, I style of locate it perplexing to degree such. there is lots suggestions and information obtainable to concentrate on, and we are able to in basic terms conceal lots devoid of lacking intensity, yet I evaluate the fee, novelty, and style of buying new suggestions to be intelligence. That being pronounced, is the instructor who can repeat what she has discovered smarter than the guy with an HS degree, who works in an motor vehicle save, and crafts new engine factors and unearths creative the style to repair issues ? I basically locate it perplexing to elegant such, not which you would be able to not, basically i can't at any fee.

Answer 9

Well, I'm smarter than our average President - does that count? Or am I setting the bar too low?

Answer 10

No. Just Canadians. The carbon copy of America.
Without spines.
Or ambition.
Or secure borders.
A country in a coma.

Except you, Manitoba.

Answer 11

YES, actually, I KNOW I am, there are many things I can't do, I'm not perfect, but I notice that many really don't know WTF is going on AT ALL....
Most are morons and drones walk about in a daze, trying to act cool, ACT smart, ACT like they have it together, but
one in five can't pick out their OWN country on a physical map of the world,
only about a quarter can point to England,

I'll bet only about 10% could point to Iraq, Iran, or even the middle east region!

It's like being the only awake person in a town in deep sleep,
when you see another person awake and walking around you say "Hey! OMG! You're awake too! ..I don't care how much we don't have in common, we only need that unifying trait"...