Elai Avidor - Week Four; The Stupidity of Being Smart
Society puts smart people on a pedestal. If you’re smart, you’re instantly granted more respect, and people see you as a better person. Unintelligent people are looked down upon and often treated as the butt of a joke (a joke they won’t understand). When it comes to book smarts, it’s often something people are born with, and, for the most part, they can’t change how easily they learn materials or their IQ. However, society acts as though that is justification for treating them as lesser and allowing smart people more leeway to do things normal people wouldn’t be allowed to do. Historically, scientists and artists have had unpleasant personalities which are often seen as creative geniuses. Many of these so-called genius people throughout history have been known to be very harsh and rude to the people around them, but because of who they are and their achievements, they were excused by society and allowed to act however they please.
On the other hand, the truly smartest people in the world are undervalued and unappreciated; intelligence is a double-edged sword. Teachers are among the smartest people in the population, but they do not get the respect, appreciation, or salary they deserve for all their hard work. People do not realize the genius it takes to teach young adults and children. Sometimes, parents forget they are not the only ones raising their kids.
Also, the societal significance of intellect causes many kids to have anxiety related to the feeling of not being smart enough, and they believe that their grades define them. Students see themselves as a number defined by ACT/SAT scores, test scores, and GPA. In the mind of a student striving to get into college, high numbers show your worth, nothing else. This degrading feeling is prevalent among students, and I wonder about its psychological effects on teenagers' well-being.
What do you think about being smart, and is it overrated?
I agree with many of the things you said. It is unfair to put people on a pedestal based on numbers. However, many students have these bad grades or as you said "numbers" solely because they do not care. These "numbers" don't just define your smarts, but actually your ability to work hard. College and businesses do not want people who slack off of do not try and that is why these numbers can sometimes define you. Additionally it is unfair to allow others to treat others in an unappealing way just because of past achievements. This is similar to celebrities. A lot of them feel that they can do or say whatever they want without any backlash just because they are in the spotlight. Going back to smarts though, I think that people, and specifically colleges, are starting to realize what you are saying and they are making people more than just a number on a test, but actual human beings. They are making it that people, students in particular, are not defined by their grades, but by themselves. While this topic is still a work in progress, I think it is important to focus on the fact that we are making progress and we should believe in the education system.
ReplyDelete