Why is intelligence uncool?

[Eric Tarpall]

I think the government invented the words ''Nerd'' and ''Autism''. To make smart people feel excluded, inferior and ashamed. This causes them to stop using their intelligence. Intelligent people are a threat to the system.

[7thLetter]

According to who?

[Rigel]

There's no evil conspiracy just ignorance. 

[jbram2002]

"Autism" doesn't mean intelligence. It's an actual mental condition that can both negatively and positively affect someone. It wasn't simply invented by the government to shame intelligence. "Nerd" is an insult used by people who do not see the value in intellectual conversation, usually in a high school or lower education setting. I don't think this was made by the government either unless they have some stealthy 6-year-old agents.

Personally, I take the word "nerd" and turn it into a positive. If someone calls me a nerd, I see it as a compliment that they acknowledge my passion for an intellectual topic, and a request to learn more. I have a lot of nerdy friends who see the word the same way. The only person who can be insulted by calling you a name is yourself. Choose to not take it as an insult, flip it on its head, and wear the moniker proudly.

[Forestluv]

Not everyone thinks intelligence is uncool.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.mindbodygreen.com/articles/being-intelligent-makes-more-attractive-study

[mandyjw]

People who usually value the type of intelligence that they have more than other kinds. People who have high IQs often look down on the more social butterfly type people and vice versa. It's just another function of the ego. 

[Eric Tarpall]

45 minutes ago, jbram2002 said:

"Autism" doesn't mean intelligence. It's an actual mental condition that can both negatively and positively affect someone. It wasn't simply invented by the government to shame intelligence.

You don't know if the government invented it or not. Neither do I.

19 minutes ago, mandyjw said:

People who have high IQs often look down on the more social butterfly type people and vice versa.

I think it's natural to look up to smart people. Unless you get taught that smart people are mentally ill.

[jbram2002]

@Eric Tarpall It's possible the name was invented by someone connected with the government. But it's highly unlikely that autism was invented to shame intelligent people. I am very familiar with autism because of several people in my life. It's not just smart people. There's a lot involved beyond simply intelligence. In addition, it's only been fairly recently that the term "autistic" was used as a slur against people.

[Commodent]

Intelligence is not uncool. In fact people are desperate to be regarded intelligent and easily get insecure about it.

A "nerd" however is pretty much uncool by definition. From Cambridge Dictionary:

"a person, especially a man, who is not attractive and is awkward or socially embarrassing"

or

"a person who is extremely interested in one subject, especially computers, and knows a lot of facts about it"

None of those sound very "cool" in my book.

[NorthRise]

I wouldn't say intelligence is perceived as uncool at all.  However, people to do think it's uncool to use intelligence to put down others who aren't as intelligent as they are.

Intelligence needs to be accompanied by humility and understanding. The problem is that when people realize they're smarter than others they feel superior and talk down to people. 

Edited May 3, 2019 by NorthRise
wordz

[Shadowraix]

1 minute ago, NorthRise said:

I wouldn't say intelligence is perceived as uncool at all.  However, people to do think it's uncool to use intelligence to put down others who aren't as intelligent as they are.

Intelligence needs to be accompanied by humility and understanding. The problem is that when people realize they're smarter than others they feel superior and talk down to people. 

On top of this on the flip side people who just don't feel as intelligent will be insecure and demonize what makes them feel that way even if they aren't trying to act superior about it. Knowledge is seen as power and having more power can be seen as intimidating or threatening.