9 ms·

> Now imagine your entire life was that. No, because you should shape your life differently in that case. The people I know who were both intelligent and depre

by float4 5y ago

> Now imagine your entire life was that. No, because you should shape your life differently in that case. The people I know who were both intelligent and depressed dramatically improved their life by doing less thinking. Exercise, play a musical instrument, explore nature, help people in need, go after that girl/guy you like. But no. Instead, those aforementioned people spent the majority of their time doing stuff that require intelligence: solving hard problems, debating others "for fun", philosophising. And then, at the end of the day, they felt sorry for themselves because they were oh so intelligent. Luckily they fixed their issues, and I'm convinced that most people who fall in this category can do the same.

bena 5y ago
What makes you assume that they don't exercise, play an instrument, etc? And why is it on the intelligent to "do less thinking" instead of the world to understand that they can't think on the same level? We don't ask those with extreme physical gifts to sell themselves short in order to accommodate those less gifted. We don't ask those with virtuoso talents to "do less creativity". Why must those with extreme intellectual gifts "think less"? That does them and the world a disservice. Why can't we accept them as we accept every other category of people.
- float4 5y ago
  > What makes you assume that they don't exercise, play an instrument, etc? I clearly speak of people I know: "The people I know", "Those aforementioned people". Also, they often did do one, maybe two of these things, but their life wasn't balanced at all. > why is it on the intelligent to "do less thinking" The other alternative you offer is hoping that the world will change, which it obviously wont. > Why must those with extreme intellectual gifts "think less" Nobody should think too much. > Why can't we accept them as we accept every other category of people. Intelligent people are accepted. Understood? Not so much, but they are accepted. When you're depressed due to your intelligence, you should fix your issues. Learn how to cope with things, talk to a therapist, spend more time doing and less time thinking, talk to people, stop feeling sorry for yourself, take responsibility for your life.
  - bena 5y ago
    > Intelligent people are accepted. Understood? Not so much, but they are accepted. Accepted because you conform to a certain societal expectation is not really acceptance. And if they were truly understood > I clearly speak of people I know: "The people I know", "Those aforementioned people". Also, they often did do one, maybe two of these things, but their life wasn't balanced at all. So not just anecdotal data, but highly subjective anecdotal data. That's not convincing at all. > Nobody should think too much. Nobody should run too fast, lift too much, be too tall, be too short, be too good at anything. Don't ever risk making the average even the slightest bit uncomfortable.
    - float4 5y ago
      > Accepted because you conform to a certain societal expectation is not really acceptance. Social acceptance heavily depends on conformity. Groups don't welcome you if you do not conform to group identity. This is why not every group works for every individual. Sure, sometimes groups should overcome prejudice or stigma, but when you're "difficult to relate to", or "difficult to communicate with" (your examples), then most groups won't be welcoming and I find that quite understandable. Luckily however, some groups (Mensa perhaps) will welcome you. That's usually also why such groups are founded in the first place. > So not just anecdotal data This was the entire structure of my first comment, and I never hid that one bit. > but highly subjective anecdotal data Those people were way happier after they lived more balanced lives, but happiness is an emotion and thus subjective, that's definitely true. > Nobody should run too fast, lift too much, be too tall, be too short, be too good at anything. Don't ever risk making the average even the slightest bit uncomfortable. This is just twisting my argument into an apagoge. I mainly wrote my comments to offer a different view to the depressed intelligent people, as it often feels like there are quite a few here on HN. I've met very smart and depressed people, and they often felt very sorry for themselves and blamed the world. I tried to convince them that a different approach would help more, and they live way happier lives now. I know that's anecdotal, I know that's subjective. I never hid that, but just tried to offer my take on the issue.
      - deleted 5y ago
        [deleted]
- DreamScatter 5y ago
  It's about balance.

by float4 5y ago

bena 5y ago

What makes you assume that they don't exercise, play an instrument, etc? And why is it on the intelligent to "do less thinking" instead of the world to understand that they can't think on the same level? We don't ask those with extreme physical gifts to sell themselves short in order to accommodate those less gifted. We don't ask those with virtuoso talents to "do less creativity". Why must those with extreme intellectual gifts "think less"? That does them and the world a disservice. Why can't we accept them as we accept every other category of people.

float4 5y ago
> What makes you assume that they don't exercise, play an instrument, etc? I clearly speak of people I know: "The people I know", "Those aforementioned people". Also, they often did do one, maybe two of these things, but their life wasn't balanced at all. > why is it on the intelligent to "do less thinking" The other alternative you offer is hoping that the world will change, which it obviously wont. > Why must those with extreme intellectual gifts "think less" Nobody should think too much. > Why can't we accept them as we accept every other category of people. Intelligent people are accepted. Understood? Not so much, but they are accepted. When you're depressed due to your intelligence, you should fix your issues. Learn how to cope with things, talk to a therapist, spend more time doing and less time thinking, talk to people, stop feeling sorry for yourself, take responsibility for your life.
- bena 5y ago
  > Intelligent people are accepted. Understood? Not so much, but they are accepted. Accepted because you conform to a certain societal expectation is not really acceptance. And if they were truly understood > I clearly speak of people I know: "The people I know", "Those aforementioned people". Also, they often did do one, maybe two of these things, but their life wasn't balanced at all. So not just anecdotal data, but highly subjective anecdotal data. That's not convincing at all. > Nobody should think too much. Nobody should run too fast, lift too much, be too tall, be too short, be too good at anything. Don't ever risk making the average even the slightest bit uncomfortable.
  - float4 5y ago
    > Accepted because you conform to a certain societal expectation is not really acceptance. Social acceptance heavily depends on conformity. Groups don't welcome you if you do not conform to group identity. This is why not every group works for every individual. Sure, sometimes groups should overcome prejudice or stigma, but when you're "difficult to relate to", or "difficult to communicate with" (your examples), then most groups won't be welcoming and I find that quite understandable. Luckily however, some groups (Mensa perhaps) will welcome you. That's usually also why such groups are founded in the first place. > So not just anecdotal data This was the entire structure of my first comment, and I never hid that one bit. > but highly subjective anecdotal data Those people were way happier after they lived more balanced lives, but happiness is an emotion and thus subjective, that's definitely true. > Nobody should run too fast, lift too much, be too tall, be too short, be too good at anything. Don't ever risk making the average even the slightest bit uncomfortable. This is just twisting my argument into an apagoge. I mainly wrote my comments to offer a different view to the depressed intelligent people, as it often feels like there are quite a few here on HN. I've met very smart and depressed people, and they often felt very sorry for themselves and blamed the world. I tried to convince them that a different approach would help more, and they live way happier lives now. I know that's anecdotal, I know that's subjective. I never hid that, but just tried to offer my take on the issue.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
DreamScatter 5y ago
It's about balance.