Soo Stressed!

I've often thought that intelligence rarely gets people good grades in exams (Or if it does, its usually just the difference between high marks and really high marks) Most of the time it boils down to studying and effective studying techniques that works for the individual. If you devote enough time and work out a system of study that works for you, you will get the top mark. I often think that I'm slowly working my way to a perfect system - every time I've sat an exam since my Leaving Certificate my studying technique becomes more effective and sophisticated. My personal problem however is laziness, and being distracted by the delights of TV and the internet.

Edited by Aster Thrax Eupator - 05-Oct-2008 at 02:57

Originally posted by Aster Thrax Eupator I've seen what you mean about the "fake" intellectuals a lot - they will feign intellect, but when it actually comes to doing the reading and stuff, they just can't be bothered. They love sitting in black berets and talking about existentialism and nihilism (I don't know WHY it's always those two philosophical schools!) but it's obvious they've never read anything by Nitzsche and/or Satre. It makes me sick - I think a lot of it comes from the image the romantics portrayed - Lord Byron and Colleridge etc have a lot to answer for...

They are drawn to the outward qualities of the intellectual rather than the inner, in other words being an intellectual to them is more about image than anything else. I can understand why they do it, we all have egos after all, and surely we all feel smug when we get the chance to tell people we are historians rather than something dull like accountant or tiresome like carpenter, or when we sit on the bus reading a book titled "Analytical Essays on the Dichotomy in Early Corinthian Court Music", knowing you are the only one present who can penetrate its content. Heck, we may even indulge in pretentious dress - it's all part of our reward for wholeheartedly pursuing our passions rather than the best career prospects. That's just it though; it's a reward, and the reward can't come before the accomplishment. Those who feign intellect will soon look the fools when they're among erudite scholars and reveal they have all the smugness of the scholar but little of the knowledge.

Edit: And don't make fun of Lord Byron. Artists are the only ones who can justify being even more smug than intellectuals.


Edited by Reginmund - 06-Oct-2008 at 11:48