11 Things That Bewilder Highly Intelligent People But Don’t Faze Average Minds At All
Highly intelligent people just can't seem to wrap their intellectual minds around why these things would ever be okay.
GaudiLab / Shutterstock Being super smart has its ups and downs. On one hand, you can solve complex problems that an average mind might find impossible. On the other hand, you see things that other people probably wouldn't notice, and that can lead to utter annoyance. The truth is that, strange as it may seem, there are things that bewilder highly intelligent people but don't faze people with average minds at all.
Their unfazed demeanor can be hard to grasp, given the problematic circumstances at play. Things that just don't make sense to you will lurk in the back of your mind, disturbing your peace. You will wonder why you are the only person that is bothered by them and chalk it up to a lack of intellect on the part of everyone else. Given how you like to understand things, though, getting to the bottom of why this happens may just help you feel better.
Here are 11 things that bewilder highly intelligent people but don’t faze average minds at all
1. Logical inconsistencies
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The smartest among us are super sensitive to contradictions, flaws in reasoning, or conversations rife with logical fallacies. I often say that two things can be true at the same time. But just because they can, doesn't mean they are. For example, a person who is unable to hold down a job can't also be an excellent provider.
A highly intelligent person would take mental note that somebody must be either lying or completely delusional. While an average person might shrug it off as no big deal, a highly intellectual person will find it deeply frustrating and intellectually dishonest.
2. Shallow conversations
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Brilliant minds love to engage in meaningful interactions. They leave the small talk for average people who feel the need to fill a space of silence with words that don't really matter. Surface-level conversations are a waste of their time and energy, and they try to avoid them at all costs. If they have nothing substantial to say, they will avoid the discussion altogether.
Intelligent people find meaningless interactions pointless and draining. They crave substance, depth, and nuance that causes them to think and increases their curiosity. While others find light chatter more comfortable and satisfactory, it leaves highly intelligent people unfulfilled and wishing they had just done something else.
3. Wasted potential
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If there is one thing a highly intelligent person cannot stand, it's seeing others waste their God-given talents. They watch them in disbelief as they squander the blessings bestowed upon them, believing that they would have been better utilized on someone who understands what they have and wants to make the most of it.
Not only do they recognize wasted potential in people, but they also have a strong desire to fix inefficient systems and processes. They know that things can be better and don't get why they have not been addressed. Resources that have been inappropriately used are the bane of their existence. They want to see every benefit available used in the best way possible.
4. Conformity and groupthink
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Highly intelligent people can think for themselves and act autonomously. They have a real problem with those who follow the crowd or engage in groupthink. It bewilders them that a person would not have their own thoughts and opinions, or be afraid of the potential dissent that would occur should they be honest about their feelings.
Smarter people resist going along with the overwhelming narrative because it's the popular thing to do or is something that would gain them favor. They find people's willingness to put their values and morals aside to conform to be oppressive and scary. They would rather say the difficult thing and reap the repercussions than fall in line for the sake of keeping the peace.
5. Oversimplifying complicated matters
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The highly intelligent know that everything is not black and white. There is usually a gray area, and if ignored, several aspects of an issue might go unaccounted for, leading to dire consequences. Scientific, social, or political matters cannot easily be reduced to right or wrong. Some nuances must be considered to make good decisions.
Not only do they recognize that there will be gray areas, but they also appreciate and value them. They know that many factors and perspectives must be considered if you want to make great choices. People who try to oversimplify complex things grind their gears. They see people who engage in black-and-white thinking as too lazy to really dig into a problem.
6. Misuse of language
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The most intellectual people tend to correct others when they use poor grammar, place the wrong words in sentences, or use manipulative rhetoric to influence other people to do their bidding. The fact that they can't be bothered to use language correctly is like nails on a chalkboard.
They speak with clarity, precision, and integrity in all communication and want others to do the same. When their energy is not matched, they are left in complete bewilderment by the fact, and everyone has the same access to an extensive vocabulary that they do, but chooses not to use it properly. A genius would rather walk away than listen to you misuse language.
7. A lack of interest in learning
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As a student of life and someone whom people I know label as smart, I find it appalling when someone is disinterested in learning. It seems to me that we should all be curious about life and everything in it, so when others don't care, I file them in my not-so-smart file and stay far away. Right or wrong, most people who are considered highly intelligent want nothing to do with average minds.
Encountering people who are okay with being uninformed or ignorant is extremely bewildering for those who were born with a thirst for knowledge. Even more insulting are the ill-informed who heard something somewhere and chose to believe it instead of doing their own research. They are especially discouraging to smart people.
8. Wasting time
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Time is our most valuable asset, and no matter how much we want more, it is limited. Once it's gone, you can't get it back, and when it runs out, too bad. The intelligent know how priceless time is and are as efficient with theirs as possible. If it's not worth it to them, they choose to spend their time on things they believe will bring value to their lives.
Pointless meetings, unnecessary red tape, bottlenecks, and repetitive tasks that could have easily been automated drive them crazy. They would rather spend their time on activities that move the needle and are usually obsessed with optimization, process improvement, and forward progress.
9. Celebrating style over substance
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Highly intelligent people hate seeing a person with little to no substance rewarded for their charm, charisma, or image. They view them as performative, hiding their inadequacies with style and pizzazz, and are bewildered by the fact that other people can't see right through their superficial exterior.
The smartest of the smart focus on competence and thoughtful insight. They value people who who they are, not what they are. They hate to see social climbers elevated simply because they look the part, but lack the internal depth to do what needs to be done. In their eyes, the blind acceptance of a person like that is a societal failure.
10. Emotional manipulation
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If you're smart, you recognize emotional manipulation when it starts. Those subtle cues and manipulation tactics stick out like a sore thumb, and your reaction is visceral. Some of the behaviors that are evident to highly intelligent people but overlooked by others are lovebombing, gaslighting, and a person seemingly telling the truth, but leaving out important information.
While these things might seem normal, or even flattering to the average mind, people with superior intellect keep them on their radar and never fall for them, no matter how beautiful or handsome the person manipulating them is.
11. Mediocrity
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People with the highest IQs take pride in a job well done. They don't need to circumvent the process or cheat to get ahead. If they give their all, a good outcome is all but guaranteed. People who do the bare minimum are perceived as mediocre by choice, and that just does not sit well with the highly intelligent.
They like to win on their own merit and never skate by. They show up fully and authentically, never playing the background in order to fly under the radar. When people are truly smart, they find people who pander for accolades or take credit for the work of others particularly insulting. They keep their distance due to the knowledge that if they see something, they will have to say something, and that might not be well-received.
NyRee Ausler is a writer from Seattle, Washington, and the author of seven books. She focuses on lifestyle and human interest stories that deliver informative and actionable guidance on interpersonal relationships, enlightenment, and self-discovery.
