# I Think I'd Be Happier If I Were Less Intelligent **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2006, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252 "2006-01-10T01:56:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252/21 "2006-01-11T00:07:27Z")
> [@Doctor Jackson](#): > > “I Think I’d Be Happier If I Were Less Intelligent” is just not catchy enough. How about “Smart people are sad”. Nah. Maybe “Intelligence and happiness are inversely proportional”. Huh uh. “Happiness is being dumb”. Don’t like that either. > > Maybe there’s just no cliche there, after all. Maybe you’re looking for, “Ignorance is bliss.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252/22 "2006-01-11T00:16:35Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > Yes, I accept that people are smarter in different ways, but to me, a lack of curiosity, or knowledge of the world around us indicates a dull mind. Nah, too much interest in the world around you indicates that your own little world is too dull to keep your attention, and therefore you must be less intelligent 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252/23 "2006-01-11T08:10:45Z")
Threads like this are such a laugh. Whenever the topic of intelligence comes up on this message board, as night follows day there will be a whole troop of Dopers trotting out self-deprecating references to their own brilliance. Just let me sit back here and bask in the glow of your collective genius. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MizGrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@MizGrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizGrand)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252/24 "2006-01-11T15:54:20Z")
Well, it seems to be the unpopular opinion to agree, but agree I must. I suffer the same situation. It is virtually impossible to engage in a stimulating debate of just about any issue in such a relationship. That breeds contempt. If all I wanted to discuss was auto mechanics and the sports page then I’d be fine, but I would once in awhile enjoy a challenging banter on current events, world news, etc., but that ain’t happening here. I feel for you and your lack of intelligent conversation. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252/25 "2006-01-11T16:22:51Z")
Why would you be with someone whose intellect you feel contempt for? That strikes me as \*your \* failing, not your partner’s. If you’re so confident of your mental acuity, why don’t you find someone to challenge it, instead of bemoaning the fact that you’ve settled for a simpleton? Smart people don’t sit around saying “I’m so smart, nobody understands me.” Smart people find ways of making themselves understood. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252/26 "2006-01-11T16:26:24Z")
I heard some Steely Dan lyrics this morning that made me think of this thread: “You been tellin’ me you’re a genius Since you were seventeen In all the time I’ve known you I still don’t know what you mean” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252/27 "2006-01-11T16:32:14Z")
> [@RSSchen](#): > > Well, it seems to be the unpopular opinion to agree, but agree I must. I suffer the same situation. It is virtually impossible to engage in a stimulating debate of just about any issue in such a relationship. That breeds contempt. If all I wanted to discuss was auto mechanics and the sports page then I’d be fine, but I would once in awhile enjoy a challenging banter on current events, world news, etc., but that ain’t happening here. > > I feel for you and your lack of intelligent conversation. Well said–and it’s not just the not sharing of intellectual curiousity–it’s the amazement/disgust/incomprehension that you would _want_ to delve more deeply that gets me. To tell me that discussing X is a waste of time is to dismiss me, in a certain sense. To the OP: People grow and change as they age (we hope)–you may be outgrowing your wife (although the examples do not really support the point I think you were trying to make). You have a number of options: put up and shut up (which seems to be popular in this thread), find an activity that you both can share that feeds your need for dialogue, get an outside intellectual interest that absorbs you–you will meet other like minded people which will help, ban her from your life. And any number in between the two extremes. ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252/28 "2006-01-11T16:55:11Z")
Wow. \ Hmmm. Doesn’t seem unfamiliar. Seriously, folks, my poor attempt at explaining my state of mind in the opening post was indeed pitiful. For everything I listed as a problem above, there are a hundred things that are great. And my list was disjointed, at that. I also called myself taking pains to show that what was wrong was _me_ and _my attitude_, but it seems, from the responses, that I didn’t do such a good job there, either. My initial reaction was to feel defensive, admittedly, but then I began thinking about what I’d said and what you all had to say. Lots of food for thought. I have to say I was surprised by the vitriol from some of you, but again that has to be my fault. If you weren’t aware of the complete picture, who’s to blame? If you read things that I feel were just not there, then that’s the nature of the beast when communicating in a text medium like this one. Thanks for the responses from one and all, whether good or bad. All of them were thought-provoking. And a special thanks to those of you who answered my question. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252/29 "2006-01-11T18:26:54Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > Maybe you’re looking for, “Ignorance is bliss.” 😉 HEY! That’s…nah. How about “Stupidity is sublime”? ---
**Author:** ![MizGrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@MizGrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizGrand)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252/30 "2006-01-11T21:20:29Z")
And when caught or called on it I will say (if I can get away with it): “It’s the only way I can have an intelligent conversation around here!” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252/31 "2006-01-11T22:40:50Z")
I’m pretty stupid, and it’s no better being like this. Trust me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-id-be-happier-if-i-were-less-intelligent/339252.md?page=1)