# Would you rather supergenius-level intellect or nigh-irresistable sex appeal? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 24, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284 "2010-08-24T13:38:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/41 "2010-08-24T18:47:42Z")
See the trouble with the Super-hottie life is that it’s non-discriminatory. You are as attractive to psychopaths as you are to the good, intelligent people that you want to be with. The trouble is that good, intelligent people can also fall prey to the assumption that beautiful people are not intelligent - or intellectually oriented. Thus you wind up with a constant stream of shallow idiots against which the people you want to spend time with must swim. And let’s not forget the liars, who are willing to say/do anything just for a chance to play on your jungle gym, or wear you to parties. Many a man would like to accessorize his wardrobe with a super attractive female. (Not that he doesn’t also want monkey bar access.) You end up spending most of your social time trying to guess who is interested for the right reasons. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/42 "2010-08-24T19:04:41Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > > > Doesn’t saying something like “I would choose to be a genius, because I could think my way into women’s pants anyway,” whether true or not, kind of violate the spirit of the poll? I took it to sort of mean that you’re super-smart but you’re not going to get laid much. It’s not a real compelling question if there’s no trade-off. > > I’m the OP, and I disagree with you. It’s just that the super-genius option doesn’t come with the hotness upgrade, and perhaps not the charm either. Wow. Okay. Then I pick supergenius, because then I can invent some kind of light-bending technology that makes me look super-hot. Dur. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/43 "2010-08-24T19:25:22Z")
Let’s see, if I choose the former, I will inevitably annoy everyone around me. If I choose the latter, everyone around me will inevitably annoy me. Easy choice. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/44 "2010-08-24T19:27:46Z")
I pick super-genius. I don’t especially want to be inundated with shallow women. Heck, as a super genius if I want a woman that bad I can just build one. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/45 "2010-08-24T19:28:33Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Let’s see, if I choose the former, I will inevitably annoy everyone around me. If I choose the latter, everyone around me will inevitably annoy me. Easy choice. How do you figure the former to be true? Do you feel that becoming a super-genius would inevitably change your personality? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/46 "2010-08-24T19:29:41Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I pick super-genius. I don’t especially want to be inundated with shallow women. Heck, as a super genius if I want a woman that bad I can just build one. The silly hypothetical offers the _genius_ choice, not the _wizard_ choice. Do you truly think it’s any more possible to build a woman than it is to travel backwards in time? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/47 "2010-08-24T19:32:10Z")
I’d take the super intelligence, then use it to figure out the method that the guy giving the choice uses to give the nigh irresistable sex appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/48 "2010-08-24T19:38:14Z")
> [@Todderbob](#): > > Intellect, almost for certain. > > However, I know you too well Skald, and suspect this is some sort of trick, so I choose neither. Of course, the trick COULD be that, by being mistrustful, you lose out on BOTH. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/49 "2010-08-24T19:39:54Z")
Super-smart, definitely!! I’m an attractive girl if I do say so myself, and I get more than enough sexual attention - it makes me a bit uncomfortable. Being irresistibly sexy to everyone would be like a nightmare. I’m certainly clever _enough_ but being a genius would be so cool. There’s so much I don’t understand, and lots of information I don’t retain. Would love to be more gifted in those areas. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/50 "2010-08-24T19:41:48Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > > I’d choose the intelligence, hands down. I’m assuming that, as a super genius, I could pretty easily become wealthy. The rest would follow. > > You’re way more likely to strike it rich by being beautiful and charming than you are by being a genius. I think for women this is the case. A beautiful woman can write her own ticket. She doesn’t have to do anything other than look beautiful and some rich guy will marry her. A hot guy would actually have to do something in addition to being hot. As a guy I would take super intelligence. I would probably be able to figure out a way to be super rich and then I would be able to have whatever I wanted. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/51 "2010-08-24T22:28:20Z")
I think some people are ignoring the fact that if you choose the second option, you are irresistible to people of both sexes, not limited to the one you prefer. That could get really annoying really fast. And also . . . it reminds me of that \*Twilight Zone \*episode of the gangster who dies and is given everything he wants, including unlimited wealth and beautiful women. Then he finds out that he’s in hell, not heaven. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/52 "2010-08-24T22:51:50Z")
And I think people choosing the supergenius intellect are romanticizing how great it would be, it seems in part due to the greatly exaggerated ideas about the abilities afforded by an extraordinarily high IQ. Clearly they both have (dis)advantages, and I’m not sure which I’d prefer. If my goal were to be rich, though, I’d definitely go with being irresistible. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/53 "2010-08-24T23:00:45Z")
I’ll choose the ‘ultra-hottie’ option. I want to see how the other side of the street lives. 😃 Seriously, I’m not a _super_-genius, but I am fairly smart. I am also extremely aware of my lack of social ‘polish’, let’s say. If the hottie option includes social skills as well as raw looks, I’m in. Edit: this doesn’t affect existing levels of the other attribute, does it? I don’t want to end up gorgeous but dim. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/54 "2010-08-24T23:05:10Z")
I wouldn’t want to be too smart because I think it would lead to being really miserable. I wouldn’t want to be too hot because people wouldn’t leave you alone! I’ll stick with being me, thanks anyway **Skaldzilla**! ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/55 "2010-08-24T23:09:13Z")
Hmm, you’re right. I’ll stick with being me. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/56 "2010-08-24T23:11:12Z")
Better looking. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/57 "2010-08-24T23:15:57Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > > > Let’s see, if I choose the former, I will inevitably annoy everyone around me. If I choose the latter, everyone around me will inevitably annoy me. Easy choice. > > How do you figure the former to be true? Do you feel that becoming a super-genius would inevitably change your personality? I’ve known a few super-geniuses in my life (and many more who just thought they were), and they’ve all been unbearably annoying. I suppose acquiring super-intelligence later in life might allow for the development of social skills, or at least the skill to detect when you’re being annoying. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/58 "2010-08-24T23:37:37Z")
I don’t know this Richards fellow, but I assumed it was the intellect option. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/59 "2010-08-25T00:33:48Z")
Definitely the looks for me. Life as the Professor in a world of Gilligans? Sounds lonely. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284/60 "2010-08-25T00:55:49Z")
Provided I could keep my current level of intellect I’d take being super attractive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-supergenius-level-intellect-or-nigh-irresistable-sex-appeal/551284.md?page=4)