# Would you trade intelligence for attractiveness?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-trade-intelligence-for-attractiveness/430771>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 20, 2007, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-trade-intelligence-for-attractiveness/430771 "2007-12-20T23:51:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-trade-intelligence-for-attractiveness/430771/61 "2007-12-27T14:46:07Z")

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I wonder how many people are smart. Of course that would depend on whose definition of smart or a way to quantify it. IQ tests certainly haven’t been an effective way to measure anything other than prior exposure to standardized tests and my own willingness to cheat my ass off.

But we all think we’re smart. We tell our children and friends they are smart. If we’re all above average intelligence in our own minds then it’s the new average. I don’t think there is a way to really measure intelligence, but you can use a broad common sense gut feeling about people. Are we really as smart as we think we are? I’ll need one paragraph from each of you stating your case. Why do you think you are smart? I’ll let you know when I have the results from the lab.

Me? I’d rather be super hot and a pop star.

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-trade-intelligence-for-attractiveness/430771/62 "2007-12-27T14:57:08Z")

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I am pretty well maxed out on both intelligence and attractiveness so I will have to pick something else. I would shave a little off of each to be good at painting (interior and exterior), the trapeze, and cane pole fishing.

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**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-trade-intelligence-for-attractiveness/430771/63 "2007-12-27T15:26:58Z")

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[QUOTE=Shagnasty]  
I am pretty well maxed out on both intelligence and attractiveness so I will have to pick something else.  
[/QUOTE]

You should pick penis size, then. That’s what I picked.

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-trade-intelligence-for-attractiveness/430771/64 "2007-12-27T15:29:28Z")

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[QUOTE=pizzabrat]  
You should pick penis size, then. That’s what I picked.  
[/QUOTE]

How did you think I plan on doing the cane pole fishing?

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**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-trade-intelligence-for-attractiveness/430771/65 "2008-01-01T02:58:19Z")

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[QUOTE=Maastricht]  
…for most of us happiness correlates more with pleasant interactions with the people around us.  
[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Robot Arm]  
I’ve seen you. There’s little, if any, room for improvement.  
[/QUOTE]  
Thanks for illustrating my point!

::big smile::

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