[phoenix_fire]

Intelligent people tend to be far more conscientious. In a cruel combination of circumstances, insults and other social cruelties hurt more and intellectuals tend to receive these more than most. As the article said, they are often also carrying the emotional burdens of other people, knowing about and having empathy for the plight of others. This is not universally true. I know a really smart guy that's totally selfish. But that may have more to do with his current infatuation than anything else. But back on topic, intelligent people are also conscientious of their own situation and can tend to obsess over their their own misfortunes more, being able to understand their nature to a far greater extent. Those with a decent understanding of human nature and with a certain degree of empathic ability can soon find themselves becoming very cynical and insulated. I have this problem. Right now, those in my peer group are at the age where they start seriously thinking about marriage (I'm talking about a group of mostly single people). Knowing the depths of manipulation, selling out, and betrayal that the other girls almost universally stoop to makes me want to vomit and consequently I don't like being around those of my own gender. And the older women are sitting there trying to arrange marriages among us, largely based on superficial traits. That's so annoying. And then, knowing how superficial most of the guys are (they really try (pretend?) not to be, but ask some of them the last time they dated a girl over a certain weight...) it just makes me angry to be around them sometimes. I know a guy that has a numerical rating system and won't date girls under a certain number...somewhere in the 7 point range. And he actually made the mistake once of telling a girl honestly what number he gave her. And then he made the mistake of telling me (another girl) about it. I've concluded that ignorance truly is bliss.