Not smart?

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Is there anyone else with AS that isn't very smart? I mean, I'm above average, but I'm not super smart or anything. I'm like, maybe a B student. I usually get about 74%. I feel that I know a lot about my special interest, but my special interest isn't really an "intelligence" topic. It's nothing to do with science or math or anything. I'm not very good at science. I can't do physics or chemistry to save my life, but I'm OK at biology and earth science.

So, do you HAVE to be super smart and LOVE science to have AS? It seems as it is that way.

No, that's just the stereotype. We do tend to see details more easily, but that doesn't necessarily make us good scientists; and there are as in any group, there are more Aspies closer to the average in any given skill, including academics, than there are at the extreme high or low ends. However, in our specialist subjects we do tend to be very, very good, if only because of the sheer amount of time and effort spent...

I'm not even good with details that are not related to my special interest.

I'm only good at stuff I'm familiar with and/or can memorize. But people still think I'm smart b/c of my grades/GPA.

It depends on your definition of smart. My definition of smart is someone who is constantly willing to learn more things. Someone who knows a great deal, but doesn't want to learn any more, would be stupid as far as I'm concerned.

Grades are a very poor indicator of intelligence.

I completely agree with this statement. Aspie's are gifted, and their gifts are their interests. I love electronics and am very good, but there are a ton of others better than me. But I'm very good because of the time and dedication to the subject. I haven't had it tested, but I'd say my IQ is average.

I'm a male, and I think most males like science and math. Female Aspies, like females, are very different than males.

What is?

It's all in the motivation.

What is what?

A good indicator of intelligence.

Another weird thing about this is that people tell me I'm smart. People think I am good at math when they have only known me for like, 5 minutes for some reason.

I'm good at languages but computer science/math - the typical aspie staples - bore me to tears. It's a myth that aspies are smarter - our focus on special interests and savants are the main reason why. I got good gradees in high school, went to a pretty high-ranked college...and was shocked to find out I wasn't the hot shot I thought I was. For example on my last test I got a 77% which made me average (this classs is graded on a curve so it's really a B but I'm still scored just slightly above average). I'm learning that's okay.

I'm better than average in Spanish, and languages are my true passion but I'm still not a genius. I think the image were all savants is harmful. It makes us feel we're not good enough.

My other special interest is grocery shopping. So I hate when people say find a career in your special interest. So what if I know how much everything costs, where it is, read the ads weekly and make in-depth grocery lists? It isn't like working at a grocery store would be a good fit for me.

IQ tests are the standard, although they have their flaws. There is more than one type of intelligence. If people consider you intelligent after just a few minutes of knowing you, perhaps you have high linguistic intelligence, and by your enunciation and grammar they have decided that you're clever.

Grades are primarily a measure of discipline and executive function. They want to know that you can jump through hoops on demand. That's what they are for from an employers perspective. There are some subjects and coursework that might come closer to directly measuring your intellect but I don't think you can judge your intellect from just the grades you've mentioned. Especially at the HS level.

And there are plenty of dumb aspies. Just check out the off-topic forums. Hyper-focus is not the golden ticket to being bright. In the complete guide they noted that AS types can have very uneven IQs.

i've been told i'm very intelligent most of my life and yet I have no outstanding abilities or skills, an average or low IQ, and little formal education beyond middle school. So what is it that makes me intelligent?

I've been trying, alternatively, to figure out what the quality of being stupid is. The only thing I keep coming back to is bigotry and intolerance. I think that nearly everyone has something to add to the world, even if it's just a differing perspective or background. I don't think someone is stupid because of low performance in certain areas. And I don't think they have to be greatly skilled in some other area to compensate and thus be seen as intelligent.

And that leaves bigotry and intolerance as an indication of stupidity. But is that really stupidity? Probably not. It's just not a good thing. Maybe I'm being a bigot by saying it is a quality of such because of their differing opinions. I don't really know. Maybe stupidity doesn't even exist.

Someone others regard as intelligent. generally, has a good memory and asks questions that no one else thinks of. They come up with innovative solutions to problems.
Coming up with interesting, one of a kind theories helps. Analyzing motives and reasons can convince others of one's innate ability, especially if you can come up with something they haven't thought of.
Some regard cunning as a sign of high intelligence. Schemes devised to get people to do your bidding tend to be the envy of certain others who admire the adept skill at maneuvering.
Sometimes it's managerial skills that earns the label Intelligent.
People who excell at math are generally thought of as above average in IQ (even though I don't like that term.)
Understanding complex subject matter is quite convincing. It never hurts to have a profound, yet subtle grasp of the material, whatever it is.