Essay Why you should pretend to be less intelligent than you are

[FairnessandEquality]

The video titled "Why You Should Pretend to Be Less Intelligent than You Are" by the Academy of Ideas explores the philosophical and practical benefits of hiding your true intellect behind a mask of mediocrity or ignorance.

Drawing on insights from historical thinkers, the video details why downplaying your wisdom is often the most strategic move you can make.

Here is a summary of the core arguments presented in the video:
1. Superior Intellect Makes People Uncomfortable
Wounding Vanity: When someone openly displays superior intelligence, it indirectly highlights the limitations of others [02:06].

Because most people derive their self-worth from believing they are intellectually competent, encountering true wisdom wounds their pride and triggers feelings of inferiority [02:30].

Inviting Resentment: The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer noted that intellectual superiority offends by its very existence [02:13]. Letting others see that you are decidedly smarter than them can cause them to thirst for vengeance, hostility, or resentment [02:56].

Futility of Arguing: Wise individuals understand that people rarely change their minds when confronted with superior arguments; instead, they usually become defensive [03:11]. As Baltasar Gracián wrote, "with fools, being wise counts for little." [03:27]

2. Practical and Career Advantages (Managing Superiors)
The Desire for Superiority: Schopenhauer argued that just as the body loves warmth, the human mind loves to feel superior [04:34]. People naturally seek company that makes them feel smart, and they instinctively dislike those who outshine them [04:51].

Never Outshine the Master: When dealing with people in power, displaying too much insight can trigger their deep insecurities [05:05]. Competence is necessary to get noticed, but outdoing a boss or supervisor can be fatal to your career [05:24].
Likability Over Performance: The video references Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, whose research shows that job promotions are determined far more by likability and managing relationships with superiors than by actual performance [05:54]. Part of being likable involves making those in authority feel like their guidance and wisdom are deeply valued [06:08]. Robert Greene mirrors this in The 48 Laws of Power, stating you should always make your masters appear more brilliant than they are [06:35].

3. An Exercise in True Humility
Recognizing Human Limits: Even for completely self-sufficient individuals who do not rely on others for advancement, playing the fool serves as a reminder of their own limitations [07:21]. In the context of life’s greatest mysteries, all human knowledge is relatively minor [07:36].

The Lesson of Socrates: The Oracle of Delphi famously declared Socrates the wisest man in Athens [08:04]. Socrates realized this was true only because, unlike politicians, poets, and craftsmen who falsely believed they knew everything, he was entirely aware of his own ignorance [08:42].

The Danger of Exposure: Socrates’s insistence on exposing the ignorance of self-proclaimed "wise" individuals created powerful, dangerous enemies, eventually resulting in his execution [09:24].

Ultimately, the video concludes that strategically wearing a "mask of foolishness" protects you from envy, helps you navigate social and professional hierarchies smoothly, and aligns you with genuine wisdom—which always begins with acknowledging how little you actually
know [10:17].

 

[Quintilian]

The video titled "Why You Should Pretend to Be Less Intelligent than You Are" by the Academy of Ideas explores the philosophical and practical benefits of hiding your true intellect behind a mask of mediocrity or ignorance.

Drawing on insights from historical thinkers, the video details why downplaying your wisdom is often the most strategic move you can make.

Here is a summary of the core arguments presented in the video:
1. Superior Intellect Makes People Uncomfortable
Wounding Vanity: When someone openly displays superior intelligence, it indirectly highlights the limitations of others [02:06].

Because most people derive their self-worth from believing they are intellectually competent, encountering true wisdom wounds their pride and triggers feelings of inferiority [02:30].

Inviting Resentment: The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer noted that intellectual superiority offends by its very existence [02:13]. Letting others see that you are decidedly smarter than them can cause them to thirst for vengeance, hostility, or resentment [02:56].

Futility of Arguing: Wise individuals understand that people rarely change their minds when confronted with superior arguments; instead, they usually become defensive [03:11]. As Baltasar Gracián wrote, "with fools, being wise counts for little." [03:27]

2. Practical and Career Advantages (Managing Superiors)
The Desire for Superiority: Schopenhauer argued that just as the body loves warmth, the human mind loves to feel superior [04:34]. People naturally seek company that makes them feel smart, and they instinctively dislike those who outshine them [04:51].

Never Outshine the Master: When dealing with people in power, displaying too much insight can trigger their deep insecurities [05:05]. Competence is necessary to get noticed, but outdoing a boss or supervisor can be fatal to your career [05:24].
Likability Over Performance: The video references Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, whose research shows that job promotions are determined far more by likability and managing relationships with superiors than by actual performance [05:54]. Part of being likable involves making those in authority feel like their guidance and wisdom are deeply valued [06:08]. Robert Greene mirrors this in The 48 Laws of Power, stating you should always make your masters appear more brilliant than they are [06:35].

3. An Exercise in True Humility
Recognizing Human Limits: Even for completely self-sufficient individuals who do not rely on others for advancement, playing the fool serves as a reminder of their own limitations [07:21]. In the context of life’s greatest mysteries, all human knowledge is relatively minor [07:36].

The Lesson of Socrates: The Oracle of Delphi famously declared Socrates the wisest man in Athens [08:04]. Socrates realized this was true only because, unlike politicians, poets, and craftsmen who falsely believed they knew everything, he was entirely aware of his own ignorance [08:42].

The Danger of Exposure: Socrates’s insistence on exposing the ignorance of self-proclaimed "wise" individuals created powerful, dangerous enemies, eventually resulting in his execution [09:24].

Ultimately, the video concludes that strategically wearing a "mask of foolishness" protects you from envy, helps you navigate social and professional hierarchies smoothly, and aligns you with genuine wisdom—which always begins with acknowledging how little you actually
know [10:17].

The best that I can offer to this thread and idea, when you are retarded or psychologically inept, it is best to have a form that is capable, but solely based on survival. In essence you think no greater then what you are truly capable of doing. You recognize your limitations and seek to only act in that capacity that you excel at. In essence, as animals have hunting grounds, specific meals or time of days which they engage, so to will you, it is for the better, genuinely being intelligent and being stupid are petty in themselves because both think themselves somehow greater then they are. Its a weird contradiction.

 

[porco-dddio]

I pretend to be more intelligent so I fool myself and tackle topics out of my league, which boosts my IQ so I become the person I pretend to be.

 

[Wolfstorm]

Do the opposite. Throw your intelligence right on their faces to make them seethe more, then sue them when appropriate. Be anti-social and quarrelsome. People deserve nothing but hate.

 

[porco-dddio]

Never Outshine the Master: When dealing with people in power, displaying too much insight can trigger their deep insecurities [05:05]. Competence is necessary to get noticed, but outdoing a boss or supervisor can be fatal to your career [05:24].
Likability Over Performance: The video references Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, whose research shows that job promotions are determined far more by likability and managing relationships with superiors than by actual performance [05:54]. Part of being likable involves making those in authority feel like their guidance and wisdom are deeply valued [06:08]. Robert Greene mirrors this in The 48 Laws of Power, stating you should always make your masters appear more brilliant than they are [06:35].

good advice but I dont follow it. But on this line I can add more to the discussion.

If you do porn animations, only do what is asked. Define exactly what you gotta do, dont do more. Bcause you want someone else to take responsibility if others decisions are bad. So be sure you are doing only what was asked, do it the way it was asked so others will pay for the mistakes that result from bad work being done. And you have alibi. If someone above you has bad ideas, you be lazy and do shit job.

Dont step on others feet, if someone has an invented role "art director", pretend you respect it while in reality you dont and you belive art directors shouldnt exist. If there is a pipeline and people are organized around tools that yuo think are shit, learn the shit tools anyway. Dont be that guy who thinks hes too good to use shit tools, use them anyway. Show others that you use their tools and learn their language.

Do not become good at 1 thing, be jack of all trades. If you become too good, people rely on your skill, and you be trapped in a role inside of a pipeline so that some smartass "art director" will feel entitled to boss you around. Art directors dont study anything and they are dumb as shit they have the cope in their head they are directing others. Be submitted to such inferior subhumans is one of the worst things that can happen. So dont be "good" dont have a role. Refuse to help people if you notice they rely on you too much, or soon this will be your job.

If you are good for example at designin systems of animation, dont be too good at it or you will do that thing for normies who are less competent than you are.

 

[porco-dddio]

Do the opposite. Throw your intelligence right on their faces to make them seethe more, then sue them when appropriate. Be anti-social and quarrelsome. People deserve nothing but hate.

Cool thats also my conclusion.

I want to show all my ideas, and I take pride in knowing all my ideas are debunkable.

If I get a good idea, I take full credit forit, I brand my ideas and I go around boasting whatever I done that works and if someone is envious is his problem.

I do, because I can, and Im tired of normies forcing me to feel sorry, just bcause im megalomaniac. Its my personality, I dont think im very destructive I try to do it in the most prosocial way possible. If someone is envious who gives a fuck, I had to deal with envy too. I mean I envy people who have long hair cause they can have haircuts and I cant. I deal with it, so others should deal with their envy as well.

 

[Wolfstorm]

Im tired of normies forcing me to feel sorry, just bcause im megalomaniac.

There is a concerted effort in the interwebz to make you feel sorry for being superior, in order to create a new caste of servants. You're not being a megalomaniac by just being yourself.

Basically this new feudal system works as follows:
The kings: le big tech corporations
The dukes: game and media distributors
The counts: game and media studios
The barons: youtube/twitch influencers
The knights: reddit thought police
The serfs: you, producing content for free, being exploited by all above

Be ruthless, become a problem, on purpose. Be egomaniac, without displaying anything.
If you dont need to show peacock feathers and they still seethe, then you won.

 

[porco-dddio]

There is a concerted effort in the interwebz to make you feel sorry for being superior, in order to create a new caste of servants. You're not being a megalomaniac by just being yourself.

Basically this new feudal system works as follows:
The kings: le big tech corporations
The dukes: game and media distributors
The counts: game and media studios
The barons: youtube/twitch influencers
The knights: reddit thought police
The serfs: you, producing content for free, being exploited by all above

Be ruthless, become a problem, on purpose. Be egomaniac, without displaying anything.
If you dont need to show peacock feathers and they still seethe, then you won.

Nice classification. I had another one but simpler, yours is more elaborate.

Mine was this: internet landlord is whoever owns the physical facilities where data is stored and so on. Internet aristocrat is whoever exploited asymmetries to build his reputation like ecelebs and public intellectuals.

 

[OgreLTN]

Cool thats also my conclusion.

I want to show all my ideas, and I take pride in knowing all my ideas are debunkable.

If I get a good idea, I take full credit forit, I brand my ideas and I go around boasting whatever I done that works and if someone is envious is his problem.

I do, because I can, and Im tired of normies forcing me to feel sorry, just bcause im megalomaniac. Its my personality, I dont think im very destructive I try to do it in the most prosocial way possible. If someone is envious who gives a fuck, I had to deal with envy too. I mean I envy people who have long hair cause they can have haircuts and I cant. I deal with it, so others should deal with their envy as well.

Dude i saw you saying something about being a moral person and some sort of karma you believe in, yet you agree with this. Or maybe i'm not understanding what you meant.

 

[porco-dddio]

Dude i saw you saying something about being a moral person and some sort of karma you believe in, yet you agree with this. Or maybe i'm not understanding what you meant.

who thinks himself being immoral, organ traffickers have their tale where they think they are moral

 

[OgreLTN]

who thinks himself being immoral, organ traffickers have their tale where they think they are moral

Yeah, i guess so.

 

[Vaincu]

I always try to lower people's expectations of me.

 

[FairnessandEquality]

There is a concerted effort in the interwebz to make you feel sorry for being superior, in order to create a new caste of servants. You're not being a megalomaniac by just being yourself.

Basically this new feudal system works as follows:
The kings: le big tech corporations
The dukes: game and media distributors
The counts: game and media studios
The barons: youtube/twitch influencers
The knights: reddit thought police
The serfs: you, producing content for free, being exploited by all above

Be ruthless, become a problem, on purpose. Be egomaniac, without displaying anything.
If you dont need to show peacock feathers and they still seethe, then you won.

I'm too tired for reading thus haven't had breakfast yet

 

[FairnessandEquality]

Dude i saw you saying something about being a moral person and some sort of karma you believe in, yet you agree with this. Or maybe i'm not understanding what you meant.