Who's smarter, you or your SO?

[Dancing Fire]

 

[monarch64]

This is like asking if I am smarter than my best friend--I mean, why would I associate with someone I think is far more or far less intelligent than me? Same with the looks question--much research has shown that like attracts like and that we are likely to choose a mate who is about the same in terms of attractiveness. And honestly, who *really* is going to answer either of these questions with ME, I AM SMARTER/BETTER LOOKING than my SO?

To answer this question, though, I believe my husband and I are equally intelligent but we have different areas of expertise/knowledge.

Now, how about a fun question, like who will live longer, you or your SO? That oughta stir the pot!

Edited for spelling.

 

[TristanC]

I find it interesting as a demographic how many people here describe their partners as having traits that would put them well within the top 1% or perhaps top 0.5% or better of the population.

Maybe those are the traits that lead to social success, and allow an indulgence in the world of gemstones/jewelry.

 

[missy]

Another tough one Kenny LOL. It depends on the topic but I think he would beat me in Jeopardy for sure. I have common sense on my side though and I am way more intuitive than he is and I can easily read people whereas he can be a bit slow about that. I also talk and think more quickly than he does but not sure that means anything...

 

[Rhea]

It depends on subject.

He's handy and things, like electrics, computers, hardware, and tools come naturally to him. He has endless trivia knowledge and I'm always glad that we play on the same team for pub quizzes. Science and maths he's quicker. He has a lot of common sense, probably more than me.

I'm emotionally smarter. I'm better at seeing both sides and empathizing. I read a lot and understand psychology and human interactions much quicker than he does.

 

[Amber St. Clare]

That's easy--we're tied, but we have specials areas of expertise. He is brilliant when it comes to any and all things pertaining to Math, science, finance. He has many tines tried to explain the difference between NASDAQ and DJIA and my head explodes. Conversely I may try to explain something in a movie or show we're watching and he tunes me totally out.

I'm better read than he is, I have a good knowledge of English and History and more politically aware {not to say I am right, just aware}. I read newspapers, he doesn't.

Our son is so much like his father it's frightening. When he did his Masters Thesis I had to edit it for grammar, punctuation, etc. And while I adore my son, I didn't think the writing was college level. Apparently their standards are not the same as mine were because he finished with a 3.93 average {business, accounting, just like his father}. He did not inherit my love of reading, is not politically aware and I don't think I've ever seen him watch a news show since 9/11/01.

 

[Rhea]

Now, how about a fun question, like who will live longer, you or your SO? That oughta stir the pot!

Edited for spelling.

Him. Better genes based on parental health and well-being, diseases that run in the family, ages of death for grandparents, and levels of physical fitness. He's also 3 years younger than I am.

 

[JewelFreak]

It's not even close. Me, though we disagree about it a lot.

 

[Pandora II]

We're very evenly matched.

He's 2 points ahead of me on a professionally conducted IQ test that we both did with the same person when each of us was 7 years old (bit freaky when we found that out since we lived in very different areas of the country).

He's more academic - scholarships, A grades for everything, degree from Oxford. I also did very well at school, but choose to go to Art College as it was 'more challenging'!

He's musical, I'm artistic. We're both game players - he will usually beat me but then he was Under-21 UK Bridge champion and also played chess to County-level. We both write - but different styles even if it's the same subject.

The interesting difference has been most obvious in politics. He's very much the person with the rational and thought-out arguments and I'm the person who can work people to get them on my side. It worked rather well - I was the elected representative and he sat/sits on all the policy committees!

Strangely he's the one with the EQ...

 

[Black Jade]

Either that or only the people on p'scope who have SO's with these traits are responding to this poll. Kind of like with the diamonds, you know. People think everyone on Pscope has 2 carats plus because that's who tends to post their rings.

Could also be that a few of us are stretching the truth a bit. Since we're online with a screen name, who can check? some people do get a kick out of being outstanding online--it makes up for not being outstanding in real life.

My SO thinks I am smarter and I think he is smarter. We went to the same Ivy League school and got the same kind of grades so we are probably equal in terms of taking standardized tests and spitting answers the answers back at teachers that they want to hear. If that equals being smart. I'm not so sure of that any more, having met many who weren't good at that that still have things to teach me that I need to learn.

We are also both supercompetitive--an important trait to get through an Ivy League school--and both good at hiding how competitive we actually are--an important trait in real life, where people don't tend to like the person who has to win at everything. When we play board games or other games with friends, we always make sure to be on the opposite team and try to kill each other. All in fun, of course.

I find it interesting as a demographic how many people here describe their partners as having traits that would put them well within the top 1% or perhaps top 0.5% or better of the population.

Maybe those are the traits that lead to social success, and allow an indulgence in the world of gemstones/jewelry.

 

[chemgirl]

I think I'm smarter when it comes to actually doing things. For example, the poor man can't figure out how to assemble something if his life depended on it. He'll also stand right next to the lineup and won't understand why everyone is walking in front of him.

On the other hand, he had a perfect score in 3rd year advanced calculus and he does some insanely complicated algorithms for his programming. People who know about programming are constantly telling me he's brilliant. So he's smarter when it comes to technical stuff.

I think he's smarter than me, but he would say its the other way around.

 

[stargurl78]

I would say we're tied. I think he is a genius when it comes to computers or anything math related. But I am a little bit smarter than him at just about everything else so I think we even out

 

[ladypirate]

I'm probably more book smart but he's more practically smart, if that makes sense. I pick things up really quickly but he's better at seeing them through and planning ahead.

 

[Puppmom]

This is an interesting question. I don't know who has a higher IQ. I would say I'm *smarter* because I can pick up just about anything (within reason of course!). Generally speaking, I have a thirst for knowledge that he lacks so I *know* more. DH is the creative type and MUST be interested in something to understand it. His motivation and work ethic FAR exceed mine though. I think it's because my parents always gushed over me - they assumed I was gifted because I did well on tests. That made me think I didn't have to work hard so I blame it on them.

I take back the part about picking up anything. DH is a musician and he can explain things to me in a billion ways and I just don't get it.

ETA - I'm sitting here laughing that I said I'm smarter than DH. I locked my keys in the car yesterday......and TODAY!

 

[jaysonsmom]

I'm book smart, but he is a genius in every other way. Even though he was a chemistry major, he can troubleshoot electrical problems, computer software/hardware problems better than most engineering majors, hence I married him because I loves me a smart man.

 

[natascha]

I find it interesting as a demographic how many people here describe their partners as having traits that would put them well within the top 1% or perhaps top 0.5% or better of the population.

Maybe those are the traits that lead to social success, and allow an indulgence in the world of gemstones/jewelry.

At first I was pretty baffled by this statement. Do you really mean that the traits described would be top 1%? I find that very strange. Maybe it is time for my monthly reality dose? If I go to long without it I kinda forget what is normal.

Anyhow I think it is pretty interesting what people are describing as smart. I personally don't consider myself smart but following other peoples references then I am and funnily enough, more so than my SO.

I do consider myself intelligent, I score well, attend the top university of my country, I basically "get" stuff. I am good at maths and science but am also great at lit, history, etc. I started to study my law degree in parallel with my other studies because it is fun.

Big BUT however, I have been described as street stupid, legally blond and tecktard. I can get confused by from which side you are supposed to approach the station for throwing away the mugs and stuff after eating at Burger King. I get lost everywhere, don't understand the copy- machine and say really stupid stuff sometimes. I don't always realize what language I am reading or speaking, sometimes with funny results. I constantly forget where I have put stuff or put them in the wrong place. One morning I found the bread in the fridge and the butter in the breadbox .

So I'm I smart? I don't think so. My SO however I do consider smart. He is my complete opposite, and all time awesome .

So are we a tie?

 

[Cehrabehra]

I put a tie. I have more of what I consider intelligence. More ability to process, more ability to think outside the box. I am quicker and can go farther. Husband has more of what I consider smarts. He has more information, a better problem solving ability, greater efficiency, and is more thorough.

 

[marcy]

I voted my SO is smarter. He would say I am though even though I don't agree with him

 

[Haven]

It's a tie. We both have our moments of supreme idiocy.

 

[Trekkie]

He is. Definitely.

He has a PhD, for crying out loud!

A few years ago I was unceremoniously dumped by a boy because he felt I was "intensely intellectually intimidating". The boy had completed his degree in computer science and applied mathematics when he was 19, summa cum laude... And he had the nerve to call me intellectually intimidating?! Bah!

So when I met my SO and realised just how smart he was and how unintimidated he was, I simply had to nab him!

It's nearly three years later and we haven't looked back since!

 

[missy]

It's a tie. We both have our moments of supreme idiocy.

LOL, wish I had thought of this great answer Haven!

 

[manderz]

It's a tie. We both have our moments of supreme idiocy.

LOL, wish I had thought of this great answer Haven!

I agree! We went to a hockey game a couple weeks ago, and (more than once) called it a soccer game.

Seriously though, I feel like I'm better with english and sort of etiquette stuff, and he's better with the science/math stuff. We both have good spacial awareness, and are both pretty handy (good with home reno's). I feel as though I have a slight jump on him currently though; as I'm a farther ahead in my education than he is.