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Smart People

Preamble. There is one achievement of the US educational system.  They have convinced our students of how smart they are. This is good and bad.  Some students are elevated by this pronouncement, and get smarter.  Some students are elevated by this pronouncement, and don't try to get smarter. Why bother, they might ask when I'm already smart?  Some of these folks are idiots.

In this note, we classify students and adults by their intellectual capacities. This applies well beyond the USA.

Fundamental premise:  "Every body thinks they're smart."  Not really!

Rankings. Smart vs Dumb
  1. Smart and know they're smart but don't press the "smart" issue.
  2. Smart and know they're smart, but do try to impress their smartness.
  3. Smart, but don't know it, are insecure about the whole matter. 
  4. Smart but doubt their smartness.
  5. Not so smart but think they're smart. Act like they're smart.
  6. Not so smart and know it.  They work around the matter.
  7. Dumb but think they're smart. Dangerous types
  8. Dumb but are too dumb to know it. Very dangerous.
  9. Dumb and don't even consider the matter.
  10. Dolts. The bottom.
Are you smart?  Where do you fit in this?  I know where I am and its not at the top, even second, third, or fourth. The are you smart test: Just try to compete in any particular arena and prove you stand out on top.  Being a generalist doesn't count here unless you really are one and can prove it.  Totally rare.
Naturally, these categories are just a first cut.  Please add on as you think.

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