Writer's Block: She's a brainiac on the floor

[rowyn]

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wyld_dandelyon pointed out that even the low end of "rich" sounds pretty good. :)

But even if I took "average rich" to mean "average wealth for an American", I have to say that these are both catagories where being average is a pretty good deal. I wouldn't want to be destitute, or mentally disabled. But being just average at either is good. Much better than being an impoverished genius or a wealthy idiot.

Comments

[dungeon-grrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I'm only average smart now, while I am poor as hell, so going super rich has no downside for me. yay!

[rowyn]

I think about average on both right now, so either is probably a step up. :)

[level-head.livejournal.com]

I would instantly forgo material wealth for the real wealth of the intellect.

I have been rich; it's okay, but only that. The real treasure is between the ears. Or more correctly, it is a treasure-house that charges you with the responsibility to amass as much knowledge of our wonderful universe as you can.

===|==============/ Level Head

[rowyn]

There are a lot of mental traits that I'd rather have than high intelligence, really. Even-tempered would be nice, for instance.

[level-head.livejournal.com]

Ah. Yes, it would be. I do have this as a goal -- it is a skill to be developed, rather than a gift, I think -- but I'm only indifferently successful at it.

The other possibilities weren't on the list -- and I didn't know we could do write-in candidates. ];-)

Immortality would be nice. We will get there, eventually, though we today might have a hard time recognizing the result.

===|==============/ Level Head

[rowyn]

I plan on living forever, myself. I've never died before so I don't see why I should assume that I will. :D

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

Super Rich and average smart, easy...

Wealth buys health and longevity, for example... super smart just means that I'd be likely to be annoyed at most folk around me...

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

But suddenly getting rich (eg, the lottery) is strongly correlated with suicide...

[rowyn]

For that matter, high intelligence is also correlate with suicide ....

[rowyn]

I admit that I feel like super-smarts are overrated. Of course, so is wealth ...

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

I dunno, IMO someone who's extremely smart should be able to make money by skillful investments and business deals, but someone who's just super rich has less possibility of accumulating smarts later, IMO. You could even argue that unearned wealth may tend to make one foolish.

If someone came along and offered me a boost to one or the other, I'd probably opt for smarts - I would rather be able to figure things out more easily, or invent new things as my contribution to the world.

[rowyn]

I think the assumption is that you won't be able to translate your intelligence into cash. Which, honestly, seems pretty reasonable to me. A lot of very smart people are not rich, for whatever reason.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

'Tis true, but still, suppose someone asked if you'd rather be rich or creative? I think of intelligence as a form of creativity.

[rowyn]

... creativity would be much harder for me to give up, though. o.o

[rowyn]

And, okay, being smart enough to solve some of those plot problems would be awfully nice. :D

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Now you're thinking with portals. ^_^

[duane-kc.livejournal.com]

Definitely super smart. I *hate* money. Hate it with a passion, doubly so because it is a necessity. Were I smarter, I would bend my intellect toward making us all so rich there would be no further need for money.

[rowyn]

Okay, now that's a good answer. :D

[howardtayler.livejournal.com]

If I were aware of having made the choice at some point, I'd definitely choose intellect and then attempt to game the system by using my intellect to live beyond the means ascribed to "average" wealth via barter, etc.

Hopefully I'd be smart enough to pull it off.

[rowyn]

Hee! That'd be a sneaky thing to try. I like Duane's plan better, though. :D

[telnar.livejournal.com]

The person I am today would definately chose intelligence. Life seems more interesting when more fully understood. I suspect that the person that I would have become had I chosen wealth without recalling the choice would be happier, though -- in part by not recognizing the existance of things he won't understand.