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76 Times People Tried To Flex Their Intelligence But Ended Up Looking Foolish (New Pics)
Seeing someone embarrass themselves can be painful even if you aren’t involved in it at all. It’s just a normal part of human empathy. But if that person at first did something annoying, entitled or just prideful, then their failures become a very satisfying sort of entertainment.
We’ve gathered some of the funniest examples of someone trying very hard to show off their alleged “high IQ” online and just making a fool of themselves. So get comfortable as you scroll through, prepare for some secondhand embarrassment, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments down below.
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#1
Tall Tales From A Genius
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#2
A Friend Of Mine On Facebook Always Toes The “I Am Very Smart” Line But This Morning He Jumped Right Over It
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
Emotional intelligence is a thing and I think homeboy here failed that class.
#3
Tunnel Vision
There is a specific word that the Germans coined for this exact feeling and it is called schadenfreude. The basic idea is that we find joy in the misfortunes of others. While that might sound a little bit mean on the surface, it is actually a deeply ingrained part of how we maintain social balance.
When someone walks into a room or a digital comment section and starts acting like they are the only person who has ever read a book, they are setting a very high bar for themselves. They are essentially telling the rest of the world that they are superior, which creates a natural desire in the audience to see them prove it. If they can not back up that big talk, the fall is much more dramatic than it would be for a humble person.
#4
Its Just Fascinating
#5
This Girl Is Consistently Tweeting Stuff Like This
Think about the classic internet trope of the person who tries to correct the grammar of someone else while making a glaring spelling error in the very same sentence. It is the ultimate moment of unintentional comedy because it exposes a lack of self awareness that is just objectively funny.
#7
So Smart He Can Confound Minimum Wage Best Buy Employees
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
Anyone else get the feeling that this dude has no clue what a lumen is? Like its a word he read in a trade magazine somewhere and now it's his favorite word of the week?
#8
Simple As That
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
"Also, check out my storefront online! Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine on sale this month ONLY!"
#9
With Great Knowledge Comes Even Greater Responsibility
When we see a self proclaimed genius get stumped by a simple riddle or a basic fact, it reminds us that no one is truly above the rest of us. It acts as a social leveler. We live in a world where people are constantly trying to curate these perfect versions of themselves online and when that mask slips, it feels like we are finally seeing something authentic. Even if that authentic thing is just a silly mistake, it humanizes the person while also punishing their arrogance.
#10
Ah Yes, The Only Man Qualified To Speak On World War 1
#11
There’s Nothing Incredibly Intellectual About Either Of Those
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
That's literally how I spent a good portion of my 20s. I was also s****d out of my mind on pot. I wouldn't call it "intellectual".
#12
This Was Really Legit The Answer He Gave, I Was There
There is also a fascinating concept known as the Dunning Kruger effect which basically says that people with low ability at a task often overestimate their own competence. This is often what we are seeing when someone goes on a rant about their high IQ. They are so confident in their own brilliance that they do not even realize how they sound to everyone else.
#13
Tired: Reading Books. Wired: Reading Wikipedia Summaries And Goodreads Reviews. Inspired: Reading Dubious AI Hallucinations About A Book
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
No, I know how to use my own brain and not outsource my thinking to an AI datacenter that burns as much gas as a small city. AI sux!
#14
She Has Been At A Community College For Years And Also Constantly Begs For Money
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
His goal was to microdose the Ketamine but he misplaced a decimal somewhere and now he's tasting colors.
#15
I Said “Hey, What’s Good?”
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
"Pedigree" EWW! Like he's breeding a dog or something. Run away!
Watching this play out in real time is like watching a slow motion car crash where nobody actually gets hurt. It is harmless fun that allows us to feel a little bit better about our own modest lives. We might not be rocket scientists, but at least we are not the person who just spent twenty minutes explaining a concept incorrectly to a literal expert in the field.
#16
Boy Genius Gets Shut Down
#17
Found On Twitter This Morning
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
Hint: The first one is WATER. The next is TEA LEAVES. After that probably Citric acid and Sorbic Acid as preservatives. Tea isn't complicated.
Heffalump 1 week ago
Only needs to visualise the H20: that's more than 70%.
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Space Invader 1 week ago
Considering real green tea has only two ingredients (tea leaves and water - don't you dare put sugar in it!) I fail to see how he arrives at 70%. Unless he's a philistine drinking green tea flavoured slop out of a can...
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
That was my guess. That's why I threw in the preservatives. But yes. Green Tea should NEVER include sugar.
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Alisha Brun 1 week ago
Me reading my water bottle ingredients, I can picture the molecture structure of water in my head. I may be smarter than my 6yr old!!! Winning!
OneHappyPuppy 1 week ago
Because 70% is water and elementary school kids know what the atomic structure of water is?
Cuppa tea? 1 week ago
I read my black tea mug. It says Guinness, and I can mentally picture the perfect pint poured at local pub in Connemara.
Sue User 4 days ago
Do not tease me. I live in a terrible place that doesn't even have that shite in a can for export. There is local brew ( they grow hops here ) but it's all IPA.
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Ge Po 1 week ago
well, any chef-cook can tell you the basic ingredients of a dish they just tasted, explain how the acidic components react with the other chemical aspect of the other ingredients and even how that would have been different if an ingredient with an other level of acidity, or a different kind of protein/fat/starch would have been used. And any car-mechanic would be able to picture both the mechanical aspects of the engine in the car they drive, as well as deduce from the sounds it makes and small vibrations in the steering wheel where it may have issues.
KatSaidThat 7 hours ago
Just casually reading my Innocent green alert smoothie bottle and can mentally picture dinner.
#18
When Someone Says He Use "Facts And Logic" Its More Often Than Not An Opinion Not Based On Fact Nor Logic
Elladine DesIsles 1 week ago
Right. The average pre-K or kindie absolutely has nothing better to do, and no other responsibilities taking priority, over engaging in three-hour political debates with a single, insufferable student. Presumably, the 20-30 other five-year-olds in the room just watched in awe, completely oblivious to the fact that they were hungry or needed help using the washroom, nobody had a sudden urge to climb the bookshelf, or draw on a wall, or poke their neighbour?
The entertainment value also comes from the anticipation. When you see someone post a photo of a membership application or a screenshot of an online test they took while they were bored, you just know that something is going to go wrong eventually. It is the setup for a joke that they did not even know they were telling. When the punchline finally hits, it provides a sense of narrative satisfaction.
#19
"I Still Can't Believe How Much People Like Things I Don't Like"
Plentyofoomph 1 week ago
Its interesting to watch people who are really good at what they do regardless of the activity
#20
If This Isn't Satire, I'm Done With Life
Stephanie Did It 1 week ago
SO intelligent, yet unable to type 15 words without a grammatical error.
#21
Okay Good IQ Level
Grape Walls of Ire 1 week ago
If you're just trying to show off, Bach and Mozart wrote much more interesting music than those pieces. For that matter, listen to the whole Ring cycle, not just a snippet.
We love stories where the underdog wins and the boastful giant gets defeated. In the world of social media, the giant is often just a person with a keyboard and a very inflated sense of self importance. This phenomenon is often linked to the concept of hubris, which has been a staple of storytelling since the days of ancient Greece. It is the classic story arc of pride coming before a fall, and we are all just here to watch the tumble.
#23
Apparently You Can't Use 'Lmao' Anymore
#24
Are We For Real Right Now?
Furthermore, these moments of public failure serve as a cautionary tale for the rest of us. They remind us to stay humble and to check our facts before we start acting like we know everything. Seeing someone else take the hit for being a bit too proud allows us to learn that lesson without having to experience the embarrassment ourselves. It is a form of collective learning. We watch, we laugh, and then we think to ourselves that we should probably double check that thing we were about to post. It is a cycle of social correction that keeps everyone a little bit more grounded.
#25
Definitely Relevant Comment On A Kitchen Nightmares Episode
StrangeOne 1 week ago
Chef Ramsey would scream at you for daring to call him Gordon so casually. Then, if he hasn't fired your sorry a**e, he would shout at you to get back to f*****g work and wash those d**n dishes harder so you can actually earn to level up in the kitchen. FFS.
#26
I Went To Harvard
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
an·ec·do·tal /ˌanəkˈdōd(ə)l/ adjective (of an account) not necessarily true or reliable, because based on personal accounts rather than facts or research. Like talking about your personal experience in college and using it to make a vast generalization about other people's experiences.
#27
Gather Round Everyone It’s Time For The Weekly Family IQ Test
Speak easy buttercup 1 week ago
Amazingly I have 3 children over the age of 18(and one nipping on 18s door!) And EVERY SINGLE ONE of them KNOWS they are smarter than me!! What a crazy coincidence!! 🤣🤣🤣
In the end, it is not about being cruel or wanting people to suffer in any meaningful way. It is about the love of irony. There is nothing more ironic than a person who claims to be the smartest person in the room failing at something that a child could do. That contrast between their perceived self and their actual reality is the foundation of almost all great comedy. So, as you look through these examples of people tripping over their own egos, do not feel too bad about laughing.
#28
Imagine Greeting Someone And Getting This Answer
#29
I'm So Smart And Rich
Andrew Keir 1 week ago
$3 that has actually arrived is more helpful than a promise to pay after you're d**d. And one of the things I learnt at college was that independent sources of information (like Wikipedia) are of value in today's argumentative world.
#30
Akcthually Time Zones Don't Work Like That
You are just participating in a very old human tradition of finding humor in the arrogance of others. It is one of the things that makes the internet such a wild and interesting place to spend time. Just remember that the next time you feel like bragging about your latest achievement, there is probably someone out there waiting for you to make a typo. We all need a reality check now and then, and sometimes that check comes in the form of a very public and very funny mistake that reminds us we are all just human.
#31
Like 800 Letters A Minute?
Andrew Keir 1 week ago
Fully agreed. What do you know about your professor that they don't want told?
#32
I Could Do Anything And Be Really Freaking Good At It
#33
I Don't Want To Come Off As Ableist, But Come On
#34
Not Sure What That Has To Do With Anything
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
Is there a context where someone would ask that question IRL? I can't think of one.
#35
Well, If That's What AI Said
#36
Look At Me... I Am So Smart In This Hypothetical Situation
#37
Academic Reads Alot
#38
A Genius Among Us
Speak easy buttercup 1 week ago
It amazes me how many people claim to have genius level IQs these days! 🤣 and its usually the ones that can't put a coherent thought together! 🤣
#39
Because Space Is Epic
Andrew Keir 1 week ago
Well, I have to agree that it's difficult to have deep thoughts while fighting off an entire swamp's worth of alligators ...
#40
On A Post About Someone Getting Money From Redditors To Visit His Mother Who Is Passing Away
#41
Is The Master’s Degree In How To Be A Karen? Or Is That The High-Level Job?
#42
Yes, Because You Need To Be A Grad Student To Do Basic Middle School Math
#43
Almost Every Tweet Is About How They Went To Harvard
Speak easy buttercup 1 week ago
Yeah well I went to The University of Arkansas!! WOO PIG SOOIE!! Razorbacks! 🤣🤣🤣
#44
I Am The Only One Who Understands Nipponese
#45
Poor Guy
#46
In Case You Didn’t Know, She’s A Fantastic Speed Reader
Elladine DesIsles 1 week ago
Can we introduce her to the dude (currently #36) who reads "so much" by regularly meeting his Goodreads goals of 25-50 books a year? I'd like to see these two have a go at sorting out who is the sharpest, most academic, dominant bibliophile.
#47
He Is A Very Smart
Elladine DesIsles 1 week ago
By logic, if my great grandparents had never existed, neither would I. It seems this believer is unfamiliar with the concept of evidence.
#48
Being A Genius
#49
Good For You
#50
Believe It Not, This Is Not About A "Rick And Morty" Movie
Andrew Keir 1 week ago
I know average. And I know pretentious. And I know condescending. And I know 'walk away, shaking my head'.
#51
You Can Try To Talk To Me, But I’m Thinking Of Your Behavioural Incongruity
#52
His Entire Facebook Is Like This
#53
Learning About Old Paintings
Mrreoww 1 week ago (edited)
I studied art for a while and it really wasn’t this deep. Unlike this guy, who appears to have studied art to satisfy his pretentious existence, I genuinely loved properly analysing paintings. Besides, so many paintings are so deep and reference mythology and other cool things, so they’re really fascinating to study.
#54
The “Prediction”
#55
Zombie Apocalypse
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
Oh great. I'll eat him first. Who needs to grow their own food when there are so many people you can just gobble up.
#56
Trying To One Up A Literal Baby
Robert Millar 1 week ago
I was speaking full sentences at 12 months as well. Unfortunately, nobody could understand me.
#57
And People Wonder Why Atheists Get A Bad Name. He Makes Us All Look Bad
#58
On A Post About The Discovery Of Universes Existing Before Our One
#60
I Know So Much About This Man Now, And I Did Not Ask
#61
She Has Been In College For One Semester
Andrew Keir 1 week ago (edited)
Upvote for reference to research , downvote for tone / attitude. Indeed, don't get petty with her - she's had more practice at that than you have.
#62
Be Very Scared, This Guy Understands Music And Has A Good Brain
#63
I Learnt A Language In 2 Weeks
Lukas (he/him, it/its) 1 week ago
This one doesn't fit here tbh, they're just saying they had to learn the basics for going to school in two weeks. They're not bragging and saying they became fluent in two weeks, they're laughing at the situation.
#64
He’s Transcended Language
#65
Shes A Really Good Friend But She Does This Often
#66
We Learn This In Highschool
#67
Yikes
Elladine DesIsles 1 week ago
I see versions of this frequently pop up on social media. I really, really want to believe that answers like this - of which there are many - are posted by bots. But unless the bots are also voting and wearing red hats, there really must be plenty of people with critical thinking skills this atrophied.
#68
We Are Not Worthy
#69
This Kid I Went To High School With
#70
Don't Lie To This Man's Trained Mind
#71
Seems Like Something You'd Tell Yourself As An Excuse For Being Lonely
#72
Someone I Found On Instagram, Sorry For The Awful Blurring
#73
Sooo Smart
Andrew Keir 1 week ago
I do remember one professional examination I took, decades back, where "the use of electronic calculators is forbidden". So I turned up with a slide rule. After a frantic phone call to Exam HQ, they let me use it. Yay for guessing-sticks!
#74
So Shocking
Lost Panda 1 week ago
Wow, people from your country only learn European based languages? Why haven't you learned any Eastern languages? Or African languages? Man, I can't believe there are people who only speak European languages XD
#75
More Advice From Another Financial Genius Totally In Touch With Reality
#76
They Read So Many Books, Bro
Lee Gilliland 1 week ago
Mostly because it paid better, hello? George is a very smart man, he took the money and ran.
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What do you think ?
CloPotato 6 days ago (edited)
I'm kinda half and half on this article. A few were hilarious. But I don't enjoy mocking the younger people here, because when they're from kids/teenagers just sharing how life is when they're developing more quickly intellectually, these posts can actually help other non neurotypicals figure themselves out, despite lacking humility. Life can be tough for the kids who develop early, skip grades and end up feeling fully unrelated to their peers, being seen by others (including adults, too often) as their grades and skills rather than a child with a personality. It often takes a while for them to settle into a sense of normal identity and see they're not unicorns (or "zebras" or whatever). If they see posts by fellow "I'm only in high school but I speak 3 languages, do calculus and listen only to classical music", it can be the first bridge between their island and others. And they have all the time to keep maturing after teenagehood.
Paul C. 4 days ago
My blow hard BIL announced at a family gathering that he had become something of an expert in Geo Politics. There was a nervous silence and some stifled laughter but he was adamant. Turns out he had read an article in a men's health magazine, thus rendering him an expert. He really is an insufferable Tw@t.
Michael Largey 1 week ago
Having advanced intelligence is like having advanced strength - it all depends on what you accomplish with it.
Panda Bear 6 days ago
I would consider myself a reasonably intelligent person but I don’t go flaunting it around like it makes me better than others. (Because it doesn’t)
CloPotato 6 days ago (edited)
I'm kinda half and half on this article. A few were hilarious. But I don't enjoy mocking the younger people here, because when they're from kids/teenagers just sharing how life is when they're developing more quickly intellectually, these posts can actually help other non neurotypicals figure themselves out, despite lacking humility. Life can be tough for the kids who develop early, skip grades and end up feeling fully unrelated to their peers, being seen by others (including adults, too often) as their grades and skills rather than a child with a personality. It often takes a while for them to settle into a sense of normal identity and see they're not unicorns (or "zebras" or whatever). If they see posts by fellow "I'm only in high school but I speak 3 languages, do calculus and listen only to classical music", it can be the first bridge between their island and others. And they have all the time to keep maturing after teenagehood.
Paul C. 4 days ago
My blow hard BIL announced at a family gathering that he had become something of an expert in Geo Politics. There was a nervous silence and some stifled laughter but he was adamant. Turns out he had read an article in a men's health magazine, thus rendering him an expert. He really is an insufferable Tw@t.
Michael Largey 1 week ago
Having advanced intelligence is like having advanced strength - it all depends on what you accomplish with it.
Panda Bear 6 days ago
I would consider myself a reasonably intelligent person but I don’t go flaunting it around like it makes me better than others. (Because it doesn’t)
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