Klostermeme VII

Chuck Klosterman IV is rife with meme fodder. The Klostermeme series features these questions, my answers, my speculations on how Klosterman would answer and an invitation to the reader to answer these questions in the comments!

pillYou are offered a Brain Pill. If you swallow this pill, you will become 10% more intelligent than you currently are; you will be more adept at reading comprehension, logic, and critical thinking. However, to all other people you know (and to all future people you meet) you will seem 20% less intelligent. In other words, you will immediately become smarter, but the rest of the world will perceive you as dumber (and there is no way you can ever alter the universality of that perception).

Do you take this pill?

My Answer: No. Part of the usefulness of intelligence is being able to convince other people that you have good ideas which should be taken into consideration. You would have a much harder time in work and social situations. Unless your current level of intelligence is so low that it hinders day-to-day functions, there is no reason to take this pill.

Klosterman Theory: He would not take the pill, as he is concerned with public perception.

Put your answers in the comments!

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1 Comment

  1. I wouldn’t take the pill. This was a tough choice. Not because I want that extra 10% of intelligence (I don’t think it would improve my life any), but because being perceived as 20% less intelligent than I am currently perceived to be might actually work in my favor, if it means I come across as less of a know-it-all. Also, people might not ask me for directions as often. But even now, there’s always some self-absorbed bastard who assumes I’m not as bright as they are, and I wouldn’t want to increase the likelihood of dealing with that.


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