Stealing from Klosterman 7

Q:

You are offered a Brain Pill. If you swallow this pill, you will become 10 percent 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 percent less intelligent. In other words, you will immediately become smarter, but the rest of the world will perceive you as dumber (and there is now way you can ever alter the universality of this perception).

Do you take this pill?



Short answer: Yes.

1) I'd be able to do things faster and comprehend more. I might even be able to learn another language finally - something I've struggled with for a long time. My math skills would increase, I'd be able to read more books a year, and hopefully I'd be able to write with more precision.


2) If people thought I was dumber, I wouldn't have to deal with the pressure of potential as much.

3) Downside? I'd probably be a lot sadder. Ignorance is bliss and all that.