PGs essays ring very true to me, but not this one.
"So if intelligence in itself is not a factor in popularity, why are smart kids so consistently unpopular? The answer, I think, is that they don't really want to be popular."
What about the athlete that wants to dedicate themselves to their craft? The beautiful actress that practices acting and singing all day? They are (usually) effortlessly popular. Not to mention that there are generally some popular kids who are really freakin' smart.
Sociobiology is a big part of this. For zillions of generations, human beings were stack-ranked by specific qualities-- strength, external signals for health/viability, social dominance/leadership, etc. Young kids grow up and start this ritual-- unpredictably, they are probably less sophisticated and more driven by instinct than adults. And they're meaner.
I also wonder if kids latch onto and develop the parts of themselves that they can be good at. Everyone plays soccer for the first time. Some kids excel and get more interested. Others look around, realize that they suck compared to their peers and lose interest. Nerds realize very early that their path to praise and recognition might not be the one that the "tribe" broadly rewards, but it's better than nothing.
> What about the athlete that wants to dedicate themselves to their craft? The beautiful actress that practices acting and singing all day? They are (usually) effortlessly popular
Actually, I get the impression that top athletes and singers can be really weird and even socially lacking (on account of having spent insane amounts of time getting good at what they do).
They might be popular not because they're socially skilled, but rather because they're good-looking and/or fit, and because their skill is considered cool.
The fact that we're seeing more and more 'cool nerd' stereotypes just as nerdy stuff is becoming more mainstream would support that.
"So if intelligence in itself is not a factor in popularity, why are smart kids so consistently unpopular? The answer, I think, is that they don't really want to be popular."
What about the athlete that wants to dedicate themselves to their craft? The beautiful actress that practices acting and singing all day? They are (usually) effortlessly popular. Not to mention that there are generally some popular kids who are really freakin' smart.
Sociobiology is a big part of this. For zillions of generations, human beings were stack-ranked by specific qualities-- strength, external signals for health/viability, social dominance/leadership, etc. Young kids grow up and start this ritual-- unpredictably, they are probably less sophisticated and more driven by instinct than adults. And they're meaner.
I also wonder if kids latch onto and develop the parts of themselves that they can be good at. Everyone plays soccer for the first time. Some kids excel and get more interested. Others look around, realize that they suck compared to their peers and lose interest. Nerds realize very early that their path to praise and recognition might not be the one that the "tribe" broadly rewards, but it's better than nothing.