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Comments
Sttocs OP t1_j2f96fe wrote
So a different take on the premise could be Charlie’s isolation after the IQ boost, then subsequently learning to connect with people of various intellects by finding a shared humanity.
AbattoirOfDuty t1_j2etrqc wrote
Why do you say that it's the "world's anti-intellectualism" that would make Charlie unhappy?
IMO, it would be internal issues (not external ones) that would make him unhappy.
Sttocs OP t1_j2eudho wrote
Being smart does not make one popular. I think that's covered well in the original text where Charlie's "friends" at the bakery petition to fire him now that he has equal (or superior) intellect.
AbattoirOfDuty t1_j2evuh6 wrote
Great point about Charlie's friends.
There are many studies that link high intelligence with depression. I wonder how much of that is due to external hostilities vs internal issues.
PartyPorpoise t1_j2ffywl wrote
Being on a very different level from the people around you (whether you're well above or well below) is going to be inherently isolating, so there's that. But as you say, other things factor in.
makemasa t1_j2evbba wrote
Nice thought experiment.
Hopefully he would have eventually overcome his disillusionment and begin to help others in similar situations achieve progress to some degree.
Be the change you want to see…or something like that.
Sttocs OP t1_j2f9ng4 wrote
Star Trek: TNG had an episode where Barkley gained super intelligence and started “helping” even when it wasn’t welcome, to the point where he became so powerful that he appeared to be a threat. Too bad the episode didn’t really play the scenario out and deus ex machina’d back to status quo by the end.
Dana07620 t1_j2fbpdo wrote
>Was this the ending Daniel Keyes wanted but thought would be too dark?
How would that be too dark? I'd consider that to be a happy ending.
Instead I've been so traumatized by the book that it's on my "Great, but read only once" list. And I'm not the only one.
Sttocs OP t1_j2fcn75 wrote
To intentionally dumb oneself down to fit in better with humanity seems pretty dark to me. Maybe a better ending for the character, but a damning indictment of humanity.
Wasn’t feeling a lot of warm fuzzies at the end of the movie Pi.
Dana07620 t1_j2fesw3 wrote
Intelligence doesn't equal happiness.
You want a TV example of that, there's an episode of House, MD where a super-genius dumbs himself down because he's happier when he's like the people around him and not constantly being aware of how much stupider they are.
But if intelligence equals happiness, really smart people wouldn't be depressed and commit suicide.
If Charlie were happy, but dumb, I would take that as a win. Because he's going to live the rest of his life happy.
>Wasn’t feeling a lot of warm fuzzies at the end of the movie Pi.
Don't remember it.
tolkienfan2759 t1_j2foob9 wrote
Well... it's not the world's anti-intellectualism that bothers me, but its political and moral insanity. I feel like the German citizen in 1936 (or so) who felt he or she was surrounded by werewolves. (I read about the example a long time ago so I don't recall the details, sorry.) The left hollers "Racist" at the top if its lungs, without the least idea what racism really is... the right tries to pretend racism isn't a thing any more. The left calls a border wall "far right" - the right claims people who don't want you using the n-word are against free speech. The left has embraced diversity, equity and inclusiveness training... in spite of the fact that we've been DOING that for sixty years and it hasn't worked. The right maintains DEI is a product of Critical Race Theory... only none of them have actually read any. I'm actually living in a lunatic asylum, and there are no keepers... and there is no exit.
solarmelange t1_j2evs85 wrote
That makes no sense. He would want to find some middle ground. A key point was that when he was super intelligent, that made him just as different from others as being a moron had and therefore just as unable to relate to people. His driving need is human connection.