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Tuesday September 27, 2005 at 11:04 am

September 27, 2005 at 6:04 pm · Filed under Rigamarole

More mediocrity.
It’s your choice. Or is it?

Yesterday I wrote on the subject of mediocrity and I touched on the fact that I didn’t/haven’t joined Mensa because I don’t want to be in a place where I have to admit that I am inferior to others.

Thinking
about that lead me to this: Let’s presume for a second that there IS
something about ourselves that is actually superior to most…

Would you rather have excellence among the mediocre or mediocrity among the excellent?

I
guess that’s why in groups of ugly girls there’s always one really hot
girl — or vice versa. It’s a sense of comparison. Everybody likes to
feel like they’re above someone else. But seriously, even the pretty
girl amongst the ugly girls may not be as pretty as the ugly girl
amongst the hot girls…. So really, it’s a choice one has to make.


I discussed this with some people before posting this, and I
realized that the choice we make might not be completely conscious,
especially when it comes to friends. After all, if you have to think
about whether you are superior or inferior to your peers, then they’re
probably not really your friends in the first place.

So the second question I’d like to ask is:

What do you think causes us to choose the way we do?

Oh,
and in case you’re wondering… There are some days when I’d choose to
be excellent among the mediocre… For the most part, though, I don’t
think I can really grow as a person unless I’m challenged, somewhat,
right?

Maybe I should re-think that Mensa thing after all.

davidngo said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:06 am

i think you should be surrounded by those that exhibit virtues and morals that you admire.  like you said, you should always be challenged.  on the other hand, it’s good to set yourself apart from the group and excel in certain areas…so you know that they have something to admire or respect in you.
I don’t think i’d be happy in either extreme you presented.  a mixture is probably best.

c0rkie said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:06 am

maybe you should :)

cloudedfuture said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:07 am

I’d rather be mediocre in the excellent group, because overall i’m still superior. And you know every dog has his day, so on some days I’ll be the superior one in the superior group.

Keniiiiiiiiiiii said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:07 am

It depends. I think either way I’m a pitbottom.

Double_F_gon said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:07 am

Definately a tough choice, being at the top of the bottom or the bottom of the top… I’d go for the top of the bottom.  It’d be for selfesteem purposes, exclusively.

CaKaLusa said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:09 am

i wanna be on top, especially in…err , HAR!

oOclOuDNineOo said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:10 am

i think it’s a thing that is way more prevalent with girls. but then again, i could just be ignorant.
i agree with davidngo. i don’t think stuck on either side is good… somewhere in the middle

JonasApproved said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:21 am

Regarding: “if you have to think about whether you are superior or inferior to your peers, then they’re probably not really your friends in the first place.”
For some people, though, it’s hard to turn off their thoughts. They can’t help but stop comparing themselves to the people around them. Okay, screw it – I’ll talk in the “I” perspective. Sometimes when I’m just going with the flow and soaking in my surroundings, my mind is at ease and at rest. But a lot of times when I really just can’t stop random things from popping into my head, and that includes my thoughts on other people. They’re still my friends though.
Overall, I’d have to agree with what you said. Being THE best leaves no room for growth, humility or goals.

rice_and_noodles said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:27 am

What do you think causes us to choose the way we do?  Tough question.  I can see many debates in this.  For me, it’s about necessity.  For me if it’s necessary to be or do something, I’ll be or do it.

shaolinLFE said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:29 am

Two words.
Wilson Phillips.
As for your question.  My experience in life is to surround yourself with quality people to bring up your own standards.  So I would choose the latter.  I would rather be a Pro Major League Baseball Player instead of being a star in the Minor Leagues.

dpbballstar01 said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:29 am

……… =(

Sweet_Tiffany said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:31 am

Thanks for picking my baby on Wuwu’s page =)!

gechalx said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:33 am

just be different, unique, yourself, do what you want to do.. ahaha most people who live out their lives like that are usually labeled as “weird” or “eccentric” ahaha but they are usually envied by people around them

spygirl4 said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:38 am

mediocrity among the excellent. because it would be ridiculous to say that we aren’t influenced in some way by the company we keep.

franksabunch said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:40 am

Hmmm….I’d rather be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond.  Of course, I’m actually a big fish in a big pond. ;-)

gooksantiger said,

September 27, 2005 @ 12:15 pm

execellence among the mediocre
I rather be the good one in SUNY than the regular in IVY LEAGUE

wizexel22 said,

September 27, 2005 @ 12:22 pm

nice xanga…very interesting. i took some sample mensa test once just for fun. i think it said i have a decent chance of getting in. but anyways, to me the idea of mensa is pretty crappy and i wouldnt want to be in it regardless of my intelligence (or lack thereof haha). so i wouldnt want to be categorized in such a way, but to answer your question…i think i would always WANT to be mediocre among the excellent. its a matter of being of the higher faculty. similarly, i would rather be knowledgable and suffer than to be blissfully ignorant and carefree. but like you said, sometimes what you think you want to choose and what actually occurs isnt always the same. why? i dunno, probably a lot of things, but major factors have to be brain type, confidence/self-esteem, and competitiveness.

aradne said,

September 27, 2005 @ 12:54 pm

Most of my friends are brilliant. I mentioned last time that a guy I know was valdictorian of his graduating class. Well, none of my friends study hard. They generally go to class, and they generally average As. I’m kinda smart, but comparatively, I’m very stupid. They’re almost all honor’s college kids…. And I’m not. I get to be a pet. Everyone takes time to make sure that I’m understanding the conversation. And I learn a lot every time I’m with them. When I’m with the not-so-smart, I’m always the one explaining. I’d rather just be the dumb one. (that sounds bad, but…)

MT_Headed said,

September 27, 2005 @ 1:11 pm

Hey, maybe you should go for Mensa. Heck, Missy Elliot’s in it.

s1ms said,

September 27, 2005 @ 1:28 pm

Thinking about the same thing this morning.I signed up for the blow-off version of an easy class with extra work.In other words I’m with a bunch of mexicans in a non-honors class.I blow through my work and finish way ahead of them, and for a second it felt good, but the it occurred to me that it was because I was grouped with the wrong people.If I were in the honors class then not only would I receive more challenge, but then I would have to face not being the best.The more I thought about it, the more I concluded a person will more likely gain contentness from being in a higher level with whatever challenges and labels it may bring along, as opposed to being at the top of the lower level, just shy of the margin.Maybe that’s just me. I’ve always been the one to disagree with a player moving down to B-team in football because true, they will get more playing time, but it says they aren’t as good as A-team and the learning will decrease.I much prefer my consideration of greatness.Being clearly great because you’re at the top of a lower group just seems like a lie to me.

stucktomyshoe said,

September 27, 2005 @ 2:04 pm

I’d rather be mediocre among brilliance, because in that environment you’re sure to be more brilliant.

Ssweet_dreemzZ said,

September 27, 2005 @ 2:11 pm

i dont know which i’d rather have.
hm.

AnnaBiara said,

September 27, 2005 @ 2:13 pm

mediocrity among the excellent no doubt.

AnnaBiara said,

September 27, 2005 @ 2:14 pm

hey I almost forgot to tell you mensa is dumb in spanish.

Metro said,

September 27, 2005 @ 2:21 pm

Moreover, why the hell would anyone want to join a racist group like MENSA?

juryduty said,

September 27, 2005 @ 2:24 pm

Wow, Kim. Where do you fart these ideas from? I need to smoke what you’re smoking.
Coming back to Philadelphia, I feel like I’m a larger fish in a small pond. As to Hollywood were if I drove a SL600 bulletproof I’d still be consider homeless.
Really it all boils down to how content you are with your surroundings. As long as you’re making some sort of life progress, it doesn’t matter how much you have.
Just be happy.
1 propper for you! I’m cheap.

mAnGLeDmiSTlEtoE said,

September 27, 2005 @ 2:33 pm

I have no idea what mensa is…and no time to find out. Mediocrity among the excellent, definitely. (But it should come with the power to switch between the two choices, of course.)

benjaminlin2 said,

September 27, 2005 @ 3:27 pm

My new xanga is at http://www.xanga.com/benjaminlin2 ……For now on please leave comments on my new xanga.

aydongbeeleef said,

September 27, 2005 @ 3:36 pm

i want to be king of the stupid!

serenette said,

September 27, 2005 @ 3:42 pm

It really depends on the situation. In my clique of friends at school, there’s mediocrity and excellence all over the place. A lot of my friends are a LOT prettier than I am, but I’m okay with that as long as they don’t boast about it. I think it’s better to come to a self-realization that someone is better than you than to have that person constantly remind you of it. I really think being humble is the right way to go. People with oversized ego’s are really annoying, while being humble brings you back to reality. I would agree that being mediocre makes you work harder :-)

cpchef92 said,

September 27, 2005 @ 3:42 pm

id rather be excellent among the regulars because id feel good about myself.. except id slack off becuase i wouldnt be challenged…
go for it

katie_alexander said,

September 27, 2005 @ 4:18 pm

You have the best xanga. Ever.Every single one of your entries make me think.

aznLiciouS_xX said,

September 27, 2005 @ 4:19 pm

hmm good questionn but i guess if someone reeally enjoyed being superior to the rest, then they would wanna be the superior amongst the mediocres but if someone was more outgoing, and continue striving to do better, they would start out mediocre amongst the superior and then move their way up ;p but i’m sure most would choose to be the superior–cuz we’re humanss xp

i_have_have_i said,

September 27, 2005 @ 4:42 pm

I think me and the guys I hung out with in HS and now are pretty much average in looks and intelligence. What really set us apart was personalities. Some were really outgoing and talkative. I was probably the quietest and shyest in the group. I’d rather be the quiet one in a group of outgoing people, than the outgoing one in a quiet group. Dunno why…call me crazy.  :]

snowbunnihunni said,

September 27, 2005 @ 4:57 pm

now that you mention it, i’d like to see you join mensa..if you can.

Rander said,

September 27, 2005 @ 6:00 pm

Mediocrity among the excellent. For one thing you are excellent, better than most. Like others said, it is like being the worst all star player. When all is said and done, you are still an all star. Better people make you better.

orcofdoom said,

September 27, 2005 @ 10:15 pm

You’re speaking in very limited terms. People possess more than one quality. There might be areas where they best you, and there might be areas where you best them. All in all, you want quality people around you.You’ll shine in your own light, whatever color it may be — the pretty one, the funny one, the motivator, whatever it is that you do … just make sure it is -you-Elitist groups disgust me.

killa_illa said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:03 pm

the view is better when u stand on the shoulder of giants.

aydongbeeleef said,

September 27, 2005 @ 11:30 pm

actually nvm, i fcking hate stupid people. can’t stand’em…i’ll be the dumb of the smart.

bjtdevera said,

September 28, 2005 @ 12:10 am

i just hang around people who are corny enough to think my jokes are funny.

jeeves777 said,

September 28, 2005 @ 12:18 am

sure, we all need impetus to grow. but being a bottom dweller among the excellent can get really discouraging.

spcemarine said,

September 28, 2005 @ 12:31 am

By your logic (“I didn’t want to join Mensa because I’d be a mediocre Mensan”) you should become a member of a group where you’ll be far superior to all the other members. Enroll in an ESL class or something.As they say, “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”Looks like most of the other comments pointed out the same thing.

spcemarine said,

September 28, 2005 @ 12:43 am

I don’t think the primary intent of bloggers is typically to show off in order to make themselves feel superior, as you posit. (“Big word, woo, he’s showing off, himself!”) I think that’s a rather naive attitude. Maybe that’s why you specifically enjoy blogging (in order to have “followers” and feel superior), though only you know for sure. Sometimes, much of the time I would hope, people just enjoy doing things for their own sake. As a form of self-expression, without the necessity to form comparisons with others. I’m just myself. I’m good at certain things, and not good at other things. Competition has its place, but I don’t think anyone should use it to determine his or her self-worth.

babydoc13 said,

September 28, 2005 @ 1:11 am

it depends on the day’s mood…sometimes you need the pick-up thing about being better than some people, other times you just really wanna be with the best.
ok, now that i think about it..its much better to be counted among the intelligent. it makes you better in some ways. and if that’s your thing (an innate sense of competition), then i’m sure thats going to be good company. there’s always a challenge. nice blog Shi. :-)

ethician said,

September 28, 2005 @ 3:20 am

Depends on the weight of one’s ego. That’s how I see it. For those of us that have fragile egos, I’m sure we’d prefer excellence among the mediocre. Otherwise, excellence is an aspiration when you live among the excellent. And, yeah…Mensa’s the perfect example of an elitist organization. I remember hearing about them in grade school and wondering if I’d ever make the cut. Throughout my grade school career, I never applied from fear of rejection. Case in point, yeah?

jigg said,

September 28, 2005 @ 5:07 am

i rather be mediocre amongst the briiliant.  this situation would be more of a learning experience than the other. 
-ray leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

die_on_wednsday said,

September 28, 2005 @ 5:23 am

I like the way you think.

CynosureMinx said,

September 28, 2005 @ 5:56 am

Diamond in the rough

annamalll said,

September 28, 2005 @ 6:13 am

i think im mediocre among the mediocre…so sad…LOL…nice site btw=)

stephibabi said,

September 28, 2005 @ 6:57 am

i love The Hat.

FatalAce said,

September 28, 2005 @ 7:44 am

mediocrity among the excellent

whonose said,

September 28, 2005 @ 9:08 am

:-P

rollingaspliff said,

September 28, 2005 @ 9:09 am

Shi, you are a very talented writer and I enjoy reading your stuff because it makes me think.  I hate reading these blogs about boyfriends/girlfriends, school drama, “hey girl whats up bye”, and all that crud.  You seem very intelligent, with your writing ability and all, which is attractive.  Have you ever thought about pursuing a career in graphic design?  You arrange your entries well.  Check out my xanga every once in a while, and i mean every once in a while, cause it’s not always interesting.  but if you like to think and challenge your mind, some of my postings are pretty far out.  check em out.

thuggsoulja09 said,

September 28, 2005 @ 9:18 am

sup girl i think u sexi hit me up

TheCrimsonNinja said,

September 28, 2005 @ 10:44 am

excellent amongst the excellent, and drunk enough to ignore the protests of my detractors.
as someone who IS excellent amongst the mediocre and trying to make the shift towards mediocre amongst the excellent, my answer should be obvious, but it’s not. i plan to increase my excellence thru contact with the extraordinary so that i can come back down to the medicority so bright that i burn eyes right out of skulls. and then i take over the world of quality with my minions of quantity. i call this Project Legion.
…
honestly, i couldn’t care less.

mindblow said,

September 28, 2005 @ 10:51 am

I would rather be a thousand different things than only have a single “mediocre” or “excellent” title. Why are we forced to choose one or the other? Why are we trying so hard to be one thing?
I’m certainly uncertain as to which group I am in, and I’m content in not knowing. I think the knowledge of which would drive me insane, as I would always wish to be in the group I was not.
So on that note, in my world, ignorance is bliss. And that’s it.

smil3z said,

September 28, 2005 @ 11:05 am

i’d have to agree with your previous post. i’m by no means considering membership to mensa…i’m average, maybe even below average…but competition drives me. my A’s are much more rewarding when i’m the only one who get em’ :) … i enjoyed reading your posts, hope you don’t mind that i subscribed.
– i think you should re-consider mensa…it’s really very impressive.

CrazySteveo said,

September 28, 2005 @ 11:11 am

sometimes i like to burn things, normally crosees in ardya!!!!

apoc666 said,

September 28, 2005 @ 12:23 pm

Damn very intreging entry. It definatly made sense, i guess thats what u call a apiphany…..well check me out some time and sign my guest book why not what else u have to do and mabey i can listen to some more of ur thoughts. later
APOC

injuredeagle said,

September 28, 2005 @ 12:34 pm

why would u want to do that? wierd. whats the good it will do? ur crazy…

Boyplaya said,

September 28, 2005 @ 1:00 pm

YO WHATS UP. COMMENT ME BACK

altered_depression said,

September 28, 2005 @ 1:04 pm

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DarkAngelofsadness said,

September 28, 2005 @ 1:07 pm

hello!! I think ur pretty, and I like ur xanga!! its cute

candiez said,

September 28, 2005 @ 1:19 pm

we choose those with whom we feel most comfortable with..be it they have the same values or beliefs or different ones

kyasha said,

September 28, 2005 @ 2:00 pm

you know, i’m in an ivy grad sch. i’m certainly mediocre among the excellent. i’d like to think that in this sch, we’re all special in some way and that’s why we were admitted. i’d prefer to be in this sch than in another sch where i was “vastly” superior to other people. this sch challenges me. i might make a mediocre performance, but i’m still getting a lot out of the prog

babygirlx7 said,

September 28, 2005 @ 4:56 pm

eeeyyyy,nice syte i give props!!!!!!!

M_Megan_M said,

September 28, 2005 @ 7:32 pm

I really have no clue what mensa is, being a 20 year old girl from wisconsin should i know what that is?  Sorry.  Anyhow, i think when it comes to things like your place in society, or class….Its half an inner thing and half to blame on the way you were raised. I wasnt raised very independent, so im having to kind of find things out as they come with very little confidence in myself in many places. I think your confidence has alot to do with the way you feel about puting yourself out there and getting somewhere. I think mediocre is a great place to be….once you reach the top what do you have left to work towards and who will be there with you?    Megan.

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