Is it just me or has anyone else noticed...

[mommaloveuk]

...that the general level of IQ on this site seems a tad higher than average? You may think I'm being weird, but... All the posts I've read have been without exception eloquent, well-put together and well-written. Now I don't know about you, but this certainly ain't the case with most boards on countless other subjects out there in cyberville - so, why is this? Is it that face-pickers, or at least the ones seeking to become ex-face-pickers, are all pretty smart? Is it simply because I'm relating so much to what I'm reading that I think this? Or am I just being odd? Theories or refutations welcome! Lots of love to y'all - sitting on our hands is the way to go! Yay! xxMomma

[hoppe]

Hi mommaloveuk!

Yes, I noticed that too. Most people here seem to be very intelligent, insightful and often well-educated... it is interesting if this is only because CSP is more frequent among over-analytical people who also in other aspects of their lives aim at perfectionism - or if it is just that these persons are much more likely to understand the nature of CSP, seek help for it, and hence end up on this board ..... . I do not know.

Before I forget it - welcome to the board!

hoppe

[anonymousartist]

Interesting theory. I don't know if it is it the nature of support forums in general ('cause this is the first I belong to) but this place is definitely not full of idiots.

[sunshinefunk]

Not only are we smart, we are beautiful too!

[Irene]

Yup, I've noticed it too. On most other forums, there are a lot of people who are just not very articulate. (Perhaps they are intelligent in other ways, and are just a little verbally deficient? I like to give them the benefit of the doubt, anyway.) Most of us seem to be very good with words, or at least more competent than average. Also, many of us have attained, or are in the midst of attaining, pretty high levels of education.

Is there a link between IQ or verbal ability and picking? Hmmm..... maybe one of us will prove it someday. In the meantime, most of us need a self-esteem boost, so it's good for us to think that we're smarter than average.

[msp8]

now that you say something about it i notice it too. i dont belong to any other forums but i have read some and it always makes me laugh when i see mistakes in other people's posts... there isn't much to laugh at here.

[bleh]

Eh, for a while I was a member of a breast augmentation forum (if I didn't have nice skin, I'd at least get the nice boobs).

The women on there-oh my goodness! It was a forum for getting boobies and they were trying-key word here, trying- to discuss politics...not the brightest bulbs in the shed.

Before my dramatic ban from the forum, I started ranting and then logged on as a transsexual asking about breast implants despite no breast tissue. They erased my thread. Tsk, tsk.

[yikes]

I belong to some depression websites and they too claim that depression/MI happens more to intelligent people. Which is does. There is a well-known connection between intelligence, artistic ability and mental illness. OSP is in the MI family. I have noticed a lot of inarticulate ramblings, horrible spelling/grammar etc. on other sites. It kinda gets on my nerves...why don't people know how to spell these days? But even the inarticulate and uneducated spout wisdom, so I read through their contributions anyway.

Since I have OCD, it has certainly made me careful in spelling, writing, proofing, etc., and yes, getting those danged imperfections off my body (and making them worse in the process). How intelligent is that. But I'm very articulate about it.

[Stef (Incubabe)]

I've noticed that too. Perhaps it's just a part of all our meticulate activities. We're obsessed with being perfect in every way. :-)

[shihui]

haha...i've realised that too. but well, i dont really speak english that well actually. it may be because of daily contact with ppl around me. ppl in my country generally dont speak that well.

[maryjane]

Yeah, I totally know what you mean. I think maybe it also has something to do with how seriously we take this - for most of us, it's such a relief to find these boards, and we really feel we connect with the posts, etc. So we make more of an effort in our posting. Whereas in so many internet boards, people just dash things off without really thinking about it.
And also, I do think that OCD-type things occur more in a) intelligent and b)hard-working/dedicated type people.

[alex21 in cali]

Now I'm going to post a completely retarded response and embarass myself. But anyways... I think that's so interesting. I thought the same when reading the thread about peoples' lives aside from picking. Perfectionists, overachievers... from dysfunctional homes... many with pasts in ED... these patterns are why I love psych so much!
---I also went the "I have shitty skin but I'll at least have nice boobs!" route---I wonder if that's the forum I've been to!

[dontfencemein]

OH MY I never thought of my perfectionism and education as a possible reason to pick! It makes me start to think that perhaps my goal of learning to do everthing I can get my hands on may not be making me out to be the "well rounded" individual that I would like to be and perhaps hinder me instead! Something to definatly think about!

[ManiacalLaughter]

I've been told by people that I am smart-sounding for a sixteen-year-old. I guess maybe it could be connected..