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MathiasZaman comments on Stupid Questions December 2014 - Less Wrong Discussion

16 Post author: Gondolinian 08 December 2014 03:39PM

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Comment author: timujin 09 December 2014 09:15:30AM 5 points [-]

I have a constant impression that everyone around me is more competent than me at everything. Does it actually mean that I am, or is there some sort of strong psychological effect that can create that impression, even if it is not actually true? If there is, is it a problem you should see your therapist about?

Comment author: MathiasZaman 09 December 2014 12:00:18PM *  0 points [-]

I frequently feel similar and I haven't found a good way to deal with those feelings, but it's implausible that everyone around you is more competent at everything. Some things to take into account:

  • Who are you comparing yourself to? Peers? Everyone you meet? Successful people?
  • What traits are you comparing? It's unlikely that someone who is, for example, better at math than you are is also superior in every other area.
  • Maybe you haven't found your advantage or a way to exploit this.
  • Maybe you haven't spend enough time on one thing to get really good at it.

Long shot: Do you think you might have ADHD? (pdf warning) Alternatively, go over the diagnostic criteria

Comment author: gjm 09 December 2014 12:14:55PM 3 points [-]

Your link is broken because it has parentheses in the URL. Escape them with backslashes to unbreak it.

Comment author: MathiasZaman 09 December 2014 12:18:55PM 3 points [-]

Thank you very much.

Comment author: gjm 09 December 2014 01:09:15PM 3 points [-]

You're welcome!

Comment author: timujin 12 December 2014 09:05:16AM 0 points [-]

Who are you comparing yourself to? Peers? Everyone you meet? Successful people?

Peers.

What traits are you comparing? It's unlikely that someone who is, for example, better at math than you are is also superior in every other area.

It being unlikely and still seeming to happen is the reason I asked this question.

Maybe you haven't found your advantage or a way to exploit this.

Maybe you haven't spend enough time on one thing to get really good at it.

Maybe. And everyone else did, thus denying me of competitive advantage?

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