Comment · Thu, April 11, 2013 · Ceretropic
After all the money/time spent on Nootropics, do any of your friends and family think you're smarter?
Original post in this thread
SimpletonSam · 7 points
Just learned that a buddy of mine has been on non-perscription (AlphaBrain, Ginko, etc) nootropics for over a year. I went to college with him, and honestly, there's been absolutely no change in his intelligence.
He's not and has never been mentally deficient in any way- he's an average (maybe even above average) coder... I feel a bit bad teasing him, but NO ONE in our circle thinks he's in any way sharper/brighter/etc.
Interestingly enough, he just thinks he is because he's taking the pills! I secretly want to switch them for a placebo.
Anyway, it got me thinking... while I have no doubt that chemically unbalanced people are really helped by these prescription drugs, apart from your personal feelings, can others recognize that you're increasing your mental abilities?
Do you now have more intelligent things to say about random topics, etc...
What they were answering
SimpletonSam · -5 points
No, but changes in intelligence absolutely are observable.
Do it the other way. If you were suddenly 15% less intelligent, are you saying no one would notice?
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Ceretropic
Probably not, no. 15% is very subtle. Not to mention that their estimation of my intelligence is predicated on their own intelligence level. Very few of my family and friends think on the same level as I do. Even if they did, their purpose in life is not to analyze my cognition. Just like it's not my purpose to analyze theirs.
Do I have them remarking how smart I am a lot more since nootropics? Yes, they actually do. But that is because I am always explaining pharmacological mechanisms to them now. Do they see me as smarter than I was? No, I don't think they are even thinking that way. They are just more likely to be exposed to me reciting detailed information lately.
People are much more likely to notice changes in mood, rather than intelligence.