Many of us like to think that we’re fairly smart. But it can be a very humbling experience when you’re in the presence of someone who actually has a vast intelligence and knows how to use it. And aside from feeling humbled, you might also feel slightly weirded out.
Folks took to an intriguing AskReddit thread to share the times that they’ve seen geniuses use their IQ in quite creepy ways. Their stories make for a fascinating read, and we’ve collected the best ones to share with you. Scroll down to check them out.
#41
Give a time and date from ww2 and my brother will tell you what happened. He’s autistic and special interest is, you guessed it, ww2.
I’m also autistic, but my special interest is in the animal world, especially behaviour. If you have en unruly dog, I just need to meet it once and I can tell what’s wrong. Took over my mom’s dog, because he pulled so much that both her and her husband had been pulled to the ground. I’ve survived a stroke so my grip is weak nowadays, so that was a no go. Couple months later I could have the leash on a finger with no pulling and he is way happier. Problem was stress. He needed more time to sniff and look and to just take his time exploring instead of just go go go. He’s mine now.
I’m also autistic, but my special interest is in the animal world, especially behaviour. If you have en unruly dog, I just need to meet it once and I can tell what’s wrong. Took over my mom’s dog, because he pulled so much that both her and her husband had been pulled to the ground. I’ve survived a stroke so my grip is weak nowadays, so that was a no go. Couple months later I could have the leash on a finger with no pulling and he is way happier. Problem was stress. He needed more time to sniff and look and to just take his time exploring instead of just go go go. He’s mine now.
Report
22points
#42
My son was 6 months old. He was on a blanket. I was trying to encourage him to crawl. I put a toy he liked on the other side of the blanket to encourage him to crawl toward it.
He stared at that toy. He didn't crawl. He grabbed the blanket and very deliberately, hand over hand, pulled the blanket toward him until the toy was within reach.
He stared at that toy. He didn't crawl. He grabbed the blanket and very deliberately, hand over hand, pulled the blanket toward him until the toy was within reach.
21points
#43
Not really creepy, but I found it impressive. My 16yo nephew is one of those kids that can solve a Rubiks cube super fast, which I understand is pretty common by just memorizing a sequence of movements once certain patterns are established.... but the other day, he kind of blew me away with how his mind works.
I brought over a slot car track set to test out before I set it up as a fun activity at an event coming up later in January. The set has 4 or five different styles of track pieces, and several copies of each piece to arrange. Like, curved surface loop segments, flat straightaway segments, squiggly segments, turn segments, criss-cross lanes (its a 2-lane track set) etc.
We did the set up featured on the packaging, then started talking about what if we made it into kind of a banked track set up, or had a segment run vertical up a wall. Each time, we broke down the pieces and he would just rattle off the order for the different segments bits to piece together to get the array we just talked about -not as we were assembling, but before hand. Like, he mapped it out in his head and broke down how to get the shape, the loops, the vertical or banked segments by combining the different style pieces in order without actually laying it out. This included twists, loops, turns, banked areas created by repurposing the loop pieces, and changes in elevation. And he did this quickly and repeatedly for each array or concept we talked about. Then, he recommended buying another identical set to make an even more complicated track and told me exactly how to piece it together (it was a fairly cheap set, so I actually did order a 2nd one).
Maybe this is something lots of people can do, but I was impressed, because I know I can't do it unless I have the actual parts in hand and am actually assembling them, or if I have written and drawn out plans ahead of time. He could just envision the components and mix and arrange them spatially in his head, the rattle off the order in which to attach one to the next to the next in order to make the circuit.
I brought over a slot car track set to test out before I set it up as a fun activity at an event coming up later in January. The set has 4 or five different styles of track pieces, and several copies of each piece to arrange. Like, curved surface loop segments, flat straightaway segments, squiggly segments, turn segments, criss-cross lanes (its a 2-lane track set) etc.
We did the set up featured on the packaging, then started talking about what if we made it into kind of a banked track set up, or had a segment run vertical up a wall. Each time, we broke down the pieces and he would just rattle off the order for the different segments bits to piece together to get the array we just talked about -not as we were assembling, but before hand. Like, he mapped it out in his head and broke down how to get the shape, the loops, the vertical or banked segments by combining the different style pieces in order without actually laying it out. This included twists, loops, turns, banked areas created by repurposing the loop pieces, and changes in elevation. And he did this quickly and repeatedly for each array or concept we talked about. Then, he recommended buying another identical set to make an even more complicated track and told me exactly how to piece it together (it was a fairly cheap set, so I actually did order a 2nd one).
Maybe this is something lots of people can do, but I was impressed, because I know I can't do it unless I have the actual parts in hand and am actually assembling them, or if I have written and drawn out plans ahead of time. He could just envision the components and mix and arrange them spatially in his head, the rattle off the order in which to attach one to the next to the next in order to make the circuit.
Report
21points
#44
We know a guy who could tell you the day of the week for any date going back in time. Which is neat, but I guess there’s a system to it.
He could also tell you what he was doing that day and what he ate.
Which is bonkers to me that he remembers having a turkey sandwich for lunch and spaghetti for dinner 20 years ago on a specific date. Where he was and what he was doing that day.
If the cops asked me where I was last week and questions about time, I got nothing.
He could also tell you what he was doing that day and what he ate.
Which is bonkers to me that he remembers having a turkey sandwich for lunch and spaghetti for dinner 20 years ago on a specific date. Where he was and what he was doing that day.
If the cops asked me where I was last week and questions about time, I got nothing.
19points
#45
My husband’s brain and body.
My husband’s ability to read a room and tell me exactly what people are saying and thinking. He can memorize maps, and knows where he is at all times without one. He has a photographic memory and can explain every detail of something with just a glance. He reads voraciously and can put complex solutions together to something he has never done before. When he makes a mistake he knows exactly why and what mistake was made. He sits with his back to the wall everywhere we go and maps rooms, buildings, and exits at all times. In a crowd or on a crowded road he is able to find space to move that wasn’t there a split second before, it’s like he can read people’s minds. He has performed simple surgeries on himself to remove things from his body, then closes it up.
Like WTH? He’s very well educated, traveled a lot, comes from a well educated “old-line”family and I swear they were bred different. He dislikes people, doesn’t trust, until he trusts you. Then watch out! His loyalty is STRONG! He’s the person other people call, at all hours of the day or night. He’s the greatest man I’ve ever met.
It’s really difficult to be married to someone like him. ☺️😉😘 I LOVE it!
My husband’s ability to read a room and tell me exactly what people are saying and thinking. He can memorize maps, and knows where he is at all times without one. He has a photographic memory and can explain every detail of something with just a glance. He reads voraciously and can put complex solutions together to something he has never done before. When he makes a mistake he knows exactly why and what mistake was made. He sits with his back to the wall everywhere we go and maps rooms, buildings, and exits at all times. In a crowd or on a crowded road he is able to find space to move that wasn’t there a split second before, it’s like he can read people’s minds. He has performed simple surgeries on himself to remove things from his body, then closes it up.
Like WTH? He’s very well educated, traveled a lot, comes from a well educated “old-line”family and I swear they were bred different. He dislikes people, doesn’t trust, until he trusts you. Then watch out! His loyalty is STRONG! He’s the person other people call, at all hours of the day or night. He’s the greatest man I’ve ever met.
It’s really difficult to be married to someone like him. ☺️😉😘 I LOVE it!
Report
19points
#46
Not creepy, but my intellectually disabled son remembers everyone’s bdays, the year they were born and how old they would be in any given year. Not just people we know but watching tv and he’ll be like ‘oh that actor is 76 next month.’ And I always check and he’s always right.
Report
17points
#47
I had a lady in my team who could calculate complex thermodynamic equations including the relationship between natural gas and steam using calorific values and enthalpy in her head quicker than I could with a calculator. We’re talking at least 5-10 variables being used in the right order and she was always within a few % points. Very clever lady.
Report
17points
#48
I have a friend who is insanely accurate at predicting human behaviour. Including people she has never met.
I was telling her about a guy telling me he’s not interested in me.
She predicted the EXACT day he would get back, and the exact sentiment he would express.
I almost felt like cheating in life having discussions with her. She isn’t very manipulative, but she can predict perfectly how to get what you want from people.
She is happily married by the way. Her husband treats her perfectly. Ironically, the husband’s ex wife says he treated her like [trash]. My friend has just trained him on every aspects she finds important.
I was telling her about a guy telling me he’s not interested in me.
She predicted the EXACT day he would get back, and the exact sentiment he would express.
I almost felt like cheating in life having discussions with her. She isn’t very manipulative, but she can predict perfectly how to get what you want from people.
She is happily married by the way. Her husband treats her perfectly. Ironically, the husband’s ex wife says he treated her like [trash]. My friend has just trained him on every aspects she finds important.
Report
16points
#49
I worked with a guy that had a mental profile build up around everyone we worked with. “Gary is late every other Thursday. Also did you see he changed his license plate? I wonder if he will eat ham or turkey today.” He did this with everyone, I feel like he could probably still recall my specs after 20 years.
Report
16points
#50
In college I had a friend who was always right. She was lovely and I am not saying it in a bad way. She was just always correct. We once walked up to a bank of 20 or so doors to the student union. We (a group) were walking towards one, and she said "nope" and opened another. It was the only one not locked. I have no idea. She was just always right. It was pretty awesome.
Report
15points
#51
I heard the lawnmower stop so I jumped off the couch and started pretending to sweep since we were splitting chores. Bf walks in the living room and asked if I was about done and I said just finishing. He told me the condensation would have evaporated off the power button on the remote by now and my Snuggie was still decompressing.
14points
#52
My mom quite literally never forgot a face. One time when I was little, we were at a Sam's Club and she was looking at the cashier. Then she just randomly asked him "Did you work at a Burger King? Eight years ago?" And he did. He was obviously shocked and asked her how she knew that.
She was aware that this hidden talent of hers could creep people out, but she thought it was funny. And we didn't even go to Burger King regularly, we were a McDonald's family, so it's not like she would have seen him often. She just remembered everybody's faces, including strangers.
She was aware that this hidden talent of hers could creep people out, but she thought it was funny. And we didn't even go to Burger King regularly, we were a McDonald's family, so it's not like she would have seen him often. She just remembered everybody's faces, including strangers.
Report
14points
#53
My wife can tell me what I'm thinking and feeling without asking me, and we have whole conversations without me saying anything. Blows my mind every time.
Report
13points
#54
Old friend of mine that I haven’t spoke with in over a decade was the smartest person I’ve ever met- full rides at his undergrad and eventually Yale Medical school, where he became a neurologist for several years until he taught himself how to code and founded a rather prominent website/company.
In HS he took all the most advanced placement courses that were offered- ones that made almost all the smartest students in the high school [complain] about workload, acing them all without hardly even opening his books. How do I know that? Because he was always out partying with us, so I know he never studied for a single exam.
There are some truly, scary, exceptional people in the world.
In HS he took all the most advanced placement courses that were offered- ones that made almost all the smartest students in the high school [complain] about workload, acing them all without hardly even opening his books. How do I know that? Because he was always out partying with us, so I know he never studied for a single exam.
There are some truly, scary, exceptional people in the world.
Report
12points
#55
I realise these are explainable and maybe might seem easy to people but these are creepy to me because they make me realise how little my brain can do compared to others:
A friend that can always tell were the north is, even underground or inside.
Seeing my bf practice piano without a piano. He's practicing Scriabin in his head, like how??
The quickness with which my bf and sister can do complex math. Ask me what 8x3 is and I'll give you an answer the next business day.
A friend that can always tell were the north is, even underground or inside.
Seeing my bf practice piano without a piano. He's practicing Scriabin in his head, like how??
The quickness with which my bf and sister can do complex math. Ask me what 8x3 is and I'll give you an answer the next business day.
Report
12points
#56
My office friend has predicted 3 resignation from our team months before they happened based on only observation. No data, rumours... That's impressive.
11points
#57
I remember seeing a kid walk past a random rubik's cube that was just sitting on a table in Australia... he picked it up... paused to look at... solved it and set it back down.. might have been 5 or 6 seconds.. and then he just walked off like it was nothing.
Surreal to witness it in-person and completely out of context/without warning etc.
Surreal to witness it in-person and completely out of context/without warning etc.
Report
11points
#58
I knew a guy who could tell what type of car was driving by simply by hearing it's tires and engine drive by outside. He did not sit near any windows, but there was a window by the water cooler and people in the office would test him often. It got to the point where if someone getting water started to say his name he'd just rattle off a make and model for them and smirk when they confirmed he was right. I still to this day am not sure how his brain did it.
Report
11points
#59
The most incomprehensible human ability to me is salesmanship. I worked at a bank for several months and witnessed how my senior manager could fulfill a month's plan in a single week. He didn't do anything that the average person couldn't, but his charisma, well-placed speech, and ease of communication gave him an edge.
Some people are born with a talent for sales, and I believe in it. You probably have a market in your city, and there are bound to be two people there selling the same thing, but their results will be completely different. I don't know how to explain it.
Some people are born with a talent for sales, and I believe in it. You probably have a market in your city, and there are bound to be two people there selling the same thing, but their results will be completely different. I don't know how to explain it.
Report
8points
#60
I have a friend who points out the most obvious stuff about people and they always get really freaked out by it as if it's like some kind of fortune teller stuff. sometimes they joke about her being "the seer." she's just really good at pattern recognition, and also articulating it.
Report
8points
