[quote=Halo]
I disagree. I know in myself that there's a deep level of insecurity and need for the recognition (if not necessarily approval) of my positive qualities by my peers, and I do consider my intelligence to be both high and one of my more important traits. I'm also painfully aware that there isn't much to make me likable. Yet, I would and do relish the chance to meet people who are infinitely more intelligent than me. It's why I was deeply disappointed at not getting into Cambridge - the thing I was most excited about was that there, I'd be the bottom of the class instead of the top of the school, for once. It would have been a chance for an intellectual challenge, and though I knew I would have fully hated being outsmarted constantly, I also relished the idea of learning from and being inspired by these people. I've spent most of my life miles ahead of my peers, I highly value my intelligence, I'm pretty damn insecure, and yet I don't lash out or retreat into myself. And because singular anecdotes are never exactly solid evidence to the contrary, I'll note that I've met many people like this (again, not great evidence, but hey-ho). I think what you're saying is largely correct, as in those behaviours are , I just think that generalising it to such a high extent can lead to the exact sort of kneejerk shoehorning/categorising of people that you're criticising in Hank's statement that they all lack genuine intelligence.
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That's a very healthy outlook. I know people like you do exist, I was just mainly focusing on negative ways people might deal with it.