What is something about yourself that sounds a lot more impressive than it actually is?

i write for the best CEGEP newspaper in the world. there are only 12–15 cegep newspapers in quebec, and CEGEP is an educatioanal program only in quebec. our paper was rated the best oit of all of them, so technically, i write for the best cegep newspaper in the world.

i am a co-author of a scientific paper, at the age of 18. it is currently being peer reviewed. my dad has a lab, so i went there to help the experimenters, and i actually did the experiments, including experiments that yielded 2 sets of results that showed significant data. im only on the paper because my dad is the person in charge.

I am self employed. I could probably make more working at a fast food place.

Mtl: Best CEGEP newspaper in the world.
That does sound impressive.
Well…until you realize there’s only 12–15. But still.

Good example with the research.
I know a lot of other people who’ve done the same.

Mtl & John: Do you guys bother to correct/clarify these assumptions?

If it’s someone who I’m gonna know for a while, itd be netter in the long run to be honest. But Of im just braggingat a party, what harm can it do.

@Nimis

It depends. If it is someone I meet at a bar I probably won’t bother. Not because I want to impress them. I’m just lazy.

If they are potential SO material I will try to explain everything. I try to not be ashamed of any aspect of my life. Easier said then done. But I do strive for honesty.

I have 2 “gifted” children, and 1 that is not classified gifted, but is above grade level. People often assume I had something to do with it, but I can honestly say that they were born that way. All I did was feed their curiousity, and find the best educational fit for them.

@johnpowell: I hope that being self-employed offers you some other rewards, since it’s not very financially rewarding for you!

Mtl: Haha…those are impressive points.
But they don’t sound like party material!

John: I hear you. Honesty is best, but I’m quite lazy myself.

Aug: Regardless of why, seems no less impressive.
But I still suspect you don’t give yourself enough credit. ;)

1. I used to work on a research project at a Big Name University, which always impressed people. It was the easiest job I ever had.

2. I finished high school when I was 16, but only because I was impatient and have a late birthday. It had absolutely nothing to do with being smart or driven.

Nik: JP camp when it comes to correcting assumptions?

I’m a Fluther moderator…

@niki: Talk about not giving yourself enough credit! From what I’ve seen of you here, you are certainly one smart chickie. I’d bet you’re pretty driven, too.

Hi, shi! Been wondering where you were!

Shi: What?! Fluther moderators are _______!
Geez. Maybe not impressive per se
but I don’t think you guys get enough credit.

Aug: Ha…yes, perhaps the research was easy for a reason.

@nimis: not a PARTY party, but at a social gathering/event. Maybe at dinner parties it could be a topic of discussion.

Mtl: Well, that makes much more sense.
Was starting to wonder what kind of parties you went to.

@Nimis. Fluther moderators are _____ (the bomb)?

@Nimis: Yeah, it also depends. I used to avoid telling people the name of the university so I could avoid the problem—unless I wanted to make a point. Like, when I was apartment-hunting I named-dropped the school and I honestly felt like it bought me immediate respect. As for the high school thing, every time it comes up, I insist it was about impatience and not brilliance, but that usually forces people to say, “Oh, come on, that’s not true!” So it looks like I’m fishing for compliments. Easier to just avoid it if possible.

@augustlan: Thank you! You are too kind. :)

Shi: Yeah, pretty much.
Was at a loss of words to describe your awesomeness.

Nik: No matter what, you’re doomed to be pegged as smart.
I think you just have to accept your fate.

@augustlan

I value free time over money. As long as I can pay my bills and buy food and beer I am pretty happy. And I am still able to tuck a bit away every month for retirement. But I live on a strict budget. I spend about 600$ per month for everything. The rest gets invested.

I just remembered another thing: there’s a restaurant on Montreal that serves THE BEST smoked meat in the city. There are lineups around the bloc everyday for this meat. I always say that I’m related to the owner, but it was through a marriage and then they divorced.

John: I think people might find it impressive for the free time too.
Being your own boss sounds pretty amazing to most.
(Is it all that it’s cracked up to be?)

Mtl: If you can still get a discount, it doesn’t matter how you know them.

@nimis: it was a bitter divorce.

Mtl: Sigh. Sorry to hear that.

@nimis: he was an asshole anyways, once you get to know him. He acts humble, but he’s swimming in cash right now. Now I have to wait an hour in line, 4 hours in touristy seasons.

@Nimis

It is nice but I have a few friends I work with. I am responsible for paying them every month and that is stressful. If I fuck up they can’t pay their rent so I have to try and keep the business going so they have jobs.

But if I don’t really feel like working I don’t have to. I usually pad estimates heavily so I am never really under pressure to get anything done.

I am an ambassador for two major liquor companies. What that really
Means is that I have ninehundred things to do in a day and five lbs of crap to fit into a two lbs bag.

Mtl: Ooph. I’d be torn.
Really great meat. But really big asshole.

John: Sounds a bit stressful having your friends rely on you that way.
But nice that you get to work with them though too.

@augustlan—Gifted kids are a pain in the a$$ to raise but, judging by the one we know who Fluthers, you did a pretty awesome job. You might not have had a say in determining their IQs, but you definitely deserve credit for rocking the Mom title. That’s not easy even with “regular” kids.

My “sounds more impressive than it is” claim to fame is that I had brain surgery. I try to correct people’s amazement and say it wasn’t that big a deal. It was done by going up through my nose, so there was no head-shaving or skull-cutting or anything drastic. I went into the hospital and had the surgery the day before Thanksgiving in 2002, and I was back on campus and going to classes the following Monday. This tends to impress them even more.

The diversity of my job titles impresses people if they see my resume. Someone called me a “Renaissance man” once.

All it really means is I’m indecisive and get bored easy.

I’ve been an architectural model builder, an illustrator, an archival picture framer, an event designer, a graphic/web designer, a writer, a photographer, and I’ve taught college for almost 10 years.

Sounds impressive, but I’m really just bad at long term job commitment.

I am director of the Network for Disabled Students at the university I attend. It sounds pretty impressive, but it is actually a student government position that requires about five hours of my week and pays a stipend of $150/month. I am happy that I reach out to the disabled community on campus, but the title “director” gives the position much more status than it actually carries.

As a kid growing up in So Cal my grandfather worked for a major studio. I used to love to tell anyone who would listen what he did. He was a VP, but he ran the data processing department, not quite the Hollywood glamor I wanted my friends to think it was.

My last name is the same as the name of a major religion. Some people assume I’m a good person because of it. They figure out the truth soon enough.

I host am hosting the 6th Annual Littlefork Film Festival this weekend. (Participants include 3 people and a dog.)