Are you

Yes atqui that picks out more strands.
There are intellectual snobs are well of course which is a different thing. e.g.
Dropping mention of their PhD or their Oxbridge days into conversation every time you see them.
Using long words in conversation where short ones would suffice
Writing in very long convoluted sentences that are difficult to understand
etc
There are some people I know who are bright and successful but have no intellectual interests. My 3 lovely sisters in law for a start. Talk for Britain but not about anything serious (outside work! Some of them must have to in work!).
On the other hand I can often have an interesting conversation with chaps that do non-professional jobs.

So if I do not write anything on here for a couple of days, will you all think I am being intellectual and just thinking?

Thank you Atqui, that just about sums it up

www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/tkitao1/artstuff/intellectual.html
Thought this interesting.

Yes I agree about critical thinking and perhaps also having a predisposition to apply rational thinking to issues and problems. Of course there are negative uses, intellectual snob, intellectually challenged, but I am not sure that defines the word.
Of course here in France it is considered an entirely positive thing to be, but then in many secondary schools the philosophy department is larger than the maths department.
I think "cerebral" is quite an interesting word too.

Interesting question MiceElf. I suppose I've come to the conclusion that being intellectual means being able to display critical thinking. One who is able to step back and analyse any given problem or issue.

Nothing to be either celebrated nor ashamed of. It's just a way of using the old grey matter. No right or wrong about it.

Being an academic, now that, I think, is different. Still pondering on that.

You may not believe it though.

Of course, I could be fibbing, and I could be super-modest, and I could say that yes, actually I am an intellectual of the highest order. We can say whatever we like on here, after all.

An intellectual is not just being intelligent, but of doing something with your intellect [ie. as somebody said, being a bit of a thinker!]Somebody who goes into the concepts of a subject instead of simply accepting it as fact. Therefore, sadly, I am not an intellectual.

KatyK said she used to work with a lot of self-proclaimed intellectuals, Terribull.

I'm not sure anyone would actually declare him/herself as an intellectual, but have definitely encountered those who like to give the impression their intellect is far greater than the average person and tend to drop clues into the conversation so we all know that. Conversely there are those of great intellect who don't seek to impose "I know considerably more than you" attitude. I guess like any other individual of above/below average intelligence they come in all shapes and sizes. Like beauty, intelligence is often innate, sometimes a gift, could be a disadvantage, particularly if coupled with a lofty, superior attitude and a complete lack of common sense or foresight thrown into the mix. Unfortunately too many of these types enter the political arena. They shouldn't!.

I cannot recall anybody telling me he/she was an intellectual. Must have worked/ studied in the wrong places.

Still think HollyDaze summed it up best.

Especially the first line.

jane - oh yes perfectly possible

katy is it possible for non-intellectuals to have their heads up their own bums, do you think?

their heads not there heads - I'm obviously not an intellectual

I used to work with a lot of self-proclaimed intellectuals. Most (not all) had no clue about every day life there heads were so far up their own bums. There was one chap in particular who was divorced and very lonely. There were some nice unattached women in the office but he said he couldn't possibly go out with someone who wasn't as high a grade as him or his intellectual equal. OK stay lonely then. He also used to say to some of us 'I shouldn't be telling this to you lower grades but.....'

anno

Oh yes, J52! Gardner was the guru when I was teaching and researching education; superb theories.

GNs might like to look up Howard Gardner's work on multiple intelligences. He gives a very good insight into individual differences in ability. He also brings into question those ' intelligence' tests many of us took at school. I wish I had known what type of intelligence I had, it would have made me far more confident when I was at school. X

This reminds me of a Stanley Baxter sketch in his priceless series, Parliamo Glasgow:
Glaswegian: Erraperratooncooncillors
Translation: There go a couple of intellectuals.

Ah, the evergreen Stanley Baxter!

Does that make me an intellectual?

Depends what sort of IQ, too, Jess. My spatial awareness, ability to interpret DIY diagrams and coordination are low, at the higher end on emotional IQ, and very hit and miss on Mensa numerical and picture-type tests. Can't/don't appreciate certain cultural arts like heavy opera. Being intellectual/intelligence seems to depend on context and opportunity to practice.

I agree jess. I think intelligence is innate, whereas intellectual implies an interest in ideas and concepts, whether from the arts or sciences.
That is the value of education (or should be), to stimulate the intellect and interest in concepts and ideals.
I think I had a good education and am as intellectual as my intelligence allows!

Interesting that so many of the synonyms are pejorative when. That sentence of course reveals that of course I am and not apologetic about it.
I think the term has too strands - being highly intelligent and having and enquiring mind and intellectual interests. Lost of very intelligent people don't have intellectual interests and lots of people with intellectual interests don't have a high IQ. But there will tend to be a correlation between the two.

I would much sooner have common sense and able to use a bit of logic to get through life,