More (not so) fun facts:
54% of American adults read below a 6th grade level.
21% read below a 5th grade level, which is considered functionally illiterate.
High immigration numbers don't fully explain it either, as first gen immigrants only make up about 1/3 of those with low literacy.
Yeah. There are negative social consequences to being intellectual and pursing mental self-improvement. One of them being, people hate you.
Socially successful people now that you have to play stupid to get people to like you. You also say/embrace stupid shit to make other people feel like they are smart...
Just like if you are physically large and strong, people are also afraid of you and you have to be very careful about your body language because it will terrify people. You have to act all modest and downplay your size for people to feel comfortable around you.