I was just playing ESO, and even in Skyrim, a lot of people treat my Nord like a brute idiot. The Nords are based of the vikings are they not? The Vikings were very intelligent people. What's to say Nords aren't? Or is this just racism from other races.

I also don't think it helps that you started with -10 INT in Oblivion and Morrowind, but still.

Yes Nords get treated by other races as just dumb rock smashers. Its mostly unfounded hatred.

It isn't unfounded (just look at Nord NPC's in every game since Morrowind--they don't come off as particularly bright) but for the most part it's just a generalization.

Well, in Skyrim and ESO, Nords aren't stupid in those games, They still get treated like they are thanks to the Imperials. I'd say the stupidest race, believe it or not, are actually the High Elves. They always seem to think they're smarter and more powerful than Aedra and Daedra, yet they always end up [censored] themselves...

Either way, I don't want my character to be looked down upon as stupid.

Sounds like a potentially interesting roleplay opportunity to me. A character might make it their life's goal to prove to dismissive, prejudiced people that they are not stupid.