How smart are you?

[jajdude]

Do most or many people overrate their intelligence? I am clever in some ways. I'm good at crosswords. High Five. I'm an idiot though about almost everything. I know this. Reading the online stuff you'd assume from a poll or some such crap that most would say they are above average. Most would overrate themselves.

Are you above average? I expect most to say 'yes, of course I am. ' Duh

[qimissung]

I like to think I'm smarter than the average bear. :D

[Panglossian]

I have days when I feel unstoppably smart and days when I feel as thick as a brick - which all results in average intelligence and crushing mediocrity. :frown5:

As for other people, obviously they're all fools. :auto:

[OrphanPip]

I've been tested and I score above average but not in genius range lol. In general though, most people who have university educations have IQ scores above 100, which means that they are above average. A good sum of the members of this forum have university educations, so it is fair to assume that many have above average IQs.

[The Atheist]

Do most or many people overrate their intelligence? I am clever in some ways. I'm good at crosswords. High Five. I'm an idiot though about almost everything. I know this. Reading the online stuff you'd assume from a poll or some such crap that most would say they are above average. Most would overrate themselves.

Are you above average? I expect most to say 'yes, of course I am. ' Duh


I can't find it from a quick search, but I've definitely seen at least one study in the past that showed that people generally overestimate their intelligence, taken as a standard IQ measurement.

It depends how you measure it.

Taken by most means of measuring human intelligence, I'm almost always the smartest person in the room. I've been invited to join MENSA on multiple occasions.

Counts for absolute zero. It's kind of like being really, really good at tiddywinks. Great for party tricks but lousy for predicting success at anything beyond...




Completing intelligence tests!

:D

I know people with measured IQs bigger than the entire planet that are so stupid thick you'd wonder how they tied their shoelaces.

[prendrelemick]

In my pre-dotage days I scored 132. The trouble with those MENSA tests is that you can improve your score by practicing the kind of questions they set. (like I did) Which shows they are fundementally flawed.

[zoolane]

Mensa no will never be allow in but incase I knowlots few certian subject and little about most things which variety great deal. Also in depend what sort day I am have aswell.

[Jack of Hearts]

Was never able to hold onto anything.

There've been moments of such alkaline clarity, like when these were written:

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57140

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58412

The lines and shapes were so discernible and sharp and that's how the writer felt too. But in other similiar endeavors (poetry and fiction) the experience has often left a 'stupid' feeling.

To answer the question, no. *There's just occasional moments of clarity. They come arbitrarily and have nothing to do with this reader himself.





J

[OrphanPip]

IQ scores are predictive of success to a limited extent. People who score very badly tend not to do well, and people who score slightly above average tend to do slightly better. You do not see statistical significant difference amongst people in the upper and lower ranges. This of course doesn't mean that IQ test adequately measure intelligence, but it could mean that we use similar markers of intelligence to evaluate potential employees. Such that people who have adequate or better linguistic skills tend to be favoured for jobs above those with poor linguistic skills, regardless of how intelligent either of them is. Or if we chose to use memory as a marker of intelligence, there are a number of low functioning autistic individuals who would trounce the lot of us.

[Paulclem]

When i was uni I remember the Lecturers sniggering about the Dean who'd had an electrician out to fit a plug.

Fact is we all have moments of brilliance and moments of utter stupidity... (I hope that's not just me)...Orphan'll tell you what an ejit I can be. Hmmm... about the brilliance though...

[Gladys]

I heard on ABC Radio National, this week, that communication developed because good reasoning only happens through group argument. So as individuals, we ain't that smart!


Did reasoning develop to help us think or was it to argue with others? (http://www.abc.net.au/rn/counterpoint/stories/2011/3215253.htm)

[Buh4Bee]

I think IQ is the best measure currently to predict an individual's overall intellectual potential at least in a school setting. I agree however, that the IQ score has potential to be irrelevant when considering the fact that humans are social creatures and we learn as a group. In this case, you can look at group dynamics and the overall capacity of the groups intellectual potential. This means that you can have a very average individual perform at a higher intellectual level when part of a positive and productive working team. In this case, IQ is not the best indication of an individual's overall potential.

[Delta40]

I knows what I knows. Isn't that enough?

[MystyrMystyry]

Taken by most means of measuring human intelligence, I'm almost always the smartest person in the room. I've been invited to join MENSA on multiple occasions

I went to a meeting once, only once - lifeless witless bores the lot - I wouldn't want them at my party

[Delta40]

lol. is there such a thing as a Mensa erection and what is the fundamental difference?

[The Atheist]

I went to a meeting once, only once - lifeless witless bores the lot - I wouldn't want them at my party

Ooh, I was never even that silly. A couple of blokes I'd known vaguely that I knew were in it was all I needed to know.

[Paulclem]

lol. is there such a thing as a Mensa erection and what is the fundamental difference?

Got a job to do but the mind is on intellectal things?

[Jack of Hearts]

Mensa Erection(MEN-zuh e-RECK-shun, from Old Latin Tryhard): The condition of feeling personal inadequacy and the need to rectify it by attempting to define self-value through arbitrary subjective measurement of intelligence, membership in 'exclusive' clubs, etc.

Ex.No big deal, but MENSA just accepted me. I declined though, I'm more intelligent and dissident than that.




J

[Lokasenna]

I've never taken an IQ test. Don't want to, either.

I'm happy with just thinking of myself as reasonably intelligent - I'm obviously not doing too badly.

I'm always slightly wary of people who feel the need to proclaim their intelligence loudly and often - not only is it arrogant, it is usually a sure sign that they are a moron as well.

[Vonny]

Well, I wonder who really is the brightest one on LitNet? :smile5:

[Delta40]

Vonny why do you need to know?

[Vonny]

Vonny why do you need to know?

I have a mom, so I understand you. :smile5:

[MystyrMystyry]

Ooh, I was never even that silly. A couple of blokes I'd known vaguely that I knew were in it was all I needed to know

My motivation was free beer

[Propter W.]

I often feel quite smart. I'm quite good at problem solving but I'm pretty sure I don't use my intelligence as well as a lot of people here. How one uses his intelligence is more important, in my opinion, than an IQ score or a degree.

[The Atheist]

My motivation was free beer

Now, that I can understand!

:cheers2:

[MarkBastable]

I do really well on IQ tests, though I have trouble telling my left from my right and I have no idea what makes my car go.

[zoolane]

I do really well on IQ tests, though I have trouble telling my left from my right and I have no idea what makes my car go.

I never taking a IQ test not sure I want to. To be honest I think just stick with said previous I know little and lots about variety subject matters and general have no idea where I ab sort the information. I do not drive because can not tell left from my right with stopping and check first. If you ask me direction well that whole different story.

[Aurora]

I have absolutely no common sense whatsoever and also have trouble telling my left from my right. I agree with Propter - intelligence is about how you use it.

[Serena03]

The depths of intelligence is as immeasurable as the heavens, for every new inquiry is the birth of another star and inflation of 'knowledge' and potentiality are endless. No test can accurately measure one's true abilities without a chance of experience and application towards life.

I've made it this far in my life without perishing, so I would like to think that counts for something. :wink5:

[G L Wilson]

I have a temper, therefore no intelligence.

[Bluehound]

Hmm I wonder if this left/right thing is connected to being a bit creative, I am hopeless with it too.
I would like to think I am reasonably intelligent. Given time and space I can figure most things out, but I am hopeless at fast-paced quizzes, my brain just freezes.
I would be the weakest link , which sucks. :D

[Lokasenna]

I have a temper, therefore no intelligence.

I don't know about that. The most intelligent person I know (and he really is spectacularly intelligent) has one hell of a quick fire temper on him.

[Buh4Bee]

I'm a genius, but I can't seem to get into Mensa. :cryin:

[tonywalt]

I've been to Mensa once. The drinks were watered down and I got drunk and left my credit card.

[papayahed]

Hmmmmmmmmm.....

[JuniperWoolf]

I don't know about that. The most intelligent person I know (and he really is spectacularly intelligent) has one hell of a quick fire temper on him.

Really? I always turn into an instant idiot when I let myself get angry. All rational thought flies right out the window.

[Stanislaw]

Intelligence is a hard thing to quantify. I'm completely brilliant at somethings (and exceptionally modest ;) ), but utterly dimwitted at others.
For example: I can easily diagnose and repair quite a few electrical based issues, but I utterly and completely fail at drawing, sketching, or free hand drafting.

Personally, I would not place a great deal of merit in the IQ testing mechanisms, a board of peers is usually a more accurate means of measurement. ... unless your peers are morons. :D

[Panglossian]

Lichtenberg wrote: The man was such an intellectual he was of almost no use.

[Mr Endon]

I have a temper, therefore no intelligence.

Very interesting! The only one so far to obliquously mention that wonderful thing called "emotional intelligence", which seems to predict future "success" (what an intense dislike I nurture for this word) with much more accuracy than IQ tests.

So maybe EQ proponents would tend to agree with your statement, Wilson. But the very fact that your awareness of self allows you to come up with such claim really begs to differ. And it also denotes modesty, paradoxically enough a sign of emotional intelligence. Which means that you clearly have plenty of intelligence!

[Emil Miller]

Lichtenberg wrote: The man was such an intellectual he was of almost no use.

This is so true. Another one of Lichtenberg's that seems appropriate for this thread :

"There are very many people who read simply to prevent themselves from thinking."

[Alexander III]

I have always scored badly on IQ tests, and on all academic tests, and I'm not street smart - and am mostly useless, in that I have no grand talents. I am handsome and that has given me many breaks, but aside from that, all the tests say I am bellow average intelligence.

Greetings litneters, I am everyone else :wave:

[cl154576]

In first grade I was screened for mental retardation.
I fancy that's not the case, however.

[JuniperWoolf]

Greetings litneters, I am everyone else :wave:

You know, humour is one of the greatest and most consistant key indicators of intelligence.

[Delta40]

I can do cryptic crosswords but not quick ones. I type 80wpm but can't fix a wobbly door handle. I think flying off the handle (pardon the pun!) is a human condition and is less about intelligence than our humaness.

I guess the other thing to consider is how relative is smart? Sometimes, living skills is what is needed most and ultimately more practical than algebra equations or learning another language. People stay in the familiar of culture and lifestyle and use it to their greater advantage. I consider that pretty smart.

[JuniperWoolf]

My boyfriend can speak four languages but can't figure out how to pump gas.

[qimissung]

This is so true. Another one of Lichtenberg's that seems appropriate for this thread :

"There are very many people who read simply to prevent themselves from thinking."


I disagree. Nancie Atwell says "Reading is thinking."

I am terrible with the computer, which my son can't figure out, because, as he says, "I know you're smart, Mom..." then he kind of trails off.

[Scheherazade]

The OP:
Do most or many people overrate their intelligence? I am clever in some ways. I'm good at crosswords. High Five. I'm an idiot though about almost everything. I know this. Reading the online stuff you'd assume from a poll or some such crap that most would say they are above average. Most would overrate themselves.

Are you above average? I expect most to say 'yes, of course I am. ' Duh

[cacian]

I am not smart I do not like the word to be honest. I would much rather refer to myself as capable because that means I am ongoing always learning extending and discovering.

[Buh4Bee]

I'm a freakin' genius when you compare me to some of the other teachers on my teams. It's all relative given the people you are being compared too.

[tonywalt]

Me too Bee. We suffer for our Genius(ness)!

[Joreads]

I know people with measured IQs bigger than the entire planet that are so stupid thick you'd wonder how they tied their shoelaces.

That is so true. There is something to be said for street smarts i.e. common sense.

I have also been tested I am a little above average whatever that means. I can tie my shoelace most days:crazy:

[MorpheusSandman]

I was tested in my teens and scored about 130-something (138 IIRC), but I also have a mild form of Asperger's, which pretty much nullifies any advantage in intelligence I have when it comes to the real world. Honestly, I think a social intuition is more valuable in the real world than high intelligence is, because with the latter unless you end up as a professor or researcher or something like that where that's all you do, then it's probably more harmful than helpful in most situations. Luckily, my profession of online poker pretty much rewards the ability to problem solve and do mental math quickly and efficiently, so I can't complain too much.