kelkel

While we often try to mimic the real in our online social lives some things remain different, some the same. Something i've observed that runs parallel with the Real World as some call it, is the existance of the popular niche. And where such benchmarks in online society exist, so do the prerequisites that satisfy entry into these ranks.
Being a forum aimed at thinkers and intellectuals, do you as a member find yourself subjecting newcomers to an intelligence test?

A sepperate question, but of similar topic, do you have patience or tolerance for those of lesser intellect?

Crack

I'll be honest, I normally have disdain, and I tend to mock them whenever I get the chance. I have to admit, I am a bit of an asshole.

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Ourcrazymodern?

Crack, do you think you should really put so fine a point on it?

I find myself wondering more often than not wherever I find myself.
kelkel, I don't think intelligence tests are at all uncommon, given our nature, and you find them everywhere you find yourself.

Continue thinking, be just and fear not, damnit.

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BE JUST AND FEAR NOT

wavesofeuphoria

Intelligence is such a difficult construct to measure ... and can be reflected in multiple ways ... not all of which we are all that proficient.

I suppose I tend to look more at reasoning skills ... those can be reflected in one's writing to an extent. Do they address the salient point, take the ideas further?

I believe I also look for at their openmindedness, tolerance ... general world view on things.

Oh .. and ... if they are humorous .. or get humor.

Come to think of it .. humor is a pretty big reflection of one's intelligence.

Geez ... now I'm feeling like I should maybe tell a joke .....



A guy walks into a bar ................

ouch he says.

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SaltPork

I don't tend to post a lot because i think most people are a lot dumber than I am. I'm probably totally wrong, but whatever. I self-police, easier than getting smacked by the mods. I find there are days that I close the TFP window and feel like I have Parkinson's my head is shaking so much at disbelief with what some people write.

I'm no genius by any stretch, but sometimes you can just hear the pages being ripped out of the book of general knowledge when you read some of the posts. Almost painful.

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It was like that when I got here....I swear.

hagatha

I agree with WAVESOFEUPHORIA. But I would also like to add, I think some people confuse intelligence with crushing opposing points of view.
That's just bombastic, not intelligent.

And lets face it, some people here just want to see titties.

I can respect that too.

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Jinn

There's really three questions here;

(1) Whether you believe yourself to be more intelligent than others
(2) Whether you measure or test others to see their intelligent relative to yours
(3) Whether you boast or mock others based on your perception of their intelligence

The first question is subjective; and is almost entirely influenced by one's peer group. It is very possible for a "stupid" person to feel very intelligent simply because they are surrounded by other unintelligent individuals.

Likewise it is possible for a person of above-average intelligence, perhaps even in the 90th percentile or higher, to feel very stupid. If they're consistently surrounded by other intelligent people, they may feel very unintelligent.

Because of this, I think that our own perception of intelligence is demonstrably incorrect. I can count hundreds of very "stupid" people who believe that they possess above-average intelligence. They're wrong.

And yet I consider myself to have an above-average intelligence. I know that if I were surrounded daily by intelligent individuals with PHDs in my field, I'd likely feel differently.

So (1) as a question is inherently unknowable.

I think that (2) is a given, as people consciously and unconsciously measure themselves against every person they meet. It's human (and even animal) nature to do so, and I don't think there's anything wrong with saying YES, I believe I am more intelligent than this person.

(3) is very unfortunate, and choosing to mock others often ends up hurting the mocker as much as the recipient. It is rare to find a person who enjoys being told they're stupid, and I see no need to share my perception of other's idiocy. After all, it's only MY perception.

On top of that, persons claiming extremely high intellect often look silly when they stand up and declare their intellect as superior, because they've likely made an error themselves.

Like incorrectly spelling separate.

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lurkette

I don't know who belongs to the "popular niche," but I suspect their inclusion has little to do with intelligence (no offense meant to intelligence of the alleged members of this hypothetical niche). Intelligence might be one variable, but I suspect that the individual's personality (and their skill at expressing that personality in a somewhat limiting medium) has much more to do with it. I value intelligence as much as the next person, but I certainly don't subject potential friends to an "intelligence test," per se. I care a lot more about whether a person is kind, personable, funny, interesting, shares my interests, etc., than about whether they're smart. I'd much rather hang with someone who's not Mensa material but has interesting opinions and can hold a rational conversation about them than hang with someone who's blisteringly smart and unwilling to yield on their OBVIOUSLY impeccably thought-out opinions. Or dish to my sympathetic friends who give good advice than talk to someone who can spout statistics at me from memory.

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"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

- Anatole France

kelkel

*LOL* I knew I should have spelled checked before I posted.

At no point here did I mention that I think I am in any way intellectually superior. Actually I find myself thinking the exact opposite around these parts, which is part of what lead to my thread topic.

noodlebee

Hahaha.... I am a newbie here and so far, no one has done any "intelligence test" to me. But I admit there are quite a few threads here that make me want to learn and understand more.

As for those with "lesser intellect", hard to say. If it is work-related, I can get impatient quickly. But just with friends or easy-going things like volunteer work, I have more time to sit and listen. From experience, even people with "lesser intellect" can teach me valuable lessons.

Jinn

Hah, I wasn't meaning you at all. I'm probably the worst culprit here (well, maybe willravel :-D)

For a perfect example of how dumb one looks when claiming intellectual superiority, check out one of my first posts on TFP.. it's topical and everything!

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=90323

Fortunately for all of us, I've learned at least a little bit about real life since that thread.

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"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

kelkel

ROFL, spelled checked...

Perhaps I should give up while i'm... slightly behind.

pig

i think everyone subconsciously makes some sort of judgment about the intelligence of their fellow men/women, in real life or on boards. i think we naturally use this as a factor in determining how and how often we relate with others. i'm with lurkette on this...i suppose i could have pretty much just said that. she's usually spot on. shit, i probably just made an intelligence judgment and lurkette passed, as usual.

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Ourcrazymodern?

WHAT? You have a slight behind? I like those, but I think that you're slightly ahead. Competition isn't everything.

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BE JUST AND FEAR NOT

Jetée

It always gets me in the end, despite my latent yet very potent intellect.

I consider myself to be on standby right now.

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doubleaught

People typically believe themselves to be "above average" at many everyday tasks. Very rare to hear "I think I'm a little worse driver than average," no?

I find judging people or rating them a subconscious activity. I guess I'd say I'm surprised by the number of people who are incredibly eager to place new people into one of many stereotypical categories.
"What'd you think of Steve?"
"What a hippy!"
Sure, even I do this but I'm not eager about it, I lean much further towards neutrality until proven beyond a doubt by their actions. Stereotyping for memory's sake vs negative stereotyping I guess. A simpler way to put this thought is, I try to judge actions rather than people. I say try because if some SUV cuts me off I'm quite quick to stereotype them as a "fucking suv driver"

In terms of seriously mocking people (i.e. not when messing around with close friends), I've found this behavior is usually a sign of self-deficiency.

Also, try to keep in mind intelligence has many different forms. I work with people all the time who label themselves as "stupid" when using computers, when in fact they're just ignorant. We're all tremendously ignorant about a amazing number of subjects, ain't nuthin' wrong with that! Very odd to witness people so incredibly talented at what their type of intelligence is best at degrade themselves for no good reason.

abaya

In my opinion, a high IQ does not necessarily correlate with someone's ability to tolerate others, and vice versa.

If you're "less intelligent" (whatever that means), you can choose the attitude of always learning from other people, or being an resentful, insecure, ignorant asshole.

If you are "more intelligent" (again, whatever that means), you can choose between being willing to listen to and share your knowledge with others in a humble manner, and know that you always have something to learn from others... or be an arrogant, over-confident, all-knowing asshole.

So, assholeness applies to people of all IQ's... and being nice also applies to people of all IQ's. You see the whole spectrum on TFP. For myself, it's more likely than not that I fall into the general assholeness category, but I think that's more part of my "acerbic" nature and me getting caught up in the moment of expression.

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for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
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shesus

I would hope that everyone is smart at something.

I feel that everyone has something to offer in certain situations and times.

I think everyone judges people. There was a topic on this already I think. However, what one person views as low intellect, another may see as witty or endearing. You can't please everyone.

When people expect others to be knowledgable in all areas problems begin. When people pretend they are knowledgable in areas where they are not problems begin. Stick with what you know and if you don't know it research it or skip it. You can always learn something new, but some things aren't worth the time learning.

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World's King

Hmm...


Most people on the internet pretend to be smarter then they actually are. It's just the way it is.


But as someone that's in charge here... I have to watch everything people say.

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heavy is the head that wears the crown

MSD

When I was in elementary school, a psychiatrist employed by the school pulled me out of class for a few hours a day, for a week or two, to have me answer questions and perform basic tasks. My parents told me that these tests were really important because they would help my teachers teach me better. A few weeks later (and probably after the psychiatrist got a shitload of money for doing the tests,) they gave me a number that quantified how intelligent I was. The problem with the number is that it was arbitrarily defined as the upper limit of the test, and therefore the test couldn't really tell us anything other than the fact that I was really, really smart.

12 years later, after going through life knowing that I was super intelligent, I learned of another test that would go higher than that old number and give me an even higher, more accurate number. Being the egoist I was, I gladly accepted the offer to give me that number, and it turned out to be higher than even my inflated ego would have expected. I was learning the value of modesty and the virtue of keeping bragging to myself, and didn't flaunt the number like I wanted to.

I've spent the latter part of the 5 years after that learning just how useless those numbers are. I had a ridiculously high IQ when I was 18, I haven't burned myself out on drugs or taken any big hits to the head since then, so I assume it's still around the same. I wish someone told me 17 years ago that being smart doesn't mean anything; all the IQ score did for me was help me solidify the belief that I could do anything effortlessly without studying or practicing because that's how it worked up until high school. I'm still recovering from it.

These days, I don't judge people based on intelligence (especially when other people call them dumb) because I've come to realize that the stupidest thing you can do is think that you're better than other people because of something like intelligence. I've worked with people who are average and below average intelligence and there are things they can do better than me, so who am I to judge people based on intelligence?

Nimetic

My understanding is that a personality test is administered along with an IQ test. Then there're apptitude and 'alignment tests' involving the viewing of specially selected images - which are chosen to elicit particular responses and identify additional traits.

It's all about having suitable checks and balances, and ensuring that only those who are truly ready (emotionally) can enter the elite ranks and use the protected forums.

Ourcrazymodern?

...and all these tests were created were created by our fellow human beings.

Individual packaging is all we have,

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BE JUST AND FEAR NOT

tenniels

I'm most bothered by people who think they're more intelligent than everyone else and walk around advertising it. If someone is genuinely "less intelligent" then I am, I have no issues with it. Perhaps explaining things can get frustrating, but we're all different and have our strong points and weaknesses. As has been mentioned, intelligence is really an abstact quality that is difficult to be accurately measured. And humour can be a great measure as wavesofeuphoria said, some extremely "smart" people don't get a lot of really simple things. It's all a matter of perception. And I work with people with disablilities so I tend to have a great deal of patience.

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ngdawg

Yeeeeears ago, IQ tests were routinely given in school; I had mine in 8th grade. Principal called in my mother-seems he was a tad shocked at my 'high score' since I was such a slacker student with lousy grades.
There were no 'personality tests', no aptitude or 'alignment' tests. (I probably would have failed that first one anyway back then).
I've learned since then intelligence doesn't mean squat if there's no common sense and no sense of humor....

There's protected forums????

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tecoyah

No actual test...But certainly a level of evaluation. If someone has an obvious lack of critical thinking as an MO, I tend to ignore them rather than waste time and Karma points screwing with them. Occasionally though, there are people who are interesting in the way they think, which tempts me to use them for entertainment and mental sparring. This has often evolved into friendship and mutual respect.

ItWasMe

Not only do I "have the patience and tolerance for people" of different levels of intellect, I enjoy their company. For me, it is the heart that counts. What I don't have even the slightest tolerance for is outright meanness. So no, it has never even occurred to me to subject someone to an intelligence test.

I do, however, engage in playful banter to get a feel for someone's level of patience and sense of humor.

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"Ok, no more truth-or-dare until somebody returns my underwear" ~ George Lopez

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Willravel

My bigotry is against unintelligent people and it came from having lower self esteem in HS. It's something I still fight today. It's unfortunate that I have this weakness, but I do everything I can to be welcoming of people with all apparent intellect levels, aside from the president and millionaire heiresses.

Nimetic

I dunno... I was just joking around... in relation to the tone of the original post. It was too pro-test for my liking.

Don't put much faith in tests myself. What matters is life. For sure, I'm probably smarter than some, but stupider than some others. I've noticed that. But I've also noticed that some smart people do some very stupid things, and that some "slower learners" work bloody heard and excel in one or more areas. (Whereas... myself... I was pretty bloody slack)

Thing is... if there is such a thing as generic general intelligence, it's something that a person is born with and which they cannot change. So we should not really look up to it, or down on it over much.

In terms of impatience... I have a different sort of impatience... A lot of people are lacking in knowlege. Stuff that they should know, but don't know, and haven't tried to learn.

I tend to tag these people in my mind as "stupid". What I really mean is that they are ignorant and perhaps lazy. It's the wrong term I know, but it's a nice short one.

I do occasionally use the term stupid in it's correct form, for those who are unintelligent AND lazy AND ignorant. I'm not keen on these types.