Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on April 29, 2013 at 6:42pm

Oh, well that explains everything! Why didn't you say so? The majority of Texans are stupid, look who they elected twice for Governor, Rick ("Oops!") Perry --!

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Permalink Reply by Elon Johnson on April 29, 2013 at 5:57pm

I expected that from Mexico because a lack of education, but I was surprised to see that the same problem was here in a developed country.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on April 28, 2013 at 8:51pm

I joined MENSA in the 10th grade, I quit after two meetings because most of the members were stupid idiots.

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Permalink Reply by Diane on April 28, 2013 at 8:58pm

Somehow that is comforting to know.  How were they stupidly idiotic?  

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Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on May 16, 2013 at 4:43pm

They talked about their jobs (mostly blue collar) they talked about sports,  trying to engage most of them in intellectual discussions was mostly futile.  I did meet a couple of interesting people, but most were like what you'd find in Wal-mart on a saturday afternoon.  The only common ground was a high score on an IQ test.  

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Permalink Reply by Elon Johnson on April 28, 2013 at 9:15pm

Haha, mensa means stupid in spanish.

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Permalink Reply by SteveInCO on April 29, 2013 at 12:33am

The only requirement for joining Mensa is to score in the 98th percentile on an intelligence test (and this can include the SAT and ACT).

Unfortunately high scores on an IQ test (you only need to manage it once, so I imagine something like 5% of the people have had a good day at least once and pulled it off--to say nothing of different emphases on different tests might "resonate" better with different people) doesn't correlate with someone actually doing critical thinking.  The local Mensa group fell under the sway of a new ager and all of the meetings ended up being about crystal power, etc.

I like to joke that Mensa has a sister organization called "Densa" for people who score in the bottom 2 percent.

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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on April 29, 2013 at 12:47am

Having worked with the San Diego Special Olympics, I don't find your joke all that amusing.

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Permalink Reply by SteveInCO on April 29, 2013 at 1:24am

Believe me I've only told it in circumstances where people (including me) are not in fact thinking of the truly disabled.  The target of this sort of comment on my part was more along the lines of George W. Bush, or many other politicians, or some fundie blowhard, or Dilbert's Pointy Haired Boss (or his real-life clones).

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Nevertheless your point is well taken and I'll put that one in the circular file as of right the fuck now.

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Permalink Reply by John Cook on May 20, 2013 at 12:32am

Easy easy easy.... It was not meant to denigrate, it was simply humor. I too have a son who is somewhat less intellectually capable than most. He is called a retard, a dummy and so on, but he is also one of the greatest people I know. he has a simple open kindness and the ability to make happiness flow from beneath rocks.  A genuinely wonderful person, just not as intellectually capable as others. I am not offended by jokes like StevelnCO provided, but don't call my son a retard to his face or you may find 260 pounds in a six foot four inch frame sitting on your face and "Learnin' you some manners".  Otherwise it's so minor as to be inconsequential.

An aggressively metered insult is usually not the intent. So have a bit of peace and realize the world is not out to insult those great folk at the Special Olympics. Love them and assist as you obviously are . . . and smile more.    

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Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on May 16, 2013 at 4:45pm

Supposedly, the highest score you make on an IQ test is the "LEAST" that your IQ is supposed to be.

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Permalink Reply by John Cook on May 20, 2013 at 12:07am

Doug,

You claim: "The Highest score you make on an IQ test is the least your IQ is supposed to be"

Uhh, not quite, or should I be more direct and say not at all. The typical IQ test it is one of the worst and most meaningless methods of determining intellectual capacity, but it does provide a rough guide. IQ numbers from standardized tests are nearly useless today. Psychometric tests are a capable measure, but those comprehensive areas are not well arrived at through the common Stanford-Binet test you took in school.

Determining IQ with any accuracy is difficult. Accuracy involves a comprehensive and evaluative study that includes dozens of what may seem unassociated areas you might not enjoy puzzling through. Also, it can take days to weeks to achieve a factual accuracy in some cases.  

But in any case the highest score you make on an IQ test is not the least your IQ is supposed to be. It could also be the result of favorable guessing, and the highest score you will receive, while your factual and accurate IQ is actually much lower.

Before anyone takes an on-line IQ test and gets fooled by inaccurate testing methodologies (that's being kind as most lack any association with reality)  I have spent weeks examining on line tests and I find them seriously lacking.  I am a psychologist with a PhD, I do know something, but not everything and like everyone I can be incorrect, however not on this subject.       

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