Do you feel you are intelligent?

Originally Posted by Mark from Plano

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He said that an important element of being a good leader was quickly selecting a course of action and pursuing it, and that the super-intelligent tended to see too many consequences and alternatives to be decisive.

The more alternatives you can conceive, the clearer it becomes that your choice is almost certainly wrong.

I believe that I am smart in some areas (history and literature to name a few) but I can't do math or science worth a crap. I said average.

I find it humorous that Coho said below average

JB

Originally Posted by Mark from Plano

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I remember reading an essay several years ago that discussed the correlation between raw intelligence as measured by IQ and achievement and leadership. The author's contention which he supported with research was that there was a fairly low correlation between high intelligence (genius level) and being a good leader. He said that an important element of being a good leader was quickly selecting a course of action and pursuing it, and that the super-intelligent tended to see too many consequences and alternatives to be decisive.
There's an element of truth to that, but overanalysis is essentially a habit that can be broken, and those who are committed to success can recognize it and train themselves into different patterns long before middle life. I'm not especially bright, but I realized pretty early on that I had a bit of a tendency to suffer from 'analysis paralysis', so over time, I learned to get out of my own way a bit, though it's still a tendency I have to be aware of. I would think a truly gifted intellect with any commitment to success would be able to address the issue at least as successfully. I tend to think that when someone is impeded by that kind of thing over the longer term, there are personality/emotional issues involved that are distinct from intelligence -- or at least distinct from 'intelligence' as it's commonly thought of.

I think we get confused about what intelligence is because we try to conflate intelligence with value. Since intelligence as defined by IQ tests doesn't/can't accurately measure everything in humanity of value we try to redefine (existential intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, kinesthetic intelligence, etc.) or muddle the definition ("What is it?") intelligence rather than simply recognizing it for what it is which is the abililty to exhibit mental function in ways that are measurable by testing.

Once it's defined properly it's also stripped of much of its mythic value. I answered top 5% because that's what the standardized tests say. On the other hand there is ample written evidence in the my posts in the CEsspool that outside of a standardized testing situation I can be pretty stupid.

Maybe slightly above average? I don't know, I don't feel particularly smart, but I'm surrounded by idiots.

I feel like a genius sometimes.

But then I'm also too lazy and unmotivated to make use of it, so I do what I can to get by. I'm actually building bad habits (for instance being on SF when instead I could be studying for my test....).

Maybe we could reword the survey to simply say something like "How often do you say "you people are a bunch of idiots" in reference to complete strangers?" It wouldn't actually be any accurate measure of anyone's intelligence, but certainly would gauge how much smarter we think we are than others, i.e. "average" people.

In my everyday life I'm surrounded by idiots, fwiw.

b

Originally Posted by rdawson808

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Maybe we could reword the survey to simply say something like "How often do you say "you people are a bunch of idiots" in reference to complete strangers?" It wouldn't actually be any accurate measure of anyone's intelligence, but certainly would gauge how much smarter we think we are than others, i.e. "average" people.

In my everyday life I'm surrounded by idiots, fwiw.

b
All I know is that with 80% of the people here claiming to be above average or better, we still have a concurrent thread in which people are unable to figure out how to split a cab fare.

Originally Posted by iammatt

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All I know is that with 80% of the people here claiming to be above average or better, we still have a concurrent thread in which people are unable to figure out how to split a cab fare.

Never mind the voluminous threads on how to dress ones self. "Is it okay to wear black shoes with khakis???"

Originally Posted by Mark from Plano

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the abililty to exhibit mental function in ways that are measurable by testing.

:


bingo - there have been several discussions on the Sf that dissolved into train wrecks over this.

I picked below. 37 years old, not a member of the idle rich, I post here to break up the work day. Nothing there says anything other than "idiot".

Originally Posted by Piobaire

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I picked below. 37 years old, not a member of the idle rich, I post here to break up the work day. Nothing there says anything other than "idiot".

"It ain't the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I'm smart! Not like everybody says, like dumb! I'm smart and I want respect!"

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

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"It ain't the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I'm smart! Not like everybody says, like dumb! I'm smart and I want respect!"

You see, there's the difference between me and Freado (and all you that picked "top 5%" ). I have no illusions about things.

Originally Posted by JLibourel

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Had my IQ tested when I was 12. It was pretty darn high. I maxed the Army "IQ" test which is supposed to correlate to your actual IQ. Probably lower today as my wits dim with age.

Still, I don't think I am particularly smart in the sense of being shrewd, sagacious or clever. I often think I am a bit slow-witted.

I'm in the same boat as Jan, which I consider being in good company. I don't think that I have Asperger's syndrome though, so I left that part of the quote out

Because I'm afflicted with a rare bout of candor, I'll admit that I think that I'm most comfortable as a "Number 2". I make a great lieutenant, and am very good at management and at working with and adjusting existing ideas, but that better ideas often come to others first. Actually, stupid ideas come mor easily to others as well, so maybe I'm just incapable of creative thought.

Originally Posted by iammatt

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All I know is that with 80% of the people here claiming to be above average or better, we still have a concurrent thread in which people are unable to figure out how to split a cab fare.

No Matt, it's actually worse. They're arguing over how to split a cab, when the solution is obviously a power saw.

You can probably tell from the above comment that I test well, but have limited practical intelligence. I've worked hard to develop outstanding problem-solving skills and creativity, at the expense of interpersonal and communication skills like writing and speaking. I believe there's some truth to the theory of multiple intelligences and I'm gifted in some areas and a moron in others.

Which raises the question: "Are we all responding to the poll based on our strengths, while minimizing our weaknesses?" I know I did.