What's the intelligence level on the OT forum?

[kingjoshi]

Well, there have been claims by people that many posters here think they're smarter then the average person. We'll use the loose definition of "smart" as "capabilities to learn various topics and make rational arguments".

The question is how do you view the people on this forum? In general, how smart do you find the people on this forum compared to average people?

You can expound on that. Maybe regarding education level, experience, discussion civility, etc.

 

[newfangle]

I would actually vote for really smart.

In spite of the fact that nothing annoys me more than highschoolers that think that because they are taking 5 AP courses they are God's gift to mankind, I'd say the average person here is leaps beyond a typical person.

'Above average' just doesn't suffice. The average engineer or business person is 'above average.'

 

[Mise]

Excluding the increasing number of immature posts, it's a pretty intelligent forum, which seems to attract posters of a higher than average intelligence. I'd imagine most people are in the top 50%, or even top third.

 

[Mise]

In spite of the fact that nothing annoys me more than highschoolers that think that because they are taking 5 AP courses they are God's gift to mankind, I'd say the average person here is leaps beyond a typical person.

'Above average' just doesn't suffice. The average engineer or business person is 'above average.'

Most of the people in the first paragraph will end up being people in the second paragraph.

 

[Sidhe]

apparently top 1% but IQ tests are BS, and I am in fact a moron

 

[cairo140]

To tell you the truth, many of the highschoolers who are taking five AP courses are in the "really smart" category. Somebody who I consider to be "above average" is someone who gets mid eighties in school (at least here in Canada), and who could probably compete in the 80th percentile (really smart being 95th-ish).

Overall, I think that the people on this forum are extremely impressive... overall. To be able to provide reasonable and insightful commentary on the life of Jesus and on current political affairs without propoganda-ful banter justifies this impression. But that's just me.

I'm personally reasonably smart. Probably top in school, top in region in most areas, and around the 99.9th percentile in some areas nationally (Canada) at the high school level. But still, I'm a young person, and I'm significantly lacking compared to some others on this forum (history, current affairs, cold war culture).

 

[Tenochtitlan]

Not to sound condescending, but here's what it looks like in an average thread on a random bmx forum:

Compare the spelling, grammar, and capitalization here and there.

 

[A'AbarachAmadan]

As far as IQ goes I'd say 'really smart'. Intelligence and wisdom are not the same, however. Wisdom tends to increase with experience, which many just haven't gained yet. Doesn't mean their opinion isn't just as valuable, but it does provide perspective. I do find it extremely interesting that my 5 year old sometimes says things far more inciteful than I or anyone on this forum states in a 20-page topic when he hears my wife and I talking about it.

 

[skadistic]

After thinking long and hard on this I'd have to say above average. It could have been realy smart if it weren't for the likes of Bozo and Perfections smartassidness wich realy brings the whole level down a notch.

Honestly its the religious die hard zelots in my oppinion that lower the total for the flat out denile of being wrong when a fact based argumant that clearly disproves thier position is presented.

And more ladies would raise the median much much higher.

 

[CartesianFart]

I'd picked 'below average ' due to the fact that the many impressions i've recieved from fellow posters is the inability to have any skepticism in any of their arguments.Wisdom is something of knowing nothing while intelligence is having the knowing of limits of knowledges that you have.

 

[Tenochtitlan]

I'd picked 'below average ' due to the fact that the many impressions i've recieved from fellow posters is the inability to have any skepticism in any of their arguments.Wisdom is something of knowing nothing while intelligence is having the knowing of limits of knowledges that you have.

MobBoss changed my mind on gun control.

 

[I am the Future]

I would actually vote for really smart.

In spite of the fact that nothing annoys me more than highschoolers that think that because they are taking 5 AP courses they are God's gift to mankind, I'd say the average person here is leaps beyond a typical person.
'

Hey!
That hurts me.


I think that most people here are above average. And I dont know any who are below average.

 

[Sidhe]

I'd picked 'below average ' due to the fact that the many impressions i've recieved from fellow posters is the inability to have any skepticism in any of their arguments.Wisdom is something of knowing nothing while intelligence is having the knowing of limits of knowledges that you have.

Intelligence is using knowledge to solve problems or sometimes just knowledge(God know's why?) But Wisdom is the key, it is the abiltity to judge what is reason and what is foolishness, also the ability to know that intelligence isn't about an arbitrary number, thus I am a moron. And sometimes I think I am growing stupider, leave it(or at least more ignorant by the day, for the more I find out the less I know) Intelligence however takes no account of limits, it is only wisdom that leads you to reflect on that.

 

[SoCalian]

I think we're so smart that if were were all to come together in one place we could make the world explode just by colectively using our minds.

 

[kingjoshi]

I think the perspective of the question and the comparison you do is the critical factor. I agree with CF in that it seems many zero in on other's flaws and neglect weaknesses in their own arguments. Not only that, it seems people become arrogant about the extent of their knowledge and reasoning capabilities.

But I think about the average person and the average group. This group is definitely smarter in such a comparison. And that to me is a sad thought.

Overall, people here are smart (except a few). But their (our?) false sense of our knowledge is blaringly evident. Maybe I'm the idiot.

 

[CartesianFart]

Intelligence is using knowledge to solve problems or sometimes just knowledge(God know's why?) But Wisdom is the key, it is the abiltity to judge what is reason and what is foolishness.

I have to say that the true definition of wisdom is this:

I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance.- Socrates, from Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers

 

[Sidhe]

Precisely so knowledge reflects on intelligence. But intelligence cannot define limits

It's scarey the lengths people will go to define the tennants of intelligence, like placing value x on creativity, sometimes I think morons also divise IQ tests. MENSA is particularly disturbing all intelligence and no wisdom.

Luckily I'd never join a club that would have me as a member, you can thank the wisdom of Groucho Marx for that. one of the great thinkers of modern times

Hey that's my quote get your own

 

[Perfection]

Depends on if we're looking at the mean or the median. The median is above average, but the mean is bumped up to really smart because of my immense intellectual abilities.

 

[kingjoshi]

MENSA is particularly disturbing all intelligence and no wisdom.

You're not smart enough to see its value. That's not their fault.

Luckily I'd never join a club that would have me as a member, you can thank the wisdom of Groucho Marx for that. one of the great thinkers of modern times

I used to think that was funny. For a split second. I'm more of a fan of Yogi Bera type quotes.

"I'll only be a member of a club that wants me." - me

I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance.- Socrates, from Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers

Hey that's my quote get your own

Reading about Socrates drastically forged my philosophies a decade ago. I think that's one of the smartest things ever said in human history. Besides, "I think therefore I am. I think."

 

[The Last Conformist]

Averagish to above average.

This place does seem to attract Aspies like a cadaver attracts flies; this is probably the main reason for any intellectual above averageness.