Donald I, emperor of the world.

[Pinno718]

No. The history of IQ tests is somewhat chequered. What started off as a test to try and measure whether children were "retarded" rather than "sick" in France, had become part of the US Eugenics movement by 1883 and forced sterilisation was introduced for the "unfit" with over 60,000 people being sterilised in the USA . The Nazis, understandably loved this idea.

They are also used by racists to "prove" that non-whites have lower IQs, as the same racists are too thick to understand that IQ tests have been designed to measure intelligence in western cultures and that the gap is due to environmental factors not genetics.

There are also different types of test which give different results. When I did my MENSA test, there were two tests - one was along the lines of Culture Fair focusing on pattern matching, ability to mentally rotate shapes, analyse visual data etc, and the other was a Cattell III B style focusing on verbal reasoning, sequencing, odd one out in this group of animals etc. I was just under the entry criteria for the Cattell but over the threshold for Culture Fair.

But there is no correlation between high IQ's and higher empathy.

 

[Ian H]

But there is no correlation between high IQ's and higher empathy.

There isn't a reliable link between IQ and intelligence.

 

[Pinno718]

There isn't a reliable link between IQ and intelligence.

Fair enough. IQ tests are an odd metric with no test being unequivocal (as IC Cowden pointed out).

 

[icowden]

There isn't a reliable link between IQ and intelligence.

Quite. A significant proportion of Mensa members are neurodiverse. Neurodiverse people tend to be very good at the old IQ test - problem solving, spotting patterns and gaps in patterns tends to go with the territory. It's therefore hard to tell whether the IQ test is showing that they are incredibly intelligent or just incredibly good at doing IQ tests.

 

[briantrumpet]

Quite. A significant proportion of Mensa members are neurodiverse. Neurodiverse people tend to be very good at the old IQ test - problem solving, spotting patterns and gaps in patterns tends to go with the territory. It's therefore hard to tell whether the IQ test is showing that they are incredibly intelligent or just incredibly good at doing IQ tests.

Does anyone remember the programme on that autistic chap who could do ridiculous mental arithmetic? He was unusual in that he could explain how he did it (the numbers appeared as some sort of 'shape' and the 'shape' that appeared in between the two other numbers, each many digits long, was the answer). I suspect that he might have found other aspects of life quite baffling, but measured on that one metric, he was a genius.

 

[icowden]

Does anyone remember the programme on that autistic chap who could do ridiculous mental arithmetic? He was unusual in that he could explain how he did it (the numbers appeared as some sort of 'shape' and the 'shape' that appeared in between the two other numbers, each many digits long, was the answer). I suspect that he might have found other aspects of life quite baffling, but measured on that one metric, he was a genius.

I don't but that doesn't surprise me, as my brain does a similar thing with music. I can usually see the shapes, so transposing stuff is just moving the shapes. I also have shapes that can interlock so from chord X I can move to many different shapes, but they all work.

 

[briantrumpet]

I don't but that doesn't surprise me, as my brain does a similar thing with music. I can usually see the shapes, so transposing stuff is just moving the shapes. I also have shapes that can interlock so from chord X I can move to many different shapes, but they all work.

Probably another discussion - yes, me too, though also responds well to regular practice thinking of the shapes and letting the brain work its subconscious magic on them (as it does with spoken language). People who don't play keyboard of some description find it much harder to grasp those shapes as underlying 'things', I think, and so find it much harder to mentally order and manipulate them. It'd be an interesting study for someone doing music & psychology.

 

[Beebo]

Quite. A significant proportion of Mensa members are neurodiverse. Neurodiverse people tend to be very good at the old IQ test - problem solving, spotting patterns and gaps in patterns tends to go with the territory. It's therefore hard to tell whether the IQ test is showing that they are incredibly intelligent or just incredibly good at doing IQ tests.

Exactly. Whenever I watch only connect on BBC2. Some of the ability to see abstract patterns is very impressive.
But the contestants don’t appear to be the next generation of business visionaries and entrepreneurs.
It would be an interesting experiment to swap the contestants on the Apprentice and Only Connect to see how they all get on.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Exactly. Whenever I watch only connect on BBC2. Some of the ability to see abstract patterns is very impressive.
But the contestants don’t appear to be the next generation of business visionaries and entrepreneurs.
It would be an interesting experiment to swap the contestants on the Apprentice and Only Connect to see how they all get on.

I took one of those "Mensa test" online once and gave up when it was asking for an "odd one out"
I could make any of the images the odd one out by applying different criteria

After it I found an analysis of the test and comments by Mensa from an interview
He said he agreed that "odd one out" tests could be seen as unfair or even wrong
but the right answer was decided by the answer that most MENSA members would choose

which says a lot about how they are designed and how the "answers" are assessed

 

[swee'pea99]

AI tells me that most Somali people speak at least three languages.

Now remind me how many the average MAGA speaks?

It may be aprocryphal, though it was told me as fact back in the day by a client in a position to know, that new employees in Indian call centres dealing with the US were all taught 'the 30-10 rule': the average caller will be 30, but assume you're dealing with a ten year old.

 

[briantrumpet]

One can only assume that Hesgeth has never been clever enough nor sober enough to read about George Washington's deployment of a deeply risky smallpox vaccine. Or that he's ever had proper flu.

https://historyofvaccines.org/blog/...-smallpox-revolutionary-inoculation-campaign/

"In the annals of the American Revolutionary War, we often focus on the military tactics, political maneuvering, and battlefield heroics that secured independence. However, one of General George Washington’s most consequential decisions had nothing to do with troop formations or artillery placement. Instead, it involved a bold medical intervention that may have saved the revolution. In February 1777, Washington ordered the mandatory inoculation of Continental Army troops against smallpox, implementing what historians consider the first mass immunization policy in American history. This decisive action against an invisible enemy, a testament to Washington’s strategic foresight, demonstrated his leadership as a military leader and public health advocate."

 

[UglyWithaSidePart]

One can only assume that Hesgeth has never been clever enough nor sober enough to read about George Washington's deployment of a deeply risky smallpox vaccine. Or that he's ever had proper flu.

View attachment 14683

https://historyofvaccines.org/blog/...-smallpox-revolutionary-inoculation-campaign/

"In the annals of the American Revolutionary War, we often focus on the military tactics, political maneuvering, and battlefield heroics that secured independence. However, one of General George Washington’s most consequential decisions had nothing to do with troop formations or artillery placement. Instead, it involved a bold medical intervention that may have saved the revolution. In February 1777, Washington ordered the mandatory inoculation of Continental Army troops against smallpox, implementing what historians consider the first mass immunization policy in American history. This decisive action against an invisible enemy, a testament to Washington’s strategic foresight, demonstrated his leadership as a military leader and public health advocate."

What a joke, he's served, so he knows better. The first thing you do with any deployed troops is immunise them and sort their teeth out. I've been through so many dental checkups over the years 😂
Edit to add, US troop deployments almost always involve long transfers by plane or by boat, perfect breeding ground.
Idiot.

 

[Pblakeney]

Hmmmm. How long till we hear of scurvy on USS Gerald R. Ford?
Low on rations and been at sea for 301 consecutive days.

 

[UglyWithaSidePart]

Hmmmm. How long till we hear of scurvy on USS Gerald R. Ford?
Low on rations and been at sea for 301 consecutive days.

Tired and stressed with malnutrition. I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[Pblakeney]

A megalomaniac's wet dream.

Here’s a concise bullet-point summary of the proposed House GOP measures pending to “honor” Donald Trump:
Carve Trump’s likeness into Mount Rushmore
Rename Palm Beach airport after Trump
Rename Washington Dulles International Airport after Trump
Require the State Department to award a “Trump Peace Prize”
Declare Trump’s birthday a federal holiday
Award Trump a Congressional Gold Medal
Create a $250 bill featuring Trump’s image
Pass resolutions urging Trump be awarded the Nobel Prize
Direct the NIH to study “Trump Derangement Syndrome”