From: Brian Phillips (deepbluehalo@earthlink.net)
Date: Fri Jun 21 2002 - 17:36:59 MDT
At 06:39 AM 6/20/02 GMT, empresstheodora@juno.com wrote:
>I was initially tested in school with an IQ of 195 so go figure.
### Forgive me my curiosity - which test was used to obtain the figure you
mentioned?
That your mind is so many standard deviations beyond my (in this forum
relatively) feeble intelligence fills me with awe. Did you ever consider
joining the 999's?
Rafal >>>
Rafal,
This is something I have never understood. How can people who wish
to use their test score claims as a intellectual bludgeon not read enough
about psychometry to make their claims plausible? No one would
have blinked if theodora had claimed a mere 2 SDs or even three.
But claiming an IQ between 4 9s and 9 9s... that's insane.
We all know bright puzzle-solvers who can't tie their own shoes
socially or haven't quite gotten the hang of being self-critical.
They populate Mensa Sigs and TNS (plus the more rarified
debate clubs). And they are spectacularly ineffective as
people by and large. I know them, I try not to be them.
The mean here is (as Ms. Atkins has observed) around 2 SDs
and above. I find this statement reasonably consistent with the
level of conversation.
Mr. Broderick has made a statement to the effect (pardons if
I misrepresent him) that the downside of "high-IQ gunslinging"
is the realization that there is basically nobody who is a very
great deal more intelligent than you are....that this is somewhat
depressing. Must it be so?
I suspect that in the upper half-percentile the other personality
components and how one has spent that intelligence (i.e. the
crystalline g) are what make the most *impact*. This is consistent
with the literature. It is certainly consistent with my experience.
While I do not question the efficacy of psychometric instruments
in the lower 99 centiles is it especially relevant, in your opinion,
at the far right tail? Do you see nootropics and mental strategies
as increasing mental effectiveness in ways not measured by "g"
by these sorts of people? (heehee wishful thinking by moi alert!!)
brian
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