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Are Mensa people really that smart, or are they just really good at answering useless questions and passing tests?

By ScrubJay Asked Jun 13 2009 2:46AM
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Top Answer out of 5

by Anonymous on Oct 6, 2009 at 11:49 pm Permalink

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That is the fascinating infinite regress problem with IQ tests.

The testers ask questions and claims they are of interest to intelligent people. Then they claim answers that an intelligent person would give.

How do the testers know that their questions and answers are any good? Well... they're... intelligent. Because... they... took the test??

No! People just started off thinking they were smart for some reason and then devised a test to see HOW MUCH YOU THINK LIKE THE TESTER! That's all the IQ test tells you.

So, are the test makers smart? Are they only smart from some certain perspective? Or are they just full of BS??

The only answer to whether someone is smart or not is how you choose to evaluate them (and the process you use can be evaluated the same way).

What criterion should you use?? Well... that's the deep question. From a pragmatist standpoint, I judge intelligence by how well a person demonstrates understanding of a novel situation by being able to manipulate it to a desired result... how practical they are when outside their normal experience.

But... Albert Einstein supposedly went to a party without his pants on!! Either he had a weird sense of fun... or he REALLY SCREWED UP IN A SOCIAL CONTEXT!! I think he did.

So... I'm inclined to believe that there are many different types of being smart... and one can be smart in one way and dumb in another. Or, if they're lucky, smart in many different ways, and dumb in a few other. (And... conversely... some are just dumb in every way. You've met them, I know.)

Intelligence is a amorphous subject given to all manners of philosophizing, so read what people say... think... and come up with something that works for you in the world. (My pragmatism rearing it's head again.)

But not to worry... because, though intelligence is a wildly complicated philosophical subject... you can recognize stupid every time!
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Avatar psych31mwo says call me Mark Oct, 07 2009 at 12:10 AM
Great answer. I especially like this line:
"The only answer to whether someone is smart or not is how you choose to evaluate them (and the process you use can be evaluated the same way)."
I know plenty of parents and coworkers that are incredibly smart in such untested areas as "parenting skills", "negotiation skills", and plain ole "street smarts", but they would probably do only average on a typical "IQ test". Awesome inputs! +++
Avatar Anonymous Oct, 07 2009 at 12:53 AM
Does that mean I'm intelligent!?? I'll assume it does. Uh... nobody has to respond to that. :)

Answer 2 out of 5

by Thriftymaid on Oct 6, 2009 at 11:54 pm Permalink

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Uh, yeah, they are really that smart.
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Answer 3 out of 5

by Sandy - Sand on Oct 6, 2009 at 11:52 pm Permalink

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They are good at somethings , but not everything. Like the rest of us. :)
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Answer 4 out of 5

by Nightwatchdog on Oct 6, 2009 at 11:52 pm Permalink

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The latter.
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Answer 5 out of 5

by DudeLer 2 on Oct 6, 2009 at 11:56 pm Permalink

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Mensa people are often smart in specific areas. and not so smart in other areas. they become professional students and dont learn to wrap a christmas gift or change a tire on a car. just because they are mensa doesnt mean they are street smart.
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Avatar ScrubJay Oct, 14 2009 at 09:02 PM
Thank you. +4


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