NationStates Jolt Archive

I fairly recently went to a Mensa regional gathering.
(Mensa is a high-iq society with a requirement to be in the top 2%.) [/bragging]

It was the first Mensa event I had ever been to. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting. I was not impressed. While I was there, one woman tried to convince me that I should look up 'remote viewing' (psychic clairvoyance) as if she believed it were something that actually happened.

Later, there was a talk on the history of anti-evolutionary behavior in the last 20 years in the United States. The scope of the presentation was strictly the Creationist/Intelligent Design movement, not an explanation of the proof of evolution. At the end, one old man demanded that the speaker give proof of evoltuion.

Other than that, I think it was the biggest collection of socially incapable people I have ever seen... and I used to go to RPGA events (Dungeons and Dragons).

So... my faith in the almighty IQ test has been shaken a bit. I used to think that I had difficulty communicating with most people simply because of a gap in cognitive ability. That might have been part of it, but it can't explain everything.

What I want to know is, what does the Nation States community think intelligence is? Can it be represented by a single number?

My understanding has been that intelligence is the ability to quickly learn new things and adapt to new situations.

I fairly recently went to a Mensa regional gathering.
(Mensa is a high-iq society with a requirement to be in the top 2%.) [/bragging]

It was the first Mensa event I had ever been to. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting. I was not impressed. While I was there, one woman tried to convince me that I should look up 'remote viewing' (psychic clairvoyance) as if she believed it were something that actually happened.

Later, there was a talk on the history of anti-evolutionary behavior in the last 20 years in the United States. The scope of the presentation was strictly the Creationist/Intelligent Design movement, not an explanation of the proof of evolution. At the end, one old man demanded that the speaker give proof of evoltuion.

Other than that, I think it was the biggest collection of socially incapable people I have ever seen... and I used to go to RPGA events (Dungeons and Dragons).

So... my faith in the almighty IQ test has been shaken a bit. I used to think that I had difficulty communicating with most people simply because of a gap in cognitive ability. That might have been part of it, but it can't explain everything.

What I want to know is, what does the Nation States community think intelligence is? Can it be represented by a single number?

My understanding has been that intelligence is the ability to quickly learn new things and adapt to new situations.

I'm not sure what I would classify intelligence as; perhaps a predisposition towards and competence in academic subjects?
I certainly don't agree that IQ tests are a reliable test of one's intelligence; I, for example, have difficulty modelling and transforming shapes in my mind, and yet most of the people who know me would classify me as an intelligent person.
I'm sure that many other people here have the same problem; I consider the majority of people here to be intelligent, and yet I daresay that many of them also have difficulty with such things.

Ilaer

I would think intelligence is based on the ability to consider a logical puzzle and solve it with a minimum of necessary information in a reasonable time frame. What would determine intelligence is the amount of information and time needed.

Course that's not the same as wisdom.

It was the first Mensa event I had ever been to. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting. I was not impressed.
Why did you join that Mensa in the first place? I find it a pretty silly organization. A way for people with too high IQ to offset it a little by gathering for one purpose.

The very concept of Mensa reminds me of GNAA: "Gathering high-IQ people for one common purpose: being high-IQ people!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_intelligences

i think this has some interesting points.


i would agree that intelligence is more than IQ.

If you can, take the time to read On Intelligence - http://www.onintelligence.org/ - it's an amazing book

Intelligence is not just IQ, as I believe if you've seen any autistic savants you will understand. I'll never go to MENSA no matter my IQ, (I don't know what it is, however its over 100, under 140 certainly. Internet tests are notoriously unreliable.) due to my not liking elitist societies such as this one. Intelligence certainly cannot be measured on one scale, I draw example to the fact that although I am excellent at science in school, I am extremely poor at english (grades D and E throughout the year). One of my friends, although extremely poor at maths is a genius at english and writing. Therefore it simply cannot be one scale of "intelligence"

I think intelligence is all about being good at solving problems AND the skill to absorb knowledge. Would you call someone intelligent if he can solve rubic's cube after 30 years?(I know it's a bit exaggerated:P) And you can't test intelligence with IQtests since you can train yourself to get a high score.

42

Why did you join that Mensa in the first place? I find it a pretty silly organization. A way for people with too high IQ to offset it a little by gathering for one purpose.

The very concept of Mensa reminds me of GNAA: "Gathering high-IQ people for one common purpose: being high-IQ people!"

I was lonely. I was hoping that it would be a good way to meet people I'd enjoy being around. Intelligence is probably the quality I value most highly. I like to talk, and people often find me 'intellectually intimidating'... so it's nice to find people who can hold their own in a conversation.

I should clarify that there were some interesting people there as well, but it didn't seem that they were in higher concentration than in any other gathering of people.

I'll never go to MENSA no matter my IQ, (I don't know what it is, however its over 100, under 140 certainly. Internet tests are notoriously unreliable.) due to my not liking elitist societies such as this one.

It really depends on the intent. I have a feeling a lot of people join to get validation of how smart they are. The fact that they need that validation in the first place makes them annoying to me. I like people to be arrogant assholes who know that they are smart/good looking/etc.

Intelligence is the ability to make the best out of the information at hand. (Thus it is independent of knowledge of facts)

Intelligence is the ability to open up plastic carrier bags.

I can't do it. :(

Intelligence is the ability to make the best out of the information at hand. (Thus it is independent of knowledge of facts)

What about if you can do that extremely well but take a relatively long time whereas someone else does it quicker but not in as much detail?
Which person is more intelligent?

Ilaer

I just added a multiple option poll with what I hope is a fairly comprehensive list of possible components of intelligence.

In case anyone is interested, here are the things that I remember being tested on the Mensa entrance test:
Understanding of colloquialisms (bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, etc.)
Vocabulary - word analogies
Computational ability without a calculator
Picture analogies
Pattern recognition
Listening retention

There may have been a bit more, but that's all I can remember.

Should have put memory on the poll too... oh well

Intelligence is the ability to open up plastic carrier bags.

I can't do it. :(I recently found out a way to open those (when the bits that are supposed to open them automatically don't work). It's kinda hard to explain, but you have to slightly stretch the plastic near the handle joins the bag.


Bird's eye view (widened to make it easier to understand)

|-|-|
|-|-| <-a
|-|-|
|-|-|
|-|-| <-b
|/-\|

Pinch at a and b and then stretch slightly. This causes the plastic to separate and so you can put a finger in and pull the sides of the bag apart.

The weird bit inside the sides at b is, when pulled apart, is the side of the bag. When you stretch at a and b it only stretches the sides of the bag and not this side bit. Hence the plastic can't lie flat anymore and so you can get your finger in between the plastic to separate the sides.

Okay, that probably isn't easy to understand, but that's the best way I can describe it.

Okay, that probably isn't easy to understand, but that's the best way I can describe it.

You've just convinced me that it is a skill far more difficult than quantum physics. :p

Something that 80% of NSGers don't have. ;)

Something that 80% of NSGers don't have. ;)

Do I have it? :)

Ilaer

Do I have it? :)

IlaerYes you do. But not those who still believe although they should know better. ;)

Do I have it? :)

Ilaer

I'd say so...

Yes you do. But not those who still believe although they should know better. ;)

But, evidently I don't. -shrugs-

Yes you do. But not those who still believe although they should know better. ;)

Thank you.
:D
I daresay people have reasons.

Ilaer

I'd say so...



But, evidently I don't. -shrugs-

Thank you as well. :D
I might say that I consider both you and United Beleriand to be intelligent.
Belief doesn't affect me.

Ilaer

intelligence is all of the options offered applied to effectively resolve real life situations.

the reason the mensa people are daft is because whilst they have awesome IQ's there Emotional IQ is average.

I believe that intelligence is something that cannot be measured with simple numbers, as IQ tests do.

with regards to Mensa & high IQ values

Stereotyping plays a role here, as those who have high IQs are generally perceived as lacking in social skills, something that unfortunately is encouraged by popular culture. The simplest example of this is The Simpsons, particularly the episode where Lisa joins Mensa. Other members of Mensa in this episode include Professor Frink, the stereotypical mad scientist, Principal Skinner, a figure of impotent authority, and Comic Book guy, the stereotypical 'geek'.

Thank you.
:D
I daresay people have reasons.

IlaerNone but their convenience.

None but their convenience.

Explain.

Ilaer

Intelligence is the ability to open up plastic carrier bags.

I can't do it. :(
Blow into them and shake :)

Explain.

IlaerYou said, people have reasons to be Christians, and I said that's all only their convenience. After all, Christianity is a pretty pleasant way to look at things.

You left off "42" as a poll option . . .

Oi, i don't come to NS to study... I come to NS to either annoy mods or taunt newbies nowdays.

I had a lecture on 'intelligence' at uni the other day... I think i fell asleep...

In summary: "Intelligence is realizing that if you have that final shot, the bouncers wont let you into the next pub you go to."

I voted "logic", by which I meant to say the ability to analyze the underlying form of an object to its full extent. I also voted "social awareness"--the ability to understand and relate to the thoughts and actions of others--and "musical ability"--by which I meant artistic ability in general, rather than simply music.