How smart do you think you are?

[xalos]

Originally posted by: Cogman

Originally posted by: xalos

Originally posted by: videogames101

Originally posted by: xalos
Being able to measure intelligence is a myth. It all comes down to exposure and potential. Almost everyone has the potential to become very intelligent.

Unfortunately, most people never gain the exposure to enough ideas to become intelligent. I hope that I gain enough exposure in life to become intelligent. I will say though that the internet definitely helps people obtain exposure. The next generation will be very interesting.

I disagree, I think potential is extremely variable. But most people don't live up to their potential.

What makes you feel that potential is variable? I don't see many people who absolutely can not learn a task, subject, or idea. The variable that you might be referring to is whether or not the person is willing to embrace the effort that it takes to obtain the knowledge.

Sure, everyone might not grasp the subject as quickly as the people around them. I've met some people who it takes forever to grasp an idea. However, often they don't forget it as quickly as someone who picked the information up with ease. Some people simply refuse information on a personal level because it conflicts with the way they have always believed. People can have many reasons or causes for not picking up new information or ideas.

But, this doesn't change their potential. They are just as able to obtain the knowledge as anyone else. The only real limits of potential are mental handicaps and ailments that impede the natural ability to master a subject. If you have impaired memory your potential will unfortunately be limited.

Most people have the ability to very intelligent. Like everyone else they will have their strong and weak subjects. It all really depends on the environment that someone lives. Like would have Albert Einstein been who he was if he would have grew up in a coal town in West Virginia? Would have Bill Gates been who he was if he lived in a small trailer in Texas? In these situations they probably would have never realized their potential.

They would have probably have ended up working in local trades shooting pool at the local bar on Friday nights. While believing that they were simply average no different than the average Joe.

Being a Math tutor I can assure you that Intelligence IS variable. For some it is enough to say "This is how you do it" And it is like a conduit from heaven opens giving them all knowledge on the subject. For others, when the conduit opens they put on sun glasses and shut their eyes.

There are many people who really just can't learn stuff. Any engineer I know could have specialized in just about any other field, however, I know many business majors who could never be engineers (Nor would you want them to be). (And yes, Every engineer I know could have EASILY been a business major)

You actually proved my point exactly. You can open the conduit and some people close their eyes. It's not that they can't do it, its that they won't. Its more attitude than not having the aptitude.

Also, think about your business major versus engineer scenario. It might not exactly be that the business major could not be an engineer. It might be because the business major doesn't want to be an engineer.

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
i think i'm pretty dumb, but when i spend time outside of work around normal people (non engineering people), everyone says i'm pretty damn smart so i dunno.

Same here.

As for the second question, for me it's a resounding "fuck no".

 

[TridenT]

Originally posted by: xalos

Also, think about your business major versus engineer scenario. It might not exactly be that the business major could not be an engineer. It might be because the business major doesn't want to be an engineer.

More likely that than anything else...

 

[jonks]

Originally posted by: xalos
It might be because the business major doesn't want to be an engineer.

shens, who wouldn't want to drive a train? choo choo!

 

[IAteYourMother]

i'll go with top 1%, you 99% are dumbasses.

 

[yankeesfan]

I am the smartest person in the world.

 

[Locut0s]

Humbleness much?

Then again I've always been told I tend to underestimate my intelligence.

 

[surfsatwerk]

I'm smart enough not to worry about it.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
Got a laugh from this thread. It made me remember the troll we had here who once said "I have high levels of smartness"

That was DessertCart! Ah, good times, good times.

Thank you sir :beer: I couldn't remember who it was. If I were more intelligent, perhaps I would have?

 

[Engineer]

After reading this thread, I'm starting to come to the conclusion that most of you aren't smart enough to pass a lie detector test! :shocked:

or maybe you believe your own horseshit enough to pass it too! :laugh:

 

[TecHNooB]

Top 25%

I feel like I have more potential but the early part of my life was spent playing video games.

From my undergraduate experiences, most people try to come off smarter than they really are. This could be the case for some of you

 

[StageLeft]

I said top 25% and no. In reality I'm probably top 15%

 

[Zeeky Boogy Doog]

I don't know, I said top 25%, I'm pretty smart I guess, I was top 5% of my HS class, but that means almost nothing anyway. I've taken IQ tests online and scored well (what a joke those are). I definitely haven't lived up to my potential, but I'm doing good enough in school that I'll get my degree, and possibly go on for my masters, so I don't really give a shit.

 

[Shadow Conception]

I'm good at school but I lack much common sense.

 

[l0cke]

One of my friends constantly ranked in the top 5 people in Colorado in math on the CSAP (co standard test). But, he can not comprehend the browning short recoil system or electronic fuel injection.

So I am very smart, just not in the same way most people are.

 

[Muse]

Smart enough not to mess with polls like this. I sometimes think I'm pretty smart, other times really dumb. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me to try to fix my concept of this in stone. My girlfriend informed me that I'm pretty smart. I've been called a genius several times. I don't obsess on stuff like this. I have real concerns.

Uh, nobody lives up to their "full potential." It's truly infinite and beyond the power of any individual to attain. If you'd have asked that of Albert Einstein he'd have told you that in a heartbeat.