How is intelligence determined?

Loaf · June 19, 2015, 09:56:00 PM

I don't feel very comfortable telling my IQ to people here, but I have been thinking about something more big picture. I am always trying to imagine ways that I could be more intelligent, but sometimes I just feel like there is a limit on simply how hard I can think and how fast my mind can process information. So I have been feeling quite a bit of disparity over this fact, because I honestly feel inadequate in my intelligence. I look at the intelligence of other people and I can feel a little reassured sometimes, but I still can't can't get over how stupid I feel. I don't even know why I crave the self satisfaction of being proud and intelligent, why I am having this constant struggle to be intelligent and ultimately failing, then just feeling inadequate. I don't know how there can ever possibly be a way that I can find some self respect for myself. Does anyone have anything to say about this that's appropriate and isn't mean?

Tyger · June 19, 2015, 09:57:15 PM

Loaf confirmed IQ of 76

Tyger · June 19, 2015, 09:57:34 PM

Oh wait that's deci

SecondClass · June 19, 2015, 09:57:40 PM

Intelligence and convictions are overrated. If focusing on that shit is making you unhappy, then you're missing the point.

Loaf · June 19, 2015, 10:02:17 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 19, 2015, 09:57:40 PM

Intelligence and convictions are overrated. If focusing on that shit is making you unhappy, then you're missing the point.

It's not the arbitrary level of intelligence I place on myself that I am concerned about, it's more so the fact that I just constant look on the things that I say and I just think they seem so stupid, I can't even get over the fact that I will never just be a more intelligent person. I am not saying that anything I said on this website is making me sit around thinking I about how stupid I am, because I am just gonna take a jab here and say that's probably what people are thinking. They're probably thinking "oh my god load said stupid shit on this website, now he's confirming what we already thought". No, if you think that you're fucking retarded and you should just stop reading everything I say all together, or just keep reading it and responding because it's fucking hilarious seeing how idiots interpret what I say. Otherwise yeah, what I said in the former part of this post, before I started talking about people on this website.

Turkey · June 19, 2015, 10:02:40 PM

No, IQ is an indicator, and a pretty arbitrary one at that.

Loaf · June 19, 2015, 10:05:25 PM

Quote from: HurtfulTurkey on June 19, 2015, 10:02:40 PM

No, IQ is an indicator, and a pretty arbitrary one at that.

To be honest I don't know why I made that the title of the thread, because this thread really isn't about IQ at all. I just have to think of something to name the thread, that was the first thing that came to mind and there really isn't much of a reason behind why I named it that.

SecondClass · June 19, 2015, 10:05:51 PM

Quote from: Loaf on June 19, 2015, 10:02:17 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 19, 2015, 09:57:40 PM
Intelligence and convictions are overrated. If focusing on that shit is making you unhappy, then you're missing the point.
It's not the arbitrary level of intelligence I place on myself that I am concerned about, it's more so the fact that I just constant look on the things that I say and I just think they seem so stupid, I can't even get over the fact that I will never just be a more intelligent person.

No, you can't really make yourself "smarter". But you can make yourself happier, and that's ultimately all that matters. If you're willing to accept your level of intelligence, have some self-awareness about it, you won't be constantly so down on yourself about it.

Verbatim · June 19, 2015, 10:08:52 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 19, 2015, 10:05:51 PM

No, you can't really make yourself "smarter".

I'm pretty sure I was smarter after I learned language than I was before I could speak/read/write.

SecondClass · June 19, 2015, 10:11:48 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on June 19, 2015, 10:08:52 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 19, 2015, 10:05:51 PM
No, you can't really make yourself "smarter".
I'm pretty sure I was smarter after I learned language than I was before I could speak/read/write.

Ugh....okay, you got me? Obviously, your brain develops while you're a child and teenager, but this isn't fucking relevant to what I'm talking to Loaf about.

Pendulate · June 19, 2015, 10:14:54 PM

I'd say critical thinking skills are one of the best measurements of intelligence.

Crunching numbers and solving brainteasers are impressive too, but I don't think they're anywhere near as important.

Verbatim · June 19, 2015, 10:17:00 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 19, 2015, 10:11:48 PM

Ugh....okay, you got me? Obviously, your brain develops while you're a child and teenager, but this isn't fucking relevant to what I'm talking to Loaf about.

I don't know what you're talking about, especially when you say stuff like we can't make ourselves smarter. Like, do you mean that we can't change our IQs? Our capacity to learn? I would agree with that, I guess. Some people have learning disabilities.

Coomer · June 19, 2015, 10:18:44 PM

By how much gainz you have

SecondClass · June 19, 2015, 10:21:40 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on June 19, 2015, 10:17:00 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 19, 2015, 10:11:48 PM
Ugh....okay, you got me? Obviously, your brain develops while you're a child and teenager, but this isn't fucking relevant to what I'm talking to Loaf about.
I don't know what you're talking about, especially when you say stuff like we can't make ourselves smarter. Like, do you mean that we can't change our IQs? Our capacity to learn? I would agree with that, I guess. Some people have learning disabilities.

Knowledge and intelligence are different. Loaf isn't going to be able to just change how smart he is for the better. For the worse, sure, just do a bunch of drugs. But there's really no easy way to increase your IQ, as Loaf wants. It's better to just accept who you are and your limitations, and work with them.

Forgewolf · June 19, 2015, 10:25:03 PM

With an Intelligence detector of course! Duh!

Verbatim · June 19, 2015, 10:34:05 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 19, 2015, 10:21:40 PM

Knowledge and intelligence are different.

I'm inclined to agree. But to you, what separates knowledge from intelligence?

Sandtrap · June 19, 2015, 10:36:04 PM

Everybody has limits. And, at the same time, everybody has areas they specialize in. Intelligence itself is hard to determine overall because you can have somebody who looks dumb as a rock by all accords but then they shine in another area. And, generally, everybody has something like that.

ಠ_ಠ · June 19, 2015, 10:37:14 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on June 19, 2015, 10:34:05 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 19, 2015, 10:21:40 PM
Knowledge and intelligence are different.
I'm inclined to agree. But to you, what separates knowledge from intelligence?

Perhaps how people interpret and use their knowledge?

SecondClass · June 19, 2015, 10:39:05 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on June 19, 2015, 10:34:05 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 19, 2015, 10:21:40 PM
Knowledge and intelligence are different.
I'm inclined to agree. But to you, what separates knowledge from intelligence?

Knowledge is simply how much you know, intelligence is your capacity for knowledge and your level of critical thinking. Wisdom is something entirely different.

Verbatim · June 19, 2015, 10:41:36 PM

I'm just asking, because I don't think there's actually a universal, agreed-upon distinction.

They're virtually synonymous, if you ask me.

I would agree that wisdom is something else entirely, though. Wisdom is knowledge gained through experience--you can't gain wisdom through reading books, for example.

Zonda · June 20, 2015, 03:10:22 AM

One could argue that the best possible determination of your intellect is your happiness with your life situation, e.g. Were you smart enough to overcome any inhibitions you may have had, to make decisions that allowed you to accomplish any major goals you had in life?

Numerically, I'd say a high overall score in any aptitude testing can be used as a reasonable indicator.

SecondClass · June 20, 2015, 03:14:39 AM

Quote from: Zonda on June 20, 2015, 03:10:22 AM

One could argue that the best possible determination of your intellect is your happiness with your life situation, e.g. Were you smart enough to overcome any inhibitions you may have had, to make decisions that allowed you to accomplish any major goals you had in life?

Numerically, I'd say a high overall score in any aptitude testing can be used as a reasonable indicator.

That's more of just situational success. You can be the smartest guy in the world IQ-wise and still not be able to get over some personal fear.

I'd argue that intelligence is just how adept you are in academic and critical-thinking challenges, and that it's largely decided based on genes alone.

Verbatim · June 20, 2015, 03:16:16 AM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 19, 2015, 10:21:40 PM

Knowledge and intelligence are different. Loaf isn't going to be able to just change how smart he is for the better. For the worse, sure, just do a bunch of drugs. But there's really no easy way to increase your IQ, as Loaf wants. It's better to just accept who you are and your limitations, and work with them.

do you always edit your posts five hours after you post them

SecondClass · June 20, 2015, 03:17:10 AM

Quote from: Verbatim on June 20, 2015, 03:16:16 AM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 19, 2015, 10:21:40 PM
Knowledge and intelligence are different. Loaf isn't going to be able to just change how smart he is for the better. For the worse, sure, just do a bunch of drugs. But there's really no easy way to increase your IQ, as Loaf wants. It's better to just accept who you are and your limitations, and work with them.
do you always edit your posts five hours after you post them

Zonda bumped this. I read over some of my replies. I noticed an error. Sorry?

Verbatim · June 20, 2015, 03:18:19 AM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 20, 2015, 03:17:10 AM

Zonda bumped this. I read over some of my replies. I noticed an error. Sorry?

because it notifies everyone in the pyramid when you do that--i don't know if you realize

SecondClass · June 20, 2015, 03:19:56 AM

Quote from: Verbatim on June 20, 2015, 03:18:19 AM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 20, 2015, 03:17:10 AM
Zonda bumped this. I read over some of my replies. I noticed an error. Sorry?
because it notifies everyone in the pyramid when you do that--i don't know if you realize

I thought it only did that if you were the last post in a thread...

That's pretty dumb web design, but thanks for the info. I'll keep that in mind.

Solonoid · June 20, 2015, 03:27:56 AM

I've never really had that problem, as in the most intelligent person in my family.

My sister is also incredibly bright, but she lacks real conviction and direction, and that makes her kind of blundersome in life.

There was a time, when my younger brother said to my mother that he thought I was stupid, because I acted silly to amuse my younger siblings, and she laughed at him and said, "No, he's smarter than everyone in the car put together.

But I'm certainly no beacon of success, and being smart isn't the only thing that matters, it's what you do with it.

There are a lot of stupid people who get ahead in life because they're good at sucking dick sand following rules.

I got through high school by lying and manipulating people, taking shortcuts so that I wouldn't have to do any work.

The problem for me had always been that I'm to too smart, and it gets me in trouble.

I've been invited to join Mensa, but I still don't have a place to live right now.

My advice to you, is to capitalize on opportunities, and to never let your IQ be a factor in what you think you can accomplish, because I thought it would all be brought to me on a silver platter simply because I was smart, and I wrote off a lot of opportunities that I got were below me.

People who know they're smart are arrogant, and people who know they're dumb just give up, so you should really ignore it all and just always do the very best you can and take all the chances you get.

SecondClass · June 20, 2015, 03:31:36 AM

Quote from: Sᴏʟ Nɪxɪʟɪs on June 20, 2015, 03:27:56 AM

The problem for me had always been that I'm too smart

lol

Zonda · June 20, 2015, 03:36:03 AM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 20, 2015, 03:14:39 AM

That's more of just situational success. You can be the smartest guy in the world IQ-wise and still not be able to get over some personal fear.

I'd argue that intelligence is just how adept you are in academic and critical-thinking challenges, and that it's largely decided based on genes alone.

I think intelligence is just a very broad term for one's mental capacity, to the point where it can't be determined numerically. For instance, capacity for logic, abstract thought, understanding, self-awareness, presence of mind, communication, learning, emotional knowledge, memory, planning, creativity and problem solving are all determining factors in one's intelligence, according to Wikipedia (untrustworthy source, I know, but I'm inclined to trust that specific article).

Would overcoming a fear not demonstrate self-awareness, emotional knowledge and problem solving?

Solonoid · June 20, 2015, 03:37:31 AM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 20, 2015, 03:31:36 AM

Quote from: Sᴏʟ Nɪxɪʟɪs on June 20, 2015, 03:27:56 AM
The problem for me had always been that I'm too smart
lol

I know it sounds arrogant, but that's really what gets me in trouble.

All the slow assholes who catch up later, that I got away with taking advantage of because they were dumb, who ended up pissed when somebody else pointed out what a dumbass they were.