How smart do you think you are?

Napper Hawkins · 12-07-2013 03:49PM

3

im a geanious

Akrasia · 12-07-2013 03:51PM

Candie wrote: »

I *love* Dan Dennett.

It's a great question and one that can't be definitively answered as it's likely to be much more nuanced than one or the other.

I think the reality is likely that intelligence evolves from a symbiotic relationship between action and thought, as in many ways the mind is like a muscle, the more it's used the more effective and 'stronger' it is.

I agree

And it's not even about having to use the brain to get more intelligent, like we need to do exercises to build up muscle strength. It's like our brain is a computer and every time a new technology is invented that makes communication easier or introduces a new way of thinking, we get an upgrade to our brain, like a new graphics card that allows our brain to imagine things in a higher resolution than ever before but without necessarily having to think any harder.

The science fiction writers have been predicting human augmentation since the 40s, but we're already doing that in a more real sense. The keyboard I'm typing on is an augmentation, google is an augmentation. I have changed the way I think. I don't have to remember quotes from my favourite books anymore, I just have to remember the ideas and I can always google the quotes later if I need them.
We are changing the ways we process information at an astonishing rate.

Ilik Urgee · 12-07-2013 03:51PM

9

Salmon gave themselves a ten:eek:.
John Dory obviously thinks moray of himself than I do!!
Gave myself an 8,solely on the bass I tench the whale threadfin's a bit fishy anyway.

spix · 12-07-2013 03:56PM

10 - I eat lots of smarties.

Akrasia · 12-07-2013 03:56PM

Ilik Urgee wrote: »

Salmon gave themselves a ten:eek:.
John Dory obviously thinks moray of himself than I do!!
Gave myself an 8,solely on the bass I tench the whale threadfin's a bit fishy anyway.

Many a long hour have I spent playing the fish pun game. I might borrow a few of yours for next time

Tiddlypeeps · 12-07-2013 04:04PM

9

I love how the vast majority of people think they are above average intelligence. :pac:

I don't really know were I stand. I did fairly well in school/college, I excelled in maths related things. I always sucked at anything based on literature, english in secondary school or the odd few times I needed to write essays in college and that kind of thing.

I'm pretty good at my job and I have a lot of knowledge in my field, but knowledge and intelligence aren't the same thing.

I like to think I'm a critical thinker but so does everybody. It's difficult for an individual to know if they are not thinking critically because they can point at a situation where they applied critical thinking fine, but they will never notice the situations where they didn't think critically so due to confirmation bias most people think they are critical thinkers. I've never met a person who won't accept evidence that supports their opinion much easier than they will accept evidence against it. I'm sure I do it too I just don't realise at the time.

I know for sure I'm not a 9 or 10, because I have met lots of people who are smarter than me. So I'm at best an 8 and hopefully at worst a 5.

beeroclock · 12-07-2013 04:07PM

Why is there no minus one in the poll? I feel excluded

MickFleetwood · 12-07-2013 04:08PM

7

Such a stupid thread. Under what context am I measuring my intelligence? General knowledge? Overall critical thinking skills?

I don't know where I'd rate myself. I've taken IQ tests online that ranged from 125 (bullshít) or so to 110, so in that respect I'd be about average, maybe a bit above.

Anyway, intelligence really isn't something you can measure on a scale from one-to-ten. There are many different forms of it.

The Backwards Man · 12-07-2013 04:09PM

I'm about the unsmartiest person you could meet.

12-07-2013 04:13PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'm about the unsmartiest person you could meet.

If that was true, the recognition of it would make you smarter than most people responding to the poll.

And I'm sure it's not true.:)

wretcheddomain · 12-07-2013 05:00PM

9

MickFleetwood wrote: »

Such a stupid thread. Under what context am I measuring my intelligence? General knowledge? Overall critical thinking skills?

I don't know where I'd rate myself. I've taken IQ tests online that ranged from 125 (bullshít) or so to 110, so in that respect I'd be about average, maybe a bit above.

Anyway, intelligence really isn't something you can measure on a scale from one-to-ten. There are many different forms of it.

lol

12-07-2013 05:02PM

I am so smart
s m r t

wretcheddomain · 12-07-2013 05:03PM

9

bluewolf wrote: »

I am so smart
s m r t

From the other thread, I'm still no wiser as to what gender you are? Maybe Martian hybrid?

12-07-2013 05:06PM

wretcheddomain wrote: »

From the other thread, I'm still no wiser as to what gender you are? Maybe Martian hybrid?

You can have another smart point if you figure it out!

wretcheddomain · 12-07-2013 05:08PM

9

bluewolf wrote: »

You can have another smart point if you figure it out!

Reptilian.

Staff Infection · 12-07-2013 05:37PM

I usually try to play my intelligence down, as if people think you are bright they tend to expect more from you. In my experience it has been better for me to be "the funny one" rather than "the brainy one" in my circle of friends. That way when I do come out with something intelligent it is a welcome surprise to people rather than looking like I'm trying to prove myself.

I am keenly aware from going to college with certain individuals that I am no genius but I am bright enough. I am the archetypal coaster, I never studied yet still got my degree. I'm not overly proud of that fact as I didn't get a first class honor degree coasting along but probably could have achieved it if I had put more effort in. I suppose it was a lesson in itself and I do tend to exert more effort now in general.

Legs.Eleven · 12-07-2013 05:45PM

7

I put down 6 but I'd actually like to change it to 5. I'd say I'm average intelligence in that I have a brain in my head but I excel in nothing.

tim3000 · 12-07-2013 08:14PM

9

wretcheddomain wrote: »

What's so distinct about them, what are they? :eek:

I have a degree in Biology but I would class myself as knowledgeable in Modern History, Geology, Criminology and Psychology. I wouldn't say I am an expert in any field but I would say I am better informed than the layman. I think its important to learn but more importantly its enjoyable.

tim3000 · 12-07-2013 08:34PM

9

Akrasia wrote: »

Daniel Dennett the philosopher asks an interesting question, Did we evolve intelligence and then figure out how to use tools, or do the tools we use cause us to evolve intelligence?

We have had the same brain architecture for a hundred thousand years.

It's only in the last few millenia that we started seriously using complex thinking tools like language, engineering, writing, maths, books, printing presses, radio, tv, internet etc. Once these tools are developed by our ancestors, they become available for all of to start using them and they open up new ways of using our physical brains to accomplish far more complex tasks

Thoughts and ideas are tools, just like hammers and wheels. 2 hundred years ago, if you stopped people on the street and asked them to tell you what the concept of 'percentage' meant, you'd find that most people could not answer you. The fact that almost everyone now has the concept of 'percentage' in our brain, it allows us to think about the world in a more complex and precise way, and this allows us to understand things better.
Does that mean we're more intelligent?
It probably does.

There is something called the Flynn Effect you might be interested in giving it a google

bnt · 12-07-2013 08:58PM

8

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

I love how the vast majority of people think they are above average intelligence. :pac:

That's known as the Lake Wobegon effect - after the fictional American town where "all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average". :cool:

Strange as it may seem, it does require a certain level of intelligence to create a Boards account, log in, and figure out how to post a reply. There are people out there for whom this would be "just too much", and so we don't see them here at all. I've dealt with some of them in my job - people who not only know nothing about the Internet, but lack the intelligence to follow instructions such as "enter your username and password to log on".

thecornflake · 12-07-2013 09:00PM

Akrasia wrote: »

Yeah, I'm doing a course where all the coursework consists entirely of rhetorical questions.
You fail the course by providing a direct answer and are given top marks if you just ponder them for a bit.

Politics ???

MickFleetwood · 12-07-2013 09:11PM

7

wretcheddomain wrote: »

lol

What's so funny?

Do you honestly think you can rate your own intelligence on a scale? :pac: Shows how misplaced your own self-evaluation is if you think that.

Twat.

wendell borton · 12-07-2013 09:16PM

3

Is it 1 to 10 on the Coren scale or what? If so im at least as smart as a poodle.

NuckingFacker · 12-07-2013 10:18PM

I am waay smarter than youse guys. I am at least a two. I'd say a one, but I don't want to brag.

SolarFlash · 13-07-2013 12:59AM

too smart for my own good.

CastingCouch · 13-07-2013 01:02AM

8

There's all different kinds of smartness.

I know people have done great academically and done stupid stupid things or thought some stupid things.

The Narrator · 13-07-2013 01:05AM

8

Anyone who said 10 really needs to evaluate their vote again.

That and find someone with a pump to deflate their giant heads...

TheLastMohican · 13-07-2013 03:38AM

Don't know where I stand. Did the Leaving a long time ago. Speak a few languages but learned a huge amount from the University Of Life. Am an avid reader, a crossword/sudoku head and love conversation/music. Am analytical and a good poker player.

So, by modern standards, a complete failure

13-07-2013 03:49AM

9

I'm sure this is something a lot of you can associate with.
I'm rather bright, no Einstein, but nonetheless know a thing or two. However lack any real work ethic to match my potential..

I'd say I was an 8, but the fact I don't do myself justice probably means I'm a 1

old_aussie · 13-07-2013 04:05AM

It appears that common sense is inversely proportional to the level of education achieved.

How smart do you think you are?

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