Comments on: Just how smart do you think you are?

By: DanS

DanS — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 15:25:30 +0000

Would belong on the Flame page.

By: DanS

DanS — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 15:20:43 +0000

Top 50%, +/- 50%.

By: RL

RL — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 01:54:34 +0000

Those in the upper percentiles know they are more intelligent than average, but they understand that they don't know everything. The idiots, however, THINK they are smarter than everyone in the room, and believe that if they don't know something then it isn't worth knowing. Both groups will answer your question the same way, but the idiots will have the most unshakable confidence in their answer. Take FrankC for example- more than a few times he has blustered about how he is FAR more intelligent that the person he was arguing with on here- highly unlikely given that he has- at best- average intelligence (I am in a charitable mood tonight). In reality he is just an ignorant, bigoted, old, Alabama white supremacist- trash like that are a dime a dozen. Yet he will proclaim his superior intelligence (and genetics) louder than any actual genius ever would. (Remind you of any presidents?) Higher intelligence brings with it doubt and second guessing- the idiots have no such troubles. They will always have the advantage of complete unshakable confidence. 65% of Americans believe they are above average in intelligence: Results of two nationally representative surveys Dunning-Kruger effect (let me know if link doesn't work for you)

By: Vitruvius

Vitruvius — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 22:45:43 +0000

But I can tell you the results would predictably be the same, for either question – how smart a person thinks they are, or how smart Zoners find each other.

By: hank

hank — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 22:07:25 +0000

I’m trying to find out how smart people THINK they are, not how smart they ACTUALLY are. Not only is it more legitimate, it tells you more about the person. And to a certain extent, it is more verifiable.

And if you had carefully read my original post, with all its included and implied caveats, you might have noticed how I actually anticipated and answered your objections.

By: hank

hank — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 17:26:07 +0000

And the flames burn just bright enough to keep them away.

By: Vitruvius

Vitruvius — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 10:06:52 +0000

The moment we throw out collectible and verifiable data, and data sources, it all becomes social science at that point. Few people are going to concede the fact they might not be as smart as they think they are, especially in public. The Ego Ideal is a thing, after all, and noone wants to lose grasp of it. Honestly, a better question would have been to ask the Zone how smart they think the others here are, and that'd quickly deevolve into either a circle-jerk or a flame war. The past five years of the Zone have proven which road we'd go down.

By: podrock

podrock — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 03:49:52 +0000

So, a tie.

(Have you seen the movie? This scene was after her not being respected for her intelligence for the entire movie. It was honest as hell.)

By: RL

RL — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 02:41:54 +0000

Then you should find other rooms.

If you avoid those that are smarter than yourself, then you will learn very little of value.

By: podrock

podrock — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 16:14:12 +0000

Broadcast News, 1987: