Your Opinion on High-IQ Groups and IQ

[Standard User 2,127]

The closest thing I could find relating to this topic was the What's your IQ? thread a couple pages back. If I happened to miss something blatantly obvious, go ahead and lock this topic, you lovely mods you.

 

 

So today in Psychology, we watched a short video detailing a meeting of Mensa in Denver, Colorado a couple of years ago. For those who don't know, Mensa International is a "High IQ Society"; in order to enter Mensa, you must be in the top 2% (an IQ roughly equal to or above 130). Other High IQ Societies include Intertel (top 1%, IQ ~135), the Triple Nine Society (top 0.1%, IQ ~146), and the legendary Mega Society (top 0.0001%, IQ ~171). 

 

So after watching the video, the class unanimously agreed: smart people are freaks of nature. I, on the other hand, am interested in potentially joining Mensa or a similar group. My teacher even came up to me after class and suggested I do just such a thing. The class and my teacher's wildly different reactions to high IQ groups started me thinking: what do the Forums think of IQ, and what do they think of secret societies based around intelligence? (Yes, I do think of you guys an' gals first.  )

 

Anyways. First, what are your opinions on IQ in general? Second, what are your opinions on High IQ Societies?

 

 

[khaine21x3 789]

I have no idea what high iq societies are but most high iq people I met are descended from the ruling class of the past.We just form our own organization to further profit and development of the country.

Edited December 5, 2012 by khaine21x3

[Brony44 22]

My IQ is 120 or something like that, so I could not join. I, personally, probably wouldn't either. I am not a science kind of person, and I find most smart people as science type of people. I would, however, join groups of politics, since that is my kind of subject.

[MelancholicMemory 2,027]

I think IQ tests have been perverted since their creation to benefit the egos of the few. They were originally designed to help children with learning problems, but now they're being used to form secret clubs, judge people for jobs, military service, etc,, and give people a sense of entitlement. IQ tests in any form, but especially ones in the past, cannot serve as a truly accurate measure of intelligence. It is possible that such characteristics may not be able to ever be quantified accurately. However, psychologists must try, but I believe they must first improve the current system of testing intelligence significantly. I would not enter a society based on such figures. This is coming from someone who's IQ is well above the requirement for Mensa (164).

[Brony44 22]

I think IQ tests have been perverted since their creation to benefit the egos of the few. They were originally designed to help children with learning problems, but now they're being used to form secret clubs, judge people for jobs, military service, etc,, and give people a sense of entitlement. IQ tests in any form, but especially ones in the past, cannot serve as a truly accurate measure of intelligence. It is possible that such characteristics may not be able to ever be quantified accurately. However, psychologists must try, but I believe they must first improve the current system of testing intelligence significantly. I would not enter a society based on such figures. This is coming from someone who's IQ is well above the requirement for Mensa (164).

 

I would have to partially agree here. IQs mean nothing without common sense and street smarts. For example, politicians may be very smart, bu are done for if they crack a bad joke. I think it is sort of stupid to base things off of intelligence, because different people are good at different things. While one may be best at Math, another may be best at English.

[MelancholicMemory 2,027]

I would have to partially agree here. IQs mean nothing without common sense and street smarts. For example, politicians may be very smart, bu are done for if they crack a bad joke. I think it is sort of stupid to base things off of intelligence, because different people are good at different things. While one may be best at Math, another may be best at English.

Exactly, the ideology behind IQ  tests oversimplifies the complex topic of intelligence, which has a wide variety of different facets. IQ can be useful sometimes, but people put way too much confidence in it.

[Otter 1,942]

Although I try to remain modest, I find myself using my high IQ as a claim to superiority a lot. (It's 134, by the way.) Thus, I like societies like Mensa. I like the prospect of a club that only highly intelligent people can join. (And suddenly, I can feel my "cool guy" points dropping away and my "stuck-up prick" points climbing faster than the Saturn V.)

[Brony44 22]

All my best friends have higher IQs than me and most could get into Mensa. We have good times, have intelligent discussions and get along very well even though my IQ is over 10 points lower than my best friends. It is not about IQ, it is about logic, street smarts and overall willingness to accept viewpoints that make you intelligent.

[Starswirl the Trixie 975]

I've never taken a formal IQ test, but I suspect that mine is probably somewhere between 136 and 144, so I'm eligible for MENSA and probably for Intertel.

 

Honestly though, once you get above 140-150 there's scarcely much of a benefit at all.  Sure, a person with an IQ of 180's brain may work a little quicker, they may be able to read very quickly, and their computational abilities will be incredible, but after a certain point IQ doesn't significantly impact being "smart".  Sort of how, unless you need supercomputer strength equipment, there's no real difference between a computer with 800 Gbs of hard drive data and one with 2 Tb.

 

IQ is an Ok test of raw verbal/quantitative intelligence.  But, as has been pointed out, high "IQ intelligence" is really only useful as a sort of tool to help you with more applied things.  No job asks you for an IQ test.

 

If you're curious about the mechanics of what the scores mean and "What's a good score?", see my post from another thread: http://mlpforums.com/topic/28075-whats-your-iq/?p=667606

[TheEngineer 188]

There is nothing wrong with IQ societies or the like, I just personally wouldn't join one even if I could (I'm not certain I would fit the criteria anyhow). I try, in general, to avoid joining too many groups because I know that our social groups can divide us away from the rest of society and make us believe, falsely, that the group we are a member of is somehow superior to the rest of society. 

 

In addition, it is important to remember that what is true about the universe has nothing to do with who says it. Intelligent minds are equally as capable of error as any. We, therefore, have to be cautious not to restrict either or social interactions with others nor give one group too much authority in our lives. When it comes down to it, the only group I'm loyal to (after my commitment to humanity as a whole) is comprised of the people who have treated me with kindness and compassion; everything else is secondary. 

 

[Dusty Soul 2,614]

I have a pretty high IQ.  Though I find when people just act smart all the time or use their smart as a superiority to someone, it gets annoying.  I don't like high IQ groups as in reality ones IQ doesn't matter at all.  

[Commander Urdnot 2,680]

I took an IQ test when I was little, but my father refuses to tell me the score I got, he says I'm better off not knowing. Knowing me, I probably just guessed on half the questions because I couldn't sit still long enough to answer them.

Edited December 6, 2012 by Urdnot Pinkie Pie

[01000111 01101111 01 18]

Ah yes, this thread will be fun.

 

This reminds me of the kid in my Geometry class who (supposedly) has an IQ of 216. I didn't say anything to him, but I started to feel bad for my fellow students when they believed him without an explanation, or at least asked him which test he took. This same kid is also very condenscending towards everyone in class because he happens to be just a smidge above everyone. He's a junior as far I know, but my point is this; more often than not, I come across kids like the unnamed 216 guy who boast about their IQs so that they can establish their supposed superiority over everyone else. I realize that not everyone with a high IQ would be insufferable pr**ks, but in my experience, this was usually the case.

 

Now, in a slightly hypocritial way, I'll state my supposed IQ that was given to me by WAIS: 134. That's small time in the world of intellectuals, and I realize that. I usually refrain from stating said IQ, because doing so starts arguments (usually), or people will treat you differently because of it, whether it be positive or negative. Now I see the 216 guy negatively (before I was just indifferent), because he uses his IQ as some kind of status symbol and "proof" of why he's so much better than everyone else at writing proofs and determining whether or not a triangle is isosceles or scalene.

 

/rant

 

Anyway, on a more positive note, I think high-IQ groups are fine. If people want to join a group like that, then cheers to them. They'll find like minded-people and won't feel as alienated, I'm sure. I personally wouldn't want to join one, but if other people want to, go right ahead and kudos to you for the courage.

[khaine21x3 789]

Anyway, on a more positive note, I think high-IQ groups are fine. If people want to join a group like that, then cheers to them. They'll find like minded-people and won't feel as alienated, I'm sure. I personally wouldn't want to join one, but if other people want to, go right ahead and kudos to you for the courage.

 

I personally wouldn't be interested unless they want to take over countries or set up monopolies coz a social club for the best and brightest of the world would be useless if we're not planning something.

[AegisReflector 887]

I think the IQ test is a joke and nobody should be tested on intelligence just on one test. While someone may not exceed in areas like math or science, they can excel greatly in music, acting, sculpting, etc.

 

They don't need a number to label them as a smart person. If you find a career that you purely love and are exceptionally good at, I consider that the basis of real intelligence.

[01000111 01101111 01 18]

I personally wouldn't be interested unless they want to take over countries or set up monopolies coz a social club for the best and brightest of the world would be useless if we're not planning something.

 

Which is one of the reasons why I wouldn't want to join Mensa for example. Also, they don't seem to have a sense of humor. I watched the Eric Andre show where the host wore a knight suit and went to one of their conventions to interview them. He was joking around and it was hilarious, and it was kind of sad to see them shoving him away, (I wish I could find the video, it's hard to describe). If I was at one of the conventions and saw some guy doing that, I would've been laughing way too hard, but I guess that just goes to show what kind of person I am.

[Jammo 986]

Don't have a concrete number, but I've been told by the BC children's hospital that I had an above average IQ. (That was subject to change though I was just a little kid). People talking about their IQs always irked me. I don't like applying a number to someone's mind because it's too tangible and often abused as a way to say "My number is bigger. You have such a feeble brain." It doesn't take into account things like common sense and gives people gifted with high IQs a false sense of entitlement.

 

 

This isn't an attack on people with high IQs, more a rant on people who where a number like a badge of honor to the point of forgetting how many components make a human mind, not just intelligence. So even if I could apply for a high IQ club I wouldn't want to. I'm a very state beer and pork rinds type of nerd. I like simple dumb joys, and take things for what they are, and not look at things if they were numbers.

Edited December 6, 2012 by Jammo

[Starswirl the Trixie 975]

Ah yes, this thread will be fun.

 

This reminds me of the kid in my Geometry class who (supposedly) has an IQ of 216. I didn't say anything to him, but I started to feel bad for my fellow students when they believed him without an explanation, or at least asked him which test he took. This same kid is also very condenscending towards everyone in class because he happens to be just a smidge above everyone. He's a junior as far I know, but my point is this; more often than not, I come across kids like the unnamed 216 guy who boast about their IQs so that they can establish their supposed superiority over everyone else. I realize that not everyone with a high IQ would be insufferable pr**ks, but in my experience, this was usually the case.

 

Ugghh, sounds annoying.  From my experience most people who say that actually believe it (although they also tend to be the very arrogant type, even more so than my beloved Trixie).  I once was talking with two people and the topic of IQ came up.  Both of them claimed that they had IQs of over 160.  I explained to them the statistical absurdity of that claim: Statistically speaking, there are probably 2 people with IQs of 165ish per every 100,000 people.  I told them that either they're wrong or I'm speaking with the only two over 160 IQ people in the city, to which they both said, in effect, "Cool, we're the only people in the city!"

 

Yeah.

[01000111 01101111 01 18]

Ugghh, sounds annoying.  From my experience most people who say that actually believe it (although they also tend to be the very arrogant type, even more so than my beloved Trixie).  I once was talking with two people and the topic of IQ came up.  Both of them claimed that they had IQs of over 160.  I explained to them the statistical absurdity of that claim: Statistically speaking, there are probably 2 people with IQs of 165ish per every 100,000 people.  I told them that either they're wrong or I'm speaking with the only two over 160 IQ people in the city, to which they both said, in effect, "Cool, we're the only people in the city!"

 

Yeah.

 

Wow, that is arrogant. And I thought Mr. 216 was bad, sheesh.

 

Given my county's size, that kid would be the only person with an IQ over 150, let alone over 200!

[Two-of-Hearts 168]

My IQ is 131. And yeah I have a college degree, but I work at a fast food resteraunt and I'm not even a manager. This is because I'm anti-social and not very good with people. So what do I think about IQ? ...its nice and all but kinda fubar. 

[Mephala 2,635]

I was actually curious as to if you were a member or not, but I forgot to ask.

Mensa (here, at least) is not something where people sit around and talk about how smart they are. It's a place for intellectuals to gather and talk about their like-minded interests. Since many "nerds" are shunned by their age group (I wouldn't say peers since they aren't really on the peer-level intellectually-wise) it opens a spot for people to talk about things that maybe others wouldn't understand.

Having a high IQ doesn't always mean a lot, but even so, being the academic and musically driven person that I am, I'd like to meet people that are similar to me and like to debate on topics, etc. My school doesn't have the most gifted of kids, considering half of them smoke weed and drink, and it's hard to talk about the discovery of analytical psychology and whatnot with them.

I'm sorry if I sound like a total stuck-up prick there....it's certainly not my intent.

It's a great initiative-I might be able to join so I may try.

Edited December 8, 2012 by PinkieDaShy

[Skystrider 11]

i think it is a load of BS. i have taken IQ tests(official medical ones, not facebook ones lol) and gotten scores of 174 or higher. but i am NOT smart, i cant pass physics for jack and am just not the best student. also my Anthropology teacher in high school told us that IQ tests are simply a way to see who is most adjusted to western society...i guess i am great in that regard xD i think "intelligence" is misunderstood. everyone will succeed in different fields based on what they LIKE and what they are INTERESTED in. just because someone is, say, an engineering major doesnt make them ANY smarter than someone who is, say, an art major.