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Most people are idiots. Consider that half of the population (hypothetically) has less than a 100 IQ score. Idiots did different things together 100 years ago a

by aje403 9y ago

Most people are idiots. Consider that half of the population (hypothetically) has less than a 100 IQ score. Idiots did different things together 100 years ago and, 1000 years before that, groups of idiots would get together to raid and rape and pillage. They still do that in other places in the world. Now they come onto the internet to send hateful things and porn to one another. Most of the biggest idiots do not go on reddit. When the idiots on reddit act up, management cleans it up a little bit. Is there an issue that needs to be fixed here? I think anyone even claiming to have a solution may belong to the former group

rexpop 9y ago
The human brain is a fantastic computer. Most people are geniuses, constantly crunching stochastic phenomenal trajectories, and navigating ever-changing real and virtual terrains. The problem isn't how smart we are, but on what we focus.
- aje403 9y ago
  Great point. Then perhaps we should aspire to be like gorillas, instead. Instantaneous, implicit martingales and brownian motion calculation in their minds subconsciously, exactly like us, except, they don't shitpost on the reddit.
wufufufu 9y ago
"Since the early 20th century, raw scores on IQ tests have increased in most parts of the world. When a new version of an IQ test is normed, the standard scoring is set so performance at the population median results in a score of IQ 100. The phenomenon of rising raw score performance means if test-takers are scored by a constant standard scoring rule, IQ test scores have been rising at an average rate of around three IQ points per decade." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence_quotient https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence_quotient You assume too much about half of the human population.
- aje403 9y ago
  I suspected that I shouldn't have put that into my post or should have qualified it with a statement regarding how completely useless of a metric it is. My general point was that probably around half of the planet is humping a tree as we type at our computer and pontificate about the human potential and dignity, regardless of a useless score that slightly correlates with things.
  - lopmotr 9y ago
    IQ isn't useless. It does correlate with violence (rape and pillage?) and of course it's a powerful predictor of academic performance, future income, and even life expectancy.
    - aje403 9y ago
      As soon as it gets mentioned to make a point, it incites a completely orthogonal discussion about what it means, its validity, socioeconomic bias, racial bias, etc
tim333 9y ago
Historically, "The term "idiot" was used to refer to people having an IQ below 30." So not on that definition.

by aje403 9y ago

rexpop 9y ago

The human brain is a fantastic computer. Most people are geniuses, constantly crunching stochastic phenomenal trajectories, and navigating ever-changing real and virtual terrains. The problem isn't how smart we are, but on what we focus.

aje403 9y ago
Great point. Then perhaps we should aspire to be like gorillas, instead. Instantaneous, implicit martingales and brownian motion calculation in their minds subconsciously, exactly like us, except, they don't shitpost on the reddit.

wufufufu 9y ago

"Since the early 20th century, raw scores on IQ tests have increased in most parts of the world. When a new version of an IQ test is normed, the standard scoring is set so performance at the population median results in a score of IQ 100. The phenomenon of rising raw score performance means if test-takers are scored by a constant standard scoring rule, IQ test scores have been rising at an average rate of around three IQ points per decade." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence_quotient https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence_quotient You assume too much about half of the human population.

aje403 9y ago
I suspected that I shouldn't have put that into my post or should have qualified it with a statement regarding how completely useless of a metric it is. My general point was that probably around half of the planet is humping a tree as we type at our computer and pontificate about the human potential and dignity, regardless of a useless score that slightly correlates with things.
- lopmotr 9y ago
  IQ isn't useless. It does correlate with violence (rape and pillage?) and of course it's a powerful predictor of academic performance, future income, and even life expectancy.
  - aje403 9y ago
    As soon as it gets mentioned to make a point, it incites a completely orthogonal discussion about what it means, its validity, socioeconomic bias, racial bias, etc

tim333 9y ago

Historically, "The term "idiot" was used to refer to people having an IQ below 30." So not on that definition.