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Approximately 15% of the population have an IQ less than 85. Education isn't the solution for this group. For most in this group, picking strawberries is challe

Approximately 15% of the population have an IQ less than 85. Education isn't the solution for this group. For most in this group, picking strawberries is challenging and rewarding. (For the lower 1/3 of this group, picking strawberries is too intellectually challenging as it is.) Hand-waving and saying 'job training' and 'education' isn't a solution for about 10% of the population. I don't know what the solution is. But, the number of people who are excluded from the marketplace due to tech is increasing rapidly. Not good to have 15%+ of a poulation unemployable. Leads to breakdown and instability.

AndyNemmity 9y ago
I don't believe ability is tied in 15% of the population to fundamental brain reality. It's more tied to experience. If more people are brought through the experiences, they will be able to perform the tasks. It's accumulating failures through experience, and then repeating the actions that causes skill. Not some magical IQ.
- lurquer 9y ago
  How much time have you spent amongst the lower 15%? Ever lived in a trailer park? Every lived in the projects? I doubt it. It's not a knock on you. But, it's very easy to live one's life without encountering those with sub-85 IQ. They ain't online, you know. Most wouldn't be able to figure out how to use the Hacker News interface. You know, the U.S. military won't take someone with an IQ less than 85... they're too dumb to even learn how to clean a rifle. In any case, no amount of experience or education will enable someone who lacks mental ability to function at a tech job. There are those who will never -- even with months of hands on training -- be able to grasp opening a Word DOC. What do we do with them? It's about 15% of the population.
  - AndyNemmity 9y ago
    I grew up extremely poor with gang violence, so all of my childhood until age... maybe 21? They are online by the way.

AndyNemmity 9y ago

I don't believe ability is tied in 15% of the population to fundamental brain reality. It's more tied to experience. If more people are brought through the experiences, they will be able to perform the tasks. It's accumulating failures through experience, and then repeating the actions that causes skill. Not some magical IQ.

lurquer 9y ago
How much time have you spent amongst the lower 15%? Ever lived in a trailer park? Every lived in the projects? I doubt it. It's not a knock on you. But, it's very easy to live one's life without encountering those with sub-85 IQ. They ain't online, you know. Most wouldn't be able to figure out how to use the Hacker News interface. You know, the U.S. military won't take someone with an IQ less than 85... they're too dumb to even learn how to clean a rifle. In any case, no amount of experience or education will enable someone who lacks mental ability to function at a tech job. There are those who will never -- even with months of hands on training -- be able to grasp opening a Word DOC. What do we do with them? It's about 15% of the population.
- AndyNemmity 9y ago
  I grew up extremely poor with gang violence, so all of my childhood until age... maybe 21? They are online by the way.