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Works at U.S. Department of Defense Sep 14
If an IQ of 130 is so common (1 in 50), why do people treat it as super special?
Because 98% of the population has a lower IQ. A lot of people will say that these people are able to act as a bridge between true genius and the average person because truly intelligent people can’t communicate with average people. But I will tell you, coming from an IQ of 172, that it’s not a communication problem. It’s a frustration problem. Believe it or not, we have difficulty understanding why you don’t understand things that seem simple to us.
In addition, IQ tests can be deceptive. For example, a person with an idedic memory remembers almost everything. They may seem incredibly intelligent but do they comprehend what they see? Or is it just a parlor trick. The better tests, though not flawless, are those that test your ability to solve a problem as fast as you can. The faster you solve the problem, supposedly the smarter you are.
People with high IQ’s can typically learn anything quickly and be good at any field they apply themselves to. For example, i have 7 degrees including computer and math science, psychology, aerospace engineering, astrophysics, astronomy, and mechanical engineering. I also went to law school and passed the bar just because I had to go through a divorce and custody court. However, I wouldn’t use a field to define someone as intelligent. You could be a rocket scientist or physicist with an IQ barely above average. You just need to persistently take the classes until you pass them all. I once met a physicist with their doctorate that had an IQ of 107.
It’s also not a marker of success. High IQ people read everything. Learn everything. Everything moves too slowly. Everyone does things too slowly. So you get bored. Distracted. It’s hard to stay focused. I’ve met true geniuses that don’t comprehend basic common sense.
I would argue that truly intelligent people not only have rapid comprehension and problem solving skills but are also more aware of their surroundings. They tend to have high EQ as well. They can more easily put themselves in someone else’s shoes and understand how they might feel and why they think and feel the way they do. They’re not just aware of themselves and what they want at that moment.
The mean IQ is 98. That means that half the population is at, and mostly, below that. Chimps have IQ’s from about 70-90. That means that half the population has the intelligence of a chimp or is barely above. Not to sound superior but these people vote and likely have no idea of what they’re voting for. That’s why free money giveaways that never actually happen get so many votes and so many people fall for it.
The biggest takeaway is that it’s isolating and difficult living in a world where you can never truly communicate with someone on your level. The phrase “ignorance is bliss” is something we can never obtain. So feel lucky if you’re not high IQ. Your mind isn’t racing everyday thinking through multiple problems that you can easily provide solutions to but will never have the opportunity to use. Nobody becomes glassy eyed while having a conversation with you.
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canisgallicus 