How do people with IQs of 140 - 200 think?

Originally posted by Gemwolf
Hmmm... Really interesting thread. As I've seen ATS turn into a "let's compare brainpans" on more than one occasion.

And it's interesting to see the similarities between all the "geniuses". Depression. Quick thinking. Relatively social - but prefer to be alone. Etc. etc. And it's also interesting to see how many "highly intelligent" people spend their time at a forum like ATS! (Should make some people think!)

I guess I fit in this box as well. I've been tested a couple of times, with the result being more or less 155. But I won't go as far as to call myself a genius, and I'll kick anyone who does. I think IQ tests are ridiculous and should be thrown out of the window. I don't see the point in them. They are biased, and it's been proven that it's "prejudice" towards certain cultures (South Africa with all its different cultures being a perfect example!)...

I hate math. Although I can do most calculations in my head, I barely passed Math in my final year of school. Science bores me to death, and I rarely read a book of "pure science" (quantum physics, etc.) past the first page.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with my social skills - although I don't do good in groups of people.

I think the only thing that might make me different than a 110 IQ guy, is the fact that I can make up my own mind. I have my own opinion – I don’t need to be spoon-fed like most of the crowd? And those people below 140 ... Forget about IQs! You're not missing out on anything. IQs mean squad!

[Have not read this whole thread...]

Dancer Said:
One of the reasons pepole with "High IQ's" isolate themselves from the rest of the world is that 50% of the existing IQ's are below 100, 75% are below 110, and 99% are Below 137."

I could not agree more. There is a book about this called "The Bell Curve", which is debated, but which says that smart college kids are pairing up and leaving the masses behind. There is an intelligence gap. Wikipedia link above says this:

Herrnstein and Murray in many ways follow in the footsteps of Harvard researcher Arthur Jensen. The authors report that estimates from psychometricians of the heritability of intelligence range from 40% to 80%. They report that there exist significant differences in measured intelligence between various ethnic groups. They argue that a better public understanding of the nature of intelligence and its social correlates is necessary to guide future policy decisions in America.

Herrnstein and Murray set out to prove that American society has become highly meritocratic: that wealth and other social outcomes are being distributed increasingly on the basis of individual talents (especially intelligence) and decreasingly on the basis of social class. Thus they argue, to the extent that intelligence is not amenable to easy environmental control, but rather is substantially heritable, genetic difference are increasingly contributing to social and economic differences among individuals. Their evidence comes from an analysis of data compiled in the National Longitudinal Study of Youth (NLSY), a study of thousands of Americans starting in the 1980s, in which all participants took the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT), a measure of cognitive ability comparable to an IQ test. Participants were subsequently evaluated for social and economic outcomes. In general, IQ/AFQT scores were a better predictor of life outcomes than social class background. Similarly, after statistically controlling for differences in IQ, many outcome differences between racial-ethnic groups disappeared. (see also Significance of group IQ differences)

Intelligence selects its own kind. I once wrote a story about a virus that killed off everybody who was > 125 in IQ. In my story, the world actually ran better without them.

I have avoided posting in these IQ threads because it is not really a good measure of actual usefulness to society. Suffice to say that the smartest guy I ever met, from a practical standpoint, had an IQ of 175. That means little to me, but he WAS actually the smartest man I'd ever (and have ever) met. This guy could come up with a solution to any problem. Not only that, but he was brilliantly able to encourage others to express their thoughts. I measured IQ differently after knowing him.

How intelligent are you, just because you can use english correctly? Knowledge of human nature is far more valuable, and that's the best way I can phrase it. It took me a long time to learn this.

Originally posted by GrendelsBacon
Emotionally - Kinda detached but always thinking of how my current demeanor is influencing others. I am generally optimistic.

Ideologically - I am what I would hope is a strong Christian. I am a deep thinker, and tend to overanalyze many things. Find the reasons for why things are, and have always had a profound interest in what people do to seek fulfillment

Socially - I have always been pretty outgoing, and generally I am able to get along with pretty much anyone. I have a quick wit, and I am sometimes sarcastic. I always like to find and point out idiosyncracies, they make life alot funnier.

I have a tested IQ of 182.

182 thats quite nice , mine is tested at 222 .

When I was six years old, I spooned grape jelly into my sister's shoes. When my mother found out, she put her hands on her hips and said to me, "Well that was smart!"

Are you sure your IQ's are 182, and 222?

I find it humerous that some people will frown upon anyone who is a christian and abides by it's precepts, and yet so many of us seem to buy into the religion of I.Q. If someone scores over 140, it does not mean they are a genius.

Firstly the I.Q. test simply recognizes your ability to find a pattern, hence many of the questions being "Find the next shape in this series", or the like. And if anyone has taken their I.Q. test on the internet, than it is flawed, because a large portion of the I.Q. test is a measure of how quickly you can recognize a pattern. Since the internet tests, specifically Tickle.com don't measure how long you spend on each problem, it give abnormally high numbers.

But more than that, I.Q. isn't a very good measure of genius. Einstien and Back were not geniuses because of their ability to recognize a pattern. That skill certainly helps, but what moves someone from the intelligent category to the genius category is the creative ability, to think of something, or create soemthing that no one has ever seen or thought of before. When i think of a genius, besides the obvious answers, I think of people like Shakespeare, Mozart, Lennon, Keats, Hendrix, Kant, Kafka, Hawking, Plato, Dante, Newton, Ghandi and others who have contributed an idea to their field, that while it may not have been entirely correct (in the case of the sciences or philosophy), it took what currently existed in their field, and added a new element to it that no one had ever thought of before.

That is the true measure of genius, not your ability to solve a rubix cube quickly.

But, at the risk of sounding offensive, it is interesting to read how many self proclaimed geniuses there are here on ATS.

My i.q. was measured to be at 145 when I was in Junior High School. I got told off by the councillor for having such a high i.q. and poor grades. My mum told me that I found the school learning environment too slow and often I would read several chapters ahead in most of my classes. I did get straight A's in subjects that I liked that didn't bore me to tears. Often it was the way the teacher presented the problem to us and math I found boring as they wouldn't let me learn trig and algebra. I can do math problems in my head and get the answer, but I have problems showing on paper how I got the result. The times I have had the right answer and got it marked wrong as I didn't show how I worked out the problem.

I've never taken an IQ test before. Maybe its time I should

I've had a keen interest in science and technology since about age 14, I've built several rockets and other contraptions which seem to work well. I am fascinated by history (I always have it in my head) and I love classical music (And anything virtuoso as i'm a guitarist

I like to be an individual (Something this 'chav' generation can't understand) and I seem to have interests far different from the rest of the people my age. However, i'm in a world of my own alot of the time. Its a place where I can escape if you know what I mean.

Originally posted by Garden Spider


Firstly the I.Q. test simply recognizes your ability to find a pattern, hence many of the questions being "Find the next shape in this series", or the like. And if anyone has taken their I.Q. test on the internet, than it is flawed, because a large portion of the I.Q. test is a measure of how quickly you can recognize a pattern. Since the internet tests, specifically Tickle.com don't measure how long you spend on each problem, it give abnormally high numbers.
on ATS.

First off IQ test are flawed as you stated. I believe one of these flawed areas is the time limit. Some people have normal intelligence, and quick thinking ability,while others have a slow thinking ability and high intelligence. Einstein once said something of such "It isn't that I am smarter than everyone else, it's just that I think longer." Basically that means he would spend more time on a given problem than avg people. He would go over and over in his mind creating the problem in many new different ways, and would make sure the answer he came up with was the correct answer. If you think genius is merely how fast you can see a pattern, then you are wrong. Some answers aren't as conspicous as others. Some researchers are now starting to see that the IQ test time limits are flawed. The reason being is that, no matter how long you spend on problem X, some people won't be able to solve it. While others who may spend 2 hours on problem X may.



[edit on 113131p://666 by LiquidationOfDiscrepancy]

Not only are the time limits BS, but the answers are not always right.

Case in point is a "The Most Difficult Math Test In the World" thing I saw in a magazine (I think it was Time) about 2 years ago. (Wish I had the Info)

There is a Colllege math dept that has a math contest once a year. And they make the questions really Nasty.

The Correct answer given was something like 2(Sq Rt) 318.75/398 (Or something simmilar) - Problem is that was the answer they were looking for, but it was not the "Complete Answer" as the answer they were looking for was in itself an equasion.

(I think the answer the guys in the Education Dept. (asked a few Inmates do it as a challenge) came up with was 2.187 - a far cry from what the professors claimed)

So, if they haven't completed the answer themselves, how can they say that an incomplete answer was correct?

Sure, it's great to get the right answer FAST, but the important thing is to get the right answer.

I Think therefore I am. at least i think so.

Hi guys. I am one of those clever people who struggle in life. My own friends are jealous of my intelligence. I pick up the signs and one of them actually admitted she is jealous. I am also intelligent enough to be really nice and witty to all humans and animals and I generally have a really happy outlook on life ( hey, it's here, let's live it to the full! ). The result is that my friends constantly try to make me look stupid by saying mean things. The result is then that I dont want to be around them anymore. I have no family and grosse acne. All of this is starting to make me anti-social and consequently depressed. To worsen everything I am in the middle of writing my matric exam ( final high school exam ). I cant focus on my work anymore and I am scared for the future. Thoughts of suicide dance around in my head day in and day out. But... when I have time... I will start to paint again, and all this crap has given me so much insight into peoples' brains and stuff and my paintings will give me a purpose in life again.

Intelligent people analyse everything ( that is, everything they want to analyse and have time to analyse ). They are also usually nice to other people because this helps to SPREAD GOOD WILL THROUGH OUT THE WORLD. I mean, have you noticed that when someone is a bitch to you that makes you want to take it out on other people? this creates a cycle of fear and evil. Truly clever people are not braggards, they are clever enough to realise that this promotes jealousy and not, as we sometimes wish, admiration. Clever people experience much more pain than other people because they see things and people for what they really are. HIGHLY intelligent people learn that being jealous of others is a waste of time and generally pathetic. To hate someone because they accidentally got something in life that you didnt is pathetic. Highly intelligent people realise that we are all the same person in different bodies. A genius is someone who recognises that having a good heart is better than a high IQ. And geniuses like Einstein or Da Vinci? They were probably people who FOCUSED THE MOST ON THAT WHICH THEY WERE GOOD AT, BUT ULTIMATELY ON THAT WHICH GAVE THEM MOST JOY. If anybody thinks I have been talking rubbish here, please feel free to respond I value the opinions of others

I've taken a few and it ranges from 142 to 150...

I had lots of problems with math, because I was more intuitive than is allowed. My nephew is worse than I am - he does complex math in his head almost without conscious thought ... scary; he's usually right, but just can't show the work...

I am great at multitasking, but I often find that my mind runs much much faster than my mouth. Often, I leave my listener waiting as I try to recall what I was thinking of when I started a sentence.

I am very, very unorganized and absent-minded. Thank God for a wife that takes care of me. I also thank the Good Lord for the PDA. I carry that thing with me constantly and EVERYTHING goes in it immediately.

Einstien and Back were not geniuses because of their ability to recognize a pattern. That skill certainly helps, but what moves someone from the intelligent category to the genius category is the creative ability

I agree with this quote totally !
There is no use of having an IQ of 200, if you don't have imagination !
It certainly helps to have a good IQ, but it is essential to have creativity and come up with ideas that no one has ever thought of before.

sometimes I think that morons are the true geniuses on this planet. they hardly ever cause big fat ingenious life-destroying schemes

[edit on 19-10-2005 by watchthestars]

Hi guys. It's me again. I think I post too much stuff, but dont worry, I'll stop. Just wondering: is there some kind of special file somewhere where all the dumbest things people have ever done is recorded in? Because I believe I could have come accross something so stupid its almost #ing unbelievable. See, one of my best friends told me I look like a monster because of all my acne. My MONSTER DICTIONARY MEANING: seldomly occurring FREAK that is usually rejected by society and consequently has a really REALY SAD AND TERRIBLE life.
She also told me that she is very jealous of my IQ in an argument. Now I want to fathom how anyone on this planet can be so incredibly stupid, no, EVIL, to want their friend to be UGLY, WITHOUT FAMILY AND NOT EVEN GETTING SO MANY A's AT SCHOOL ANY MORE whilst the evil person is pretty and has a nice Seventh Heaven family plus home. PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET ARE DRIVING ME #ING NUTS NO WONDER THERE ARE LIKE TEN ZILLION SERIAL KILLERS OUT THERE

If someone with lots of creativity can direct a bunch of brainiacs to pursue their imaginative goals, I think they would benefit greatly from the talents of such genii. Of course, Einstein himself said imagination is more important than knowledge.
‘Only two things are infinite; the universe, and human stupidity, and I am not sure about the former.’ Albert Einstein
'Imagination is more important than knowledge.' Albert Einstein
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction." Albert Einstein
‘My sense of God is my sense of wonder at the universe.’ Albert Einstein
‘God does not play dice with the universe.’ Albert Einstein
‘Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.’ Albert Einstein
"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind". Albert Einstein

Originally posted by watchthestars
See, one of my best friends told me I look like a monster because of all my acne. My MONSTER DICTIONARY MEANING: seldomly occurring FREAK that is usually rejected by society and consequently has a really REALY SAD AND TERRIBLE life.

The Acne will clear up (although it will seem like it took forever) but thats
on the surface. - The emotional scars you allow to happen, resulting in low self esteem, and low self value won't disapear quite so fast. So you better do something about that NOW before the damage becomes worse.

Sounds a lot like someone trying to pull themselves up by pulling you down as well as Mental abuse of sorts put forth by a petty little mind.
(Do some research on mental abuse)
And you Accept it?? That's Bull!!
You don't deserve that Cra%!!
So don't take it. - By accepting the words you give them power over you.

This is NO Friend -
(Although you don't want to hear it - I'm afraid you will find that it is quite true). Maybe since you don't know me, you'll listen to me.
(I doubt it, but it's worth a shot)

Those little insults can eat away at people and make them resentful and mean as they get older. (As well as spend a fortune on shrinks).

Your "Friends" may not always agree with you (If they do, it's time to re-evaluate them) but they won't cut you up either. Part of friendship is to stand and defend, and it sounds like that's not the case here. You might do yourself a favor and 86 that one.

(Didn't say it was gonna be easy... but for your own well being - it is necessary)

You don't have to explain anything to anybody about why you did it.
You are the one who has to live with the repercussions if you don't.

Part of the frustration you exhibit is one of the reasons that smarter people become isolationists, and the smarter one is - the fewer people they can comunicate with on a worthy level...

On the plus side, those that you find worth talking to will take you to levels well beyond common understanding and open doors shut to most of the world - why? Because you are smart enough to comprehend their concepts, and ideas.

As for the Dummy stuff, Google "The Darwin Awards"

Well, I've done numerous online tests with results going from 120 to 180, so without a real test I have no idea. I've never been one to wonder about IQ's, it just doesn't interest me. I know wether someone is worth listening to or not without knowing their IQ.

Even Liam Gallagher has a very high tested IQ (Around 160 I think), and I'm sure a lot of people here wouldn't take his advice on anything.

As for the summarys everyones done on their own personalitys....they were cool, interesting reading and I see a lot of points in different posts I can apply to my own personality, but I have a hard enough time working myself out, never mind putting it all down in neatly packaged words. If I could do that, I think I'd solve half my problems