"superior intellect"--here's the deal

intelligence is simply a tool, rather like a screwdriver: nothing more, nothing less. To assume success or failure in any endeavor based solely upon some hypothetical score on some static exam at a single point in time is to say: "I have this screwdriver, therefore, I will be (or will not be) successful. "

The assertion is fallacious.

to be successful, one must have the wit to identify potential opportunities (intelligence)

but one must also have the balls to execute the construct once identified. (winner's spirit, guts, staying power )

This last is where the mensans fail, in my experience.

- bazi
 
Quote from traderdragon2:

There is a correlation between "tests" and intelligence, you cant deny it.

But this does not automatically translate into success.

I read one study where highly driven/determined, but dumb people tended to become financially successful because they were too stupid to realize how bad their odds of success was :p

The "smart" people gave up early and never tried because they could see how unlikely it was that their hard work would pay off given some business plan.
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Well in today's world, look across the corporate world. Most of the "successful" people are incompetent morons. Problem is, once they infect the workplace, it is impossible to get them out. They fear smart people, cause those will expose everything and even take their jobs. Just the way it goes.
In established big corporations, most of the processes have been created by the smart people back in the day. Most of it just operates due to previous work & sharp thinking. After that, the boat does not want to be rocked, even when things get redundant. Hence, easier for a dumbass to be in charge, than a smart one who will push for improvement, changes, real thinking, etc. It's all over the place nowdays. Especially when sh*t gets shady, the boss, smart or dumb, will avoid hiring anyone with intelligence. It is in his favor to hire dumb people and even promote them. I know a certain famours NYC non-profit institution which is doing this right now to cover up embezzlement by the higher ups.

On the other hand, a good example is franchises. The simpler, dumber people perform better because they just follow the program. It is designed to work. The smarter ones keep thinking they can improve it and start messing with it. It's quite similiar with simplistic businesses that require a straightforward and diligent approach, not reinventing the wheel.

There are other forces operating out there which make "success" indirectly related to intelligence. Whatever success is anyway, in this country everyone just looks at the $ figures. Even though one study after the other keeps proving that money does not bring happiness. Quite some irony there when you put it all together.
 
I read recently that IQ points correlate to annual income to the tune of $140/point. IQ alone won't do that much for a person.

I met interesting people at Mensa meetings way back in the day. The ones with education were really going places and doing things, the ones without were pretty much not. I recall several that had wine sores, one of them wrote paperback porn books to make his living. It was a real mix of people, I never expected an intelligent discussion there, it was just a party thing and it was a lot of fun as I recall.

One odd little fact, some researcher somehow found that it takes an IQ of 160, minimum, to succeed at a life of crime!! Good thing for me I gave up those ideas early on :)
 
Quote from Ansare:

Sure, here you go. A friend I've had for over 40 years was in the National Honor Society in hs, appointed to the Naval Academy and became a Mensa member about 25 years ago. Great brain.

But...he got thrown out of NHS, flunked out of the Academy, still works in a blue collar job, married and divorced 3x, and has made more unwise decisions than anyone I know. He's pushing 60, in very poor health, lives in a crappy house, has almost save no money for retirement.

Tried to help him for years and realized nothing was going to make him believe he was anything than a worthless piece of junk.

Ansare
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Quote from mtwokay:

Wow, same experience with a co-worker from years ago.

Mensa, Honor Society, etc. and lived in a trailer home on five muddy acres behind an oil refinery somewhere around Baytown, Texas.
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Ditto here, too. Knew a guy who found a flaw in Einstein's theory of relativity and fixed it. He also invented an engine that could run totally on water. You know, like that one Jethro made. But he crashed and burned and lives out of the back seat of a '73 Ford Pinto.
 
Quote from Hydroblunt:

Hence, easier for a dumbass to be in charge, than a smart one who will push for improvement, changes, real thinking, etc. It's all over the place nowdays. Especially when sh*t gets shady, the boss, smart or dumb, will avoid hiring anyone with intelligence. It is in his favor to hire dumb people and even promote them.
More...
Damn, I'm sunk.
 
Quote from Hydroblunt:

Well in today's world, look across the corporate world. Most of the "successful" people are incompetent morons. Problem is, once they infect the workplace, it is impossible to get them out. They fear smart people, cause those will expose everything and even take their jobs. Just the way it goes.
In established big corporations, most of the processes have been created by the smart people back in the day. Most of it just operates due to previous work & sharp thinking. After that, the boat does not want to be rocked, even when things get redundant. Hence, easier for a dumbass to be in charge, than a smart one who will push for improvement, changes, real thinking, etc. It's all over the place nowdays. Especially when sh*t gets shady, the boss, smart or dumb, will avoid hiring anyone with intelligence. It is in his favor to hire dumb people and even promote them. I know a certain famours NYC non-profit institution which is doing this right now to cover up embezzlement by the higher ups.

On the other hand, a good example is franchises. The simpler, dumber people perform better because they just follow the program. It is designed to work. The smarter ones keep thinking they can improve it and start messing with it. It's quite similiar with simplistic businesses that require a straightforward and diligent approach, not reinventing the wheel.

There are other forces operating out there which make "success" indirectly related to intelligence. Whatever success is anyway, in this country everyone just looks at the $ figures. Even though one study after the other keeps proving that money does not bring happiness. Quite some irony there when you put it all together.
More...

How depressing. What the heck are all the smart, successful people doing then?
 
Some of the more interesting studies I've read have found a strong inverse correlation between competence and confidence across several disciplines, e.g, mathematics, language, humor, medicine.

Bertrand Russell may have been on to something: "the trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt."
 
Quote from traderdragon2:

There is a correlation between "tests" and intelligence, you cant deny it.

But this does not automatically translate into success.

I read one study where highly driven/determined, but dumb people tended to become financially successful because they were too stupid to realize how bad their odds of success was :p

The "smart" people gave up early and never tried because they could see how unlikely it was that their hard work would pay off given some business plan.
More...

Brilliant!
 
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