Originally posted by RICK ...
A person's intelligence, I feel, cannot be gauged accurately.
Well said Rick, you've hit the nail squarely on the head.
IQ tests are meaningless, as they depend to a large extent on patterns of learned behaviour and knowledge, rather than any inbuilt ability to reason. I've met many people that have higher IQ than me, yet when it comes to solving *real* and often complex problems they are clueless (my experience from university).
Also, its often the case that most people mistake confidence for intelligence. Those of us that are highly confident, alert, extrovert, and great conversationalists (not me) are often mistaken as being *intelligent*. Really, its the quiet ones that are always deep in thought and say little that are usually more intelligent than most give credit for.
My personal opionion is that most humans are in fact equally intelligent though they don't give themselves a chance to show it. Intelligence is more a state of mind than any real physical difference between individuals. Everyone is capable of improving the way they act, solve problems, and interpret the world around them, its just that most don't know how. That's partly down to social conditioning, as those who mix with others that are considered intelligent, will often change the way they act and think, thus becoming more intelligent themselves.
As long as someone has a brain thats physically normal then there is no reason why they should be any less intelligent than anyone else, though the things that they are good at will vary. Certain people are more suited to certain tasks, and there are many other factors that play a part, so its too difficult to pin down the true nature of intelligence.
PS: I am stupid, and proud of it
, I think.
