Mind Trick

IQ worship. It's a tempting vanity. There is a commensurate delusion that IQ automatically brings enlightenment. People cater to it, thus creating a falsehood that hurts the fabric of academia and society.

There is more to what is called 'IQ' than meets the eye. Many factors should be taken into consideration when dealing with or ascribing this moniker to anyone.

My main academic preparation was in Clinical Psychology. Among the many areas covered was a time when I studied IQ (actually 'intelligence measurement').

Modern scores are 'deviance IQ' while older method/age specific are referred to as 'ratio IQ'. They yield similar scores but the ratio yields far higher scores for intellectually gifted. Deviaton scores don't reach that high as there is a 'ceiling effect' that stops scoring at a certain point.

I could elucidate, draw out, define more even, but it would take a dissertation or at least a term paper to explain. Wikipedia has a pretty good page for IQ. Check it out to verify what I'm saying.

BTW, the use of long words is de rigueur in academia. Not that we aren't smart enough to understand em, but some people 'q' themselves along with IQ worship, how many 'big words' they can throw out. Academic snobbery indeed -s-.

I love words and use and intend to use language to my benefit and moreso, to the Restoration of the Republic.

Remember, different tests are scaled differently. Therefore, raw scores should not be compared, only percentiles.

All life is education. This is something we emphasized with our kids. To rely on just an IQ score is fallacious and I'd say useless. There are so many factors that it is useless to measure it at least beyond a point.

We deliberately have NOT measured our kids. They give indications that they are quite gifted (A term that is sometimes overused as much as IQ.). We simply have taught them to strive for what
they think is necessary and to meet certain criteria for post home school (with great success).

To rely soley on some score is to hide behind a number. As we tell the kids, "Use what you've got'.

Variables such as environment, mental and physical health, soccialization (in the sense of mixing with others), are several reasons to look with a jaundiced eye if someone says they have a 'high IQ'.

So? I always say. What do you do with it?

Mensa, a group worldwide that promotes activities with folks having high IQs can be a mixed bag.

I've met Mensans who are well rounded committed folks with great senses of humor. I have also met Mensans who are double distilled a**holes.

Some have complained that many members are more interested in playing games than solving the world's problems. That sounds a lot like the general milieu concerning our Republic and how many people feel about it.

Imagine a gifted person who is quite sociopathic. I've met and seen several in politics. The dark side of smart eh?

There is a family member on my wife's side who is brilliant. He was an abusive alcoholic and pi**ed away his gifts.

Another is considered quite bright with 160+ IQ. He exhibits indolent behavior and social malfunction. He hides behind that score like a shield against the world. Not productive to say the least.

I say use what you have as we taught the kids. Be as healthy and happy as possible. Get a common sense view of the world and particularly of the perils facing this Constitutional Republic.

If you have 'problems', get help to solve them yourself. Don't wallow in the liberal 'woe is me' excuse.

Don't let 'smart' be a stumbling block. Help it to be a tool to be all you can be.

The Founders were quite intelligent men. No IQ scores to prove it. Just their deeds and their words.

So let it be with us.



Sidenote: Psychology is supposed to be a tool to help heal and and understand ourselves. It has often become the tool of the liberals to enslave society.

I intend to go back and finish my undergrad creds and pursue my doctorate in Clinical Psych along with my acting and writing. I may even preach again -s-.

I hate to leave things undone!