Transgender and genius

[tekla]

intelligence without wisdom doesn't seem to be very helpful.

True that, or as Frank Zappa once said:
Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty.
Beauty is not love.
Love is not music.
Music is THE BEST.

[Nigella]

intelligence without wisdom doesn't seem to be very helpful.

True that, or as Frank Zappa once said:
Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty.
Beauty is not love.
Love is not music.
Music is THE BEST.

That's why multi-intelligence is a better way of defining intelligence.

Stardust

[Northern Jane]

It has been like a million years since I have taken one of those tests but I was considered "quite bright" way back in my youth when I applied myself. The biggest problem was that my GID was getting pretty severe in my college years and it was pretty hard to care about anything. I wish I had transitioned before college - I probably would have finished if I had.... but that was 1969 and there wasn't much choice.

[Cindy Stephens]

It is interesting to see people and their personal "ideas" concerning intelligence.  It would be better if there were a scintilla of backup for those ideas.  People do not get "better" at taking an IQ test multiple times.  In fact your IQ stays fairly constant across age.  Further, Mensa is NOT an organization to improve the world.  It is a worldwide social group if disparate individuals given a platform to discuss ideas.  Some seem quick to dismiss my suggestion of joining and then forming a special interest social group.  The GAY group in Mensa performs clean-up and food handling service during part of every national gathering in order to gain exposure.  So, every Mensan who attends is exposed to gay people in a flattering light. It is much easier to demonize someone or a group that you have never met. Exposure in a good light.  Each month my Mensa Magazine has a list of literally dozens of books, novels, etc. written by Mensans and being printed that month.  I suppose that trying to influence that group to, possibly, portray us in a positive light is a stupid idea.   Sorry, if you are so closed minded that you can't see "possibility".  As for me, I don't care how bitter the fox is who didn't get the grapes, cause I'm not listening.

[MasterAsh]

People fear that which they don't understand, and among those things I would include higher intelligence and ->-bleeped-<-.

I feel flying the banner of the former as a means of promoting acceptance of the latter unnecessary at best and inefficient at worst. I'm far from unappreciative of the efforts you have described, but I know there are other ways to contribute without taking up the Mensa mantle.

[tekla]

If you have to tell people, or show them a card, then pretty much you're doing it wrong.

A few years ago now we were doing a band called Gomez.  They showed up after a band field trip to Amoeba Records (which has a small stage people perform on) with a couple of kids and said they wanted them to do 30 min to open the show and that they would personally pay them.  OK, what stars want we do.  So, rolling our eyes - oh crap, street performers - we set them up, miked up the guitars and told the kids to play.  It took about half a nano second for us to be amazed.  Not only did all the stagehands go out in the audience (something most of us hate) and watch their entire set (unheard of) but they were so F-ing great that the promoter agreed to pay them out of his pocket and not the band's cut.  (and that's like the earth spinning off it's axis and careening though the universe) 

Point is, you don't have to tell people what a fricking awesome writer you are, wouldn't reading a couple of pages prove it?  If you think you're the words greatest guitar player ever - then shut up and play your guitar.  Should not your life and your work be the best proof of how smart you are, and not some card in your wallet?

I never have to tell people I'm just about the most awesome rock stagehand ever.  I just have to tell them where I work and who I work for.  The proof is always in the doing, not in the telling.

[Cindy Stephens]

Again, my point has been completely misconstrued.  Several people who have contributed or started this thread were bitching about being so bored because they were incredibly intelligent, and bandied about some off the wall number as their purported IQ's.  I merely suggested as positive, creative outlet (among similar intelligent people) to burn off the energy.  I am not suggesting that they join, get a card and "wave it about" to demonstrate their intelligence.  Catholics get together for social groups and exchange business cards.  Here in Florida the Baptists put out yellow pages sized business directories of fellow travelers. There is nothing wrong with that.  You are just prejudiced against people of a certain intelligence.  Perhaps you are threatened.  Gee, aren't those EXACTLY the same feelings that many straight people have about gays and, as I like to refer to myself,-GENDER GIFTED.

[kyril]

I don't see anyone here expressing a prejudice against smart people.

[casorce]

Problem: occupying a bored genius
Solution A: video games
Solution B: books
Solution C: online chess
Solution D: better mousetrap
Solution E: arguing with creationists

[FairyGirl]

"bored genius" seems to me an oxymoron. Like saying I'm so smart I can't find anything in the world that interests me, but I'm too dumb to invent something to do to keep from being bored.

arguing with creationists sounds like fun lol

[Starscrash]

"bored genius" seems to me an oxymoron. Like saying I'm so smart I can't find anything in the world that interests me, but I'm too dumb to invent something to do to keep from being bored.

arguing with creationists sounds like fun lol

It's not really fair because they aren't confined by logic and reason. 

[tekla]

Solution E: arguing with creationists

I did that on a school board, it's a lot less fun that it sounds.

And smart people are rarely bored, they know how to amuse themselves, and are smart enough to take advantage of any situation.

By the way, I think that smart people are also pretty happy, how smart do you have to be to figure out how to get what you want?

[FairyGirl]

It's not really fair because they aren't confined by logic and reason.

but you can say stuff like "so how come Noah didn't get eaten by the velociraptors? HMMM?" 

[Starscrash]

but you can say stuff like "so how come Noah didn't get eaten by the velociraptors? HMMM?" 

Well clearly he didn't have velociraptors on the ark, or they'd still be around today. 

[Nigella]

Well clearly he didn't have velociraptors on the ark, or they'd still be around today.

Right, now I'm going to stick my head above the parapit. I am a creationist and also believe in adaptation but I don't believe in Darwinism. There is just as much a leap of faith in Darwinism as there is to believe in creation as a reason for life, the universe and everything, or is it just 42?

Getting off topic so this discussion would be another subject.

Stardust 

[Cindy]

When I get bored I write PTO on both sides of a piece of paper.
Keeps me occupied for hours

[casorce]

Solution E: arguing with creationists

I did that on a school board, it's a lot less fun that it sounds.

But it's an incredible time waster!

And smart people are rarely bored, they know how to amuse themselves, and are smart enough to take advantage of any situation.

Smarts and IQ are two different things. I know some geniuses who are unhappy, boring douchebags.
Post Merge: April 07, 2010, 03:51:26 AM

Right, now I'm going to stick my head above the parapit. I am a creationist

How old do you think the earth is?

[Nigella]

How old do you think the earth is?

That question could be open to debate, the Bible if taken chronologically with an understanding of the first two chapters of creation as a start then its only 6,000 years old approx, I have also seen carbon dating as an accurate way of dating rocks which would give millions of years, I have also read of a scientist who using the above method came up with only a 100,000 year date. Theory changes over time given the observation of science.

Taking the Biblical exegesis of the first two chapters of Genesis and the understanding of critical analysis of the text in the original tongue then it is not a scientific account of the creation by God. The original is a poetic account and as such can not be used scientifically. It would be like using Shakespeare to understand the culture of that time. Historically it would be inaccurate at best.

So I have postured to others (not here) that if light has slowed down (as, as been suggested by some scientists and is not a constant as previously thought) then the age of the universe is not as it seems and turns out to be younger.

I am not going to get into a debate about the in's and out's of scientific discovery about the age of the universe simply because science can not concretely and undisputedly know. It just uses observation, understanding of current thinking and postulates the theory. As such then it also is a leap of faith.     

It could well turn out to be 42 after all, lol.

Sorry its off topic but just answering the question

Stardust

[casorce]

Sorry its off topic but just answering the question

Actually, you didn't.
Answer the question, that is.
You equivocated instead.

[Nigella]

Actually, you didn't.
Answer the question, that is.
You equivocated instead.

I can't answer the question because I was not there. Scientists only use observation and theory. The observations are from our perspective today so its a question that can not be answered by any one. Now if you asked me to hazard a guess then I would say around the 100,000 year mark as I was convinced by certain criteria given in the book I read and evaluation of scientific data relating to the age of the universe and the observed slowing down of light speed. I was not trying to be evasive.

Is that equivocated enough for you.

Stardust