• CerebralHawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    11 hours ago

    I suspect my brother is smarter than I am.

    I tested very highly. I can’t remember what the number was. Triple digits at least. It impressed people. I was placed in advanced classes and did very well in school, but I also got bullied and didn’t get girls.

    My brother tested very low. People told him he was smarter than that. He said, “prove it.” He attended normal classes, had more friends, and had plenty of girlfriends.

    Neither of us attended university. We both work for a living and do alright.

    I think he threw his test. So who’s smarter?

    Also to be clear: I don’t put much stock in the test itself. We were tested in elementary school. It’s been almost 40 years, so I don’t remember much. Not all students were tested. We were tested at my elementary school, but I don’t remember if it was the office or a classroom or even the library or cafeteria. We were also tested at different ages — I’m 3 years older. So I can’t even say it was a real IQ test. Some kind of aptitude or placement test though. But after, they all said I was some kind of genius. But I never felt like they proved I was any smarter than anyone, just singled out to excel, and for what?

      • CerebralHawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        10 hours ago

        My point is, even if I was in the top 1%, it’s not like I’m working at NASA or anything. I’m just a regular guy. So I don’t think the test was worth shit. If it was even an IQ test, official or otherwise.

      • 🌞 Alexander Daychilde 🌞@lemmy.world
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        8 hours ago

        I wanted to post this so I’ll reply to you to do it. hehe: Triple digits includes “100” which is strictly average, so it can absolutely just mean average. :) Which doesn’t go against your point, like I said, I just wanted to throw that into the mix and you were the convenient target :)

    • MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip
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      10 hours ago

      IQ is barely good enough for a (skewed) rough estimate and only usable up to ±50% deviation. Exactly like BMI.