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from the which-is-most-likely-to-do-dumb-things dept.
How is a genius different from a really smart person - an interesting perspective from present and past members of Mensa.
The most intelligent two percent of people in the world qualify for membership in Mensa, an exclusive international society open only to people who score at or above the 98th percentile on an IQ or other standardized intelligence test. Mensa’s mission remains the same as when it was founded in Oxford, England, in 1946: To identify and nurture human intelligence for humanity’s benefit, to foster research in the nature of intelligence, and to provide social and other opportunities for its members.
Nautilus spoke with five present and former members of the society: Richard Hunter, a retired finance director at a drinks distributor; journalist Jack Williams; Bikram Rana, a director at a business consulting firm; LaRae Bakerink, a business consultant; and clinical hypnotist John Sheehan.
Together, they reflect on the meaning of genius, whether it can be measured, and what IQ has to do with it.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Ethanol-fueled on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:14PM
That's bullshit.
If "repetitive training" is all an athlete needs to be good, then every pro athlete would be a Peyton Manning or a Lionel Messi or a Michael Jordan. And every athlete has to "think on their feet" when deciding in milliseconds whether to jump or jook all of those opposing players who are coming after them from all directions. The only difference is that athletes make spectacular plays when they think on their feet. Mensa 'tards just pull spaghetti out of their pockets and stutter all over the place going on and on about things nobody gives a shit about.
That's why engineers need technicians. It's why younger officers need enlisted men. Because it doesn't matter how fucking smart you are, without experience and the ability to apply that experience to what you do, you're just yet another booksmart but useless asshole, and people like that are now a dime-a-dozen thanks to the internet age.
(Score: 2) by tibman on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:28PM
Training IS generating experience. Experience is recognizing a situation that you have already experienced. I am not arguing that "thinking on your feet" isn't a form of genius, i am arguing that it is. However, that is a very small minority of athletes. Most cannot think on their feet and rely solely on experience.
The AC above put all professional athletes in the genius category. My argument is that most professional athletes are just highly trained and are not geniuses. Just like most enlisted men are just highly trained. But if you ever run into an enlisted man who can think on his feet, you're fucked. I'm thinking of York and Murphy here.
SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:57PM
I did not put all of them in the genius category. Re-read the post then forget about it because it is not important.
Exceptional chess players also are highly experienced in repetitive situations.
This reminds me of another discussion point. If a chess supercomputer can beat someone who is considered a genius at playing the game then could it attain the same title?
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Wednesday October 22 2014, @01:51AM
I can't believe I'm answering an EF comment, especially when the subject is MENSA.
If "repetitive training" is all an athlete needs to be good, then every pro athlete would be a Peyton Manning or a Lionel Messi or a Michael Jordan.
Here's a hint, Mr. Shortbus, there's more to it than that.
And every athlete has to "think on their feet" when deciding in milliseconds whether to jump or jook all of those opposing players who are coming after them from all directions.
That's not intelligence, that's instinct and reflexes. A dog does better.
you're just yet another booksmart but useless asshole
Shine on, EF, shine on. Do you realize you're at a nerd site?
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