Real Intelligence
November 1st 2011 18:20
We've all grown up with the "I.Q."
as if an absolute measure of intelligence is if we can figure out; "If John is twice as old as Bob but 1/3rd as old as Nancy, how old is Frank?" we are elevated above mere mortals.
In those ancient days just after WWII when the C O L D W A R controlled every aspect of our lives, one's I.Q. was vital for streaming into Bright, Second Bright, Average, Low Average and Dunce class.
But I.Q. means nothing when you're not trying to get into some prestigious club or educational facility.
The other day this brilliant 5 year old, the one who can spell and do math blah blah was behaving as he usually does at a furniture store. He usually behaves as if he needs a leash.
He went running off and fell down, and one of the shoppers was heard to say; "Parents of retarded children should take better care of them."
Now this boy has an I.Q. of 150, which is 50 points higher than average. However, his emotional intelligence is that of a two year old.
Hence the shopper was correct; the boy is severely retarded when it comes to functioning in the real world.
Whether he can do the "AA is to BB as CC is to --" problem or not, it means nothing. The three year old who knows how to behave is public is far more advanced than he is. That three year old who might have a perfectly average I.Q. and will be reading at 4th grade level when she graduates 4th grade has a vastly higher Emotional I.Q. than the one whose parents can't stop bragging.
The kid who knows how to get from here to there, knows how to 'read' people, knows what to say and when to keep silent is far more brilliant than the kid whose I.Q. can be measured with meaningless questions which have no reference to reality.
The image of the 'absent minded professor'
or the 'educated idiot' is not unfair. Many persons who score very high on tests and gain positions in intellectual establishments are social morons. They haven't a clue what is going on in front of them, can't hear and define what they are being told, and spent their lives making the kind of stupid error that the average 12 year old wouldn't make.
Despite reality, despite the constant proofs that the measure of intelligence is not answering set questions on some concocted exam, but functioning in the real world.
as if an absolute measure of intelligence is if we can figure out; "If John is twice as old as Bob but 1/3rd as old as Nancy, how old is Frank?" we are elevated above mere mortals.
In those ancient days just after WWII when the C O L D W A R controlled every aspect of our lives, one's I.Q. was vital for streaming into Bright, Second Bright, Average, Low Average and Dunce class.
But I.Q. means nothing when you're not trying to get into some prestigious club or educational facility.
The other day this brilliant 5 year old, the one who can spell and do math blah blah was behaving as he usually does at a furniture store. He usually behaves as if he needs a leash.
He went running off and fell down, and one of the shoppers was heard to say; "Parents of retarded children should take better care of them."
Now this boy has an I.Q. of 150, which is 50 points higher than average. However, his emotional intelligence is that of a two year old.
Hence the shopper was correct; the boy is severely retarded when it comes to functioning in the real world.
Whether he can do the "AA is to BB as CC is to --" problem or not, it means nothing. The three year old who knows how to behave is public is far more advanced than he is. That three year old who might have a perfectly average I.Q. and will be reading at 4th grade level when she graduates 4th grade has a vastly higher Emotional I.Q. than the one whose parents can't stop bragging.
The kid who knows how to get from here to there, knows how to 'read' people, knows what to say and when to keep silent is far more brilliant than the kid whose I.Q. can be measured with meaningless questions which have no reference to reality.
The image of the 'absent minded professor'
or the 'educated idiot' is not unfair. Many persons who score very high on tests and gain positions in intellectual establishments are social morons. They haven't a clue what is going on in front of them, can't hear and define what they are being told, and spent their lives making the kind of stupid error that the average 12 year old wouldn't make.
Despite reality, despite the constant proofs that the measure of intelligence is not answering set questions on some concocted exam, but functioning in the real world.
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