<p>Benefits: less stupidity, faster pace of science advances
Losses: You’re no longer as smart or special as you used to be relative to the norm.</p>
<p>What are you thoughts?</p>
<p>Personally, I think I’d prefer that. It’s fine being average in a society of already-smarter and intellectual people. ;)</p>
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<p>idk if that would be true, as the people making advances are far from the average</p>
<p>Increase in average usually brings about an increase in the number of people with intelligence > certain level needed for scientific advances</p>
<p>(it’s usually expressed as IQ > 130 - although I doubt IQ is the best indicator of intelligence)</p>
<p>I’d prefer the increase. One can always study harder.</p>
<p>I’d definitely prefer the increase. I don’t really think it would change much noticeably. after all think about the really low end of the intelligence scale. just raising all of them a bit would make a huge difference to the average.</p>
<p>A smarter society would certainly lower my blood pressure.</p>
<p>The average IQ raises generation to generation…It’s called the Flynn effect and that’s why IQ tests need to be readjusted every once and a while. But after they readjust it is the same scale as it is now…you really can’t use IQ tests for this.</p>
<p>Too much stress already. Often ignorance truly is bliss.</p>
<p>The human average doesn’t matter. What matters (mostly) is the average intelligence of people you come in contact with.</p>
<p>In many cases, this is why people apply to Ivy League schools.</p>
<p>I would love that. I was shocked (shocked!) to find out the average IQ of America was ~99.</p>
<p>Indeed. I wish the average IQ was 130 - 140. Society as a whole would be much more productive.</p>
<p>i think a smarer society would do the world alot of good.</p>
<p>But if average intelligence increased, we wouldn’t be able to make fun of the people on Judge Judy and reality shows.</p>
<p>I remember when I was about ten, there was some reality special where you (the viewer) took an IQ test along with the contestants. The contestants were grouped differently, and the group’s averages would be compared to see which group was the “smartest.” The groups were… surgeons, college professors, lawyers, garbage-men, stay-at-home wives, high school students… etc. I was shocked to find out that, as a ten-year-old, I was “smarter” than the college professors, surgeons, doctors, and lawyers. Obviously, as this IQ test was given on TV, IQ tests are not really accurate gauges of intelligence, and it was unknown what actual credentials these people had, my results probably aren’t that accurate… but this thread made me think of that show.</p>
<p>PS- does anyone else remember it?</p>
<p>Yeah I remember when that was on ABC on a Friday night or something. If I remember correctly, the college professors just beat out the high school students by one IQ point, and garbage men had the lowest IQ. I don’t think I played along, I just watched the show. It was funny to see how they made sure to have the stereotypes of all the groups, like they had all the blonds wear skimpy clothes.</p>
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<p>I really hope you’re being sarcastic…or you really don’t know what an IQ is…Because I’m about to lose my composure :D</p>
<p>still need someone to take out the trash and give burgers out when hungry</p>
<p>I agree with the person who said the thing about Ivy League schools and their basic equivalents.
Sorry. I’m too lazy to go back a page. My computer is being really slow right now anyway.
But I would like it if the average intelligence was higher. And neelesh, the people with the least intelligence would then get those jobs because the standards for white-collar jobs would be raised.</p>
<p>um people…
average IQ can NEVER be 130… or
why?
because the definition of IQ IS a score with mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15… so…score of 130 + will only be about 2.5% of the population no matter how smart or dumb the society is…</p>
<p>That post was weird/choppy.
I’m not sure I completely understand it.
Explain?</p>