What defines intelligience? Stupidity?

[SUPA FRANKY]

My topic of the day!


We all know that saying that a majority of the Escapist, and other "intellectuals" are infamous for. " I have lost my faith for humanity", " Everyone is stupid but me!", and the very famous " you like that? You must be an idiot Watch/Play/Read/Listen to this!, and finally " The Escapist is the only place where a person can have an intelligent conversation".

So I must ask. What exactly defines intelligence?What does it take for a person to be considered an intelligent person? The ability to think for themselves? Watching or listening to whats "kewl" with the indie/mainstream crowd? Knowing some random facts? Or having some piece of paper?

The same for stupidity? How can a person be stupid? What makes him stupid? Because you don't like him? Because he has some disability? Because he made a stupid decision? ( Because we all know no one has ever made that before)

This is my stance. Intelligence is simply the ability to take care of yourself, without assistance. To have free will. To be able to "respond" in some way. To know you have choices. In my opinion, stupidity doesn't exist. Its just someone probably made a decision you probably don't agree with. He had a choice to do so, and chose the negative option. ( But you can still call them a dumbass)

So what about you guys?

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Those are dangerous questions you're asking Franky, [sub][sub]people are going to reference me I just know it[/sub][/sub]

 

[Mcupobob]

Just a general sense of common uh sense. coherent sentences, help too. What I think we need around here though is some humlity.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

Those are dangerous questions you're asking Franky, [sub][sub]people are going to reference me I just know it[/sub][/sub]

I know. I have a really bad feeling that I'm going to be flamed.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Those are dangerous questions you're asking Franky, [sub][sub]people are going to reference me I just know it[/sub][/sub]

I know. I have a really bad feeling that I'm going to be flamed.

But lets keep cool about it have some Cola and hope for the best!

 

[delet]

Lets go with a fancy string of thought...

Intelligence is knowledge. Knowing about many things, from proper grammar and spelling, to the latest games that come out, the latest, most important news, or how to make a cheese sammich are various factors that allow for a higher intelligence.

Intelligence doesn't automatically qualify you to be respected, though. Practicing the things you've learned - the things that, through learning, you've found to be appropriate - grants you respect. Sharing your knowledge earns you respect. Realizing and admitting when your knowledge was wrong earns you respect.

In that sense, Intelligence alone is worthless unless you also aim to earn the respect of others.

As for stupidity, I'd prefer the term 'ignorance.' Everyone is ignorant of something. If you don't know something, then you will be ignorant of it until you do learn it. Lack of knowledge in a subject simply means the opinions you present very well may be wrong. It is up to the ignorant person to attempt to overcome this ignorance and learn that which they don't know, or accept help from those that do know more. In this way, they can cease being ignorant.

If a person doesn't do that, then sure, label 'em stupid, or dumbasses, or what have you. It's a lot like the difference between 'noob' and 'newb.' A newb is just new to the game and doesn't know how to play yet. A noob has been there a while and refuses help, often considering themselves superior to those that actually know what they're doing.

 

[Kagim]

Intelligence is determined differently depending on who you talk to about it. Overall there seem to be two prevailing theories of intelligence.

Singular Intelligence: Essentially, this is the theory that intelligence is simply ones about to apply knowledge to never before encountered situations. In other words problem solving.

An example would be answering the question 3451*6186 with only the prior knowledge of 1*1 to 12*12. Even though you have never encountered the situation before you know how to solve the equation.

Its basically the application of knowledge. Not to be confused with recollection, which would be simply reciting your times tables off the top of your head.

Multiple Intelligence: The other one which is essentially EVERYTHING is a form of intelligence. This is also where the term 'street smart' seems to come from. I'm not fond of this one and find it kinda dumb, so i didn't pay attention to it for long.... Sorry?

That's pretty much the two main theories i have been taught, and clearly i agree with the former rather then the latter. Mostly because i think its stupid.

 

[littlealicewhite]

In my opinion, itelligence is the ability to understand. The unintelligent person simply goes though life acting without comprehending. The intelligent person knows the finer details, and can make choices accordingly.

Intelligence is knowing the world around you.

 

[Lust]

Intelligence?

I think everyone has some sort of intelligence. Though some would not see it that way.

Stupidity?

I don't know if people are really all that dumb. Irrational? Maybe. Stupid? No......

Then again, I'm not real smart to begin with.

 

[phoenix_tetsu]

Common sense, mayhap? (which, incidentally, is the LESS common of senses...)

 

[MikailCaboose]

It's the ability to interact with others without sounding simple or closed-minded. It's preferable that it be typed correctly as well. Mostly it's the ability of one to continue a conversation, while being able to, as others have said, connect the dots between simple knowledge and actual human scenarios.

 

[arsenicCatnip]

First, I don't think you'll be flamed, darlings. This is a relevant, and interesting topic.

Secondly: Intelligence is a quality that, sadly, a lot of people lack. Intelligent people not only have a broad knowledge of things (as well as proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling); they can discuss their opinions with people without resorting to "I'm right and you're wrong", "You don't know what you're talking about", or the dreaded "U suk, Im right and ur wrong cuz you dont liek wat I do" (spelling actually taken from something someone said in a community I used to belong to).

The Escapist is a place where people have discussions about things, instead of simply stating opinions and flaming people who don't share those opinions. We can talk about nearly anything here. And I've had some lovely discussions with people about topics that mean something to me.

 

[Blue_vision]

My definition of intelligence is being able to learn and apply that knowledge. Textbook, but it clears some unfortunate implications that other definitions bring up. Someone may be "smart" but just don't bother to use their mind. I wouldn't consider them "very intelligent." Likewise, someone may not be naturally intelligent, but if they're motivated and can think coherently, they'd be considered so.

EDIT: And to add, to be a good intelligent person, you need to know humility. Treat others well, be able to accept other's opinions, it's what makes an "intelligent" website like The Escapist a really, really good website rather than a smart but annoying one.

 

[Googooguru]

According to Garner there are 9 Areas of Intelligence , Whereby Intelligence is perceived beyond the Traditional model of Concept application and Memory Retention.

ie:
Spatial ,
Mathematical,
Naturalistic,
Inter personal,
Musical/Auditory ,
Existential,
Linguistic,
Intra personal /Emotional
Kinesthetic / Sexual

It can be argued that these headings highlight an area traditional though of as "Ability".

Is it so impossible to imaging that a NBA player has a high Spatial intelligence allowing him to accurate measure both his and the Balls place within in space, physically calculate thrust and trajectory of objects, and react to the fast paced external stimuli present within 3 dimensional space.

As for the Definition of Stupid.. i hold true to one statement. "stupid is as stupid does"

 

[Blue_vision]

According to Garner there are 9 Areas of Intelligence , Whereby Intelligence is perceived beyond the Traditional model of Concept application and Memory Retention.

I'm going to come off strong and say that I think Garner's Multiple Intelligences are a pile of bullshit.

They may be perfectly fine theories, but they're not well explored at all. The only reason they currently have to exist is to scientifically tell 5th graders that they're all as smart as one another. I'd be much more open to it if there was actually work done to compare off specific intelligences, find a way to actually quantify them, and see if the theory actually holds strong that there are actually separable intelligences which function differently (psychologically, it's hard to define just the one intelligence.) I'm not opposed to the thought, but I'd call it a theory in the very, very loosest sense. More like an idea.

 

[SulfuricDonut]

Well, your insightful topic has proved to at least me that you are not "stupid" and have realized that they are just opinions, often based on only one aspect of a persons actions.

I get very high marks in school, I consider myself intelligent. If I consider someone stupid, I have no concrete proof of my deduction, not that anyone else needs it, since it is my own opinion and they have no reason to listen to it. A person can be stupid in my eyes, but brilliant in someone else's, just as I can be stupid to everyone else.

My point is that the opinion that matters the most to any of us is our own.

 

[Extraintrovert]

Nothing I can add to the conversation hasn't been mentioned already. Mostly because I'm an idiot myself and therefore don't have much information on intelligence, but it could also be the interesting issues to which others have already drawn attention. What am I even doing here anyway...

 

[oranger]

Three tenets, or pillars of intelligence:
- Memory
- Empathy
- Creativity

With these three, any problem can be solved. Any problem at all.

 

[mettle_edge]

When looking at people and their choices as being either intelligent or stupid, I think it comes down to perspective and exposure.

With perspective, it's all about where you stand in reference to another. From your standpoint and train of thought what someone is doing may be considered dumb, but from their perspective it might make perfect sense. Conversely, you may see somebody taking an action which you may view as an intelligent choice, but from their perspective it might have been a stupid decision.

With exposure, defining the actions of someone as either intelligent or stupid is often dependent on the reasons that we can see just then. We tend to, out of lazyness if nothing else, judge people based on a few of their decisions, and without knowing the full circumstances and reasons behind their actions.

That being said, there probably are things out there that are undeniably intelligent or stupid.

 

[Adventurer2626]

There's the "mechanical" stuff like memory capacity, mental multitasking, spatial/conceptual reasoning and ability to calculate in your head. Then there's the more esoteric stuff like wisdom. It's not how much you know but what you do with it. Although, to an extent, knowing things affects intelligence/wisdom, such as common sense, learning the rules of reasoned discourse and the do's and don't's of whatever you participate in. Showing off works the same way here as it does with muscles; it may impress the ladies(guys) but it won't do you much good in a discussion.

I'll relate it to posting in my handy dandy Guide to Intelligent Posting Do's and Don't's

Do:
*Play Devil's Advocate
*Consider a poster's mood based upon their post. It will tell you whether they can be reasoned with or not.
*Research beyond he Wikipedia article. The "Horse's Mouth" is usually the best source.
*In an X vs. Y deathmatch research both sides and considers the strength of each argument
*Ignores inflammatory comments and doesn't feel the need to prove dominance superiority.

Don't:
*Be an OCD Grammar Nazi. (Do: If someone has a misconception or is consistently spelling something you can GENTLY remind them. Please be sparing with your FTFY's.)
*Pursue an argument with an individual until you've proven you're right past reasoned discussion and presentation of facts.
*Attempt to end the thread with something utterly ridiculous. Chuck Norris jokes and relating Deistic or Mystical qualities to him as well as /thread are classic choices.
*Use multiple accounts to avoid the banhammer.
*Be as obscene as possible, as the number of curses and rascist jokes/slurs are directly proportional to the number of IQ points of the poster.
*Strongarm the thread toward where you want it to go. You know the ladies(boys) love seeing you flex your InterWIN muscles.
*Assume your opinion is indicative of that of anyone remotely like you or in your situation.
*Be flagrant with stereotyping. Afterall, the only real mythical creatures are sober Irishmen, amiright?

With perspective, it's all about where you stand in reference to another. From your standpoint and train of thought what someone is doing may be considered dumb, but from their perspective it might make perfect sense. Conversely, you may see somebody taking an action which you may view as an intelligent choice, but from their perspective it might have been a stupid decision.

With exposure, defining the actions of someone as either intelligent or stupid is often dependent on the reasons that we can see just then. We tend to, out of lazyness if nothing else, judge people based on a few of their decisions, and without knowing the full circumstances and reasons behind their actions.

Very good points. We tend to only see one side of the pyramid at a time.