"You might also, aware of your own blessings, hold yourself to an unrealistic standard which weighs on your soul when it hasn’t been fully reached."
Ouch.
Not only this, but the fact that choosing one option inevitably means that one neglects whole areas of talent that other people would kill for, and they can resent this.
I have to wonder if there are other factors at play. Motivation comes to mind first, along with a bevy of other reasons one may choose not to devote their time and intelligence to solving the current political problems.
And can't intelligence be a little like physical strength? On the low end, there are many people who couldn't lift a 50-pound sack of grain. Yet there are plenty of fit people who can, and with ease. But take all of these Hercules, thousands or even millions of them, line them up on a beach and ask them to stop a tsunami. Not happening, right?
Our political problems today are much like that tsunami - they have momentum and have amassed extraordinary strength - mostly through the division of identity politics and playing on people's emotions.
So now, we'd be pitting intelligence against emotions. Very strong emotions. And emotional people don't listen to reason, so trying to stop that tsunami of emotions with sheer intelligence isn't the answer - at least not the whole answer. And it's human to be reluctant to admit to having been fooled, further complicating this situation.
There are experts who help deprogram individual cult victims. I wonder if there's a way to use those talents on a much larger scale.
And of course there are other factors at play, I was just pondering this one. Once we start addressing emotions, well - that's a Pandora's Box if ever there was one.
Most high IQ people do not invent new gadgets or pioneer medicine. For every one that did so, there are untold thousands that... did not. Unemployment and underemployment are rampant and pervasive among the higher IQs because they oftentimes have communication challenges and comorbidities that make connecting with others difficult.
Additionally, many high IQ people have "run the numbers" when it comes to making societal changes and recognize that the game is rigged: there are many factors beyond our control when it comes down to it and life collapses into a much smaller handful of choices than we like to think we have access to -- everything from where and when we were born, to what our families were like, to what talents we do (or don't) possess, will determine our future outcome.
Immobility is the reality for most of us, irrespective of IQ, for the same reasons that most of us will not become gold medalists at the Olympics or become billionaires. There are barriers and ceilings in place that inhibit advancement for all but the very few, especially in politics, government, and business.
The Elon Musks and the Bill Gates of the world did not reach where they were solely by the power of IQ, but by the power of growing up in families with discretionary income and access to childhood education and benefits, official or auxiliary. Once upon a time, only the wealthy and tech savvy had access to home computers.
Timing and luck play an extraordinary role as well: someone born 25-30 years before public internet access was available, who grew up with tech in the home, would have had unfathomable advantages in developing pioneering internet companies over someone born in, say, 1997. It is not to say that future discoveries won't happen; they will, but there is always an advantage in being early to the party.
In short: moderate IQ power is a help, but money, privilege, family education, and leisure time to explore self-learning play a larger role. Luck and being in the right place, at the right time, with access to the right people, matter even more.
Regarding the challenge of my contention that higher IQ individuals have easier roads to accomplishment due to a prevalence of other factors (which I agree are all true, though the degree of their effect is hard to quantify), statistics do show that a far greater percentage of people with higher levels of cognition reach financial security and wealth. That can't be a coincidence.
Regardless, that was merely a supporting supposition. The main theme is in regards to the frustrations of combining sentience with lack of ability, especially when the inmates start running the asylum.
Many leaders have emerged from places without privilege, building grassroots followings. So it can be done, though all of the caveats you listed will certainly help matters along.
I've often wondered if the poor mental health results of the Vietnam war on soldiers was at least partially a case of a smarter group of people thrown into a horrid situation that they were intelligent enough to see for what it was. Obviously there were lower IQs present, but I think there was a higher percentage of kids who had better education (and therefore the potential to raise IQ) than their fathers and grandfathers.
I have learned you can make a difference in your own little piece of the pie and be satisfied with that. I also know that God is really in control. All these people that are fighting for power and control in Washington instead of serving are showing their intelligence. They aren't truly in control and aren't doing their duty. Most of them have some level of intelligence, but seem to be blissfully ignorant.
Interesting concept, Ken.
Curious if that's ever been studied..
Thanks for responding. ZL
No doubt, Katy.
Oh the pressures! (sort of kidding...)
Thanks for responding!
ZL
I'll take that as a compliment. Thanks Deb!
ZL
I feel like I could have written this.
"You might also, aware of your own blessings, hold yourself to an unrealistic standard which weighs on your soul when it hasn’t been fully reached."
Ouch.
Not only this, but the fact that choosing one option inevitably means that one neglects whole areas of talent that other people would kill for, and they can resent this.
I have to wonder if there are other factors at play. Motivation comes to mind first, along with a bevy of other reasons one may choose not to devote their time and intelligence to solving the current political problems.
And can't intelligence be a little like physical strength? On the low end, there are many people who couldn't lift a 50-pound sack of grain. Yet there are plenty of fit people who can, and with ease. But take all of these Hercules, thousands or even millions of them, line them up on a beach and ask them to stop a tsunami. Not happening, right?
Our political problems today are much like that tsunami - they have momentum and have amassed extraordinary strength - mostly through the division of identity politics and playing on people's emotions.
So now, we'd be pitting intelligence against emotions. Very strong emotions. And emotional people don't listen to reason, so trying to stop that tsunami of emotions with sheer intelligence isn't the answer - at least not the whole answer. And it's human to be reluctant to admit to having been fooled, further complicating this situation.
There are experts who help deprogram individual cult victims. I wonder if there's a way to use those talents on a much larger scale.
Interesting thought.
And of course there are other factors at play, I was just pondering this one. Once we start addressing emotions, well - that's a Pandora's Box if ever there was one.
Thanks, Eva. ZL
Most high IQ people do not invent new gadgets or pioneer medicine. For every one that did so, there are untold thousands that... did not. Unemployment and underemployment are rampant and pervasive among the higher IQs because they oftentimes have communication challenges and comorbidities that make connecting with others difficult.
Additionally, many high IQ people have "run the numbers" when it comes to making societal changes and recognize that the game is rigged: there are many factors beyond our control when it comes down to it and life collapses into a much smaller handful of choices than we like to think we have access to -- everything from where and when we were born, to what our families were like, to what talents we do (or don't) possess, will determine our future outcome.
Immobility is the reality for most of us, irrespective of IQ, for the same reasons that most of us will not become gold medalists at the Olympics or become billionaires. There are barriers and ceilings in place that inhibit advancement for all but the very few, especially in politics, government, and business.
The Elon Musks and the Bill Gates of the world did not reach where they were solely by the power of IQ, but by the power of growing up in families with discretionary income and access to childhood education and benefits, official or auxiliary. Once upon a time, only the wealthy and tech savvy had access to home computers.
Timing and luck play an extraordinary role as well: someone born 25-30 years before public internet access was available, who grew up with tech in the home, would have had unfathomable advantages in developing pioneering internet companies over someone born in, say, 1997. It is not to say that future discoveries won't happen; they will, but there is always an advantage in being early to the party.
In short: moderate IQ power is a help, but money, privilege, family education, and leisure time to explore self-learning play a larger role. Luck and being in the right place, at the right time, with access to the right people, matter even more.
Lot to unpack there.
Regarding the challenge of my contention that higher IQ individuals have easier roads to accomplishment due to a prevalence of other factors (which I agree are all true, though the degree of their effect is hard to quantify), statistics do show that a far greater percentage of people with higher levels of cognition reach financial security and wealth. That can't be a coincidence.
Regardless, that was merely a supporting supposition. The main theme is in regards to the frustrations of combining sentience with lack of ability, especially when the inmates start running the asylum.
Many leaders have emerged from places without privilege, building grassroots followings. So it can be done, though all of the caveats you listed will certainly help matters along.
Appreciate the feedback, Bienzea.
ZL
I've often wondered if the poor mental health results of the Vietnam war on soldiers was at least partially a case of a smarter group of people thrown into a horrid situation that they were intelligent enough to see for what it was. Obviously there were lower IQs present, but I think there was a higher percentage of kids who had better education (and therefore the potential to raise IQ) than their fathers and grandfathers.
I have learned you can make a difference in your own little piece of the pie and be satisfied with that. I also know that God is really in control. All these people that are fighting for power and control in Washington instead of serving are showing their intelligence. They aren't truly in control and aren't doing their duty. Most of them have some level of intelligence, but seem to be blissfully ignorant.
Acquiescence to a higher power certainly helps ease the pressure.
Thanks, John. ZL
The greatest gift humanity has is the potential to improve. Do that. Yes, it will be hard, but that’s how you know it’s worth it.