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	<title>Comments on: IQ Studies, Retardation, and Robots</title>
	<link>http://toddseavey.com/2008/07/27/iq-studies-retardation-and-robots/</link>
	<description>Conservatism for punks.</description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:58:21 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>by: Diana Fleischman</title>
		<link>http://toddseavey.com/2008/07/27/iq-studies-retardation-and-robots/#comment-16390</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:01:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://toddseavey.com/2008/07/27/iq-studies-retardation-and-robots/#comment-16390</guid>
					<description>I thought I could tell who was smart on sight and then I went to this conference in Holland. I realized later that one of the smartest people and best conversationalists I met there was someone that I thought was utterly vapid at first glance. I still take some superficial cues as indicating stupidity such as wearing the name of fashion designers in big letters all over your clothes (seriously why would anyone pay to advertise for someone else other than to conspicuously consume-also stupid). 

I had a friend who lamented that people couldn't tell by looking at him that he was smart since he dressed a little like a hipster and didn't wear glasses or anything else that might give him away as an intellectual. Then I said "well I dress fashionably and don't wear glasses or anything but I've been told I 'look smart' whatever that means" and he said "yeah, but you look Jewish". 
There ya go.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I thought I could tell who was smart on sight and then I went to this conference in Holland. I realized later that one of the smartest people and best conversationalists I met there was someone that I thought was utterly vapid at first glance. I still take some superficial cues as indicating stupidity such as wearing the name of fashion designers in big letters all over your clothes (seriously why would anyone pay to advertise for someone else other than to conspicuously consume-also stupid). </p>
<p>I had a friend who lamented that people couldn&#8217;t tell by looking at him that he was smart since he dressed a little like a hipster and didn&#8217;t wear glasses or anything else that might give him away as an intellectual. Then I said &#8220;well I dress fashionably and don&#8217;t wear glasses or anything but I&#8217;ve been told I &#8216;look smart&#8217; whatever that means&#8221; and he said &#8220;yeah, but you look Jewish&#8221;.<br />
There ya go.
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		<title>by: Christopher</title>
		<link>http://toddseavey.com/2008/07/27/iq-studies-retardation-and-robots/#comment-16299</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:50:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://toddseavey.com/2008/07/27/iq-studies-retardation-and-robots/#comment-16299</guid>
					<description>I would go with assuming they are all morons.  Then you'll be pleasantly surprised on occasion!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I would go with assuming they are all morons.  Then you&#8217;ll be pleasantly surprised on occasion!
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		<title>by: Todd Seavey</title>
		<link>http://toddseavey.com/2008/07/27/iq-studies-retardation-and-robots/#comment-16294</link>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:27:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://toddseavey.com/2008/07/27/iq-studies-retardation-and-robots/#comment-16294</guid>
					<description>I just meant "we" in the sense of "people who don't want to talk to morons," though.  I admit I'm not consistently eugenic.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I just meant &#8220;we&#8221; in the sense of &#8220;people who don&#8217;t want to talk to morons,&#8221; though.  I admit I&#8217;m not consistently eugenic.
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		<title>by: Christopher</title>
		<link>http://toddseavey.com/2008/07/27/iq-studies-retardation-and-robots/#comment-16292</link>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:17:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://toddseavey.com/2008/07/27/iq-studies-retardation-and-robots/#comment-16292</guid>
					<description>"Wouldn’t we benefit from being able to spot morons on sight more easily, though?"

If "we" is defined as the species, probably not.  Beyond a certain point, intelligence (vaguely defined here as problem solving ability) is not often an advantageous trait in terms of passing on one's genes.  I believe there have been studies in which scientists have bred fruit flies to be more intelligent by selecting those who could solve some sort of difficult food acquisition problem.  When released into a general population, they did less well at surviving and breeding than the "average" fruit flies.

And then there are those clearly intelligent individuals who choose not to pass on their genes...(not that there's anything wrong with that!)

And though Paris Hilton is a vapid moron with no redeeming qualities whatsoever, she is certainly more successful as an economic, social, and cultural force than I, you, or most people we know will ever be (but I don't believe she has passed on her genes yet, so at least some of us have some hope of besting her there).</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;Wouldn’t we benefit from being able to spot morons on sight more easily, though?&#8221;</p>
<p>If &#8220;we&#8221; is defined as the species, probably not.  Beyond a certain point, intelligence (vaguely defined here as problem solving ability) is not often an advantageous trait in terms of passing on one&#8217;s genes.  I believe there have been studies in which scientists have bred fruit flies to be more intelligent by selecting those who could solve some sort of difficult food acquisition problem.  When released into a general population, they did less well at surviving and breeding than the &#8220;average&#8221; fruit flies.</p>
<p>And then there are those clearly intelligent individuals who choose not to pass on their genes&#8230;(not that there&#8217;s anything wrong with that!)</p>
<p>And though Paris Hilton is a vapid moron with no redeeming qualities whatsoever, she is certainly more successful as an economic, social, and cultural force than I, you, or most people we know will ever be (but I don&#8217;t believe she has passed on her genes yet, so at least some of us have some hope of besting her there).
</p>
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