Like Reading Or Prefer Money?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-09-23 03:37pm

Having a family meal out tonight, we somehow got on to the random topic of wealth vs. intelligence. This somehow led on to my pointing out of English errors in the menu of the pub we were in which reminded me of the bulletins at my summer job which were also similarly poor; even the ones by the owner, a multi-millionaire.

"I'm sure he really cares about that when he's a millionaire," says my father.

"Perhaps, but I'd like to keep my intelligence to be honest. I think of Paris Hilton [father draws a blank on the name] and feel I'd rather not be a bimbo even if it meant not having a nice little nest egg."

"So what if someone offered you a million pounds and told you not to read again? I'd taken the cash, thank you very much."

Admittedly, my father doesn't read many books now (he's a su-doku addict now). But this got me wondering about two things:

1. If you were offered a choice between gaining several billion dollars, but at the cost of some of the intelligence you currently have, would you take the deal? I'm sure this was asked in the past, though I don't think it matters now.

2. In a similar scenario, if someone offered you a billion dollars with the catch of not ever reading another book again, ever, would you accept this deal?

I'm genuinely curious as to what Joe Average would say. I'll have to just make do with what you netizens think given I accept most here are a little better educated than the average guy in public and also hold their rational and well informed minds (and reading habits) high in esteem.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2005-09-23 03:40pm

1) Possibly, very much depending on what part of my intelligence do I lose.

2) No, simply no, no books and I go insane.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2005-09-23 03:53pm

1. Is a bit unclear, but I would still say no. Since I don't know at how much loss of intelligecne I'll go from currently to nearly zilch.

2. No. And it's more then entertainment. Think of how much of one's life requires reading, of any sort. You might as well ask a person go blind for a billion.

The Grim Squeaker · Post by **The Grim Squeaker** » 2005-09-23 03:55pm

1) no- I don't need to work if I wanted to and a mind is something that's impossible to regain, even if I would have people to think for me.

Hell I'd give up a part of my inheritance for greater intelligence or mental skills.

2) I'd die before letting anyone take my books from me.
NEVER!!!!!!!!!!

Quadlok · Post by **Quadlok** » 2005-09-23 04:12pm

1. Depends. As long as I would at least still have average intelligence, and retain most of the knowledge I already have, I think I'd go for it.

2. If I take what you wrote literally and just exclude books, than sure. I'm quite capable of getting by on reading magazines, newspapers, and the internet, plus many fine books are on tape. If we're talking complete illiteracy, than no, not going to happen.

Sharpshooter · Post by **Sharpshooter** » 2005-09-23 04:32pm

1: that depends on how much of my intelligence gets nicked. I'm slightly smarter than normal (114-117) so if the loss wasn't bad enough to get me below the hundreds, then maybe I'd consider it - if it's double-digits, though, then no dice.

2: Not a chance in hell - there are too many good pieces of literature, both old and new, that makes for quality entertainment and brainteasing, as well as lovely fluff material and such that's good for a read.

That NOS Guy · Post by **That NOS Guy** » 2005-09-23 04:37pm

1. Possibly, on the meaning of "some", if it's more then a couple of IQ points, fuck 'em.

2. You can have my paperbacks when you pry them from my cold dead fingers.

I have the slightest feeling without intelligence and reading I could get tricked out of a lot of money and fast.

Alan Bolte · Post by **Alan Bolte** » 2005-09-23 04:42pm

A million dollars is no where near enough for either of those. I'm not sure how much would be, if any.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2005-09-23 04:53pm

To both questions, I give a resounding HELL FUCKING NO

Post by **Surlethe** » 2005-09-23 05:18pm

I'd rather take my intelligence and make several billion dollars. Then I have the money, and can still read/keep my current level of intelligence. Plus, the money will be mine, earned, rather than given at the capricious whim of a god/whatever.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-09-23 06:27pm

Surlethe wrote:I'd rather take my intelligence and make several billion dollars. Then I have the money, and can still read/keep my current level of intelligence. Plus, the money will be mine, earned, rather than given at the capricious whim of a god/whatever.

Hit the nail on the head. That was the answer I gave, the reasoning being simple (being smart earns money too, though some seem to forget that nowadays).

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2005-09-23 06:32pm

Probably. Think of all the good I can do with billions of dollars.

defanatic · Post by **defanatic** » 2005-09-23 06:54pm

2. Hell yes (if taken literally). If I ever want to read a book, I scan the pages in, and read a random assortment of pictures. And several billion dollars will mean that other people could do that for me.

Middleclass · Post by **Middleclass** » 2005-09-23 09:42pm

God yes, on both counts. I can imagine no more fulfilling life than idle, stupid wealth. I'd watch a lot of T.V. and drive cars really fast. It would be great.
Also, I'd be able to think that the current administration is a good thing. That would rock.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2005-09-23 10:13pm

That's hilarious.

Anyway, on the original topic, it would depend on just how much intelligence I lose. If it's just a matter of dropping 20 IQ points or so, I'd still be well above average intelligence even after the loss, so it would probably be worth it, particularly knowing that I could provide financial security for my family even well after my own death.

On the other hand, if it means dropping my IQ all the way down to average, that would be a real dilemma because the average person is a moron and I don't want to be like that. If it means going below average that would be totally unacceptable.

Nephtys · Post by **Nephtys** » 2005-09-23 10:37pm

These are billions of dollars we're talking about. With no massive investment or sink preventing them from being used. With that much money, you can buy people to read to you, or hell. You can hire people to make it in movie form for crying out loud. That's a pretty big deal, so I'll have to respond like DW. If I drop IQ below that of the average nitwit, no go. If I'm still alright, then sure!

As for reading... I love reading books, yeah. But with that much money, I could hire stage actors, and execute them when they fail at portraying the right emotions.

brianeyci · Post by **brianeyci** » 2005-09-23 10:57pm

To me it all depends on how this magical-Q-entity defines "intelligence". If he defines intelligence as performance on an IQ test, then I might be more willing to take a bigger hit than if he defines intelligence as critical thinking skills, intrinsic open-mindedness, curiosity and so on.

Put it another way. How much of what you know is due to intrinsic ability, and how much is due to formal training? If I retain most of my critical thinking skills but lose a lot of my knowledge, I could presumably go through the same process all over again and regain that knowledge, provided the base was intact. That is, as long as I could still think critically, retain a healthy dose of skepticism, was familiar with parsimony and the scientific method, and was still hard working and disciplined enough (laugh) to go through the academic hoops all over again.

Brian

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2005-09-23 11:02pm

I'm brain damaged enough as it is, and I know what it's like to lose certain mental abilities and in general having my brain run a few percent slower than it used to as a result of a bad concussion.

No thanks, keep the money, I'm not giving up any more brainpower. As for reading, same thing. It's part of my life and I'm not giving it up. You might as well ask me to cut off my dick. I'm not doing it for any amount of money.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2005-09-23 11:08pm

My brain is sacred. Reading is life. I would gladly kill the person and steal the money for putting me in such an aweful position though.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2005-09-23 11:21pm

I'll stick to reading, thankyouverymuch. The boredom from not being able to do so alone would be not worth the money. Being poor I can live with. Being eternally bored, fuck no.

mr friendly guy · Post by **mr friendly guy** » 2005-09-23 11:43pm

1) I value my brain very highly, and I feel that given time I can accumulate enough money to live comfortably on I don't see the need to make this sacrifice given how vaguely its defined.

2) Well it might be tempting to say that I can get around this via a loop hole (reading a computer screen), I have to say reading a book appeals to me more than a computer screen. So no.

wolveraptor · Post by **wolveraptor** » 2005-09-24 01:23am

Anyone who says they wouldn't give up books for billions of dollars is a liar. I'm reading and writing right now, and suprise surprise, no books in sight! You're honestly telling me that the look of the words on the page is worth 7 billion dollars? And you're telling me that you believe intellect can automatically get you money? Yeah right. The only time intellect starts to really work for you is if you're a true blue genius.

Furthermore, anyone who says they'd rather earn 7 billion through hard work, sweat and good ole' fashioned work ethic is also a liar. Work ethic is great and all, but you're just a moron who can't afford to lose brain cells if you think it's worth losing that much fucking money.

Sriad · Post by **Sriad** » 2005-09-24 02:02am

1: possibly. I must confess I don't make the best use of what I have now, so my answer is Wongian. If I'm still smarter than most of the pleebs I'd pry take a microlobotomy for multi-billions of dollars. (even Canadian. :wink) Basically, I'd need to stay smart enough to understand the ramifications of what I do with the money I gain.

2: Yes. Even without loopholes, only the tiniest fraction of a percent of the smartest and most dedicated people will earn a billion or more dollars. I am pleased to consider myself that smart, but (see 1) I'm not that hard working and pry nowhere near that lucky. I'd toss 99% of the money into investments for 10 years, hire incredible private tutors with the remaining $50 million or whatever (to teach me what I can no longer learn from books, natch), and after a decade of brain stretching work change the world. ...this doesn't really involve getting dumb though, just a major life change.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2005-09-24 09:29am

wolveraptor wrote:Anyone who says they wouldn't give up books for billions of dollars is a liar. I'm reading and writing right now, and suprise surprise, no books in sight! You're honestly telling me that the look of the words on the page is worth 7 billion dollars?

If I didn't have a book or magazine to read while taking my morning shit, I'd go insane after a few weeks at most. I've taken a physics textbook into the washroom with me just so I'd have something to read rather than go bookless while taking my dump. My continued sanity is worth that much to me.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2005-09-24 10:09am

Darth Wong wrote:That's hilarious.

Anyway, on the original topic, it would depend on just how much intelligence I lose. If it's just a matter of dropping 20 IQ points or so, I'd still be well above average intelligence even after the loss, so it would probably be worth it, particularly knowing that I could provide financial security for my family even well after my own death.

On the other hand, if it means dropping my IQ all the way down to average, that would be a real dilemma because the average person is a moron and I don't want to be like that. If it means going below average that would be totally unacceptable.

If they're definining intelligence as IQ score, I'll take a drop all the way to 80. Above that number, IQ tests only measure your ability to take IQ tests. They're junk for measuring intelligence.