What to do if you are stupid?

[Nova Andromeda]

-Obviously I didn't make it clear that the stupid person in question is generally average in everything except intelligence (which is somewhat below average) and behavior. Their behavior can be anything reasonable for an average person of somewhat lower intelligence (i.e., nice, mean, law abiding, etc.).

-Given the above, strategies such as attracting men by being a blond bombshell aren't allowed. However, the usefulness of being a blond bombshell does tend to mitigate the impact of being more intelligent.


Mr. Wong:
-I was hoping someone here might be familiar with the science regarding the correlation of intelligence in successful marriages. I haven't reviewed the literature myself.

I'm just wondering what 'evolutionary strategies' could be used successfully within a species when your competition is significantly smarter than you (the assumption is that interbreeding is possible). If that strategy happens to be moral all the better.

What makes you think you'd be competing in the same arenas? Obviously, somebody with an IQ or 90 is not going to be competing with a genius for the job of theoretical mathematician. And guess what: the guy with the IQ of 160 would find a job as a bus driver to be absolutely intolerable. There's no reason why people of greatly unequal intelligence must be "competing" directly against each other.

-In your example, the guy with 160 IQ could compete for the bus driver's job if that job were highly desirable. Having that option is a significant advantage when jobs (or resources in general) are limited.



Brian:
-I don't know where you get the idea that I think smart people don't like dumb people on principle. The idea is that people will look after their own interests first when crunch time arrives. All things being equal, smarter people will win this contest.
-I haven't entirely rejected the marriage idea. However, I haven't been convinced it's going to work either.

[Starglider]

For the people who think IQ 90 is somehow intolerable and suicide-worthy, if Q raised the average IQ of the whole population to 150, would still having an IQ of 130 then be intolerable and suicide-worthy? If not, why not?

[nickolay1]

The average IQ of the whole population is, by definition, fixed at 100.

[Alferd Packer]

I'd probably work towards getting a skilled, blue collar, union job, like working at a steel mill, or as a welder, or something like that. You don't need to be freakin' Einstein, and such jobs are well-paying and the skills are very useful to have.

[Starglider]

The average IQ of the whole population is, by definition, fixed at 100.

If you weren't able to parse that as 'raise the average intelligence such that the mean score on current IQ tests is 150', presumably this scenario is a real-life situation for you.

[The Grim Squeaker]

Develop really good people skills (A low-ranking salesman for example), and make sure you hire people smarter than you to work for you.
Problem solved, now give me my IQ and lack of charisma back

[Darth Fanboy]

Low intelligence doesn't necessairly mean low common sense and low work ethic. I'd like to believe there is still room for a guy who works hard at what he does and makes sound decisions to be successful even if he doesn't have a lot of overall intelligence.

[Junghalli]

Well this person will not start out completely ignorant, stubborn, or lazy. His problem will be lack of problem solving ability which would be very hard for him to improve significantly without relying on mental skill taught to him by others (which he would probably not understand very well and therefore would not be able to trust).

So basically you're talking about a learning disability. The smartest thing to do is then to compensate for it, either through working that much harder to acquire new skills or by trying to achieve success through other means, as others have already suggested. Just because it's harder to acquire skills doesn't mean they can't be acquired.

I don't know where you get the idea that I think smart people don't like dumb people on principle. The idea is that people will look after their own interests first when crunch time arrives. All things being equal, smarter people will win this contest.

Hence why I maintain that one of the smartest things a stupid person can do is to try and make himself less stupid. Like Fanboy said, as long as you have good common sense and work ethic and understand your limitations you're already ahead of the real dumbasses out there. Although really, social status and political power is more luck than intelligence when you get right down to it.