High IQs are associated with mental and physical disorders • Hacker News Board

Re: High IQs are associated with mental and physical disorders

#121

Post by slg » Wed, Mar 24, 2021, 9:22 PM UTC

rory wrote: post #5

> It’s also possible that people who join Mensa differ from other people in ways other than just IQ. For example, people preoccupied with intellectual pursuits may spend less time than the average person on physical exercise and social interaction, both of which have been shown to have broad benefits for psychological and physical health. Is Mensa really an "intellectual pursuit"? I'm not sure exactly what Mensa does…

People curious about Mensa should check out Jamie Loftus's podcast My Year In Mensa[1]. She is a writer/journalist/comedian who wanted to investigate the organization. She passed the test, joined Mensa, and was immediately ostracized once she began reporting on her experience. I'll just charitably summarize it to say that there are a variety of reasons why people join Mensa and many join for reasons outside what we might consider traditional "intellectual pursuits". I don't think their members are truly representative of people with high IQs or I at least hope not.

[1] - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-year-in-mensa/id149...

Re: High IQs are associated with mental and physical disorders

#122

Post by allenu » Wed, Mar 24, 2021, 9:22 PM UTC

lima wrote: post #9

ndiscussion wrote: post #2

This is a survey of people who joined MENSA. I would posit that most normal, healthy, high-IQ folks never bother, and there's a selection bias at play.

Yes. It's a weird bunch (not in a bad way!). I went to their meetings a couple times by invitation, and it never really "clicked" - for many of their members, their MENSA membership and related activities are a big part of their identity and their life, and I wasn't able to connect. I heard the same thing from a couple of friends who also met their entrance criteria, and there's certainly a lot of selection bias. Whi…

To me, as an outsider, I don't see the immediate purpose of the club. I imagine most clubs are about activities or a mission.

I used to go social dancing and the purpose of that group of people was to dance, and they would have various events all about dancing or improving your dancing. If you join a social justice or politically minded group, I imagine your purpose is to engage in activities to further your ideals. But to join a club where there are other smart people... your goal is to what? Share interesting puzzles with each other? :D Try to make other people smarter?

Re: High IQs are associated with mental and physical disorders

#123

Post by rafaelvasco » Wed, Mar 24, 2021, 9:23 PM UTC

High IQ: Your brain perceive and process much more data than people with less IQ. If you don't filter and process them adequately you're prone to disorders.

Re: High IQs are associated with mental and physical disorders

#124

Post by FabHK » Wed, Mar 24, 2021, 9:23 PM UTC

MrFantastic wrote: post #80

rory wrote: post #5

> It’s also possible that people who join Mensa differ from other people in ways other than just IQ. For example, people preoccupied with intellectual pursuits may spend less time than the average person on physical exercise and social interaction, both of which have been shown to have broad benefits for psychological and physical health. Is Mensa really an "intellectual pursuit"? I'm not sure exactly what Mensa does…

My experience at MENSA meetings was a bunch of people bragging about their IQ. Many had their IQ listed on their name tag.

What country?

I've never seen that at Mensa in Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Malaysia, UK, US, or elsewhere, really.

In fact, the matter of IQ has rarely if ever come up at all (except in abstract discussions of testing, factor analysis, operationalisation, objectivity/reliability/validity, etc.).

Re: High IQs are associated with mental and physical disorders

#125

Post by no_one_ever » Wed, Mar 24, 2021, 9:24 PM UTC

SavantIdiot wrote: post #96

pizza234 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Update: I'm reading people with (more) negative experiences. I guess YMMV :) Still, I wouldn't draw absolute conclusions based on this. I was a Mensa associate, and participated to evening meetings in two countries (evening meetings are only part of the activities). You're assuming, with "people insecure enough to join an IQ-restricted club", that associates sit on a high horse due to their IQ. It was quite the oppos…

That's interesting. I joined and was immediately turned off by the group. The difference with joining a chess club is you get to play chess. So let's turn your proposal around: What do you get to do in a High IQ club that is different from any random collection of people? Besides talk about how you are in MENSA?

I don't really care one way or the other, but my impression is the group offers a setting for like-minded (read 'higher-IQ') individuals to come talk about anything and not just the thing they are there for.

Re: High IQs are associated with mental and physical disorders

#126

Post by chrisco255 » Wed, Mar 24, 2021, 9:25 PM UTC

asidiali wrote: post #112

chrisco255 wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not getting vaccinated, because I've analyzed that my odds of dying of Covid-19 at my age and health are less than my odds of dying in a car wreck. And I'm comfortable with that risk as opposed to the unknown long-term risks of RNA therapy.

It’s not just about you. It’s about protecting those around you in your community more susceptible and vulnerable to the virus.

The RNA therapy doesn't stop you from being contagious. And yes, it IS about me, because it's something being injected into my body. We are all going to get Covid at some point, if you haven't noticed. I can't put that genie back in the bottle. If your risk profile deems that the vaccine is worth it for YOU, then YOU do it. Don't pressure other people to. Their health choices is none of your business.

Re: High IQs are associated with mental and physical disorders

#127

Post by mamon » Wed, Mar 24, 2021, 9:25 PM UTC

mhh__ wrote: post #100

Consultant32452 wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IQ is not distributed equally among men and women. The median is the same, but there are more men at the extremes for IQ (both high and low). Mensa membership is 66% male. https://www.us.mensa.org/learn/about/demographics/

This is a weird one. There does seem to be evidence in support of the variation hypothesis, but merely mentioning its existence while not being a woman is enough to get you sacked. The thing I don't get about that, or at least I obviously do get it but it lead to think, surely if you were hiring in volume you might be better off hiring women anyway since you can more precisely know what kind of candidates you want to…

Variation hypothesis actually makes sense from evolutionary point of view: you need as many women as you can get to produce offsprings, but only small number of men suffices to impregnate them all. So men are disposable, therefore they are where the mother nature does its risky experiments.

Re: High IQs are associated with mental and physical disorders

#128

Post by jacquesm » Wed, Mar 24, 2021, 9:25 PM UTC

rory wrote: post #5

> It’s also possible that people who join Mensa differ from other people in ways other than just IQ. For example, people preoccupied with intellectual pursuits may spend less time than the average person on physical exercise and social interaction, both of which have been shown to have broad benefits for psychological and physical health. Is Mensa really an "intellectual pursuit"? I'm not sure exactly what Mensa does…

It'd be funny if the organization behind Mensa decided to re-test everybody on account of the COVID pandemic to ensure that their high standards are maintained and that members who drop below the required IQ for entry get culled accordingly. And of course ditto for those reaching a certain age, we would not want any accidental cases of Alzheimers posing as high IQ individuals now, would we?

Re: High IQs are associated with mental and physical disorders

#129

Post by efficax » Wed, Mar 24, 2021, 9:26 PM UTC

Mensa is hardly representative of most high IQ people --- i would hope that many of them are smart enough to not join it!

Re: High IQs are associated with mental and physical disorders

#130

Post by FabHK » Wed, Mar 24, 2021, 9:27 PM UTC

lima wrote: post #9

ndiscussion wrote: post #2

This is a survey of people who joined MENSA. I would posit that most normal, healthy, high-IQ folks never bother, and there's a selection bias at play.

Yes. It's a weird bunch (not in a bad way!). I went to their meetings a couple times by invitation, and it never really "clicked" - for many of their members, their MENSA membership and related activities are a big part of their identity and their life, and I wasn't able to connect. I heard the same thing from a couple of friends who also met their entrance criteria, and there's certainly a lot of selection bias. Whi…

> for many of their members, their MENSA membership and related activities are a big part of their identity and their life

That's the case for many people that join a club, though, be it chess, functional programming, golf, gardening, or what have you, and happens naturally if that's where you spend a good chunk of your free time.