# Are You Smarter Than The Average Doper. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 20, 2011, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685 "2011-07-20T06:17:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/21 "2011-07-20T16:03:39Z")
I’d say that, in total, I’m average, but it’s balanced differently than most, leaving me feeling sometimes like I get things that people don’t, and other times that I am am in completely over my head. For an example of the latter: I am the most mathematical person I know in real life. But, on here, I find I am completely lost in math threads. The former is usually computer threads and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/22 "2011-07-20T16:13:10Z")
I’ve been told I’m smarter than most people all my life. I’m not so sure I agree. When I merely tried out for “Jeopardy!”, everyone I know IRL was awed, but here I’m just one of about a hundred, at least. I’m certainly less educated than the average Doper, as I dropped out after one year of college. I’m no better than average here, probably below. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/23 "2011-07-20T16:13:24Z")
I’m below average and am not in the least bit afraid to admit it. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/24 "2011-07-20T16:19:18Z")
It makes no fucking sense that this poll differentiates by sex. Why not use race too, while you’re at it? Age? American vs. Non-American? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/25 "2011-07-20T16:30:24Z")
Quoth **Bosstone** : > [@](#): > > I am going to laugh so hard if the results skew above average. I won’t, because I think that’s actually accurate: I think that most folks here really are smarter than the average Doper. It only takes one idiot to drag the average down, and we’ve got several of them around. It’s only paradoxical if most people think they’re smarter than the median, but median and average are not the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/26 "2011-07-20T16:45:53Z")
I don’t read all the forums, I’d hate to try to guess (so I’m not going to vote). I rarely go near Great Debates, for example (it’s better for my heart rate to not argue pointlessly on the internet). From a strictly-IQ standpoint, I’d have to say I’m very very likely above the SDMB average. How far above, I don’t know. But as far as achievement and application of intelligence are considered, I’m sorely lacking, even compared to people with average IQs and a decent work ethic. As I usually point out in threads like these, [intelligence is not unidimensional](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligences), so please define your terms in the OP. Even people who are frequently labeled “stupid” are smart in at least one area. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/27 "2011-07-20T16:46:30Z")
Can someone mark me down for the above average category? I would do it myself but I can’t figure out how to respond to polls. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/28 "2011-07-20T16:47:22Z")
Shoulda made the poll public. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/29 "2011-07-20T16:48:41Z")
People are [terrible](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.64.2655&rep=rep1&type=pdf) (warning, published journal PDF) at predicting their own intelligence. However, smarter people are much better at it than stupid people. It makes sense that SD people are about right at judging their own intelligence. I’ve noticed that the men have rated themselves a bit higher than the women, which is not surprising. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/30 "2011-07-20T16:51:32Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Shoulda made the poll public. I checked first, which must mean I’m smart. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/31 "2011-07-20T16:57:26Z")
[I love these threads.](http://www.terrariaonline.com/attachments/lol-cats_i-love-this-thread-so-much-jpg.803/?embedded=1) Chronos, if there is a board that has members like you on a daily basis, just hanging out, dropping jewels of wisdom at random, that board is probably a bit smarter than your average bear, online or off. Not to sweat you too hard, but you have taken many complicated concepts in science and made it plain for a girl who never learned it in school. Appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/32 "2011-07-20T17:06:21Z")
I chose below average. I quite often feel like I’m just hurp-derping around when I come here. But I still love reading the boards and use them to feel above average in real life, 😃 Interestingly enough, when I first joined as a teen, I spent most of my time in General Questions and didn’t go over to the more social forums. Now it’s the reverse. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/33 "2011-07-20T17:10:44Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Quoth **Bosstone** :I won’t, because I think that’s actually accurate: I think that most folks here really are smarter than the average Doper. It only takes one idiot to drag the average down, and we’ve got several of them around. It’s only paradoxical if most people think they’re smarter than the median, but median and average are not the same thing. Hmm. When I posted, I didn’t vote. Based on this response I think I’ll mark below average. (Translation: hurrr me dumb) ---
**Author:** ![Clumsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Clumsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clumsy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/34 "2011-07-20T17:17:27Z")
Often, I certainly feel less amusing then many posters. (Some people on the board genuinely make me laugh and I enjoy how they look at the world.) On the plus side, I also feel less pretentious then … some 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/35 "2011-07-20T17:21:55Z")
> [@Invisible\_Chimp](#): > > It makes no fucking sense that this poll differentiates by sex. Why not use race too, while you’re at it? Age? American vs. Non-American? I think it’s interesting to see the results. In scientific studies, men tend to rate themselves more intelligent and women tend to rate themselves less intelligent than they actually are. I wonder if the Dope skews the same way. As for me, I’ve pretty much been the smartest person in the room my whole life, but here I feel average-tending-to-below-average. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/36 "2011-07-20T17:29:45Z")
> [@Pyper](#): > > I think it’s interesting to see the results. In scientific studies, men tend to rate themselves more intelligent and women tend to rate themselves less intelligent than they actually are. I wonder if the Dope skews the same way. It’s funny–I’m female, but I’ve never been shy about knowing that I’m more intelligent than (or as intelligent as) most of the men/boys I’ve known. From the time I was a little bitty kid I was proud of being smart, and particularly enjoyed it when I did better than the boys in school (which was quite often). The only reason I marked myself average here has nothing to do with gender–it has to do with the fact that there are a lot of smart people (male and female) on this board, and it’s one of the few places I hang out where I don’t feel like I have to tone it down. A lot of times (particularly in the threads where people extensively cite and argue things) I feel out of my depth! And as I get older I feel sometimes like all those smarts I had when I was a kid and young adult are just dribbling slowly out my ears. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/37 "2011-07-20T17:40:59Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > People are [terrible](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.64.2655&rep=rep1&type=pdf) (warning, published journal PDF) at predicting their own intelligence. However, smarter people are much better at it than stupid people. > > It makes sense that SD people are about right at judging their own intelligence Agreed. So I’d rate myself: General populace: I’m significantly above average. On the Dope: I’m significantly above average. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/38 "2011-07-20T17:41:12Z")
It’s slightly amusing that this is in the IM **H** O thread… ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/39 "2011-07-20T18:38:19Z")
> [@Lobelia\_Overhill](#): > > Apparently my IQ is around 133 > > Where does that put me in the Poll? That depends on your level of education, income and what you do for a living. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685/40 "2011-07-20T18:50:13Z")
Compared to some of the quips one might see on the Youtube chat, the Dope seems to have a better class of poster. But is there really any proof that the posters here tend to skew higher than average in IQ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-smarter-than-the-average-doper/589685.md?page=3)