# I know someone with a fairly high IQ (149) who is like wrong about everything. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 19, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286 "2015-08-19T21:30:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/81 "2015-08-22T01:11:09Z")
We get a lot of seemingly highly intelligent guys come to Thailand who are all sorts of conspiracy theorists or other nut cases. Almost always men. Thailand attracts them like moths to a flame. It often seems they’ve “escaped a society that cannot handle their truths” or some such nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/82 "2015-08-22T01:15:04Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > It’s already happened - there was even a poll! > > I myself think IQ is an interesting measurement. Of course is measuring the ability to do _something_, but I think the mind is too complex to apply such a rigidly hierarchical value system to intelligence as a whole. This opinion is backed by a decent amount of contact with people in the field and also a fair amount of reading on the subject - but it mostly boils down a gut reaction more than anything. I’m actually surprised thread took this turn. > > The guy I work with is interesting to me because he is obviously very bright in many ways, but his emotions seem to dominate his thinking in a way I have not seen before. > > Probably the easiest example is when we were talking about our wage increase in comparison to union dues. He was pissed about the union not arguing for a high enough wage and then was saying that the wage increase doesn’t cover the union dues. I was like huh? we’re getting a dollar an hour, that more than covers it. He responded “that’s only $10 extra we make.” I’m like what? it’s $130 - we only pay the union dues once a month. So just to recap, someone who demonstrates no understanding of how numbers or multiplication work tells you he has an IQ of 149… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/83 "2015-08-22T01:16:36Z")
> [@JerrySTL](#): > > My touring bike is the 9-speed and my roadie is a 10-speed. There is an 11-speed in my future. N+1. The mechanical Dura Ace is really nice if you go 11 speed. The action is really light, and you can have a lot of variance in cable tension and it will still index perfectly; I think perhaps the reason for this may be because it uses various actuation rates instead of just going 2:1 throughout - but that’s just a WAG. If you’re into Shimano, I think the Ultegra probably might be better in the long run though; I have heard Dura Ace is prone to early failure. The only significant performance difference is the Ultegra weighs a little more AFAIK. I myself have only had 8 or 9 on my bikes so far, (seven is heaven, 8 is great, nine is fine), but I think I’m going to go to 10 speed. The Tiagra 4700 for 2016 looks pretty good - it has a lot of trickle down technology. I think Tiagra is good enough for what I want to do - lots of group rides, cyclocamping, and eventually randoneurring. Probably most people would think my plan is nutty, but I have a good feeling about it. I’ve been ridding this old Specialized Hardrock to work (hard tail with slicks) - and I like it so much, my Masi and Crosscheck have just been collecting dust. So, my plan is to put 4700 parts on it and switch from a flat bar to shallow and wide drops and using a really short stem. For the crank I was thinking of going with CX70 because it uses something like a 46 x 36; if I use that with maybe an 11-32 I think I will be able to get all the gears I want without having to bear the shame of riding on a triple. I talked about it with one of my coworkers (not the one in the OP), and it appears the only compatibility issue that could possibly occur is the difference in frame angle might cause problems when using a road derailleur - I think there is only a remote possibility with that issue accruing. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/84 "2015-08-22T01:28:57Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > So just to recap, someone who demonstrates no understanding of how numbers or multiplication work tells you he has an IQ of 149… I think you may find rereading portions the thread helpful if you are have trouble understanding. Specifically the items I have posted to add clarity to the OP. As I said before, there are other indicators that he generally has a high IQ. I’ve known lots of people who have fairly high IQ’s that I am pretty certain were valid. He gets certain things pretty quick and at solving various problems he’s pretty good, on a gut level I thought he did have a fairly high IQ even before he ever mentioned it to me. He only mentioned it to me once in passing - he doesn’t seem to really think much of it. When he has a strong emotional reaction to something all his critical reasoning seems to go out the window though. That’s really the whole gist of this thread - the complexity of IQ and real world outcomes etc. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/85 "2015-08-22T01:58:00Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > I think you may find rereading portions the thread helpful if you are have trouble understanding. Specifically the items I have posted to add clarity to the OP. Sorry. I did see the posts where you said the guy was obviously intelligent, but didn’t realize it was meant to be taken on faith. I focused on the more specific examples you offered that made him sound like someone with learning disabilities. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/86 "2015-08-22T02:29:27Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Sorry. I did see the posts where you said the guy was obviously intelligent, but didn’t realize it was meant to be taken on faith. I focused on the more specific examples you offered that made him sound like someone with learning disabilities. It’s not meant to be taken on faith per se. A more clear example of his intelligence is how quickly he got up to speed without having any related experience. The only other person to get up to speed so quick was a guy with an engineering degree from one of the top undergraduate programs in the country. He also previously worked for a place (anyone in the country would recognize the name) that is well known for hiring highly intelligent people. Obviously none of us are completely sure about this IQ score, not even me. So, there is a possibility that his score is a fabrication. The IQ score is the thing I have least evidence for. I am pretty sure he is not making up where he used to work, and I am certain of how quickly he progressed from nothing to better than most in a very short period of time at work. I my mind then, I am positive he has areas of high intellectual capability yet also seems to get many factual things completely wrong. [But then again this is the internet, so I could be a dog.](https://jenmylo.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/ontheinternetnooneknowsyoureadog.gif?w=520) ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/87 "2015-08-22T02:34:43Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > We get a lot of seemingly highly intelligent guys come to Thailand who are all sorts of conspiracy theorists or other nut cases. Almost always men. Thailand attracts them like moths to a flame. It often seems they’ve “escaped a society that cannot handle their truths” or some such nonsense. We get a lot of them, along with the more virulent racists, other types of bigots, and non-recovering alcoholics, in South Korea and China, too. The CTers are almost always men, but the racists and bigots cut across both genders and all nationalities. The alcoholics are here because it seems to be socially acceptable to be a drunken fool. Of course there are a few druggies who like to whine that “[They] have a right to use drugs”. Luckily, the druggies get caught, jailed, and deported rather swiftly. Too bad the other idiots aren’t subject to that for their particular brand of idiocy. The common denominator, though, is that they’re intelligent enough until you hit their chosen path of inanity. And when you do, it’s a roller coaster ride you don’t want to be on. ---
**Author:** ![Vaevictis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f04885/32.png) [@Vaevictis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vaevictis)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/88 "2015-08-22T03:21:48Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > I’ve never understood why posting your IQ score is a problem, I don’t see it as any different than threads where people say they are 6’2" or whatever. Both are attributes the person has no control over. Well, I would advise you go back over the OP and it responses and analyze how necessary it was for the posters to lay out their numbers. How much did posting those exact IQ figures enhance the discussion? My take on it was that people were more interested in posting their numbers than advancing discussion of the topic proposed by the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/89 "2015-08-22T05:02:25Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > I’ve never understood why posting your IQ score is a problem, I don’t see it as any different than threads where people say they are 6’2" or whatever. Both are attributes the person has no control over. I’d liken it more to posting your penis size. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/90 "2015-08-22T05:24:58Z")
> [@Vaevictis](#): > > Well, I would advise you go back over the OP and it responses and analyze how necessary it was for the posters to lay out their numbers. How much did posting those exact IQ figures enhance the discussion? > > My take on it was that people were more interested in posting their numbers than advancing discussion of the topic proposed by the OP. It would appear that way to some, but maybe it’s because our IQ’s are not high enough to understand.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/91 "2015-08-22T05:32:28Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’d liken it more to posting your penis size. Honestly I don’t really see the issue with that either, in a topic where such things are being discussed. It’s still just an attribute that exists. The person did nothing to earn it, work for it, whatever…it just is. Perhaps some people are bragging or exaggerating when they mention such things but I really don’t see the issue with mentioning such things as a general rule. (when relevant) [QUOTE=Vaevictis] Well, I would advise you go back over the OP and it responses and analyze how necessary it was for the posters to lay out their numbers. How much did posting those exact IQ figures enhance the discussion? My take on it was that people were more interested in posting their numbers than advancing discussion of the topic proposed by the OP. [/QUOTE] He proposed a topic about someone with (at least reputed) high intelligence and a posted number; but also who holds…lets call them rather odd ideas. I don’t see how mentioning other IQ scores doesn’t fit in with that, at least in part. ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/92 "2015-08-22T17:09:50Z")
I just got my newsletter from the local Mensa chapter. We have a monthly speaking series, and one of the upcoming sessions features a conspiracy theorist who believes in a “misanthropic Cabal” and that mankind has been infiltrated by “interstellar visitors with transformative alien technologies”. :dubious: So whoever said having a high IQ has less practical benefit than one would think really know what he was talking about! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/93 "2015-08-22T17:25:07Z")
Did he write for Stargate SG-1? ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/94 "2015-08-22T17:54:31Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > \ > I even encouraged him to take a promotion when it came up - it was between him and me - and I sure as hell didn’t want it. It was one of these 10% pay increase, 90% Advil consumption increase types of promotions. Not sure what you mean by that, is it a very physical job where you need to take anti-inflammatory drugs regularly? Also a 90% increase of how much initially? ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/95 "2015-08-22T18:18:43Z")
The pay increase was not worth the headaches associated with the promotion? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/96 "2015-08-22T19:55:14Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’d liken it more to posting your penis size. Flacid or erect? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/97 "2015-08-22T20:26:19Z")
You can type either way, right? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/98 "2015-08-22T20:51:07Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > You can type either way, right? :o ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/99 "2015-08-23T01:45:42Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Flacid or erect? I can’t see the screen let alone the keyboard when it’s erect. ---
**Author:** ![Vaevictis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f04885/32.png) [@Vaevictis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vaevictis)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286/100 "2015-08-23T02:56:38Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > He proposed a topic about someone with (at least reputed) high intelligence and a posted number; but also who holds…lets call them rather odd ideas. I don’t see how mentioning other IQ scores doesn’t fit in with that, at least in part. So how much did the exact number differentials matter for understanding of the OP? Bonus points: Can you show an example where someone posted that he or she had a high IQ and added to the discussion? I would be happy to learn if I am missing something, which happens quite a bit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-someone-with-a-fairly-high-iq-149-who-is-like-wrong-about-everything/728286.md?page=6)