# Should humans with low IQ be..... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 26, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204 "2016-02-26T15:25:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/41 "2016-02-26T18:00:00Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > …and can read well enough to text while driving. Don’t encourage this! It is extremely dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/42 "2016-02-26T18:01:34Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > Don’t encourage this! It is extremely dangerous. Hear, hear. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/43 "2016-02-26T18:07:13Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > That still doesn’t make it okay for you to continue sleeping with your immediate family members. You’re not the boss of me. > [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Tell the woman that first and see what it gets you. I’m betting it gets me lots of sex. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > If they’re sterilizing the women also, they don’t to worry about it in the first place. Good point I didn’t think of that. You can’t really blame me though since I don’t have a 140 IQ. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/44 "2016-02-26T18:25:13Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Trump is the apparent front-runner - what more do you need? Ah, the obligatory Trump joke. But seriously, actual evidence that the population is getting more stupid. Trump winning a few primaries is maybe one millionth of one percent of the way there. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/45 "2016-02-26T18:26:23Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I would much rather just get rid of assholes like you. IQ does not define the quality of a human being. While I know this was done in GQ, I feel confident this deserves a warning. Do not insult other posters. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/46 "2016-02-26T18:32:00Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > besides, when would you do it? 13 year olds get regnant Actually, most child marriages in medieval nobility were not consummated before 14 or 15 … oh, you mean _p_regnant. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/47 "2016-02-26T18:41:26Z")
So, in the utopian world that you (OP) suggest, who collects your garbage? Who works your slaughterhouses? Who does all that crappy stuff that you don’t have to think about? I’m not saying that everyone in these industries is low IQ. My point is that society requires that some of us are the NOT the highest achievers or brightest bulbs. I get where you’re coming from, though and I think you’ve a valid question. I, too, would like for humans to be a little smarter than we are. But it’s a complex issue. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/48 "2016-02-26T18:58:11Z")
Fuck genetics, just work on getting rid of environmental influences that make people dumber. We’ve made great progress in getting lead out of our environment. I just hope in my lifetime to see religion and Fox News go that same route. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/49 "2016-02-26T19:10:52Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I doubt the idea is practical, but it is interesting. I don’t think it’s an interesting idea. Take the time to consider people you know personnally, and I’m pretty sure that, like me, you’ll think of a significant number of not very bright people who are an asset and bring positive things into this world, and a significant number of smart people we would be better off without. We have way more worrying issues to solve and more urgent tasks than improving the population’s average IQ. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/50 "2016-02-26T19:17:55Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Those of below average intelligence have a roll in our society. Cinnamon? Spring? Sushi? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/51 "2016-02-26T19:21:38Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > Cinnamon? Spring? Sushi? [Drum](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itAOGRiYRLI). Immediately following the phrase, “Hey! Watch this!..” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/52 "2016-02-26T19:37:54Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Ah, the obligatory Trump joke. But seriously, actual evidence that the population is getting more stupid. Trump winning a few primaries is maybe one millionth of one percent of the way there. But according to your earlier post, by definition half the population is going to have a re-normed IQ of below 100, so the population could get smarter without any change in average IQ. I would say that income inequality is a factor of the increased intellectual demands of the modern world. As the demand for unskilled labor decreases, those with the intelligence to acquire and use skills like computer programming and scientific medicine and engineering and so one grow their incomes and wealth, and the unintelligent fall behind. This doesn’t reflect a change in intelligence levels, but it does highlight the differences between the dumb, the average, and the smart. And other adaptive qualities like delayed gratification, emotional maturity and stability, impulse control, etc. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/53 "2016-02-26T19:40:04Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > People in poor countries are not stupid. They’re poor. > > The endless claim that “The dumb ones are outbreeding us!” (I note nobody making this claim fails to make it clear they are in the smart group) is not supported by any objective evidence that the population is getting dumber. Rather the reverse, see [the Flynn effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flynn_effect). ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/54 "2016-02-26T20:40:57Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > Cinnamon? Spring? Sushi? Paper towel. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/55 "2016-02-26T20:43:23Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I would say that income inequality is a factor of the increased intellectual demands of the modern world. As the demand for unskilled labor decreases, those with the intelligence to acquire and use skills like computer programming and scientific medicine and engineering and so one grow their incomes and wealth, and the unintelligent fall behind. This doesn’t reflect a change in intelligence levels, but it does highlight the differences between the dumb, the average, and the smart. And other adaptive qualities like delayed gratification, emotional maturity and stability, impulse control, etc. This might be the case in a really general sort of way, but does not demonstrate that the population is becoming less intelligent. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/56 "2016-02-26T20:44:07Z")
Let’s begin with the entire younger generation of Flint, MI. Then those zika kids in South America. Whose next, all the kids whose mothers smoked, drank, did drugs during pregnancy? Forced abortions? Why wait till the kids are old enough to be tested? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/57 "2016-02-26T20:47:27Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > People in poor countries are not stupid. They’re poor. > > The endless claim that “The dumb ones are outbreeding us!” (I note nobody making this claim fails to make it clear they are in the smart group) is not supported by any objective evidence that the population is getting dumber. That was my point too. there is a rough correlation (very rough, but statistically significant) between smart and rich - _in the same society_. As for the third world, the same applies - the smarter downtrodden often manage to get some sort of education, and do better, claw their way up. The more adventurous and better educated can be eligible to emigrate to the first world - after all, even our PhD taxi drivers have to be able to read to get in. In essence, we are skimming of many of their best and brightest; especially the doctors, engineers, etc. that those countries need to help in their own development. Fortunately they are an endless source of doctors and HB1 visa tech workers. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/58 "2016-02-26T20:56:11Z")
I don’t mind low IQ people around. You get some of these low IQ people walking around and suddenly I’m looking a lot better. That’s why I’ll never be for eugenics. I don’t care about the human race in general, I care about me personally. The worse my competition is, the better I’ll look in comparison ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/59 "2016-02-26T21:59:41Z")
If you’ve ever played a role playing game (think of it as a microcosm) you’ll know that trying to maximize one trait often has balances in other traits. A well balanced party will have players with a variety of strengths and weaknesses – same with society. I’d work on education and fighting ignorance rather than trying to eliminate folks without as much of some arbitrary measure of intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![T.M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@T.M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.M)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204/60 "2016-02-26T22:14:01Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > But according to your earlier post, by definition half the population is going to have a re-normed IQ of below 100, so the population could get smarter without any change in average IQ. > > I would say that income inequality is a factor of the increased intellectual demands of the modern world. As the demand for unskilled labor decreases, those with the intelligence to acquire and use skills like computer programming and scientific medicine and engineering and so one grow their incomes and wealth, and the unintelligent fall behind. This doesn’t reflect a change in intelligence levels, but it does highlight the differences between the dumb, the average, and the smart. And other adaptive qualities like delayed gratification, emotional maturity and stability, impulse control, etc. > > Regards, > Shodan Please no big words [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-humans-with-low-iq-be/747204.md?page=4)