I say leave it at 60. It’s worked OK so far.
Mine goes to eleven.
I think there’s too much snobbism on these boards already. I’ve seen plenty of it. On top of all the logical fallacies that already exist the Dope adds a new one; poking fun at someone else’s spelling or grammar does nothing to discredit their argument. Would testing their IQ’s prove more useful?
And I fully expect a smartass to correct this post as well.
I knew what your thread title meant.The saying “Fools rush in…” is somehow bleeping in the forefront of my mind.
1st question,I hope not. How would you verify? I’ve never had an IQ test.( Which takes care of 2,3 & 4 for the nonce).
#5. I dropped out of school after tenth grade and ran away from home. If I join the Dope I figure I provide the valuable service of making the smart look smarter by increasing the lower end population.
For the last,if I’m "Pixels on a Screen " ( hats off to QG ) how would you know IRL?
I think that there should be an intelligence test to participate on this board, at least after a month or so trial period.
I think we shouldn’t let anyone post who’s not smart enough figure out how to send an electronic payment of $14.95 to the Chicago Reader.
You need to be civil and polite. You’ll get banned if you’re a jerk. Almost anything else goes. Nobody would visit the board if everybody knew everything. It would be the same as talking to yourself.
it occurs to me that the board itself, as well as the column is an accurate test of intelligence. I’ve tried to turn a variety of people onto the dope, and I’ve noticed only the more intelligent of my friends show any interest beyond the initial “Oh, that’s neat!” reaction.
On top of that the level of discussion in terms of vocab, subject matter, and method of discourse are such that anyone of substantially low intelligence would quickly find themselves in over their head. And if they’re still trying to plug away at making meaningful posts even though they’re in over their head, more power to 'em! It shows they’re trying to learn and participate, which is never something that should be discouraged.
As has been mentioned, degrees don’t mean squat; I myself couldn’t finish college do to outside factors, but I’ve done a lot of self-study. I don’t need to spend $30k a year just so I can have a little piece of paper which tells people too dumb to figure it out any other way that I’m intelligent. Besides, I can’t count how many people I’ve met who have college degrees and yet are so stupid it makes me want to eat my own brain. I’m not sure what eating my own brain would do to fix the situation, but it always seems to occur to me that it would somehow help.
Lastly, IMHO discrimination in any form is the product of ignorance; as a board that is trying to fight against ignorance, it would seem hypocritical to alienate those who come here seeking enlightenment. Sure, you can go out, find a horse, lead it to water and hope it drinks… but isn’t it so much easier when the horse comes right up to you and asks for a drink?
You mispelled “dum”.
Of course not. Aside from the other reasons given (i.e. we have more than enough elitism), the board would lose several vital perspectives. Seeing differing opinions and point of views from a wide spectrum of people is why I have stayed at this board for so long. Everyone has something to offer, even if its not abundantly clear at first. I have learned from some of the “dumbest” people I have ever met, just as I have learned from the more “intelligent” people. We all come from different walks of life, different intelligence and educational levels, and we all have different experiences. That is truly how we fight ignorance, gaining knowledge from people different than us. Taking away that aspect of the board would drive away droves of people (including many of the intelligent ones); ironically enough, removing the “dummies” would actually dumb down the board.
I was going to get all indignant and say “well, if they imposed an intelligence bar, I’d leave in a huff”, then it occurred to me that actually, I might not have the choice.
My cat’s breath smells like cat food.
i dunt thank their shuld be a tes to bee hear.
If fighting ignorance is really the central theme of this board - I’ll add that the above statement isn’t correct. IQ is a very good predictor in a range of major life outcomes. That’s mainstream - not fringe.
Wow, your 10th post in 4+ years. This thread must really push your button. 
IQs doesn’t take an apostrophe. Now what was it you were saying?
No intelligence requirement necessary. Plenty of people of average intelligence do just fine on the SDMB just by being polite and thoughtful. We may have a lot of brainy people, but it still all starts and ends with “Don’t be a jerk.”
You don’t even need that. As long as you have the ability to ask questions and not be a jerk, you’re welcome here, even if you’re bone stupid and don’t know a damn thing.
Sitnam, you might would to consider a comma between “exist” and “the.” 
Seriously, though, thanks to everybody for your responses. In addition to ny not having any influence on the admins here as far as requirements for signing up, I started to this thread partially in response to what’s mentioned in the first sentence of the above quote.
I also agree with the comments about the sharing of knowledge that occurs here, no matter who you are. I’ve learned a lot. Not only from the facts that people post, but about personalities, education levels and perspectives that go into those posts. I recently started a poetry thread in Cafe Society. Not because I know a lot about poetry, but I wanted samples from other Dopers that would lead me to check out poems and poets I know nothing about. Thanks everybody.
Annie-Xmas, Mensa called; they said that, in addition to the written test, that phrase is the password to getting in. Yay!
Whew. Dodged another bullet…
Not so fast. May I see a copy of your college transcripts, please?