Whether or not I have or have not taken an IQ test is not something I would disclose, nor would I ever share my score.
The whole concept of discussing 'IQ,' especially when said score places one in a perceived upper-echelon, feels like a veiled, self-congratulatory observation.
For me, raw intelligence has little to no bearing on, well, anything. I am much more concerned in someone's emotional intelligence, sense of self, and work ethic.
This is not to call Stadler out (although, his post has prompted this anecdote)—when I was young, my grandfather would often brag to anyone who would listen that he 'could be a member' of MENSA "if he wanted to pay for the membership."
My grandfather was a proud man. He built the home he raised my father in with his bare hands. He was also a drunk who spent the last thirty years of his life clipping coupons, collecting government checks, 'studying', and doing crossword puzzles.
My father, who didn't graduate high-school (the only one of his siblings to not attend college), probably has an average IQ. That said, he somehow managed to climb several rungs up socioeconomic ladder. I spent the first 5 years of my life living in a trailer on the ass-end of town. By the time I was eighteen, my parents resided in a gated community and we (my sisters and I) were all attending private schools and driving shiny new cars.
My father started a machining business in a shed behind said trailer, and through grit and gumption, grew that one-man operation into a manufacturing powerhouse.
So, whenever my grandfather would brag about being an unofficial member of MENSA (meant as a dig to my Dad), my father would grin and bear it. But once, while driving home, my typically stoic father said, "You know, you grandfather is probably the smartest man I know. He's forgotten more about the world than I'll ever know. But you know what, son? You don't need to be a genius to recognize a good opportunity. You just need to have your eyes open and be willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. Most men aren't willing to go there, but if you are, you'll do just fine in life."
It's one of the 'smartest' things anyone's ever told me.
Like I said, my father is by no means a genius—but he's as cagey as they come, and I've never met someone more capable of turning a nickel into a dollar.
If you're a genius, that's great. But if you're just an ordinary guy of ordinary intelligence who likes to work hard, we will probably get on great.
@Stadler—like I said, this is not a direct dig at you (I respect you)
Topic: Have you ever taken an IQ test? (Read 2029 times)