Funny tale - Are you a Statistic? or Above average?

[wyrmbane_]

So, My roommate and I are clearing out our banks, making some various items, etheral tempers, curing agents, qeynos afternoon teas, etc.

She is combining 3 stacks worth of Ethereal tempers and Curing agents. 248 Brewing, so definately trivial, allowing just the 5% failure.

Everytime she fails, she lets out a Sigh or "Argg, I failed again."

I reply, "You know, you are supposed to fail 3 of those total, 1 per stack."

Her response to me? "I don't want to be a statistic, I want to be better than average!"

So there you go...are you a statistic? Better than everage? or worse than average. I busted up laughing when she said it. Thought everyone here could use a laugh as well.

wyrmbane

[Inyidd]

Well, until I actually read the story, I thought the subject of this thread was "Are you sadistic? Or above average?" Still a funny story, though.

--Inyidd

[Lilosh]

It's like that old saying.

The problem with having above-average intelligence means that , by definition, at least half the people you meet will be stupider then you.

(Which can be extended into The problem with being in the top 10 percent, or what have you..)


-Lilosh

[Cigarskunk]

It's like that old saying.

The problem with having above-average intelligence means that , by definition, at least half the people you meet will be stupider then you.

(Which can be extended into The problem with being in the top 10 percent, or what have you..)


-Lilosh

As a member of Mensa I can say that 98% of the people I meet are dumber than me.

As for combines - I'm definately above average on trivial stuff - everything except for slicing cakes - I've never failed a cake combine but I'll fail to slice 2-3 per stack with a 250 baking and my trophy.

JC is were I really shine though - skilling up from 235-239 I only had one failure on just shy of 200 combines - having enchanted all of my plat I actually came out about 600 plat ahead of the game.

[Angelsyn]

As a member of Mensa I can say that 98% of the people I meet are dumber than me.

Heh... I never joined Mensa... I didn't like having to dumb myself down to talk to those people...

[Lothay]

Not to say anything bad about anyone in particular, but I too have declined Mensa membership. Numerous times.

Being above average does in fact mean that the chances of meeting people on the other side of the equation goes up. But, since like attracts like, you generally end up surrounding yourself with people similar to you.

Something to think about, no?

And an interesting quote I once read

"It is frightening to think that the people who read The National Enquierer are amounst the few people who bother to read at all."

~Lothay
~So many books, so little time.

[Delfontes]

I think most everyone considers themselves above average intelligence.

So what does that say?

As for people in Mensa, that doesn't mean you're in the top 98% of the population, it means you knew more answers to a test that most people don't even take.

There is no measure of intellect that is accurate or unbiased, it simply isn't possible to do.

[Quesci]

Mensa accepts people who score in the top 2% on any of a variety of tests (SAT, ACT, lots of different IQ tests). Generally speaking, no two tests measure the exact same thing. Granted, many of the top scorers in one test will score high in another. On the other hand, many people will score poorly on one test and high on a different accepted test. Clearly, then, far more than the top 2% of the population is eligible for Mensa.

My Mensa membership card shows an expiration date of March, 1993. I think of "Flowers for Algernon" when I look at the date.

[Phabos]

Reading this thread and some of the responses, I can't help but think back to the advice I was given a long time ago...

"It's not how smart you are, but what you do with it that counts."

No offense to anyone, but I don't put a great deal of stock into an intelligence test. Granted, some tests have to exist (ACT and LSAT were the ones I had to take), but the true measure is what happens when the diplomas are on the wall, the study aids are on the shelf, and the real world calls your name.

Am I above average? Grades and test scores seem to say so.

Could I qualify for Mensa? Maybe, maybe not.

Do either of those really matter in the long run? I don't think so.

Just my 2cp on the matter.

Phabos Aphsion
Drunken Paladin of Brell
Tarew Marr

[Cigarskunk]

LOL - sorry for the aiding of a hijack - the Mensa thing doesn't mean much to me when all is said and done - attended a few meetings and functions in my area and the best I can say about those folks is that they hide thier intelligence well.

Now adays when folks ask me about my Mensa ring I just tell them that it's to indicate that I'm a secret member of the New World Order - sigh, worst part is that the vast majority believe me. :shock: