I've loved the subject of Intelligentsia since very young (like 6), loved IQ tests and the sort.
Funny thing about Intelligence (maybe of any Truths), it seems the closer you look at a subject the more you find only more questions to explore. Afterall, how would one measure intelligence?
-IQ tests you say give a good reference of higher Intel, but what about test taking classes & their strategies? Is that false inflation of IQ?
-Why does our society seem to place too much value in people who achieve great financial success? I think we've all met highly successful people who were wrong about the home market bubble bursting?
-Also, example of less educated people who achieve great things like "Ross Perot". He was a multi-millionaire in 90's who ran for president but did not finish grade-school (I read a story about it somewhere_s).
-Again, if our culture puts such great emphasis on money making prowess then the double-PhD guy who works as a fry cook at McD's (who can't hold down a 'real job') is the classic urban legend example of a loser.
I grew up in East Los Angeles, very rough neighborhood who's culture of children placed little value of my use of 'lawyer words' all of the time. My neighbors and some family used drugs constantly. Needless to say it taught me 'street smarts'. Unfortunately I see many more-educated people lacking this. They have less perception of when someone is trying to take advantage of a situation.
Read the homepage of Mensa, a group who's only requirement for joining is taking a standardized test and placing in the top 2 percentile (globally). I have been invited to take the Mensa- proctored test, but too nervous.
Anyway, I love the subject. I hope to hear more experiences.
BTW:
-I was Identified as gifted in 2nd grade so my education was likely better than usual in East Los Angeles.
-Yes I am definately the smartest in my familia (sorry to say).
-It is a social conundrum through childhood in the slums. Dumbing-down your behaviors to get along the group of neighborhood friends.
(a quick request to spelling & message board grammer checkers, try not to 'lose the message for the trees'- mates). Take in one runners past experience on the issue, even if he didn't make time to spell check.