Greetings,
Well said Carmen.
The simplistic arrogance of claiming that IQ tests are a good test of a universal and individual
intelligence is breathtaking. The IQ test can never be more than a localised test of one group of
people with similar education and upbringing and every pshycometrician with an ounce of honesty
knows this. One could easily devise a similar test in which Arabs (for example) would come top and
one could use the same tired old arguments to justify it.
The revulsion (especially amongst intellectuals) against this degradation and insult to whole racial
groups is not usually to do with an altruistic ethical stance. It is simply that it is scientific
bollocks.
What kind of answer do you think that 'John Wooden Leg' would have given to the question:
"In the following series, the fifth member is omitted. What is it? 56 . . 35 . . 20 . . 10 . . ? . .
1?"
I'm almost crying with laughter at the thought of it.
"Now Mr Leg, sit down at this desk. You have thirty minutes to answer these fifty questions. No, you
might do better if you start now instead of having a smoke on the pipe and a hour or two
contemplation . . . you need a pen? . . . . what do you mean you've never had a use for one? . . . .
. are you thick or something? . . . . yes I know the wind is getting up outside and the trees are
fascinating, but please concentrate on the task . . . no talking please . . . now put the beads away
they have nothing to do with my test . . . . that one is an alsation, that one a collie, that one a
retriever and you have to choose the odd one out - what do you mean by they are ALL 'good' dogs?
Can't you see the odd one out? Are you having me on? . . . . you're running out of time John . . . .
.oh dear, you didn't do very well, must be a stupid twat if you ask me. . . not nearly as clever as
the white man."
I can't believe that this type of insulting bigoted nonsense still demands refutation, and on a
forum like this! What ever happened to Paul Fisher, you guys could get a great conversation going.
Struan
------------------------------------------
Struan Hellier
< mailto:struan@shellier.freeserve.co.uk>
"All our best activities involve desires which are disciplined and
purified in the process."
(Iris Murdoch)
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