The people around you

Post by **GORDON** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 11:17 am

So there is the old saw about "half of all people are of below average intelligence," and let's just ignore the difference between "average" and "median" while I make this point...

And in another thread I linked an article that suggested that 25% of all people have a diagnosable mental illness.

These two bits of info suggest that any time you randomly meet someone, there is a 62.5% chance they are painfully stupid (relative to the typical user of this forum), or actually insane.

And that sounds about right.

Also, going by the population of this forum, there's like a 17% chance that a random person you meet will be a bass player. Blech.

Post by **Leisher** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 11:43 am

Gross. Nobody wants to meet or talk to a bass player.

I came back here after viewing a site that was posting screenshots of people's FB posts and Tweets wishing the Earth or the U.S. a Happy Birthday on January 1st, 2016. Point being, I think there's a LOT of stupid people out there.

Post by **thibodeaux** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 11:44 am

Ahem...

BTW, I imagine that mental illness probably correlates pretty well w stupid, so I'd say you'd be more correct to say "there's a MAX 62.5% chance..."

Post by **GORDON** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 11:56 am

Hmm.

I would say that sociopaths tend to be fairly intelligent, since they need to actually figure out how to blend in with society without having any empathy.

Post by **Leisher** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 11:58 am

thibodeaux wrote:Ahem...

Ha! I was actually waiting for Stranger to come defend bass players as he is one as well.

I would say that sociopaths tend to be fairly intelligent, since they need to actually figure out how to blend in with society without having any empathy.

Very true, but are they mentally disturbed or the only ones who are sane?

Post by **TheCatt** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 12:06 pm

thibodeaux wrote:Ahem...

BTW, I imagine that mental illness probably correlates pretty well w stupid, so I'd say you'd be more correct to say "there's a MAX 62.5% chance..."

Well, the correlation is important, but give that it's unknown, your theoretical max is 75%, not 62.5%. (perfect inverse correlation)

Post by **TheCatt** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 12:08 pm

GORDON wrote:I would say that sociopaths tend to be fairly intelligent, since they need to actually figure out how to blend in with society without having any empathy.

I don't think I'm a socipath. But my wife says I have an amazing lack of empathy.

She also says it's improved dramatically since we got married, but is that just me feigning it? If I truly cannot empathize, would I know the difference between actual empathy and fake empathy?

Post by **TheCatt** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 12:10 pm

This article states that sociopaths are less likely to be educated, but pyschopaths are more likely to be smart.

Post by **TPRJones** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 12:19 pm

TheCatt wrote:If I truly cannot empathize, would I know the difference between actual empathy and fake empathy?

If you are actually worried about it that would be a sign of improvement. If you are feigning concern, then not so much.

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 10:27 pm

And in another thread I linked an article that suggested that 25% of all people have a diagnosable mental illness.

No way it's that low. I think maybe 25% of all people, on a good day, wouldn't be diagnosed with one. I'm being generous with my estimate.

Nobody wants to meet or talk to a bass player.

Post by **GORDON** » Wed Jan 06, 2016 7:53 am

I should clarify that I don't think stupid people can't be nice, or worth knowing. Hell, I think intelligent people are slightly more likely to be dicks.