Go Team? June 20, 2008 12:02 PM   Subscribe

Metafilter is the 3rd Smartest Website in the World
posted by xod to MetaFilter-Related at 12:02 PM (142 comments total)

I don't get it.
posted by jonmc at 12:06 PM on June 20, 2008


Then it's you're fault we only made it to number 3.
posted by Dave Faris at 12:07 PM on June 20, 2008 [15 favorites]


S-M-R-T smart.
posted by 517 at 12:07 PM on June 20, 2008


Apparently, this is the smartest website in the world?

Pfft, it doesn't even use CSS.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:08 PM on June 20, 2008


It's borked links like that that keep us from being #1, Kadin.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:09 PM on June 20, 2008 [3 favorites]


HOORAY IM SMART
posted by Catfry at 12:14 PM on June 20, 2008


Says I'm the #1 smartest person in Portland, ME. Not that I don't believe that, but I'm not in Portland.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 12:14 PM on June 20, 2008 [2 favorites]


I still don't get it.

*jumps out window trying to fly*
posted by jonmc at 12:17 PM on June 20, 2008


I tried to move up from metafilter to the nr 2 site aloyisi.us . Leave you suckers behind.
I read some guy going on about installing Visa on his 'boss computer'.

I'm back. I hope you'll accept me back into the fold.
posted by jouke at 12:18 PM on June 20, 2008


I meant to link to this. I'm not sure that fixing the link is really an improvement, though.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:22 PM on June 20, 2008


jon, that was a ground floor window.
posted by caddis at 12:23 PM on June 20, 2008 [2 favorites]


I, uh. What?
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:27 PM on June 20, 2008


We have work to do.
posted by netbros at 12:30 PM on June 20, 2008


This group has 34 members with various IQs.

ok, who isn't a sock puppet?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:32 PM on June 20, 2008


Are trivia questions usually on IQ tests?
posted by mikepop at 12:35 PM on June 20, 2008 [2 favorites]


I bumped up you're guyses pathetic score. YOUR WELCOME.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:35 PM on June 20, 2008 [2 favorites]


I don't think that knowing the order of books in the bible says a whole lot about your intelligence.
posted by ssg at 12:36 PM on June 20, 2008 [2 favorites]


It ain't the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I'm smart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart and I want respect!
posted by Devils Slide at 12:36 PM on June 20, 2008 [1 favorite]


I'm #2 on metatalk.metafilter.com.

Who's number 1?

I must destroy them and ascend to the throne
posted by chrisamiller at 12:38 PM on June 20, 2008


I'm number 4 on Metatalk, according to this, but this 'I.Q. test' is ridiculous, chrisamiller. I'm a former Mensa member, and IMO the Mensa workout, even though it isn't an actual I.Q. test, is a much closer approximation to the kinds of questions you would find on one than this lame, "Which website/person/state is the smartest?" site.

Trivia and Biblical knowledge? Pffbbtt.
posted by misha at 12:48 PM on June 20, 2008 [1 favorite]


I'm 28th at metafilter.

*drools*
posted by jonmc at 12:54 PM on June 20, 2008


You are #1328 Smartest Human in the World

I prefer to read it as You are #1328: Smartest Human in the World
posted by Science! at 12:56 PM on June 20, 2008 [4 favorites]


I'm number 4 on Metatalk, according to this, but this 'I.Q. test' is ridiculous, chrisamiller. I'm a former Mensa member, and IMO the Mensa workout, even though it isn't an actual I.Q. test, is a much closer approximation to the kinds of questions you would find on one than this lame, "Which website/person/state is the smartest?" site.

Trivia and Biblical knowledge? Pffbbtt.


I always knew those Mensa people weren't as smart as they said they were!
posted by tittergrrl at 12:56 PM on June 20, 2008 [3 favorites]


ok, who isn't a sock puppet?

*raises hand*

I am not spock.

(Always wanted to say that -- thanks for the setup, Brandon Blatcher.)
posted by cog_nate at 1:03 PM on June 20, 2008


Well, looks like jonmc and I just helped knock us up to #2.

(it was much more jonmc than me)
posted by Navelgazer at 1:07 PM on June 20, 2008


Globe is to sphere as dice is to...

sour grapes.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:10 PM on June 20, 2008


General knowledge is not the same thing as IQ even if we are to grant that IQ is an important measure in the first place. Testing if the subject knows which country administered Greenland for most of its history has nothing to do with IQ.
posted by Justinian at 1:19 PM on June 20, 2008


Hmmm...it says that I have pretty eyes and a nice personality.
posted by ColdChef at 1:22 PM on June 20, 2008 [5 favorites]


The website decided my name is "sunset heath". I would rather not be the 488th smartest person in the world than have a name like a scented candle.
posted by ardgedee at 1:22 PM on June 20, 2008


Scented candle shops give me a headache.
posted by jonmc at 1:25 PM on June 20, 2008


I am, for the moment, tied for #7, but below two people who scored worse than I did.

This makes me wonder if we should care about how smart this site thinks we are when it doesn't seem so smart itself.
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:25 PM on June 20, 2008


I probably just peaked at 120.95 and 14th place.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:28 PM on June 20, 2008


Is 66 the lowest score possible? In any case, our average just went down.
posted by nowonmai at 1:32 PM on June 20, 2008


Meh. Also said I was in Virginia, which I'm not. Indeed, not the smartest site, is it?
posted by sadiehawkinstein at 1:37 PM on June 20, 2008


Who's Carousel Camryn, and why did that odd website greet me as such?
posted by TheNewWazoo at 1:38 PM on June 20, 2008


I don't think that knowing the order of books in the bible says a whole lot about your intelligence.

They subtract points for getting that one right.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:41 PM on June 20, 2008 [1 favorite]


God that test sucks. What's with all the lame math word problems? Where's the symbolics and spatial reasoning questions? I'm visual, damnit!

Also, it's like 100 freaking degrees in SF. I'm a bit... soggyminded.
posted by loquacious at 1:41 PM on June 20, 2008


hahahahhaha
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:46 PM on June 20, 2008


For centuries great thinkers, philosophers and psychologist have been trying to find ways to determine the level of intelligence of a person. We think we got one step closer to solution. We know that everyone has got their own strong points and weak points. We give you the mix of questions and compare your answers to answers (and time it took to answer) of other people to exact the same questions. We re-calculate median and deviation of all answers and adjust IQ scores daily. Our IQ score actually means something!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:46 PM on June 20, 2008


hahahaha


wheew

haaa
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:46 PM on June 20, 2008


This is one of the dumbest internet IQ tests I've seen. And that's an accomplishment, so awesome for them I guess?
posted by Tehanu at 1:47 PM on June 20, 2008 [2 favorites]


The more I take it the dumber I get.
posted by Floydd at 1:56 PM on June 20, 2008


I can bring that down, pretty much single handed.
posted by Artw at 1:57 PM on June 20, 2008


I'm a former Mensa member,

Does that mean you used to be clever, but then started hanging around here too much?
posted by modernnomad at 2:18 PM on June 20, 2008 [2 favorites]


Know who else is a member of Mensa?
posted by Tehanu at 2:26 PM on June 20, 2008


i like puppies!!!!!
posted by katillathehun at 2:38 PM on June 20, 2008


Since when was George Best in the Beatles? Silly egg-head munters.
posted by Abiezer at 2:41 PM on June 20, 2008


Yeah, I tried a few rounds and got sick of the excessive math questions.
posted by cellphone at 2:57 PM on June 20, 2008


Since when was George Best in the Beatles? Silly egg-head munters.

I know, right? Everyone knows he was in the Wedding Present.

Yes I know the second song isn't actually on that album, but so what? It's fucking excellent.
posted by dersins at 3:20 PM on June 20, 2008


String tastes funny.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 3:37 PM on June 20, 2008


Dave Faris: Then it's you're fault we only made it to number 3.

No. More likely that it's your fault.
posted by ericb at 3:40 PM on June 20, 2008


What's a battle?
posted by kittens for breakfast at 3:49 PM on June 20, 2008


5. R. Mutt 127.11

Where's my frickin' cookie?
posted by R. Mutt at 3:51 PM on June 20, 2008


Your not willing to gib me the bennyfit of the dout, ericb, that I ment to do that?
posted by Dave Faris at 3:55 PM on June 20, 2008


this 'I.Q. test' is ridiculous, chrisamiller

I thought that much was obvious. I never let details stop me from proclaiming my magnificence, though.
posted by chrisamiller at 3:57 PM on June 20, 2008


What's a battle?

Nothin'! Whatsabattle you?
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:01 PM on June 20, 2008 [2 favorites]


$20SAIT
posted by dersins at 4:02 PM on June 20, 2008


My 'IQ' has gone down 6 points from me trying to improve it.

Worth it to find out that, judging by my rank, MetaTalk is way, way, way smarter than Ireland.
posted by carbide at 4:30 PM on June 20, 2008


Being the smartest website on the web is like being the winner of the Special Olympics.
posted by five fresh fish at 4:32 PM on June 20, 2008 [1 favorite]


They tried to harvest my email and password, but I'm too smart for them! Ha! You'll have to somehow carry on without the weight of my unalloyed genius. Apologies in advance.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:35 PM on June 20, 2008


Mensa Member might wanna rethink that user name, what with just squeaking in at number 76...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:37 PM on June 20, 2008


Perhaps it is time to have our low achievers take one for the team, and switch to the #1 smartest website team. We could take them so down.
posted by R. Mutt at 4:38 PM on June 20, 2008 [2 favorites]


now I'm #61. I just keep getting dumber.

*tries to find gold in a silver mine*
*tries to drink whiskey from a bottle of wine*
posted by jonmc at 5:15 PM on June 20, 2008


Well, that's nothing. I'm the smartest person in the room.

Yeah, so I'm alone. Whatever.
posted by miss lynnster at 5:54 PM on June 20, 2008


I started out good, but now I've been told to inform my parents that I am not to eat with forks any more as I may present a hazard to myself or others.
posted by iamabot at 6:07 PM on June 20, 2008


Huh. Apparently NYC is the 245th smartest city in the U.S.. Seems about right.
posted by A dead Quaker at 6:29 PM on June 20, 2008


And yeah, my punctuation betrays my city of residence.

It's kind of interesting that the average IQs for the various groups seem to be about 99. I wonder if the calibration for the scores is fixed, or if they re-calibrate the scores every so often?
posted by A dead Quaker at 6:33 PM on June 20, 2008


My 133.14159265... will help. Or hurt? Or whatever.

I like the fact that I was assessed a penalty for only answering 20 questions. I'm just going to assume the penalty was 27 points.
posted by maxwelton at 6:45 PM on June 20, 2008


What the fuck?

I hope your head falls off!
posted by dobbs at 6:47 PM on June 20, 2008


10 questions. Jesus, you guys are rubbing off on me. I used to be brilliant. Brilliant!*

* Have any of you guys ever re-read your old report cards from grade, middle and high schools, for giggles? Mine are consistently full of coded stock phrases for "Nice enough kid, bit of a smart ass, fairly bright, perhaps the laziest student we've ever seen." Along about 9th grade they started adding to the aforementioned "needs to stop ruse of dropping his pencil in an effort to see up female student's skirts."
posted by maxwelton at 6:51 PM on June 20, 2008 [1 favorite]


They've actually got a nice fun quiz thing going there, it's too bad they have to keep insisting it's all "IQ" and shit.
posted by yhbc at 7:16 PM on June 20, 2008


I tried redoing it once, and my score went up a bit. Then I tried it a few more times and it went down and down and down.

Then I got drunk. Now it's 123.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:46 PM on June 20, 2008


WTF somehow it knew my first name but spelled it wrong.
posted by tastybrains at 8:50 PM on June 20, 2008


Well, I'm certainly smart enough to not bother following the link.
posted by davejay at 9:13 PM on June 20, 2008


Mine are consistently full of coded stock phrases

Lucky you. Mine said it flat-out.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:08 PM on June 20, 2008


This thing thinks I'm the smartest human in Australia.

I'm a New Zealander, but whatever.
posted by narrativium at 10:13 PM on June 20, 2008


metafilter: 3rd smartest.. while drunk

trivia!? my pants ate my trivia.. boo pants
posted by xorry at 10:20 PM on June 20, 2008


Curse you russilwvong & ten pounds of inedita! I would be #6 in Vancouver if it weren't you smartypants trivia knowing peoples.
posted by juv3nal at 11:29 PM on June 20, 2008


If it makes you feel any better, he top three are probably bullshit. After having seen all the questions I went back in using a different browser and answered everything in under five seconds each, and still couldn't crack 130. Hurfdurf's 144 is hax. Frankly, I doubt that half of the scores above 110 are non-cheats. I'm tempted to make a third account to score as low as possible to even it out.
posted by ten pounds of inedita at 12:02 AM on June 21, 2008


Have you guys learned nothing from TheSpark's IQ test?
posted by aubilenon at 1:16 AM on June 21, 2008


I joined, played. Now I hold xod personally responsible for my exposure to this question:

If Alice is 10, Donatella is 20, Josh and Ted are both 5, and Andy is 10, how old is Natasha by the same system?


I don't friggin know, and if I don't get an answer I'm going to have to send it to AskMe...
posted by kisch mokusch at 1:54 AM on June 21, 2008


If Alice is 10, Donatella is 20, Josh and Ted are both 5, and Andy is 10, how old is Natasha by the same system?

Natasha = 15

The formula is: number of syllables in the name * 5
posted by chrisamiller at 2:02 AM on June 21, 2008


ahh. Thanks.
posted by kisch mokusch at 3:37 AM on June 21, 2008


Sorry. Bringing down the average.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 5:57 AM on June 21, 2008


*drops pencil, rubs off on maxwelton*
posted by danOstuporStar at 10:09 AM on June 21, 2008


I am fucking tearing it up in Harrisburg over here. That makes me feel a little better. I'm still dumber than 13 of you guys though (much better than I thought, really).
posted by synaesthetichaze at 10:58 AM on June 21, 2008


Wow, my IQ went down overnight while I was asleep. I think this fucker is grading on a curve.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:11 AM on June 21, 2008




Curse you russilwvong & ten pounds of inedita! I would be #6 in Vancouver if it weren't you smartypants trivia knowing peoples.


What does the scanner say about his power level? IT'S OVER NINE THOUSAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted by juv3nal at 1:36 PM on June 21, 2008 [1 favorite]


this 'I.Q. test' is ridiculous, chrisamille

All "I.Q. tests" are ridiculous.
posted by Neiltupper at 2:48 PM on June 21, 2008


Dude. I am the 48th smartest human in New York. Is that New York state or New York City? Either way, I'm pretty damn smart.

So why don't I have a million dollars yet? I should be able to figure out how to get it if I'm so smart.

But I'm dumber than most of you here. Alas.
posted by brina at 11:11 PM on June 21, 2008


Oooh. I just read the thread and found the bit about NYC being so dumb. Turns out I'm the 27th smartest person in the whole damn city.

Once again, where is my million dollars?
posted by brina at 11:20 PM on June 21, 2008


Apparently I'm also the colour green, if I was an element I would be mercury, and If I was a pop-starlet I would be Christina Aguilera. Ah, the information age.
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 5:19 AM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]


If it makes you feel any better, he top three are probably bullshit.

Nope.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:03 AM on June 22, 2008


I still don't get it.
posted by jonmc at 10:11 AM on June 22, 2008


SMARTEST GENDER
1. Man 103.35
2. Woman 98.53

Oof.

I'd tell you to shut up and make me a sandwich, were I more confident in your ability to count out two slices of bread.

Just kidding! (Make me a sandwich.)

[Bends arm around head, takes drag off cigarette.]
posted by Sys Rq at 11:59 AM on June 22, 2008


Nope.

True; it's more like the top twenty now, and increasing. Seriously, why not put this much effort into sabotaging things that deserve it?
posted by ten pounds of inedita at 12:29 PM on June 22, 2008


No sabotage involved. You're talking out of your ass.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:32 PM on June 22, 2008


How many different accounts have you created there, wgp? I counted three right off the top.

So how many people are doing the same thing, but not being obvious about it? IMHO, pretty much everyone in the top 20% of every group on the site.
posted by ten pounds of inedita at 12:54 PM on June 22, 2008


You're talking out of your ass.

That would be a helluva sideshow performance. I know I'd pay good money to see it.
posted by five fresh fish at 12:58 PM on June 22, 2008


Separate accounts do not imply sabotage. I used no sabotage. But here's a hint: the people who run that site are not quite as stupid as they appear. If you try to game the system you may find your score decreasing. No sabotage involved on their part, either.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:17 PM on June 22, 2008


Separate accounts do not imply sabotage.

Well, given that you wouldn't be #1 on the list if you hadn't done the test multiple times under multiple accounts, I'm gonna call it like I sees it. The list doesn't reflect who is able to fairly score the best, even with the siteowners' adjustments, because of shenanigans like yours. Gaming the system is sabotage. No ass-talking. The people who do 'well' on that site are not quite as smart as they appear.

And I think the lady doth protesteth too much.
posted by ten pounds of inedita at 1:33 PM on June 22, 2008


Heh. I love this thread. It reminds me of exam results day, when everyone tells you the reasons why they didn't do as well as they expected.

"She got *how many* A-levels at A grade? The bitch must have cheated!"

Then there are those of us who are so scared of failure, we didn't even bother trying in the first place, that is. Count me in that group, as usual.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:44 PM on June 22, 2008


Don't dismay, Peter--I'm changing my username to RENT THIS SPACE.
Twenty bucks. Same as in town.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:55 PM on June 22, 2008


Wait, wait. People are cheating on the crappy online "IQ" test?
posted by Tehanu at 2:10 PM on June 22, 2008


IMHO, pretty much everyone in the top 20% of every group on the site.

I'm #31 in metatalk, and I took the test exactly once, only ten questions. That puts me in the top 7%.

So that's one data point discounting your theory.


Also, I find the fact that people are getting their panties in a bunch over this hilarious.
posted by chrisamiller at 2:52 PM on June 22, 2008


I am the smartest human in GA apparently (and I didn't eve get triple digits!) They couldn't figure out where I live, though.
posted by TedW at 2:55 PM on June 22, 2008


People, people!! This is a grave matter! Please stop ruining everyone's fun by disrespecting this scientific process. We are nothing more than human, we crave knowledge, and now we strive, working together, to finally know, without those seeds of doubt sown by backward misanthropes, who is cleverer than whom! All those who've participated in a manner unbefitting MetaTalk should come forward and be accountable for creating upon Olympus this miasma of


oh I give up. I started leaking pee at "a manner unbefitting MetaTalk"
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 4:04 PM on June 22, 2008


Well, given that you wouldn't be #1 on the list if you hadn't done the test multiple times under multiple accounts, I'm gonna call it like I sees it. The list doesn't reflect who is able to fairly score the best, even with the siteowners' adjustments, because of shenanigans like yours. Gaming the system is sabotage. No ass-talking. The people who do 'well' on that site are not quite as smart as they appear.

Winning an IQ test on the Internets...

Anyone who figures out how to game the system to come out as #1 is certainly a helluva lot smarter than those who don't. It's inane to think there's a single thing "fair" about the test, let alone about a test on the internet. Call it whatever way you want: it's not like anyone gives two shits.
posted by five fresh fish at 5:38 PM on June 22, 2008


Here was a question I got.

What is the odd item out: lead, brass, tin, copper

1) Lead
2) Brass
3) Aluminum
4) Copper

I figure it's the alloy, but the damn choices don't match up with the question.
posted by Bonzai at 6:47 PM on June 22, 2008


Mine says 130 and i can't figure out how to stop meta screens from changing colors from like, april fools or something.
i dont think good guessing would impact a real iq test.
posted by beccaj at 6:48 PM on June 22, 2008


the damn choices don't match up with the question

that is not the only question where that occurs - weird test
posted by caddis at 7:28 PM on June 22, 2008


Dammit, you people have pushed my sock puppets off of the first page, and have caused my IQ to sink. One of my sock puppets still has a firm grasp of the bottom of the list, but there my IQ has strangely risen. I think I am with Jon. I don't get it.
posted by caddis at 7:32 PM on June 22, 2008


Hah. Back on the front page for now.....
posted by caddis at 7:43 PM on June 22, 2008


25. Poop 123.92

Here is the score to beat if you don't want to be dumber than shit.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 8:37 PM on June 22, 2008


Between taking it (once) the other night and now my IQ has mysteriously dropped ~4 points. Not that there's any way in hell that that "123" is anything but a silly web test, but I do wonder how it knew I'd been drinking.
posted by Skorgu at 8:51 PM on June 22, 2008


Mine says 130 and i can't figure out how to stop meta screens from changing colors from like, april fools or something.

click "Make it stop" in the footer
posted by chrisamiller at 10:03 PM on June 22, 2008


Anyone who figures out how to game the system to come out as #1 is certainly a helluva lot smarter than those who don't.

Actually, anyone who thinks it's worthwhile to go to the effort to figure out how to game the system for a lame web IQ test is almost certainly substantially dumber than those who recognize that the almost nonexistent reward isn't worth the effort.
posted by dersins at 10:12 PM on June 22, 2008


I'm going to go crazy here and propose that someone's motivation to game a given system is probably itself a nearly useless metric for their intelligence. I'm gonna shoot the fucking moon on this even, and suggest that there's no high or low degree of intelligence required to point out the crappiness of deciding-to-game-a-system-quotient as a general metric of intelligence.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:23 PM on June 22, 2008


that person though is currently both number 1 on mefi and number 1 in the whole world!
posted by caddis at 5:03 AM on June 23, 2008


cortex and dersins and ten pounds of inedita: What shining morals you have. So wonderful you are here to tell us the truth and protect us from internet trickery.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 5:51 AM on June 23, 2008


I figure it's the alloy, but the damn choices don't match up with the question

But since neither tin nor aluminum is an alloy, that doesn't affect the correct answer.
posted by flabdablet at 5:53 AM on June 23, 2008


Exactly, flabdablet. This is clever. Because tin is not in the answer list, it tells you that tin is correct, and has the genes you're looking for. This prevents people from finding other logical similarities, like letter combinations, that the puzzle creators cannot forsee. It also slows people down who are logical, but not logical enough. Why should the answers in a multiple choice question match the question? All you care is that the correct answer is there.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:08 AM on June 23, 2008


You wanna back that wagon up a couple of furlongs and explain to me in detail where I took a moral stance on this?
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:23 AM on June 23, 2008


Suck it, suckers. I am #44 in Metatalk, and #1 in Lethbridge, Alberta!
posted by arcticwoman at 8:38 AM on June 23, 2008


What shining morals you have. So wonderful you are here to tell us the truth and protect us from internet trickery.

I didn't say you were a bad person for engaging in internet trickery. I just said you were dumb for bothering.
posted by dersins at 9:07 AM on June 23, 2008


Sorry, cortex; I misread your comment. I was pissed off that people pulled the "sabotage" card out of their ass because they can't crack 130 or whatever. Middle school.
I don't know how well this test measures intelligence, but it's extremely clever and a lot of fun. There are pitfalls, so I don't know how you would game it. My score went down overnight without retesting, so maybe they're averaging usernames. I don't know how accurate that would be, since I tried for wrong answers on some tests to get a feel for the grading accuracy.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:11 AM on June 23, 2008


Fuck you dersins.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:11 AM on June 23, 2008


I'm not saying your a bad person for engaging in sex with the mentally challenged, dersins.
I'm just saying fuck yourself somewhere else.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:23 AM on June 23, 2008


You know, this may be one of those you-two-should-exchange-email situations at this point.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:25 AM on June 23, 2008


Profanity is the last refuge of a motherfucker.
posted by Dave Faris at 9:31 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]


Feeling a little oversensitve this morning, wgp?
posted by dersins at 10:07 AM on June 23, 2008


Between taking it (once) the other night and now my IQ has mysteriously dropped ~4 points.
...
My score went down overnight without retesting, so maybe they're averaging usernames.


I could be wrong, but I think they're resetting the overall mean to be a 100 every night. I have only one username and my score dropped overnight as well.

I'm gonna shoot the fucking moon on this even, and suggest that there's no high or low degree of intelligence required to point out the crappiness of deciding-to-game-a-system-quotient as a general metric of intelligence.

Suggesting that "there's no high or low degree of intelligence required to point out the crappiness of deciding-to-game-a-system-quotient as a general metric of intelligence" is, however, a pretty solid metric for one's propensity to overthink a plate of beans.
posted by juv3nal at 10:52 AM on June 23, 2008


Nah. I feel just fine.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:52 AM on June 23, 2008


No argument there, juv3nal.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:13 AM on June 23, 2008


I would like to see a bean overthinking test. Would all the questions be simple but easily overthought if the instructions were suggestive? Or would some be more easily overthought than others?
posted by Tehanu at 11:15 AM on June 23, 2008


I found what I believe is a mistake in the test. Follow me here:

Five teenagers are of various heights. Alex is taller than Dennis, who is shorter than Eunice. Chris is shorter than Bob, but taller than Alex. Who among them is the third tallest.

1. Chris
2. Alex
3. Dennis
4. Eunice

Eunice is above Dennis, but we don't know how far above. The assumption is that she is immediately above Dennis, but this is not explicit. She could be in any of the top four places, which means that the third tallest could be Chris, Eunice, or Alex.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:23 PM on June 23, 2008


Err, yeah, so I'm the smartest person in New York City, apparently... and I rank 225th in the world. It's very clearly not accurate.
posted by jeversol at 1:11 PM on June 23, 2008


Metafilter: Our IQ score actually means something!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 2:53 PM on June 23, 2008


I just did my part.
posted by speicus at 8:01 PM on June 23, 2008


the metafilter average IQ is down to 113 or so

i blame cortex
posted by spiderwire at 8:27 PM on June 23, 2008


So here's the deal. First, you have to answer the questions. Then you're put in a bracket of say, ten points that depends on your grade, but there's a random component within that bracket that cycles you around and pisses you off, but keeps you playing and generating ad revenue for IQ League. If you can't break 130, for example, that means you have some wrong answers, and you'll keep bouncing around between 120 and 130.

IQ league goes in at midnight and shuffles the brackets. So if you were #25 with 137, you're now #32 with 128, for no apparent reason. If they were just scaling, there's no reason #1 should drop to #7, right?

Most people playing this site have multiple identities. That's because you can't play the game longer than about eight or ten rounds before they'll cut you off. But IQ League wants you to have multiple identities, because keeps you playing and generating ad revenue for them. They have ninety thousand users, right? Sure. If you look under Countries, for example, nine out of the top ten spots for Korea are held by one guy in Marina del Rey.

So I figured out all the answers (no hacks) and I'll go in after they shuffle the deck at midnight and place myself anywhere I want in the top ten. I'm not doing anything different from others on the site, except that I now know the answers. Plus I'm injecting humor, like "tl;dr" or A+++ WOULD BE SMART AGAIN!!11! for a username. I suppose all this may jamming their radar, because they now seem to be deleting my old logins. This is serious business, right? Fair enough, except they're not doing the same thing to people placing lower down.

No big deal. It's a game. So I retired at #1. But I'm not the scammer. That title goes to the proprietors.

Oh, and they made several mistakes in their questions.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 2:13 AM on June 28, 2008 [3 favorites]


Perhaps I should disable my account. I'm clearly bringing down the average, as you guys are making my pretty little head hurt.

So hey, what's our world website ranking for having dingbat members whose pretty little heads smoke when simply discussing IQ tests? Oh nevermind, I'm sure Perez Hilton has that category all sewn up.

P.S. -- FIRST!!!!!! lol
posted by miss lynnster at 10:55 AM on June 28, 2008


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