Estimation of Intelligence

[L.A.F.]

In your opinion, is it possible to get an idea of a person's intelligence based on their threads and comments on AF?

[NoraBrimstone]

I hope not. That would make some of our members unable to feed and dress themselves.

[Darkstar]

In your opinion, is it possible to get an idea of a person's intelligence based on their threads and comments on AF?

Maybe. Some people will act very differently online than IRL. Also, some otherwise perfectly rational theists may abandon reason to defend their faith, creating the illusion that they are less intelligent than they are. You can get what appears to be a decent picture sometimes, but not always. (e.g. I would rank apophenia as extremely intelligent and jstrodel...not so much. But for all I know, when not discussing theism, jstrodel could be fairly smart.)

[Fruity]

Perhaps some people have time to go out of their way to:
- research then post
- post abundantly about what they already know
- copy and paste from other sources

Perhaps some people really are as smart as they seem and it can be expressed through their argumentation style.

Perhaps some people don't have the time or energy to go out of their way to prove themselves, so they simply provide limited portions of themselves when they feel like doing so.

Perhaps someone is pretty stupid and their lack of coherency in their posts shows it.

Perhaps a person is smart, but also a troll who comes off as stupid.

How would you know just by their posts? I think we can get an idea, but never be sure really.

[Faith No More]

I certainly hope I'm smarter than I appear.

[Rayaan]

Yes, we can get at least some idea of a person's intelligence based on what they post here, but, obviously it's just going to be an estimation. Sometimes, it might even be completely off.

On top of that, our estimation of another person's level of intelligence is also subjective to a great extent because it will vary depending on our own intelligence, our perceptions, and our beliefs. Even outside the internet, our estimation of the intelligence of other people that we meet and know is always going to be subjective.

What people simply write on an internet forum only demonstrate a very, very small portion of their intelligence.

[Gilgamesh]

Intelligence is subjective so how it can be measured is, too. Although, I'm pretty sure the writings of someone can be used as a measurement of their intelligence in every subjective definition of intelligence.

Personally, I think intelligence is how you think - and not what you know.

[A_Nony_Mouse]

In your opinion, is it possible to get an idea of a person's intelligence based on their threads and comments on AF?

I have never heard of any IQ test based upon evaluating an essay which is essentially what you would be doing.

Second, most IQ tests are timed because given enough time most people can get most of the answers.

Third, even if there were some kind of generalized method how could you stop the use of google?

[Anomalocaris]

In your opinion, is it possible to get an idea of a person's intelligence based on their threads and comments on AF?

Define intelligence.

[Cato]

In your opinion, is it possible to get an idea of a person's intelligence based on their threads and comments on AF?

Not with precision; however, questions like these increase the likelihood you'll be included left of the median.