2024 Presidential Election Thread

[The_Tick]

Does that mean people as they age have a reduced IQ, because their processing speeds are sometimes slower?

Does a person's IQ peak at a certain age?

Current theory on that is that there can typically be a 10 point shift over ones lifetime. Cognitive decline would impact ones ability to score well on some of these, specifically the ones that are timed.

The ones I administer typically cap out at the age of 22. Some of them, like the WAIS that USUC mentioned, can go up to the age of 90.

[Shaka]

I was the kid who got perfect grades in primary school, got put in all the high level classes in seventh grade, and then started flunking out. Puberty happened at the end of sixth grade and the testosterone was flowing.

My parents were alarmed. Theories were presented that I was either really dumb and had fooled everyone, lazy, or had discovered weed and was toasting my brain. The reality is I had ADD but no one in Utah was diagnosing it at the time. My parents took me to a psychologist to try and figure out what was going on. The second appointment was an IQ test that took around six hours. It was an interesting experience. I'm not a genius but my score was well over what would put my in Tick's 8.2% bracket. I think my late forties/early fifties have seen my IQ shrinking to Kamala levels. Fortunately, the therapy helped and I was able to learn some ways to cope and become better organized. Checklists became my bread and butter.

I'm curious, how has the test changed? Does it still take a ridiculous amount of time?

[falafel]

I was the kid who got perfect grades in primary school, got put in all the high level classes in seventh grade, and then started flunking out. Puberty happened at the end of sixth grade and the testosterone was flowing.

My parents were alarmed. Theories were presented that I was either really dumb and had fooled everyone, lazy, or had discovered weed and was toasting my brain. The reality is I had ADD but no one in Utah was diagnosing it at the time. My parents took me to a psychologist to try and figure out what was going on. The second appointment was an IQ test that took around six hours. It was an interesting experience. I'm not a genius but my score was well over what would put my in Tick's 8.2% bracket. I think my late forties/early fifties have seen my IQ shrinking to Kamala levels. Fortunately, the therapy helped and I was able to learn some ways to cope and become better organized. Checklists became my bread and butter.

I'm curious, how has the test changed? Does it still take a ridiculous amount of time?

Wow, so still brilliant. Lucky guy.

[Shaka]

Wow, so still brilliant. Lucky guy.

Well it depends which Kamala.

[Jeff Lebowski]

When I was in elementary school we did a series of those standardized tests that they make you do periodically. I got called into the principal's office and there was a guy there from the school district who told me that my scores graded out to an IQ of 159. He spent some time telling me that I should consider going to college someday. I thought it was interesting but I wanted to get back out to recess and play with my friends. To my knowledge, they never said anything to my parents about it and if they did, my parents never said anything to me, nor did they ever encourage me to go to college. I got good test scores and grades in HS, but I don't recall a school counselor ever pulling me aside and giving me college or career advice. I did somehow find my way to college anyway and life worked out, but the whole thing makes me shake my head now.

Tick, I am sure you are a much better school counselor.

[USUC]

When I was in elementary school we did a series of those standardized tests that they make you do periodically. I got called into the principal's office and there was a guy there from the school district who told me that my scores graded out to an IQ of 159. He spent some time telling me that I should consider going to college someday. I thought it was interesting but I wanted to get back out to recess and play with my friends. To my knowledge, they never said anything to my parents about it and if they did, my parents never said anything to me, nor did they ever encourage me to go to college. I got good test scores and grades in HS, but I don't recall a school counselor ever pulling me aside and giving me college or career advice. I did somehow find my way to college anyway and life worked out, but the whole thing makes me shake my head now.

Tick, I am sure you are a much better school counselor.

I remember getting an IQ test in maybe late elementary or early Jr high. I have no recollection of how the results turned out. My parents never mentioned it to me. I assume I didn't get 159.

I sure hope that school counselors have improved aince the 80s. I was told i had a learning disability. Something about how most kids can get to a solution by going from A to B. But I go from A to C to D and then to B. That's the only thing they said and sent me on my way. No work arounds. No strategies. Just good luck. It was a perfect excuse not to apply myself because why does it matter. The school counselor also convinced my parents to put me on Ritalin because of ADD. I had no behavior issues. I was far from hyperactive. I just didn't pay attention because my daydreams were more interesting than class. Ritalin stripped any creativity from me (which I was using to get by). It sucked and I convinced my parents to let me stop it after a couple of years.

[Shaka]

I remember getting an IQ test in maybe late elementary or early Jr high. I have no recollection of how the results turned out. My parents never mentioned it to me. I assume I didn't get 159.

I sure hope that school counselors have improved aince the 80s. I was told i had a learning disability. Something about how most kids can get to a solution by going from A to B. But I go from A to C to D and then to B. That's the only thing they said and sent me on my way. No work arounds. No strategies. Just good luck. It was a perfect excuse not to apply myself because why does it matter. The school counselor also convinced my parents to put me on Ritalin because of ADD. I had no behavior issues. I was far from hyperactive. I just didn't pay attention because my daydreams were more interesting than class. Ritalin stripped any creativity from me (which I was using to get by). It sucked and I convinced my parents to let me stop it after a couple of years.

Once I was in college ADD was a thing and Ritalin was being passed around like candy. In my late twenties or early thirties they were doing a study on an ADD drug at the U. I'd never had a formal diagnosis so I signed up for the study. The psychiatrist not only diagnosed ADD he complimented me on how I had dealt with it over the years. I coped well enough that it disqualified me as a candidate for the study. The drug in the study was a Ritalin patch.

There are times when I think that a drug would have made a lot of things easier.

[USUC]

Once I was in college ADD was a thing and Ritalin was being passed around like candy. In my late twenties or early thirties they were doing a study on an ADD drug at the U. I'd never had a formal diagnosis so I signed up for the study. The psychiatrist not only diagnosed ADD he complimented me on how I had dealt with it over the years. I coped well enough that it disqualified me as a candidate for the study. The drug in the study was a Ritalin patch.

There are times when I think that a drug would have made a lot of things easier.

I completely understand why kids diagnosed with ADHD benefit from medication. They are not only scattered and discombobulated, but they are disruptive to others in class. But I'm not convinced ADD (as it was diagnosed in the 80s) is similar to ADHD. School was structured in a way that wasn't of benefit to me. Once I had more control of my schedule in college (Jr college, of course), and slowly shed the excuse of being "learning disabled", i thrived. I think Ritalin focused me too much. I lacked the ability to think creatively. It just didn't feel right. But truth be told, I may have acquired Adderall and used it when I needed to produce a final draft of something. It was effective then. I couldn't handle being on it most of the time.

[tooblue]

I completely understand why kids diagnosed with ADHD benefit from medication. They are not only scattered and discombobulated, but they are disruptive to others in class. But I'm not convinced ADD (as it was diagnosed in the 80s) is similar to ADHD. School was structured in a way that wasn't of benefit to me. Once I had more control of my schedule in college (Jr college, of course), and slowly shed the excuse of being "learning disabled", i thrived. I think Ritalin focused me too much. I lacked the ability to think creatively. It just didn't feel right. But truth be told, I may have acquired Adderall and used it when I needed to produce a final draft of something. It was effective then. I couldn't handle being on it most of the time.

I have posted this before. It's an older video, but still relevant:

The worldwide prevalence of ADHD: is it an American condition?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525089/

From the Abstract:

"Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral disorder that affects up to 1 in 20 children in the USA. The predominance of American research into this disorder over the past 40 years has led to the impression that ADHD is largely an American disorder and is much less prevalent elsewhere. This impression was reinforced by the perception that ADHD may stem from social and cultural factors that are most common in American society. However, another school of thought suggested that ADHD is a behavioral disorder common to children of many different races and societies worldwide, but that is not recognized by the medical community, perhaps due to confusion regarding its diagnosis and/or misconceptions regarding its adverse impact on children, their families, and society as a whole."

[Bo Diddley]

When I was in 2nd grade apparently I was given an IQ test. I have no recollection of it, so I wonder how robust it really was. She wouldn't tell me what my score was, but said it was above ###. I don't put much stock in that. I think she did, because my two older brothers and my sister just younger than me are exceptionally bright. Two of them skipped grades. I have always felt like the dummy in their company. That's also how I feel on this board. There are a lot of exceptionally bright people that post here, and I feel like the dummy. I come for the insights and the social interaction, so perhaps I'm the board blonde--except I'm really not very sexy.

[The_Tick]

When I was in elementary school we did a series of those standardized tests that they make you do periodically. I got called into the principal's office and there was a guy there from the school district who told me that my scores graded out to an IQ of 159. He spent some time telling me that I should consider going to college someday. I thought it was interesting but I wanted to get back out to recess and play with my friends. To my knowledge, they never said anything to my parents about it and if they did, my parents never said anything to me, nor did they ever encourage me to go to college. I got good test scores and grades in HS, but I don't recall a school counselor ever pulling me aside and giving me college or career advice. I did somehow find my way to college anyway and life worked out, but the whole thing makes me shake my head now.

Tick, I am sure you are a much better school counselor.

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST!!!!

[frank ryan]

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST!!!!

There's a whole lot more and different schooling involved. Counselors can't administer the tests you can

[The_Tick]

There's a whole lot more and different schooling involved. Counselors can't administer the tests you can

Right. I can do counseling, but it is only a side gig. I was going to do a dual program of School Psychology/School Counseling, but most school districts in California want you to be a certified teacher...and I didn't want to go and do any more schooling. Lol.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Harris doing media events almost every day. Her 60 Minutes interview was pretty brutal. Kudos to them for asking tough questions.

Meanwhile, Trump chickened out of his 60 Minutes interview. Where is UT to call out his cowardice?

[tooblue]

Harris doing media events almost every day. Her 60 Minutes interview was pretty brutal. Kudos to them for asking tough questions.

Meanwhile, Trump chickened out of his 60 Minutes interview. Where is UT to call out his cowardice?

It was a rough interview but I wouldn't call it brutal. Bill Whitaker forced her to answer the question asked. She struggled but at least showed up and did the interview. Trump is a coward. I suspect Vance is equally cowardly.