On 02 Jun 2004 05:13:22 GMT, (Veeduber) wrote:

maybe homebuilders arent average. maybe we should lift the bar on
the rest of society,

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Much ado has been made of 'National IQ' tests, comparing one nationality
against another (yes, Oz is right in there).

If such tests have any validity (they don't, but work with me here), then the
average intelligence of citizens of industrialized nations is about 100.

A key point neatly overlooked in this typical bit of modern-day feel-good
'news' is that if the AVERAGE is about 100 then the MEDIAN is around 85.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the behavior of our society is a
closer match to the lower figure than the higher. And that the assertion the
'average citizen' can not be trusted to properly maintain an airplane (or even
a car) is probably more right than wrong.

-R.S.Hoover

the other day in my studies I came across the graph of IQ's you refer
to. (thought of you instantly)

the graph is of Wechaler IQ's
0 - 70 is 2% of the population.
70 - 85 is 14% of the population.
85 - 100 is 34%
100 - 115 is 34% again.
115 - 130 is 14%
over 130 is 2%

traditional IQ tests really only test logic, spatial and numeric
talents. as Mr Gardiner pointed out there are 8 areas of intelligence.
linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, spatial, body-kinesthetic,
natuaralistic, social understanding and self understanding.
so IQ's dont tell all of the story.

if we take IQ's from 85 up as being either good with the hands (not
fully appreciated in the IQ test) or intellectually able (fully
covered by the IQ test) to build and maintain aircraft.
82% of the population are theoretically able to handle learning about
and actually maintaining their aircraft.

even statistically there is no need for the pessimism about owners
maintaining their own aircraft.

Stealth Pilot