-- Posted by TheIntellect at 9:28 pm on Feb. 6, 2008 Let's have an intellectual discussion on the test needed to get into this thread. While I agree with the concept, and for the most part it does it well, it's stupid on 2 accounts. 1.) I tried under my real account. And a mod reported back saying I didn't get in because I only scored a 10/20 on the Multiple Choice (despite the fact when I hit submit, it said I scored well enough on the MC for my written response to be considered  -- so in theory, he shouldnt have rejected me on the basis of the MC if I qualified) Anyway, instead of waiting 5 days, I created another account, this one I'm using now. And took it again right away. Probably improved on MC by 1 or 2 points. And wrote an even better response -- saying why I should be accepted and to look past potential problems with the MC. And as you can see, I got in. So yes, you can cheat the system somewhat by avoiding the time delay. But the mods are subjective, when they shouldn't be, If 10/20 on the MC is sufficient, then don't deny me access because you yourself disagree with the current level of adaptedness of the MC! Accepted is accepted, qualified is qualified. The ACLU states that there's not levels of qualification, you're either qualified or your not. And on my first try on my real account, I was qualified! UGH 2.) Some of the multiple choice is irrelevant. The grammar questions, and related things are fine. But knowing the computer code to make text bold or colorful? Matching up a puzzle piece? BOLLOCKS Stuff like there is irrelevant to education. And those are what I messed up on. I know I did well on the grammar part. Whether I can visually see what 2 pieces of a puzzle matches is irrelevant to my maturity, intellect, or anything else for that matter. Even the math problems, while that does show you if you're educated and smart, it only does in respect ot MATH This is a writing forum. Some people arn't good at math. And whether they;re good or not has no relevance to their capabilities of interacting on section. The free response is the best way to judge. And it's smart that it is weighted much more than the MC. And the MC is good too, but needs to be revised and improved. The test overall is great idea, and works to a great extent. But needs to be improved Think of all those smart, thought provoking people you are rejecting because they have trouble with math, or because they're not good with visual problems. Hardly fair, is it? ---- What's more, and this is just semantics, change the title of the test and section. "Intellectual" is insulting for those who didn't pass the test. The test, while good for selection, doesn't show a person's intellect or level of education. As I said, I failed the first time -- and I'm one of the smartest people on here: 20 years old, 2nd year in University, a University ranked top 50 in the US, and im doing well with a B average. I don't need that test to confirm I'm smart, and when I failed the first time, I laughed so hard cos clearly I'm smart. Why "Intellect" test, why not "Selection" test. And label the board "Debating" section. Seems more appropriate, no? -- Posted by NakedSun at 7:13 am on Feb. 7, 2008 While I do agree that certain aspects of the test are unfair or perhaps futile I have to laugh at the fact you claim to be one of the smartest people on here. So simply because YOU did not pass the test the first time makes it stupid and inaccurate of what service it is providing. Perhaps you just aren't as clever as you think you are and all the fancy proof of getting into a well know place of higher education is just smoke and mirrors. I have a friend who got into the top ranking University in Canada. I have a higher IQ then him and generally more street smarts. Just because you go to a certain place of education does not mean you are automatically smarter than other people. -- Posted by okumsup at 10:49 am on Feb. 7, 2008 I seemed to do fairly well on the test, other than the American history question. Here in Canadia we don't learn a thing about American history. I didn't think of the test as something difficult. I mainly just ranted about them judging our intellect arbitrarily and sarcastically called the person reading it as the, "Grand Inquisitor of Knowledge." Honourable title, if you ask me. -- Posted by ariellexo at 7:24 am on Feb. 8, 2008 Quote: from NakedSun at 7:13 am on Feb. 7, 2008 So simply because YOU did not pass the test the first time makes it stupid and inaccurate of what service it is providing. Perhaps you just aren't as clever as you think you are and all the fancy proof of getting into a well know place of higher education is just smoke and mirrors. You took the words right out of my mouth. I found that pretty much every single question on that test was common sense. For those that are not what you may consider common sense, you can make an educated guess based on the choices for answers that you are given. And I guess you mustnt be as smart as you think if you can fail something so silly. -- Posted by TheIntellect at 2:53 pm on Feb. 8, 2008 Because knowing a computer code to what makes text bold or colorful really shows if your smart? It really shows you can write well? Bollocks. I got that question right, cause it is common sense. But still... This post thread isn't about me. And since I'm complaining about a question I got RIGHT shows that. At the end of the day, I know I'm smart. And I know that my future after college and law school is promising. I will be successful. And I don't need a 20min useless, subjective, and irrelevant forum quiz to show me that. -- Posted by Patronizing Bastard at 3:20 pm on Feb. 10, 2008 How pitiful... Your qualifications on why you are smart are rather sad. A top 50 university? That's not too great. B average? Again not to great considering that you are only in a top 50 university. A top 50 university is a safety type school. Once you are top twenty then you are talking. -- Posted by TheIntellect at 3:53 pm on Feb. 10, 2008 Mate, I got into schools ranked much higher. But this one was my first choice and I like it so much. Rankings don't influence me. And I find it pathetic that people choose schools based on rankings. When you're in the top 50, it doesnt matter. Georgetown and Tufts are the same quality. George Washington and Bucknell are the same quality. Lehigh and John Hokpins are the same quality. And so on. There's well over 2,500 colleges in the US. If you're in the top 50 schools, you're in the top 2%!!!! You, my friend, are kidding yourself if you think rankings matter to the extent you're alluding too.....What's more, you're claiming that the 98% of other students who arnt fortuanate to attend a top 50 school are stupid. Which is just wrong. Any way, if rankings were based purely on academics (instead of alumni, endowments, and all that other nonsense) my school would easily be in the top 20 or 30. But all the other crap brings it down. It doesn't matter what school you go to.. Rather, it matters what you do when you get there. -- Posted by Patronizing Bastard at 4:39 pm on Feb. 10, 2008 Quote: from TheIntellect at 3:53 pm on Feb. 10, 2008 It doesn't matter what school you go to.. Rather, it matters what you do when you get there. And you bite yourself in the ass... After touting your top fifty school and your B average, neither of which are impressive by the way, you go and say this... Your original post would imply something completely different and your B average would imply that you haven't done too well since you have gotten to your amazing school. -- Posted by TheIntellect at 4:54 pm on Feb. 10, 2008 I don't know when a B become a bad grade.... anything from a 3.0 and up is considered good in my books.... No employer is going to turn me down because I graduated with a B average. So I think I'm fine.... But hey, if you want to continue to be pompous and self righteous, then go ahead. See if that kind of attitude gets you far in life. -- Posted by Patronizing Bastard at 4:59 pm on Feb. 10, 2008 Quote: from TheIntellect at 4:54 pm on Feb. 10, 2008 I don't know when a B become a bad grade.... since grade inflation anything from a 3.0 and up is considered good in my books.... way to be an underachiever No employer is going to turn me down because I graduated with a B average. So I think I'm fine.... see above But hey, if you want to continue to be pompous and self righteous, then go ahead. See if that kind of attitude gets you far in life. it already has -- Posted by obvious child at 1:34 pm on Feb. 11, 2008 It's an well known fact that the intellectual test is stupid, ignorant and ineffective. The test focuses on knowledge where it should be focused on how one thinks. Anyone moron can go look up something in an book, but not everyone has the critical thinking skills to solve hard, complex problems. If I wrote the test, the pass rate would drop like an rock. -- Posted by lunasantin at 10:25 pm on Feb. 12, 2008 Come on down to the Intellectual Forum, where you have to pass a test to earn the right to... endlessly discuss whether the test required to get into the forum is a good idea! Seriously, that seems to be the only common thread in here. -- Posted by Clergyboy at 12:44 am on Feb. 13, 2008 My head hurts when reading long English articles... I have nothing against that test but I do believe I lost points on the Democracy party question or something like that -- Posted by TheOtherHorseman at 7:32 am on Feb. 13, 2008 Quote: from TheIntellect at 12:28 am on Feb. 7, 2008 As I said, I failed the first time -- and I'm one of the smartest people on here: 20 years old, 2nd year in University, a University ranked top 50 in the US, and im doing well with a B average. Are you seriously coming in here to brag about your B average? A B? As in a 3.0 GPA? -- Posted by TheIntellect at 10:05 pm on Feb. 17, 2008 Not once did I brag. All I said is that I'm doing well in a very good reputable University. As far as I'm concerned, a B is indeed considered "doing well" -- and majority of people in society agree with that. But I still do think I'm one of the smartest people on here. I'm not the best in science, and I'm only decent in math. But I rate highly my writing and analytical skills -- hence I'm majoring in Political Science, and not Physics or Calculus.... And I'm sorry, majority of the multiple choices on the test were simply irrelevant. Whether you got them right or wrong doesn't make a difference -- some of those questions simply have nothing to do with testing if you're qualified to post on this section. -- Posted by sadnessness at 3:39 pm on Mar. 10, 2008 i found the question on American Republican policies annoying... im not american, so i have no idea! -- Posted by thecurious at 10:14 pm on Mar. 11, 2008 I just passed the test today, being my second day in all i feel pretty good. I would like to see my score on the MC questions though. Me being a webmaster makes the "green bold text" question look like something i can do while drowsy. Most people should know since BBC code is used on forums. -- Posted by Nodoz at 5:51 am on Mar. 12, 2008 intellect ≠ education aclu ≠ infallible subjectivity ≠ always bad objectivity ≠ always good Labeling the board debating precludes agreement, I don't like that.   "As I said, I failed the first time -- and I'm one of the smartest people on here: 20 years old, 2nd year in University, a University ranked top 50 in the US, and im doing well with a B average. I don't need that test to confirm I'm smart, and when I failed the first time, I laughed so hard cos clearly I'm smart." You're smart because you're in a good uni? Today I picked up a pulmonary embolism in a completely asymptomatic patient who was ready for discharge, I'm sure you have no idea how difficult that is to do or how important so let me break it down for you. I saved a life with my intelligence today. And you're using yours to deride the nomenclature of an internet forum. This makes you fell superior? Do take your second year of university and fuck off little boy. -- Posted by Bobster the Lobster at 12:30 am on April 1, 2008 See, I actually felt the test was fair.  It was actually pretty easy, and the short answers were just flat out fun to answer.  So, if you failed the first time, that's all on you buddy. -- Posted by sophos at 6:24 am on April 1, 2008 Quote: from TheIntellect at 5:53 am on Feb. 9, 2008 At the end of the day, I know I'm smart. And I know that my future after college and law school is promising. I will be successful. And I don't need a 20min useless, subjective, and irrelevant forum quiz to show me that. And yet, you had such an insatiable hankering to get in, that you resorted to cheating. One thing's for damn sure; Your future as a lawyer, is a promising one. -- Posted by twistedxangel at 2:26 am on April 2, 2008 Ok, well I'm just going to have to agree that some of the questions, though common sense, were a bit rediculous. [However the only one that I found completely idiotic and I didn't understand at all was the one about the letters having to do with the question...I've never even heard of something like that to begin with!] But, I'm not complaining. I got in ^_^ -- Posted by MagicHunter at 11:28 pm on April 5, 2008 That's weird, I'm a highschool dropout, ex drugaddict, and currently in the military, and I scored a %100 on my first try, and my compelling argument was more or less "I only did this cause I was bored, I dont care if I get accepted." That's strange how that works. And somehow I don't think myself any smarter than your average idiot. Academia breeds some serious....intellectuals.