[DieHard the Hunter]

In general, German Shepherd dogs are “more intelligent” than Welsh Springer Spaniels...

...until you ask them both to hunt. The former thinks it is a game and will have great fun chasing the game. The latter takes it as a profession and will reliably flush game for Master to shoot. And if Master is too stupid to do the job, the latter will gladly bring home a few for him.

Comparisons like “intelligence” are unhelpful because it is an unfair and incomplete measure, and is always set within a given context.

I would rather be stuck in the Outback with an illiterate Aborigine than with a Doctor of Philosophy from Finland. Something tells me I’d eat more often and stay alive longer with the former than with the latter.

[Star Traveler]

So, how about who functions better in today’s society as contributing and functioning human being, operating within our given societal norms. You could start by asking the large population (percentage) of blacks in prison why they got there...?? Is it “white oppression”? Is that it?

And would you be choosing people of that group, “race-wise” to use as an example of how to function well in our society?

[WildcatClan]

A very nice comparative, you both made excellent points. It boils down to the metrics utilized to determine intelligence. I am not sure you could exactly identify the metrics used as “caucasian centric” because Asians score 10 points higher on average on IQ tests.

I am just going to observe, interesting discussion. My theory counters the one posted, but still it is an interesting discussion. My theory is that I would have been stupid no matter what ethnicity I was born into, heh :)

[puroresu]

You are correct that you’d be more likely to survive in the Outback with an Aborigine than a Finnish PhD.

However, the problem arises if, say, thousands of Aborigines migrate to Finland. They don’t do very well on tests to get into college or to get high paying jobs. The cry then goes up to give them quotas because it’s unthinkable to suggest that they might just not be as adept at physics, chemistry, business management, or accounting as Finns.

[Amalie]

I would rather be stuck in the Outback with an illiterate Aborigine than with a Doctor of Philosophy from Finland. Something tells me I’d eat more often and stay alive longer with the former than with the latter.

Agreed; this is true of a lot of useless 'intelligent' people.

[litehaus]

"an illiterate Aborigine".............Interesting thought re the circumstances you posit...

There may be more, but Australia, Sub Saharan Africa, and the population of early North America are among areas where the 3 Rs never made much of an appearance......in a fashion we generally consider 'civilised'.....Not sure the wheel showed up either in those places.......

[weegee]

I would rather be stuck in the Outback with an illiterate Aborigine than with a Doctor of Philosophy from Finland. Something tells me I’d eat more often and stay alive longer with the former than with the latter.

Your comment reminds me, didn't Al Gore Junior, "Environmentalist", get lost in some national park and require a several hour manhunt to be located? I think late 1990s or probably early 21st century.

[Scotsman will be Free]

You are confusing education/traits with intelligence. Some breeds of dogs are more intelligent than others.
As far as the PhD vs the illiterate there is no intelliegence contest there. One is educated and one is not. The illiterate ould be far more intelligent than the PhD.

[Revolting cat!]

I would rather be stuck in the Outback with an illiterate Aborigine than with a Doctor of Philosophy from Finland. Something tells me I’d eat more often and stay alive longer with the former than with the latter.

Uhm, no, the Aborigine would eat more often. DieHard the Hunter. Mmmm, the other white meat!

[bannie]

New Zealanders are, obviously, very bright.