So what are the rest of us that dont have a political affiliation? Independently stupid?

me texan: So what are the rest of us that dont have a political affiliation? Independently stupid?

You're unimportant

I know plenty of very smart people who have some very stupid political beliefs. I don't think there's necessarily a correlation, though people with postgraduate degrees are a solidly liberal group.

Crud... I just read that entire article but I forgot to look at who it was by to make sure I should believe them or not.

/points be damned!

Racht: I know plenty of very smart people who have some very stupid political beliefs. I don't think there's necessarily a correlation, though people with postgraduate degrees are a solidly liberal group.

this

Ultimately, it is not IQ that matters, but rather it is what one does with the mental faculties they posses that is important.

brainiac-dumdum: Ultimately, it is not IQ that matters, but rather it is what one does with the mental faculties they posses that is important.

It does matter. The inability to reason, or process information leads stupid people to cults... and the republican party.

Political stance correlates way better with income or socioeconomic status. Income correlates (albeit somewhat weakly) with IQ. Convolve the two, and there you go.

People who don't use words like libtard or conservadunce are smarter. That being said, I'd like to state that in my opinion, people who post on Fark have got to be far more intelligent, on average, than the average poster at any other popular site. Yes, we have our share of nimrods, GEDs in Law, and people who spell Republikkkan with three Ks, but overall Fark is a pretty goddamn smart group. And suave, too.

Every time I visit the politics tab I get stupider.

Yawn @ wall of text.

Jason Richwine is a National Research Initiative Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

Are liberals smarter? Who cares.

I know they are smart enough not to write this article.

me texan: So what are the rest of us that dont have a political affiliation? Independently stupid?

In-Duh-pendents.

dahmers love zombie: People who don't use words like libtard or conservadunce are smarter. That being said, I'd like to state that in my opinion, people who post on Fark have got to be far more intelligent, on average, than the average poster at any other popular site. Yes, we have our share of nimrods, GEDs in Law, and people who spell Republikkkan with three Ks, but overall Fark is a pretty goddamn smart group. And suave, too.

I haven't spent a lot of time on other sites, but I'm not sure about this statement. (I mean, I know Fark has Yahoo Answers beat, but ... ) Particularly in the politics tab, I've lost the ability to differentiate a serious opinion and a troll (either that, or 99% of posters in a given political discussion are trolls ... in which case, who are they trolling and who's getting trolled?)

Racht: I know plenty of very smart people who have some very stupid political beliefs. I don't think there's necessarily a correlation, though people with postgraduate degrees are a solidly liberal group.

i'd like to know what sort of post grad degrees?

dahmers love zombie: People who don't use words like libtard or conservadunce are smarter. That being said, I'd like to state that in my opinion, people who post on Fark have got to be far more intelligent, on average, than the average poster at any other popular site. Yes, we have our share of nimrods, GEDs in Law, and people who spell Republikkkan with three Ks, but overall Fark is a pretty goddamn smart group. And suave, too.

I sometimes read excellent opinions on the Economist page and at Slate although frequently there's a 'DUMBOCRATS love thier SMELLFARE' guy on the Economist. It seems out of place.

WSJ comments are almost as dumb as YouTube comments. You think they would do better.

I enjoy reading the sports comments for my local paper, the AJC. This week the "Dawgs win by 50" comments were a laugh riot.

How smart do you have to be to realize that both sides have their merits and demerits and thus you find yourself called both a libtard and a conservadunce by the people espousing their staunchly right or left leaning ideology.
.

loonatic112358: Racht: I know plenty of very smart people who have some very stupid political beliefs. I don't think there's necessarily a correlation, though people with postgraduate degrees are a solidly liberal group.

i'd like to know what sort of post grad degrees?

I'm an engineer and I frequently hear logical fallacies from some of my coworkers when speaking of politics. You'd think if your job is problem solving that you wouldn't use false dichotomies. I frequently find myself saying "it could be both or it could be this third option" more than I should have to.

I think there's something about politics that short circuits rational thought and causes us to look for confirmation of irrational ideas.

wildcardjack: How smart do you have to be to realize that both sides have their merits and demerits and thus you find yourself called both a libtard and a conservadunce by the people espousing their staunchly right or left leaning ideology.
.

The word you're looking for is smug not smart.

Racht: I know plenty of very smart people who have some very stupid political beliefs. I don't think there's necessarily a correlation, though people with postgraduate degrees are a solidly liberal group.

I guess you don't know many people with postgraduate engineering degrees.

"The bottom line is that a political debate will never be resolved by measuring the IQs of groups on each side of the issue. Even if certain positions tend to be held by less intelligent people, there will usually be plenty of sharp thinkers who take the same side. Rather than focus on the intellectual deficiencies, real or imagined, of certain politicians and their supporters, people should strive to find the best and brightest spokesmen for the opposing side."

That's how the article ends. What a waste of time.

Cubansaltyballs: It does matter. The inability to reason, or process information leads stupid people to cults... and the republican such as a political party.

FTFY

jetzzfan: Racht: I know plenty of very smart people who have some very stupid political beliefs. I don't think there's necessarily a correlation, though people with postgraduate degrees are a solidly liberal group.

I guess you don't know many people with postgraduate engineering degrees.

Depends. The old engineers are generally conservative, the young ones are generally liberal. Pretty much everyone at my firm has a Master's.

Regardless of political affiliation, the engineers that talk the most about politics are usually the worst at their jobs. Possibly they spend too much time blabbing about politics. I used to work with a guy who spent about 5 hours a day walking from cube to cube talking about how it's so unfair that he gets taxed for being such a hard worker. It's been my experience that these guys are in their 50s and not progressing in their careers. Maybe the lack of career advancement caused the incessant need to biatch about Washington.

Rapmaster2000: loonatic112358: Racht: I know plenty of very smart people who have some very stupid political beliefs. I don't think there's necessarily a correlation, though people with postgraduate degrees are a solidly liberal group.

i'd like to know what sort of post grad degrees?

I'm an engineer and I frequently hear logical fallacies from some of my coworkers when speaking of politics. You'd think if your job is problem solving that you wouldn't use false dichotomies. I frequently find myself saying "it could be both or it could be this third option" more than I should have to.

I think there's something about politics that short circuits rational thought and causes us to look for confirmation of irrational ideas.

i think you've summed it up

I've been around people much smarter then me (doc brown levels) and yet, they'll say the dumbest thing politically

loonatic112358:
i'd like to know what sort of post grad degrees?

The group in general. In 2004 (which was pretty close to 50/50), those with postgraduate degrees voted 55% for Kerry, compared to 46% for college graduates and 47% for high school graduates. In 2008 it was 58% compared to 50% and 52%. So, I guess "solidly" maybe wasn't the right word, but the group definitely stands out as being more liberal than others.