Can you tell if someone is "smart" just by looking at them?
 

I know it's a sliding scale but .. how well could most of us do at guessing say, a person's IQ? Better than random?

Smart is sometimes hard to guess, stupid is easier :)

"talking" maybe not "looking"

i can tell when someone is trying to appear brighter then they are....

you sure can't tell how dumb they are by their posts

definitely easier to spot stupid than smart

http://newmedia.funnyjunk.com/pictures/dumb_blondes.jpg

They are all smart enough

Mouth breathers can be spotted at a distance.

PERFECT :1orglaugh

This is so true. It's one of my biggest pet peeves in life..

You mean like when people try to use $5 words but use them incorrectly?

So can we. :winkwink:

Lolololololololololol....

No, but I can tell a dumbass from just reading a post.

:thumbsup

definitely not

Hmmm - this reminds me of someone who looks SO incredibly different on his passport than he does now and I doubt he'd gotten a smaller or larger IQ in the process ;)

of course!

I start @ 120 (IQ) and downgrade from there---I subtract for each trendy article that they dawn!

Example:
iPod = -5
Hummer = - 10
w/spinners = -20
T-shirt with logo = -1 to -5 (variance is based on buzz word or slogan)
Implants = -25
w/person with implants -30
Cosmetic surgery = -25
w/victim of cosmetic surgery = -30

et cetera

To properly answer this question one must first define "smart". For example there's booksmart, streetsmart, head_full_of_useless_trivia smart, peoplesmart, fightsmart, etc etc.

Case in point: I've known a few people who were plenty booksmart but lacked the intelligence to keep their smarmy superior condescending attitude in check enough to keep from getting their head beat in for it by someone who was more fightsmart.

One thing that comes to mind here is the old adage about not judging a book by it's cover. Difficult to adhere to at times but doing so is probably... smart. :D

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

sometimes, maybe, not sure

"how well could most of us do at guessing say, a person's IQ? Better than random?"

I think it would help if you could watch the person for at least a short while and see what they do.

After all, stupid is as stupid does, right? :winkwink:

I think in most cases you definitely can.

I find it easier, however, to "judge" Dutch people than other nationalities.

Watch just their mannerisms or their actions?

You could beat average just by guessing higher on jews.

:1orglaugh

....See?

lol.... :1orglaugh:1orglaugh

I think I have found some people look bright and they arent.That has happened more to me than the other way around.