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American IQ scores have rapidly dropped, proving the 'Reverse Flynn effect'

(www.popularmechanics.com)
256 points hirundo | 2 comments | 10 Apr 23 13:00 UTC | HN request time: 0.436s | source
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faeriechangling ◴[10 Apr 23 15:04 UTC] No.35513202[source]▶
Could this have to so with smart people increasing pursuing hedonism over reproduction? Maybe Idiocracy was right all along.

From a strict evolutionary perspective I have doubts that a high IQ is useful anymore.

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polski-g ◴[10 Apr 23 16:17 UTC] No.35514025[source]▶
IQ hasn't been beneficial to evolution for over 100 years. Once means-tested welfare came into existence, being low-IQ became more advantageous. The reason Europe was able to take over the world is that they taxed the poor (low-IQ) more than the rich in the dark ages and the rich out-bred the poor for at least 2 generations.
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1. majormajor ◴[10 Apr 23 22:18 UTC] No.35518069[source]▶
One of the first European world powers after the dark ages, Portugal, was not more advanced than many of the areas it attacked except for in weaponry since Europe had been infighting while other math and science was being pursued in eastern parts of the world. Regardless of what percentage of motivation you ascribe to "we want their shit" vs "we want them to take our religion," I don't think you can say it was an advantage or motivation driven by intelligence.

("The rich outbred the poor" also seems very dubious, labor was still very manual, so you gotta have someone to do it.)

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2. Apocryphon ◴[11 Apr 23 16:47 UTC] No.35527711[source]▶
Portugal was advanced at being the geographically westernmost mainland European country, and at fighting with the Moors for long enough to adopt lateen sails.