@hankster You started to pick up on my meaning in your second reply, but unfortunately did not take it all the way to the point I was making.

@hankster I have come a long way in my thinking since stumbling upon causal determinism some years ago. Namely, I find value judgment based on perceived intelligence to be odious.

@hankster I think there are better ways to judge individuals, and thankfully I'm not alone in this belief.

@hankster Consideration for what, though? Life? Society? Having children? The workforce? Perhaps you see the conundrum it creates when we start to want to decide what merits people ought to be afforded based on such judgments. It's a slippery slope. It is relatively easy to measure competence for things like profession, and if that was all you seemed to be advocating I'd be perfectly fine with it. But you seem to want to take it further, and that's where I have to draw the line.

@hankster Yes, I understood what was implied by your joke. That is precisely why I said what I did. BTW - was there a time when our society wasn't silly?

@hankster That was a pretty good comeback.

@hankster I appreciate the clarification, thank you. I think you can see where I'm coming from, too. I don't think the people we might classify as "stupid" can really help it, and so I'm not interested in finding any means or reasons to single them out. Moreover, many of the people in my life who I might judge as simpletons could be much better off in terms of overall peace of mind. Either way, I estimate my country's people are collectively smarter than they have ever been, at least in terms of general awareness and education, and that's something I find worthy of encouragement.

@Shawno1972 I don't know...intelligence (wedded to common sense) seems a good place to start.
It's funny how the people with the "best hearts and spirits" are also the most successful (intelligence plus luck?).
With success comes preferential treatment, which leads to a very positive attitude toward one's fellow men.
With failure comes ILL treatment, which leads to a decidedly negative attitude toward mankind.
Attitudes can shape behavior, and so the cycle reinforces itself, sets courses in life...one toward 'sainthood,' the other to demonic possession!
Figuratively speaking, of course.