Does pool appeal especially to intelligent people ... or does AZB prove otherwise?
- Thread starter 9BallPaul
- Start date
9BallPaul said:
I think AZB proves that it DOES appeal to intelligent people. Here on this forum is the most intellectual cross section of the pool population. I think that for the most part pool players in general have no idea, nor care, about the intricacies of billiards as a whole or the internet's role in it. People you see in a local pool hall or sports bar playing pool will not represent the knowledge that is found on AZ Billiards. So it is of my opinion that pool appeals to a wide array of people with varying intelligence and AZB is most likely the hub of it's most informed and intelligent partakers.
That being said, I think your thread title should be revamped in its wording. I would have asked, "Does pool appeal especially to intelligent people and does AZB prove this?"
I think that you get a great cross-section as to who pool appeals to, just like most every other hobby/sport.9BallPaul said:
I think there are many very intelligent people that post on AZ Billiards; however, you definitely get some very unintelligent posts at times.
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Just to be the first to enter this thread in the grey area, I would like to go on record as having said....."some appear more intelligent than others".And some just flat out looked about as intelligent as a bucket of flaming recycled dog....kibble.
With that said, I refuse to answer any questions to the afore mentioned statement without an attorney present to represent me, due to the fact, that anything I say may be used to further incriminate me. (Or at least that's how it works with my wife.)
With that said, I refuse to answer any questions to the afore mentioned statement without an attorney present to represent me, due to the fact, that anything I say may be used to further incriminate me. (Or at least that's how it works with my wife.)
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9BallPaul said:
I personally think the forum like any other forum has many varying levels of intelligence. But does a discussion on an Internet Forum really show a persons true level of reasoning. I say Yes and no!!!!! for the following reasons:
1) More than 50% of the forum membership uses an assumed name, which is designed to hide their identity. Many of these same people also hide their true level of intelligence for the sport of it. It makes no sense to match wits with the witless.
2) Many members use their alter ego (Username) to observe and learn without fear of showing what their intelligence level is.
3) To many members a sense of humor is more important than an argument, information, or anything else and the forum is nothing but an enjoyable diversion from the daily grind.
4) Last the forum will also clearly identify a fool. A fool will interject information into threads that serves no purpose to the forum community. These people can easily be identified by attempting to appear intelligent, and by wanting more than anything for others to acknowledge that fact. They spend their days playing to the crowd without having a genuine thought that was not influenced by others. These people are called Parrots, nut hangers, nut huggers, and many other interesting names that fit their habits and the way they present themselves. Like Forest Gump said, stupid is, as stupid does!!!
Just my thoughts
Diversity is unavoidable in the world today. As with all things in life, there are all kinds, all types, all makes and models. There is no minimum IQ test to get into a pool hall, to become an AZ member, or to do virtually anything in life.9BallPaul said:
Also, I agree that you should change the title, since the implication behind it (as it reads now) reflects the intolerance and bigotry in the world today. And, it's a bit pretentious to think you (or anyone) would be in one and not the other category. I.e., it appears this thread is basically a direct attack on everyone in the AZ community.
Lastly, as a statistical matter, the majority of the world falls within 1 standard deviation of "normal" - so the majority of the pool players will probably fall similarly. You will also have participants from each "end" of the bell curve. But, I would guess that it will still be a close approximation of the general population intelligence distribution. Why not just start a thread asking for IQ scores of everyone here or do a poll to see how many Mensa members are playing pool...
-td
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9BallPaul said:
Paul,
I graduated #88 in my H.S. class of 108. Didn't try, too busy with pool & boxing. My parents split when I was in elementary school & my mom never stressed school to us boys. When I was in school, I thought the alphabet started with C, because I never saw an A or B, not counting gym class.
I got my first A ever (other than in gym) when I was a senior. My teacher even circled it on the report card and put a question mark next to it.
Nobody on my mom or dad's side of our family ever even went to college, and that's tracing it all the way back to Italy & Poland. My son was the 1st to get a degree and my daughter graduates in May 2009 with a degree in Children's Ministries. Both are in Christian ministry.
Those are the only two on either side counting brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. that ever got a college degree.
I've been in the same work since April 1981. My job is more physical than mental.
So, I've been called lots of things. But "intelligent" was something nobody ever called me. "Smarts" wasn't something that was important when I grew up, but being street smart or street savvy WAS important.
Here's a true story. When my son was in 4th grade, he brought home an A in music class. They were all playing a plastic fluteophone that semester.
When I saw the A, I told my little buddy that he had to drop that A down to at least a C or he was going to be grounded. I didn't want him to be the type that got A's in music. And THAT alone shows that, no, I am not intelligent.
Despite my ignorance, I loved my kids with all my heart and they grew up without ever causing or getting into any trouble. I tried hard to pass down any street smartness that I had and I got real lucky (blessed) in that the kids turned out super.
As far as AZB goes, there's some incredibly talented & witty people here. I think they outnumber the nitwits like me at least 7-1.
Education Poll
I started this thread a while back...I thought the results were very interesting. Jim
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=53770
I started this thread a while back...I thought the results were very interesting. Jim
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=53770
Does pool appeal especially to intelligent people... or does AZB prove otherwise???
I may be a pseudonym using forum fool, but I think he's calling us all stupid???
Banger
I may be a pseudonym using forum fool, but I think he's calling us all stupid???
Banger
If you wish to be a GREAT Pool player you better have more between your ears than CORK, IMHO.
9BallPaul said:
Gawly, uhh huh, I shore do like me some nazcarrr
manwon said:
Craig,
THAT was a very intelligent response.
I especially liked & relate to #3.
9BallPaul said:
Wow, this is a loaded question.
In my 25+ plus years in this game I met all kinds of people. I have met highly intelligent and successful ones. I have met highly intelligent and unsuccessful ones. Stupid ones, street smart ones. Doctors, lawyers, CEO's, drug dealers, aerospace engineers, fighter pilots, and well you name it as a career and I have probably met someone who does that.
All of them were bound together by their love and fascination for pool. And inside of pool itself there are many levels. During the last 25+ years the leagues have brought many more people to pool that may have pursued other hobbies.
Then there are the really causal folks who don't play league and just enjoy playing recreational games now and then.
All of these folks are represented on the AZB board. On every topic there will be those who are not familiar with the subject matter simply because of their particular experience level in the pool world.
Other times people will just be contrary out of fun or even a sense of being mocked. It's these types of interchanges which lead people to question the intelligence level of others.
It's important to remember that there are a lot of people on this board who come to pool late in life or are just coming to pool and don't have the experience level of those of us who have been around the various levels for a long time.
Ignorance is not stupidity, just a lack of knowledge. Continuing to be ignorant in the presence of knowledge is stupid.
a chuckle
I took an IQ test about ten years ago. No credit for all of the training I have had since high school, no credit for a lifetime of hard earned knowledge, technically I am a high school drop out with a tenth grade education and a GED.
Based on my placement in that grouping, I am an off the chart genius! 
Hu
9BallPaul said:
I took an IQ test about ten years ago. No credit for all of the training I have had since high school, no credit for a lifetime of hard earned knowledge, technically I am a high school drop out with a tenth grade education and a GED.
Based on my placement in that grouping, I am an off the chart genius!
Hu
corvette1340 said:
Cv,
Just reading that I almost feel smart by proxy now!
Does this mean that we, the peeps of AZB, can get honorary Magna Cum Lauda or Sumo Cum Lauda dagrees now?
That would certainly spice up & put some razzle-dazzle into some of our resumes' in case we ever need to switch jobs!
