The IQ Bell Curve MidWit Meme
The MidWit Meme
The "IQ Bell Curve" meme, a personal favorite of mine, brilliantly encapsulates a concept that seems universally applicable. It illustrates how individuals at the extremes of the IQ spectrum often arrive at similar conclusions, while those in the middle, misled by the Dunning-Kruger effect, confidently stride toward erroneous ones.
Take this example:
At 50 IQ: "Dog coin funny. Elon Musk buy coin? I buy dog coin."
At 100 IQ: "This is a classic pump and dump by the world's richest man. He's attempting to inflate the value of a practically worthless coin, only to sell it off to his massive Twitter following for a quick profit. I won't fall for this scheme."
At 150 IQ: "Elon's known for his love of memes and his disregard for the SEC. Given that Dogecoin isn't regulated like traditional securities and he enjoys shaking things up, he's likely to inflate the value of this 'shitcoin' for the sheer joy of it, enriching his followers and irritating his critics in the process."
In this scenario, both the 50 and 150 IQ individuals end up profiting, while the 100 IQ person misses out. It's an interesting commentary on how sometimes, being at either end of the spectrum can be more beneficial than being in the middle.
But why is this meme so effective? The key lies in simplicity. Overcomplicating issues can often lead to misjudgments, as seen with the 100 IQ thinker in the meme. Simplifying complex issues to their core can often provide clearer, more accurate insights.
Consider the question of inflation in 2022. Many economists debated its likelihood, but a basic analysis of governments worldwide printing trillions of dollars to combat the pandemic made the eventual rise in inflation almost predictable.
Similarly, understanding the Federal Reserve's actions can be simplified to a basic strategy: When interest rates rise and quantitative tightening begins, it's time to sell off risky assets; conversely, when rates fall and quantitative easing starts, it might be an opportunity to invest in high-risk, high-reward ventures.
Another recent example is the debate over whether the U.S. is currently in a recession. Although I'm no economist, a combination of factors like a crashing stock market, rising interest rates, soaring inflation, the end of a speculative bubble, and two consecutive quarters of economic decline strongly suggests a recession.
In conclusion, the IQ Bell Curve meme not only offers a humorous perspective on decision-making across different levels of intelligence but also underscores the value of simple, clear thinking in understanding and navigating complex situations.