[edmond_dantes]

My IQ is 136. I can attest that it is not an indicator of anything. I am a lazy, average programmer. Whatever benefit I gain from having a higher IQ is offset by my inability to focus for more than a minute. I don't understand how people can study and lack many basic skills because I aways seemed to sneak by without them. I am a chronic procrastinator, only the fear of having to write a final in 24 hours made me study/cram by pulling all nighters. I have a CS degree and rarely went to class, having collected every letter grade A+ through F, and survived being on academic probation (my semester with four D's and an A+). Just one data-point and a counter-example as to why IQ is not a good measure of anything.

According to Gwern[1]: It is worth noting that studies of human genius frequently say that raw IQ and talent are not helpful past unexceptional levels like 130 IQ; what makes the difference is motivation and the "drive to mastery"

1: http://www.gwern.net/Terrorism%20is%20not%20Effective

[MDS100]

ADHS?

[edmond_dantes]

I've never been diagnosed. In high school I had an uncharacterized organizational learning disability. Out of desperation I wanted to be medicated and have made the huge step, huge for me, of talking to a doctor who referred me -- we'll see. The stories I've seen on HN have soured my opinion of medicating. I don't want to become addicted or unable to function, less than I already do, without drugs.