Reply #70: That puts him in the 80th percentile...

[rasputin1952]

better than average for sure, (average being 100), but he was far from an intellectual giant.

Not that IQ means all that much in certain circumstances. For instance, there is nothing of psychology in the IQ matrix, one can be a socio or psychopath and have a high IQ, fact is, most of those who fit the socio/psychopath criteria are over the average in IQ. Nor is there any measure for social, or "people" skills in the matrix. An IQ "shows" what one is capable of intellectually, and is based on knowledge garnered previously, and how one can apply that knowledge. Someone who has excellent verbal skills, can easily tilt the matrix in their favor, if their math skills are lacking a little, as it is a composite not specific.

I had an uncle who was brilliant mathematically, a chemist by trade, his mind was filled with various formulas and knowledge about how chemicals interacted and what benefits could come from such applications, could he carry on a conversation with the "man on the street, no; he sounded like a fool if he tried to discuss anything but chemistry, physics or other highly technical areas. Talk about the weather for the day, he could tell you how the weather got to what it was for the day, but would bore you to tears while he explained it...and never simply say, "yeah, it's hot and muggy".

McVeigh used what intellect he had to destroy other human beings. Manson, Hitler and a host of others did the same thing, with about the same IQ. It is never about the intelligence of an individual, it is about the how they use what they have, and to what ends. The Unabomber was in the 99th percentile...another highly intelligent individual who used his intellect to kill and maim others.

For the record, I am in the 98th percentile, I cannot fathom harming people without a direct threat to me, my family or friends. I have spent a lifetime on a different track, believing that marshaling my, and others skills to move the nation forward is far more important that seeking nefarious ways to destroy lives. It is all about where you are psychologically...and there is never perfection in that area.

In a nutshell, McVeigh may have more intelligent than the mean, but he was still an idiot...his actions proved that.