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In a normal distribution, the mean = the median = the mode. IQ is normally distributed. So yes, half the people are below average IQ. I guess a little less than half since some people will have an IQ of exactly 100, but I'm not overly enthusiastic about average either.
I have no idea how anyone could state as fact that IQ is a "normal distribution". By all means, show me.
From what I can tell from some quick googling, 2/3 of us have an IQ in the 85-115 range, while 1/3 of us have an IQ 115+. Everyone is accounted for here, the sub 85 demographic is negligible. It doesn't look like a "normal distribution" to me. And I'm in the 115+ group.
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Theres' research to show that in the US, conservatives are 20 IQ points lower on average than liberals. No reason to think it differs in the UK, or anywhere else. It could though.
20? I find this incredibly hard to believe. Incredibly.
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It's an academic question, but I'm pretty sure if you counted it up, the Lib+Labour votes combined in each seat would have won more seats than Tories.
I doubt it. If you throw in the SNP, then probably. The problem is that a lot of Scottish people vote for Labour and Libs, but hardly any vote for Tory. So if we're talking just Labour and Libs, I can't see how they challenge the Tories in England.
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You don't know why people vote for who they vote for that specifically.
No, but I have social media accounts and read what people say. How sincere they are is another matter, but the electorate clearly trust Boris more, because he won.
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You misunderstand me. I think it's irrelevant what most people think and also you have no way of knowing what they think unless you actually have some research to back it up.
Ok. My "research" is my experience. Small sample size, granted, so moving on...
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What was the point of doing that? Do you think drawing a penis on a ballot affects the government?
Of course not. It amuses me, nothing more. It's exactly the same as putting a blank ballot in the box, or writing "fuck this shit", or "none of the above".
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And what is the difference between 1000 spoiled ballots and 1001?
One spoiled ballot.
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...is it enough of a difference to make it worth your time? I doubt it.
Definitely. People around the world don't have the luxury of democracy. If anything, it makes me feel good to be a part of a democratic process. It doesn't matter that my vote, or lack of vote, makes no difference in the grand scheme of things. What matters is that I like living in a democratic country, I've been lazy most of my life when it comes to elections, and I don't want to continue being lazy. I'd prefer to have someone to vote for, but I don't. The least I can do is enjoy democracy day when it happens.
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yeah, your sample is a bit biased if that's the group you polled as 'most people'.
I made an assumption, and I still suspect my assumption is correct.
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I guarantee you I would never tell someone it's a good use of their time to spoil their ballot.
Fair enough. I still think it's a lot better than staying at home. I enjoyed drawing a dick on my ballot, it gave me a few seconds of joy. Plus it got me out of the house for half an hour or so.
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I don't feel strongly about it. I just think spoiling your ballot is ridiculous, that's all. You don't have to agree.
Well for me, it's less ridiculous than wanting someone to win, but not voting for them because you feel your vote doesn't matter.
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But your action has absolutely zero impact on the outcome. Staying at home has zero impact as well, but costs you nothing.
Going for a short walk costs nothing either. In fact, it counts as exercise, so it's better than staying at home on that basis alone.
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Can I ask what your reasons are for not usually voting?
Similar reasons here, except minus the Brexit. No parties represent me. The only time I have voted was for an independent.
Also, I wasn't really interested in politics when I was in my 20s, I was more interested in sex, drugs and techno.
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This is what I don't understand about people; why so many feel it's necessary to waste your time when your vote is not going to make a difference. Like I said, it doesn't matter one iota whether my side wins/loses by 50 000, 49 999 or 50 001. It just doesn't. So what is the point of trudging somewhere to queue up and tick a box that effectively does nothing? What does this accomplish?
I think you know the argument to this...
"...if everyone thought like this..."
I do understand what you're saying here, and respect your right to not bother voting for whatever reason you like. But for me, I wanted to take part because democracy is important to society, even if on an individual basis it's a waste of time.
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"Did your bit"? What does that mean? You went and added a number to a tally that makes absolutely no difference in the outcome of the election? Is that how you see your role in democracy?
Frankly, yes. There were just shy of 32,000,000 million votes cast. If you feel like you need a louder voice, well democracy isn't for you.
Democracy is not about me, it's about society. We just had this discussion, but if you have any better ideas, fire away. What alternatives are there?
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Is this actually what you did? That seems a bit juvenile if true.
There's definitely a part of me that never grew up. I'm not ashamed of immaturity.
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Are you guaranteed a cost of living increase every year? 'Cause that coming inflation is going to sting otherwise.
It goes up with inflation. If the cost of living rises above inflation, I might be a few pounds worse off, but I can't say I've noticed a squeeze on my budget over the years.
