Nexus,
I think you sort of have a point, even though I disagree with the notion that you are only truly be gifted (whatever the degree) if you manage to make good use of those gifts. The whole idea implicates a kind of fairness that I believe just isn't there, even in the best of worlds. Only a select few ever get the chance to prove their worth; Illusionist, for example, advocates (and tries to excuse the sins of) a society who will do away with fellow humans based on their ethnic or religious backgrounds, or indeed anyone who deviates from the norm.
That society would gladly have done away with the likes of us, given half a chance.
As for what this topic is about, yes, it seems to be IQs at the moment. I rather regret mentioning mine, but it's done and I don't believe in deleting my posts, so...
Well I feel that having such intellect shouldn't be just be unused in potential to contribute to something, even if one has rather eccentric views like I do, it should be spent on at least trying to contribute something no matter how small to the world, even if it seems pointless and mundane. Although I wasn't trying to say it's a bad thing if people don't do anything with their intellect proactively and constructively, but it does makes their intellect untapped in personal influence, that oneself could have to others. Although the fear of persecution and alienation, due to deviance of status quo is a understandable deterrence to such open free thinking. Many people have died, sacrificed, suffered over it throughout history and still do, due to ignorance, paranoia and primitiveness of the majority 'norm' just for thinking outside of the norm alone. History has proven such savage primitive behaviors and herd mentality. But I don't blame plain ignorance purely for that attitude, I blame more fear of uncertainty, the inability to comprehend new ideas, theories and concepts that are 'alien', incomprehensible to those who are not as fortunate to instantly understand it. But you have to admit, the threat of feeling that what you believe in could be destroyed by one simple fact, terrifies people, making them feel insecure and question themselves, fearing that feeling of fallibility, being wrong, the feeling of uncertainty on the one key question 'why?' about the nature of life, society, existence in all aspects. However instead of trying to answer those questions for themselves, they rather protect their current beliefs, as their beliefs serves as a security blanket from that fear, even if it appears they're just arrogant.
To conclude, once people learn to let go of that fear and defensive attitude of holding beliefs so strongly, then humanity will truly advance beyond it's primitive ways and be at peace within themselves at least, and thus be tolerate to each others point of view. That is the best form of unity, sharing a common understanding that no-one can truly know anything as a absolute, and admit that know nothing for absolute certainty, but instead in certain probabilities. In this understanding, the implications mean that any answer can only reach a 99.99inf% probability of truth at most, considering that existence itself just is. It is something beyond comprehension and capacity to ever truly understand.
was it something I said?