Hm, I've always had mixed thoughts on the whole IQ number thing.
In my case, I'm supposedly in the "genius" level. Heck if I remember just what the number was, but I do remember that certain family members wouldnt shut up about it for awhile.
But at the same time, I dont think these tests REALLY do a good job at judging intelligence. There's just too much that goes into the concept, and the tests themselves often dont really touch upon it, or they do, but in the wrong way.
Example: In the testing that I did, there was a section dedicated to math. Now, here's the thing: I'm bloody awful at math. Ask me to do addition/subtraction, and sure, I'll do that. Multiplication? Well, okay, but I'll do it slowly and may make mistakes. Division? That'll get you nothing but a blank stare. Anything higher than that, and I'll just fling shoes at you until you go away. I remember I looked at the list of problems, handed it back to the guy running the test, and basically just said "Nope, cant do that". Fortunately for me it was merely one part of a rather long test.
And none of that has to do with intelligence: it has to do with the fact that I never really learned math in the first place, due to finding it to be more boring than watching paint dry. As a kid in school, I could not have given less of a crap. On top of that, I grew up learning to use computers. And the way I look at it, the computers are the ones that do the math, not me. What's the point of me struggling with a stupid algebra problem for 2 hours, when I could just throw it at the computer and get an answer in two seconds?
But these tests simply dont account for things like that. If you learned it and know it, the number rises. If you didnt learn it or simply didnt care, it does not rise.
And then there were other aspects. I seem to recall a part of the test that involved a question like "list as many different animals as you can". Er... I think. That MIGHT have been on a different type of test, my memory is very bad, but I'm currently remembering it as being part of the IQ test. This also has nothing to do with intelligence: it's merely recital. Oddly though I was able to list many different species, but I've always had an interest in animals.
Also, I tell you this: You dont feel particularly smart, when you just spent 5 frustrated minutes trying to open a hotel room door, only to suddenly realize you were trying to do it with your car remote. I do spaced-out stuff like that all the time. "Genius". Sure, buddy. Sure. The fact that I have a memory like a cheese grater doesnt help.
As for where I am on the spectrum, I'm high functioning. I'm sure there's more detail to it than that, but I cant remember what it is.
There, I'm done rambling.
