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My Dog Teaches … How to Raise your
IQ
 Intelligence,
we are told, is important.
Our children are tested and re-tested in the attempt
to put a numerical score on this nebulous thing called
IQ. The smart ones are supposed to get ahead, while
the slow ones get left behind. Entry into higher education
is dependent on having a certain amount of it. Success
at work and in life is supposedly connected to it.
But what is intelligence? Intuitively, we all know that
it has something to do with the ability to solve problems,
but trying to define the term precisely befuddles even
the greatest minds. Each one of us can recall our moments
of brilliance with pride – and moments of sheer stupidity
with considerable embarrassment (like the hours spent
trying to fix the computer to get it to print, only
to discover that the printer was not plugged in). Some
of us are very capable in some areas and utter failures
in others. So it seems that, although there may be such
a thing as general intelligence, experience indicates
that we tend to be selectively so.
While we may not always notice intelligence when it
is there, we sure do know when it is absent. We can
look at someone else’s solution to a problem and know
that it is just plain dumb. In exasperation, we may
ask ourselves why supposedly intelligent people insist
on presenting "solutions" which are worse than the problems
they are attempting to solve.
While it is a fact that many so-called solutions are
put in place for selfish vested interests, that is a
question of ethics, of honesty, of integrity and
not one of intelligence.
But why do well-meaning, otherwise intelligent people
make such bone-headed decisions as banning certain types
of dogs with Breed Specific Legislation passed in various
jurisdictions around the world, including here in Ontario?
Common sense tells us that these cannot possibly work;
experience demonstrates that, indeed, they do not.
The crux of the matter is that no one can make intelligent
decisions based on insufficient or erroneous or false
information. If data is missing or wrong, the solutions
can hardly be expected to be correct. As they say in
computer lingo: "garbage in – garbage out".
Any pollster will tell you that most people have opinions
on just about anything when asked, even though they
may have almost no actual knowledge of the subject at
hand. Poll the general public today on "What is the
most dangerous dog?" and no doubt "pit bulls" would
come out at the top. Twenty years ago it would have
been "Rottweillers"; before that, "German Sheppards".
Because they tend to avoid that which they fear, those
answering are unlikely to have any actual experience
with the dogs in question and the poll really only portrays
reporting trends. As Winston Churchill said, "There
is no such thing as public opinion. There is only published
opinion."
Examined more thoroughly, a more appropriate answer
would be along the lines of:
- A dog trained to be vicious.
- A dog protecting his territory.
- A dog being provoked into retaliation.
- Any or all of the above.
This should give us pause to reflect on the fact that
we have a tendency to take the easy way out whenever
we can. Why examine things directly for ourselves when
we can just as easily take someone else’s opinion? Why
work hard to formulate our own ideas when all we have
to do is decide yes/no, good/bad, true/false? These
things we can do with little or no thought or data whatsoever.
If we want to rid ourselves of prejudice and false information,
we need to cultivate the skill of being able to really
and honestly look. For what is prejudice but
poorly examined data? And we need to look in earnest
from our own experience. Does it really make sense to
us based on our own observations? Or are we just taking
someone else’s opinion on trust? Given the fact that
many so-called "experts" can give completely opposite
conclusions from the same data, we would be better off
not relying on them to do our thinking for us. Consult
them by all means, but don’t take their conclusions
on blind faith; after all, they may themselves be passing
on erroneous information.
When we truly and actually do look for ourselves, we
may be surprised at what we see. And we gain another
important benefit – confidence in our data and conclusions.
This then gives us the ability to use what we know to
improve our own lives and the lives of others.
After all, intelligence without observation is impossible.
Action without observation can be dangerous.
Our best weapons against false information and ignorance
are a healthy scepticism, direct observation and a burning
curiosity. With these and with a bit of work, we can
become intelligent on any subject we wish.
"Instead of arguing with others,
get them to look. The most flagrant lies can be punctured,
the greatest pretenses can be exposed, the most intricate
puzzles can be resolved and the most remarkable revelations
can occur, simply by gently insisting that someone
look." (From The Way to Happiness by L.
Ron Hubbard.)
Previous "Petitorial"
articles by David McKague:
Editor’s note:
I would like to encourage dog lovers
everywhere to start a PETITION to have this law thrown
out or revised to such a form where justice prevails.
SFR.
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