So the other day I get an all to familiar ad for tickle.com's scientific IQ test. Just for kicks, Somer and I had taken their test previously. Somer had scored higher than me, so I concluded that the results were reasonably accurate; but this time, seeing their ad, a sly idea popped into my head. So, instead of trying to take the test carefully, I answered the questions randomly and without looking at them.

I'm sure you're just dying to know my random intelligence quotient. I scored 82 points! But I learned more about tickle.com than myself this time around. My scoring page included a brief analysis of my "intelligence" type. It said, "You have the unusual talent of being equally good at both mathematical and verbal skills," along with much other congratulation for my amazing intellectual ability. I showed Somer the results. We laughed, and lost a good bit of faith in tickle.com. But the shot in their foot came later.

About a week later, I received an e-mail titled "Your high IQ score." The e-mail started out:

"Christopher,
As a top-scorer on Tickle's IQ Test, the
in-depth analysis of your IQ score is FREE."

Now this "in-depth" analysis was an option when I first took the test -- but it was NOT free. Anyway, I followed the link, and after ten or so difficult-to-decline advertisements, I found my "in-depth" analysis.

Man, they had a lot of stuff to say about the positive aspects of having low intelligence. I did learn one thing, that perhaps I could have scored worse if I had reported my age differently. Apparently, the older you are, the better you have to do in order to maintain your IQ.

Hey, here's where I land on the IQ distribution to garner the title "top-scorer:"

So, what I learned from tickle.com:

• The world will do anything to make money
• tickle.com is a scam
• IQ iis meaningless

Let us hear then the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. -- Ecclesiastes 12:9,10 KJV

Watch out tickle.com! and I take my lesson too...