My article could have expressed what I was trying to say a little better. Basically, I think that people below a critical point in intelligence aren’t even subconsciously aware of this fact about their conversations.
I don’t know that intelligence is directly correlated to that. Socialization may have more to do with it—though individuals of higher intelligence may be less likely to so socialized as ‘nerd’ culture is more heavily geared towards instrumental problem-solving. I’ve seen very intelligent people who seemed to be entirely ignorant of the fact that all their conversations were achieving was essentially verbal grooming. Even in more ‘intelligent’ groups—I used to ‘head’ the local H+/transhumanist meetups in my area before they fell apart—the tendency towards ‘circle-jerk’ grooming-through-mindless-agreement becomes evident.
As to whether these individuals are aware of what they’re doing—I don’t know.
That being said; the habit of using speech as a social lubricant and tool to demonstrate commonality / mutual-identification rather than for any specifically productive end is ubiquitous, absolutely. And in writing this I am struck by a wide category of individuals I know—such as one young woman who is currently pursuing an accelerated 4-year course for a double-major; with a masters in Mechanical Engineering (and I forget the minor) who has routinely engaged in this sort of speech-patterns while apparently seeking problem-resolution. I stumble with her in communication very frequently as a result; I attempt to engage in real problem-solving and am met with disinterest or just confusion. (One such recurring topic; what she should do with herself upon the diagnosed-to-be-imminent death of her fiance.)
The point, if I even have one at all here, is that I do not believe this phenomenon is strictly inversely-correlated to intelligence, but rather to some other factor.
I don’t know that intelligence is directly correlated to that. Socialization may have more to do with it—though individuals of higher intelligence may be less likely to so socialized as ‘nerd’ culture is more heavily geared towards instrumental problem-solving. I’ve seen very intelligent people who seemed to be entirely ignorant of the fact that all their conversations were achieving was essentially verbal grooming. Even in more ‘intelligent’ groups—I used to ‘head’ the local H+/transhumanist meetups in my area before they fell apart—the tendency towards ‘circle-jerk’ grooming-through-mindless-agreement becomes evident.
As to whether these individuals are aware of what they’re doing—I don’t know.
That being said; the habit of using speech as a social lubricant and tool to demonstrate commonality / mutual-identification rather than for any specifically productive end is ubiquitous, absolutely. And in writing this I am struck by a wide category of individuals I know—such as one young woman who is currently pursuing an accelerated 4-year course for a double-major; with a masters in Mechanical Engineering (and I forget the minor) who has routinely engaged in this sort of speech-patterns while apparently seeking problem-resolution. I stumble with her in communication very frequently as a result; I attempt to engage in real problem-solving and am met with disinterest or just confusion. (One such recurring topic; what she should do with herself upon the diagnosed-to-be-imminent death of her fiance.)
The point, if I even have one at all here, is that I do not believe this phenomenon is strictly inversely-correlated to intelligence, but rather to some other factor.