Topic: SAT Scores And Musical Taste (Read 21808 times)

Melodic · « **on:** 04 Mar 2009, 16:14 »

According to this thing, Sufjan Stevens is for smart people. Make of this what you will.

DarkAvenger · « **Reply #1 on:** 04 Mar 2009, 16:29 »

There was a similar study done a while ago, except it pertained to intelligence. My prediction? All of the comments will be the same as in this topic: http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,21036.0.html. It's kind of ridiculous to think someone will be set in their tastes judged solely on factors outside of music tastes. I've met idiots who listened to nothing but classical and geniuses who listened to nothing but pop punk. But at least it's interesting to see what "professionals" think.

Dimmukane · « **Reply #2 on:** 04 Mar 2009, 16:30 »

I don't listen to music!

(I got a 1330)

rynne · « **Reply #3 on:** 04 Mar 2009, 16:32 »

The dude had a Facebook crawler that looked at the reported music preferences of students at different universities and correlated it to the average SAT scores at the same university. It was done as a joke and/or discussion-starter.

From a Wall Street Journal blog who interviewed the guy about it:

Quote

Griffith came up with the idea as a way to show how to take two separate sets of data that were pretty straightforward on their own — in this case, the average SAT score and the favorite books among students at various universities — and combine them to become more interesting. Griffith says, “Their unity is hilarity incarnate. This is to inspire people to think creatively about the data sets that are on the Internet.”

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #4 on:** 04 Mar 2009, 16:53 »

Well I'm glad he doesn't take the experiment seriously. I was worried that it was attempting to draw some clear correlation which would have been pretty laughable considering the source of the information.

IronOxide · « **Reply #5 on:** 04 Mar 2009, 17:17 »

I'm just going to assume that Silkworm is off the chart to the right.

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #6 on:** 04 Mar 2009, 17:19 »

Quote from: IronOxide on 04 Mar 2009, 17:17

I'm just going to assume that Silkworm is off the chart to the left.

Fix'd.

sean · « **Reply #7 on:** 04 Mar 2009, 17:21 »

Thanks for posting!

MrBlu · « **Reply #8 on:** 04 Mar 2009, 17:33 »

EDIT::

Oh, it's a joke?

imapiratearg · « **Reply #9 on:** 04 Mar 2009, 19:20 »

I scored an eighteen-something.

My favorite band is The Weakerthans.

I guess this is a good thing?

Johnny C · « **Reply #10 on:** 04 Mar 2009, 23:20 »

Yeah, when I meet someone who listens to the Counting Crows I have a hard time talking to them because I'm intimidated by their clear genius.

(joke or not this chart just highlights how Eurocentric and classist the SAT is)

Dazed · « **Reply #11 on:** 05 Mar 2009, 05:15 »

So I guess I'm just way, way smarter than my music taste.

pwhodges · « **Reply #12 on:** 05 Mar 2009, 05:27 »

The people who specify genres rather than bands or composers are strongly to the left; this may be significant, though not very interesting.

BeoPuppy · « **Reply #13 on:** 05 Mar 2009, 06:02 »

Recently on dutch TV there was this piece that said that smart people are more likely to listen to classical music ... or heavy metal.

I've tried to find a link on line to prove this but unable to. Thus disproving the statement, I guess.

iamiam · « **Reply #14 on:** 05 Mar 2009, 19:23 »

Man, I guess I should have listened to more Beethoven in high school.

Nodaisho · « **Reply #15 on:** 05 Mar 2009, 19:38 »

Beo, thinking of this? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2680987/Heavy-metal-and-classical-music-fans-share-personality-traits.html

Quite a few websites covered it, but aside from Wired and some metal-centric websites, they were all UK media, so I have no idea about how they are viewed. I'm pretty sure the telegraph isn't the UK's national enquirer, though. Also found this in the search, just searched heavy metal classical music personality in google.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/3352230/Heavy-metal-%27a-comfort-for-the-bright-child%27.html

onewheelwizzard · « **Reply #16 on:** 05 Mar 2009, 19:45 »

I got a perfect 1600 on the SAT when I took it and I was listening to System of a Down and Queens of the Stone age more than anything else at that time. Don't know what that means.

BeoPuppy · « **Reply #17 on:** 05 Mar 2009, 23:59 »

Quote from: Nodaisho on 05 Mar 2009, 19:38

Beo, thinking of this? [...]

You rock. Thanks!

Don't know how that explains AC/DC, though ... doesn't sound very bright to me ...

Sox · « **Reply #18 on:** 07 Mar 2009, 07:53 »

The radio pumps music into the houses of people who don't go outside, some people are passionate about music, some people seek out new things, some people try to learn about other cultures and some people are quite content not to.

What's smrts got to do wth it?

Hat · « **Reply #19 on:** 07 Mar 2009, 09:02 »

This chart will tell you exactly what music the kids who didn't get laid very much in high school listen to.

I do not consider this particularly valuable information.

s0ck ninja · « **Reply #20 on:** 07 Mar 2009, 16:53 »

i got a 2200 or so, which is like a 1450ish in the old score used on the chart... which would mean i listen to beethoven. or possibly, according to some uk dudes i guess, metal? neither of those is particularly true. ah well.

i do not like the SAT. the SAT gave me and some of my friends panic attacks. if i ever come across the SAT in a dark alley...

Alex C · « **Reply #21 on:** 07 Mar 2009, 19:03 »

While it may have been partly tongue in cheek, Hat has the right of it when he says that this survey tells you more about people's goals and self-image than it does about the affect music has on intelligence. People are notorious for selecting music that fits who and what they want to be, after all. My classmates who didn't give a crap about their schoolwork were not suddenly made any dumber when Blink 182 came on the scene, they just flocked to a band that reflected their laid back and somewhat contrary attitude, that's all.

zynk · « **Reply #22 on:** 09 Mar 2009, 17:24 »

I find it hilarious that Lil' Wayne is given the lowest SAT score...I cannot stand his music

I am also disappointed that most of my favorite bands aren't even on the expanded list no less

Caspian · « **Reply #23 on:** 09 Mar 2009, 17:52 »

Quote from: Alex C on 07 Mar 2009, 19:03

While it may have been partly tongue in cheek, Hat has the right of it when he says that this survey tells you more about people's goals and self-image than it does about the affect music has on intelligence. People are notorious for selecting music that fits who and what they want to be, after all. My classmates who didn't give a crap about their schoolwork were not suddenly made any dumber when Blink 182 came on the scene, they just flocked to a band that reflected their laid back and somewhat contrary attitude, that's all.

But that doesn't explain why intelligent people would listen to Sufjan or Counting Crows.

Catacombs · « **Reply #24 on:** 09 Mar 2009, 18:31 »

Quote from: zynk on 09 Mar 2009, 17:24

I find it hilarious that Lil' Wayne is given the lowest SAT score...I cannot stand his music

I'm pretty sure EVERYONE AT MY UNIVERSITY listens to lil wayne. Now I admit he's got a few cool songs and has done some interesting stuff, but please, there's a lot more in the hip-hop world than lil wayne.

Hat · « **Reply #25 on:** 09 Mar 2009, 18:54 »

Quote from: Caspian on 09 Mar 2009, 17:52

But that doesn't explain why intelligent people would listen to Sufjan or Counting Crows.

Come on how many of the people that topped your classes in high school were actually intelligent, and not just incredibly hard working. Hell, at my university, most of the people doing better than me are dumb fucks but because they actually give a shit and want to apply themselves and don't just spend all their time drinking and going to shows, they achieve better results.

Intelligence is an abstract concept with very little application to anything productive you will ever do in your life.

Catacombs · « **Reply #26 on:** 09 Mar 2009, 19:04 »

Quote from: Hat on 09 Mar 2009, 18:54

Quote from: Caspian on 09 Mar 2009, 17:52
But that doesn't explain why intelligent people would listen to Sufjan or Counting Crows.

Come on how many of the people that topped your classes in high school were actually intelligent, and not just incredibly hard working. Hell, at my university, most of the people doing better than me are dumb fucks but because they actually give a shit and want to apply themselves and don't just spend all their time drinking and going to shows, they achieve better results.

Intelligence is an abstract concept with very little application to anything productive you will ever do in your life.

This is hugely correct. Except for possibly the valedictorian, the top ten percent of my high-school senior class last year were either A) Dumbasses or B) Tool-bags or C) all of the above

Caspian · « **Reply #27 on:** 09 Mar 2009, 19:57 »

Quote from: Hat on 09 Mar 2009, 18:54

Quote from: Caspian on 09 Mar 2009, 17:52
But that doesn't explain why intelligent people would listen to Sufjan or Counting Crows.

Come on how many of the people that topped your classes in high school were actually intelligent, and not just incredibly hard working. Hell, at my university, most of the people doing better than me are dumb fucks but because they actually give a shit and want to apply themselves and don't just spend all their time drinking and going to shows, they achieve better results.

Intelligence is an abstract concept with very little application to anything productive you will ever do in your life.

Dude, it was just a shot at Sufjan and Counting Crows.

Having said that, I was in the top 5% of my classes at school, and that wasn't from hard work. Not that you'd know it off my forum demeanour, of course.

MrBlu · « **Reply #28 on:** 09 Mar 2009, 21:37 »

Quote from: zynk on 09 Mar 2009, 17:24

I find it hilarious that Lil' Wayne is given the lowest SAT score...I cannot stand his music

You call it music.

Johnny C · « **Reply #29 on:** 09 Mar 2009, 22:57 »

guys the SAT is super-flawed and privileges rich white people who have rich white person tastes so no wonder they don't like lil wayne and would rather listen to counting crows or beethoven it's cause they have no idea what the real world is like and that extends to culture

Ballard · « **Reply #30 on:** 09 Mar 2009, 23:14 »

word because how many people know what a regatta is?

that word was on my PSATs last year!

BeoPuppy · « **Reply #31 on:** 10 Mar 2009, 01:08 »

Sailing contest.

But what the hell are PSATs? Or SATs for that matter?

Hat · « **Reply #32 on:** 10 Mar 2009, 02:20 »

Quote from: Johnny C on 09 Mar 2009, 22:57

guys the SAT is super-flawed and privileges rich white people who have rich white person tastes so no wonder they don't like lil wayne and would rather listen to counting crows or beethoven it's cause they have no idea what the real world is like and that extends to culture

Real culture can only come from oppression, anyone who has lived a life of privilege is cultureless trash and cannot possibly have a valid opinion on anything.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #33 on:** 10 Mar 2009, 02:26 »

I wish I was poor so I could be genuine. Maybe I could even get tuberculosis

pwhodges · « **Reply #34 on:** 10 Mar 2009, 03:37 »

I've had tuberculosis - it sucks. Maybe it sucked because I wasn't the poor kid I should have been.

Hat · « **Reply #35 on:** 10 Mar 2009, 04:22 »

Ok lets pick apart Johnny's post until we hit the part that is ridiculous.

Quote from: Johnny C on 09 Mar 2009, 22:57

guys the SAT is super-flawed

Ok so far so good

Quote

and privileges rich white people

still making sense

Quote

who have rich white person tastes so no wonder they don't like lil wayne

BRICK WALL

because we all know white privileged kids hate rap music

Quote

and would rather listen to counting crows or beethoven

Johnny what kind of privileged white kids do you know that actually listen to this?

Quote

it's cause they have no idea what the real world is like and that extends to culture

Johnny you can be honest did you just rip this whole post out of Stuff White People Like?

Hat · « **Reply #36 on:** 10 Mar 2009, 05:01 »

Quote from: Jeans on 10 Mar 2009, 04:33

I think maybe he wasn't entirely serious?

Quote from: Hat on 10 Mar 2009, 04:22

Johnny you can be honest did you just rip this whole post out of Stuff White People Like?

Hey I'm obviously not ruling it out as a possibility.

Joseph · « **Reply #37 on:** 10 Mar 2009, 05:07 »

I listen to Lil' Wayne more than Sufjan Stevens these days!

I didn't write the SAT!

WEEEEEEEEE!

imapiratearg · « **Reply #38 on:** 10 Mar 2009, 08:34 »

The only people I know who listen to Lil' Wayne are white people.

Thrillho · « **Reply #39 on:** 10 Mar 2009, 11:00 »

Dear God, studies like this are just an excuse to be an asshole.

BeoPuppy · « **Reply #40 on:** 11 Mar 2009, 01:25 »

... do we need an excuse for that?

scarred · « **Reply #41 on:** 11 Mar 2009, 12:23 »

Quote

CalTech grad student named Virgil Griffith has conducted an interesting (albeit somewhat unscientific) study relating music preferences with SAT scores.

Need to know more about this.

Oh, what sees fit to be journalistically worthy these days... /shudder.

pwhodges · « **Reply #42 on:** 11 Mar 2009, 15:23 »

Quote from: Hat on 10 Mar 2009, 02:20

anyone who has lived a life of privilege is cultureless trash and cannot possibly have a valid opinion on anything.

Oh sod it; all that wasted effort.

Johnny C · « **Reply #43 on:** 11 Mar 2009, 20:25 »

Quote from: Hat on 10 Mar 2009, 04:22

Ok lets pick apart Johnny's post until we hit the part that is ridiculous.

It should be obvious that it's a little bit facetious and broad but give me a fucking break dude take a look at a rich white person's iPod and brace yourself for collected works of OneRepublic.

Are you trying to argue that the SAT isn't racist or that a lot of rich white people are kiiiiiiiiiiind of out of touch with really interesting culture no matter what their laughable attempts to participate in that culture might be? Is that what's happening here? Or are you just arguing with Lil Wayne and trying to defend rich people who, as great arbiters of culture, bump Vampire Weekend on a regular enough basis?

E: I guess if you're rich and white this might stick in your craw but guess what, you're probably the exception.

Hat · « **Reply #44 on:** 11 Mar 2009, 21:16 »

It's really noble that you've taken on the role of cultural defender of the downtrodden masses Johnny but if you honestly believe that poor people have a more authentic grip on culture than the middle and upper classes you have either not spent a lot of time around poor people or you have spent even less time around the upper and middle classes.

Did you watch a sitcom about the upper middle class on television or something and then make that post?

Also how did you get that I might even think that standardized tests like the SAT don't discriminate against poor people? I'm not disputing that at all. In fact, given that a huge portion of poor people do not last until the final year of high school to even sit the SAT/QCS/HSC/Whatever, the odds are that most of the people who are responsible for Lil Wayne's position on this chart are just really fucking lazy privileged people so I can't even figure out what you are trying to say apart from BLURGH BLURGH BLURGH RICH PEOPLE which is really hilarious actually.

imapiratearg · « **Reply #45 on:** 11 Mar 2009, 21:24 »

Culture is relative. Rich people have rich people culture and poor people have poor people culture. Everyone in the middle takes part in either both or neither, probably.

Hat · « **Reply #46 on:** 11 Mar 2009, 21:36 »

Johnny I do not want you to think I am getting up in your grill or anything about this, but I am basically just trying to say that this class warfare bullshit is really unbecoming of a smart dude like you.

Quote from: imapiratearg on 11 Mar 2009, 21:24

Culture is relative. Rich people have rich people culture and poor people have poor people culture. Everyone in the middle takes part in either both or neither, probably.

Middle class people lack the hardship and authenticity to create folk culture but do not have the free time and resources to create high culture so their culture is making their houses look nice and raising multi-lingual children who learn instruments and appreciate music so they can either regurgitate classical music or co-opt the folk music of the poor.

I know you guys can't see me but I am laughing so fucking hard right now

Johnny C · « **Reply #47 on:** 11 Mar 2009, 22:16 »

Oh man, Hat brought up something in Meebo that stopped me in my tracks.

Quote

[23:03] DJ Weight Problem: the SAT doesn't just discriminate against poor people because of the way the test is written
[23:03] Johnny C: no shit
[23:03] DJ Weight Problem: it discrimintes against poor people because poor people are so much less likely to finish high school
[23:03] Johnny C: ahh i thought you were going to mention how it discriminates against people from other cultures too
[23:03] DJ Weight Problem: there's no actual way you can take the data from SAT scores and extrapolate any legitimate opinion about the poor demographic because they're not part of the test pool
[23:03] Johnny C: hahaha man
[23:03] DJ Weight Problem: in any signifigant way
[23:04] Johnny C: that is really funny
[23:04] Johnny C: like in a grim, depressing way
[23:04] DJ Weight Problem: I know

Incidentally I wasn't aiming for "poor people know all the good shit" which is kind of disgusting cultural (economic?) tourism, but instead "rich people, who are basically disconnected from normal society by virtue of their socioeconomic status, kind of don't know shit."

Hat · « **Reply #48 on:** 11 Mar 2009, 23:00 »

Quote from: Johnny C on 11 Mar 2009, 22:16

"rich people, who are basically disconnected from normal society by virtue of their socioeconomic status, kind of don't know shit."

To be fair we invented white guilt for the specific purpose of dealing with this.

pwhodges · « **Reply #49 on:** 12 Mar 2009, 02:07 »

Quote from: Johnny C on 11 Mar 2009, 20:25

take a look at a rich white person's iPod

Leaving aside the racism in using 'white' there, what is 'rich' anyway? Comfortable, Well-off, Stinking rich? Am I richer than the builder who earns more than me but blows the lot on expensive holidays every year? How many millions is the gateway to richness? Are you really talking about class? C'mon, it's an entirely pointless thing to say, really.

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Author Topic: SAT Scores And Musical Taste (Read 21808 times)

s0ck ninja

zynk