Is "Scorpion" Really a Genius? 391
An anonymous reader writes CBS's upcoming hacker show Scorpion is pitched as based on the real life of Irish 'eccentric genius' Walter O'Brien a.k.a. "Scorpion". Some of the claims made for the real Scorpion are extraordinary. A child prodigy with an IQ of 197, hacking Nasa at age 13, [supplying] Ireland with more Personal Computers than DELL and Gateway together. Searching online I wasn't able to find anything which, for me, clearly backed up any of these (or other) claims. For example, rather than being the sixth fastest programmer in the world in 1993, his team ranked 90th out of 250 teams. Curiously, his degree grade was an ok, but hardly stellar B+ (II-I). Does anyone know anything to back up the genius claims being made about Scorpion?
Re:He's a real genius. (Score:5, Funny)
Whiskey?
Re:Grades vs IQ (Score:5, Funny)
If you are so smart perhaps you can explain why 98% of the internet has an IQ in the 150-170 range.
Re:Never let the truth (Score:5, Funny)
There is. I worked for a number of them
Re:Never let the truth (Score:5, Funny)
197 would imply there is someone out there with an IQ of 3 as well.
Just browse at -1 and you'll have your statistical data...
Re:Never let the truth (Score:3, Funny)
Re:A truly smart person ... (Score:5, Funny)
Man I wish could flaunt my IQ on the interwebs, but I can't because I'm too damn smart. Typically we of the IQ > 220 crowd keep quiet in public, allowing ourselves only gentle stroking of our nipples and an intolerably arrogant half-grin - well, that and some posting on /. obviously.
Re:A truly smart person ... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Never let the truth (Score:5, Funny)
I saw that. Get back to work or I'll put your internet in the recycle bin again. And this time I'll make sure it's emptied!!!
Re:He's a real genius. (Score:5, Funny)
A Real Genius uses a Space laser to pop the worlds largest popcorn container IN the home of his enemy.
Re:Never heard of him (Score:3, Funny)
Scorpion. He was the lead singer of the Police.
Re:Never heard of him (Score:2, Funny)
He was the bad guy in Farscape.
Re:Never heard of him (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Never let the truth (Score:2, Funny)
The old system had it about right. I went into primary school in England one day in 1954 and it was 11+ plus intellegence test day. I was streamed into a secondary school that specialized in keeping you off the street until your 15th birthday. Been stuck as a software developer for the last 40 years and still can't figure out what you lot are going on about.
Re:He claims this himself (Score:3, Funny)
I hope having a Trans Am was the trump card. And when both had a TA... compare mustaches.