San Antonio, the third-dumbest city in the nation?

[Samr]

San Antonio ranked #53 of 55 total (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-04/americas-smartest-cities---from-first-to-worst/#gallery=787;page=53)


San Antonio is ahead of only Las Vegas and Fresno.

Here's how they ranked the cities:


We only ranked metropolitan areas (the cities and their suburbs) of 1 million people or more, using Census data, with the definition of each greater metropolitan area defined by Nielsen. That gave us 55 in all. All data was then organized on a per-capita basis, so that a resident of Norfolk, Virginia, and New York, New York, had equal weight. We’re looking for the brainiest cities, not the biggest.
Then we divided the criteria into two halves: Half for education, and half for intellectual environment. The education half encompassed how many residents had bachelor’s degrees (35 percent weighting) and graduate degrees (15 percent). No credit was given for “some college,” or “some grad school”—we rewarded those who finished the race. The intellectual environmental half had three subparts. First, we looked at nonfiction book sales (25 percent), as tracked by Nielsen BookScan, the nation’s leading provider of accurate point-of-sale data, which tracks roughly 300,000 titles each week. We focused on nonfiction as an imperfect proxy for intellectual vigor, because overall sales are dominated by fiction works that, while entertaining, aren’t always particularly thought-provoking. We also measured the ratio of institutions of higher education (15 percent), as defined by the federal government—different than just measuring college degrees, this acknowledges that universities don’t just churn out diplomas, but instead drive the intellectual vigor of cities. Finally, many studies link intelligence and political engagement, so we weighed this, too, as measured by the percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots in the last presidential election (10 percent). (Our relatively small weighting acknowledges that numerous other local factors can affect turnout.)
Once we had all these comparable, per-capita figures, we ranked the cities in each category, assigning 10 points to those near the very top, and 0 to the bottom, with scores allocated between in a broad bell curve. We then added the totals, and multiplied by two, which made for a perfect score of 200, a wash-out score of 0, and an average score right at 100—close to the exact parameters of a classic IQ test.

and here's a link to the text (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-04/americas-smartest-cities---from-first-to-worst/)

[Xylus]

Tucson at #34? That's complete bullshit.

[rjv]

what an elitist survey. i can take half of the mexicans in the west side and they can put together a car faster than most of the mechanical engineering students in the raleigh NC area.

[IronMexican]

Fresno is the second shittiest city in California after South San Diego. It might even be shittier.

[jman3000]

It's a pretty badly set up survey... but I'd agree we're not the most text book savy city.

Still some of the nicest people in the country though.

[lefty]

I'm not surprised

[kbrury]

I don't really like the categories selected for the rankings, San Antonio is a military town so Im sure a lot less people have degrees on top of the diversity. Im not sure voting really has a direct correlation with Intelligence.

[rjv]

so we talk more about the cowboys and spurs than we do about the impressionists or postmodernism. i'll take that trade off over living in a city littered with coffee houses and know-it-alls in berets.

[angel_luv]

I think street smarts, common sense, creativity, and real life production are important factors to consider when defining intelligence.

The ability to memorize and repeat in some cases causes people to appear more intelligent than they actually are.

Futhermore, what is the purpose of a survey like the one listed?

[katyon6th]

so we talk more about the cowboys and spurs than we do about the impressionists or postmodernism. i'll take that trade off over living in a city littered with coffee houses and know-it-alls in berets.

I think we need more coffee houses in San Antonio. And people wearing berets! What's different is I don't talk about postmodernism at coffee houses, it's mostly chatter about work or my sex life.

[atxrocker]

Rofl, San Antonio not being very educated and ranking low is not news. Everyone already knows this.

[BacktoBasics]

I think we need more coffee houses in San Antonio. And people wearing berets! What's different is I don't talk about postmodernism at coffee houses, it's mostly chatter about work or my sex life.
and how is your sex life? PM me the details if necessary.

[katyon6th]

and how is your sex life? PM me the details if necessary.

Satisfying.

Do you own a beret?

[rjv]

and in the end we are all just preoccupied with sex. as this thread has proven.

[BlackSwordsMan]

I blame edison for this

[rjv]

I blame edison for this


edison high school always gets the blame.

[BacktoBasics]

Satisfying.

Do you own a beret?If it will help your sex life I'd consider.

[atxrocker]

Buddy Holly with some spin in...3...2.........

[katyon6th]

If it will help your sex life I'd consider.

PM me.

[timvp]

San Antonio ranked #53 of 55 total

55 minus 53 is 2 so that means we are the second least smarterest city in 'merica.

[rjv]

and seeing where houston, dallas and SA ranked then texas is stupid as hell. yet, CA with the smartest mean is almost broke while texas continues to flourish.

[Samr]

San Antonio is still consistently ranked one of the top honeymoon destinations in the United States as well as one of the best places to raise a family.

[jack sommerset]

I'm surprised SA ranked that high.

[xtremesteven33]

I love SA

[ginobili's bald spot]

Spurfan being dumb is not breaking news.

[Duncan]

I don't understand what #53 of 55 total means?

[ginobili's bald spot]

I don't understand what #53 of 55 total means?

Exhibit A

[Solid D]

San Antonio is laid back 'n stuff, so seeing as how it's okay to arrive 10 minutes late to everything, SA misses out on 10% less edumacations. or is it 15%?

[Mavs_man_41]

So I guess this explains Spur fans, doesn't it?

[Solid D]

So I guess this explains Spur fans, doesn't it?

If someone needs to explain Spurs fans to you, then who needs the education; the explainer or the explainee?

[jack sommerset]

So I guess this explains Spur fans, doesn't it?

Without question.

[Melmart1]

I thought this was an interesting take on the survey results, from the San Antonio Current: (http://www.sacurrent.com/blog/default.asp?perm=69960)

Hey, who cares if the pointy-headed four-eyes over at Dailybeast.com ranked the Alamo City 53rd out of 55 in its list of “America’s Smartest Cities?” The Beast don’t know us like that, y’all (the accompanying photo to San Antonio’s rather snarked-out entry features a cadre of Battle of the Alamo re-enactors, btw— hardly representative of our most innovative thinkers, verdad?) We’re a helluva lot more intellectually gifted than we look. San Antonio might not boast as many graduate degree-holders as Louisville, Kentucky (?!) or as many bookstores as Seattle, but hell, that’s not because we’re dumb. IT’S BECAUSE WE’RE POOR.

[koriwhat]

So I guess this explains Spur fans, doesn't it?

i don't know but something about the fanbase you belong to and the button up collard shirts they wear under their jerseys scream fuckin' tard to me. is dallas a big moron city like utah? oh my bad, i meant mormon...

[Samr]

I'm just mad they decided to put Las Vegas and Fresno behind us.

So basically, what they're telling me is, San Antonians are smarter than only prostitutes and illegals? (Oh, sorry, I mean "opportunists" and "resourceful dream-seekers.")

Really? We can't even beat out those two demographics?

New Orleans deserves to be behind us on the basis that A)that their forefathers decided to build a city below sea level, and B)when a big-ass hurricane was headed straight for them, they didn't leave!

Portland deserves to be behind us because they drafted Greg Oden.

The entire state of New Jersey deserves to be behind us because they invented the guido.

L.A. deserves to be behind us because of The Hills.

[timvp]

is dallas a big moron city like utah?

We might be 54th now.

[koriwhat]

I'm just mad they decided to put Las Vegas and Fresno behind us.

So basically, what they're telling me is, San Antonians are smarter than only prostitutes and illegals? (Oh, sorry, I mean "opportunists" and "resourceful dream-seekers.")

Really? We can't even beat out those two demographics?

New Orleans deserves to be behind us on the basis that A)that their forefathers decided to build a city below sea level, and B)when a big-ass hurricane was headed straight for them, they didn't leave!

Portland deserves to be behind us because they drafted Greg Oden.

The entire state of New Jersey deserves to be behind us because they invented the guido.

L.A. deserves to be behind us because of The Hills.

vey very good points!

[koriwhat]

We might be 54th now.

oh timvp... :king

edit: i need to start proofreading my shit before i post. i should've added, "like all of utah". fuckin' morons... i mean mormons.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

I think we need more coffee houses in San Antonio. And people wearing berets! What's different is I don't talk about postmodernism at coffee houses, it's mostly chatter about work or my sex life.

It's more fun when your talk of work and sex lives intertwine.

/Kangol-wearer

[ploto]

More than claiming to be any measure of intelligence, this study really shows the overall commitment to higher education in an area. It is not news to anyone in the field that this is lacking in San Antonio.

[CosmicCowboy]

Third dumbest? After spending a little time in the political forum this does not surprise me.

[sonic21]

So.... the top 11 are all in "blue" states.... 9 of worst 14 are in "red" states....

:stirpot:

[LnGrrrR]

I figured Boston would be high. MIT, Harvard, etc etc.

[tlongII]

This is not a surprise given the discussions I have in the NBA Forum.

[koriwhat]

This is not a surprise given the discussions I have in the NBA Forum.

is portland on that list?

[jack sommerset]

Poor SA. Ranked in top 5 of fattest cities in USA constanly and now ranked number 2 for being stupid. :lol Seriously they need to clean that town up. Start with illegal immigration.

[bus driver]

San Antonio ranked #53 of 55 total (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-04/americas-smartest-cities---from-first-to-worst/#gallery=787;page=53)


San Antonio is ahead of only Las Vegas and Fresno.

Here's how they ranked the cities:



and here's a link to the text (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-04/americas-smartest-cities---from-first-to-worst/)

where is the video clip of this BS! How our the illiterate people suppose to know whats going on?

[Sportcamper]

We have Madonna, Sean Penn, Penny Marshall, Lil Weazy, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, B-Real, Kayne, Barbra Boxer, Nancy Pelosi, Khloe & Lamar…

NO WAY SAN ANTONIO BEATS US OUT…

[Laker Lanny]

Buddy Holly with some spin in...3...2.........

:lmao

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

we might be 54th now.

flmao

[tlongII]

is portland on that list?

#9

[EricB]

I think we need more coffee houses in San Antonio. And people wearing berets! What's different is I don't talk about postmodernism at coffee houses, it's mostly chatter about work or my sex life.


As soon as I read this, the McDonald's commercial for the iced coffee's came to mind... :lol

[Cry Havoc]

Chicago is 24th? It has two of the top 15 university in the United States, several other highly rated schools, and it ranks behind Atlanta? Ridiculous.

[Last Comic Standing]

Maybe if Tpark made his employees get their GED's we could move down the list.

[Bukefal]

Well, everything is relative, besides these surveys are useless. But I must say, Texas has the image of the 'Dumb' state, especially here in Europe.

[greyforest]

what about teen pregnancy are we still #1?

[spursfan09]

edison high school always gets the blame.

Hey I'm about to graduate with an accounting degree and looking to become a CPA. Shut up!

[spursfan09]

But a degree doesn't equate "intelligence" It's just how people find thier way to move ahead in this world. If we had to rely on a more survival of the fittest kind of society nobody could hold a candle us crazy messicans. Esepcially to my sister.

[ploto]

Obviously, a lot has to do with the job market in a city. Even though SA graduates more and more college students, many are having to leave SA to find professional-level jobs.

[Kamala]

Dumb?

Young, dumb, and full of cum.

[newacc]

Futhermore, what is the purpose of a survey like the one listed?

That survey obviously didn't see this post. Big time right here.

[Trainwreck2100]

there are alot of fucking morons here

[kamikazi_player]

Fresno is the second shittiest city in California after South San Diego. It might even be shittier.
Hey don't make fun of my hometown puta :flipoff

[xellos88330]

So since I am from San Antonio, don't have a degree, and prefer to stay in front of my computer where I can read most books for free means I am an uneducated moron.

Interesting. Especially considering I worked on the friggin F-117A Nighthawk. Living proof that you do not need a damn degree to do a job that requires alot of brainpower.

[IronMexican]

Hey don't make fun of my hometown puta :flipoff

It's a pretty shitty city, brah. I can admit when something is shitty, like my Raiders.

[xellos88330]

Camp Pendleton was nice there in San Diego.