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Comment by eimrine | Hacker News Reader

I use to ask people about the thing exposed in your photo (why the seasons change, what the moon phases means) to make a quick test about random interlocutor's intelligence to see is it worth to keep discussion. Your father passed this test in absentia.

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nowadays, you can just ask about astrology. It's both obviously wrong and socially acceptable to believe in. It filters a solid 30% of the population, at least in my country.

Too obvious if an interlocutor is an engineer. Too severe if an interlocutor is a woman.

Typical Virgo

Knowledge does not imply intelligence. Nor is the opposite true.

Since Astronomy is considered one of seven Liberal Arts, knowing the very bases of orbital mechanics is not about knowing for example difference between interfaces and abstract classes. Understanding this astronomical subject speaks to a general curiosity that in my opinion correlates with intelligence.

An interesting observation, this is not the first time I've talked about this little test on HN, but this time it was not upvoted for.

If that feels too intrusive, just ask people if they use snopes.com to check if the shocking thing they just read is real.

Cursive means irony? I visited the website but I have not seen any good use for me in this website.

"I read it on Snopes. It must be true." People believing in one site that holds the facts for everything in life is a recipe for disaster.

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