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Firstborn children are the Cleverest

newscientist.com — Firstborn children score significantly higher in IQ tests than their younger siblings, according to a large study of 250,000 military draftees. The researchers say the difference is due to social, not biological, factors, as younger siblings have higher IQs if they are raised as an eldest child following the death of an older brother or sister.

Who dugg this? Made popular Jun 21, 2007

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  • cay002, on 10/11/2007, -7/+154dugg simply because i'm firstborn and clever as *****.
  • AllenS, on 10/11/2007, -12/+128Damn right firstborns are the cleverest, they were the first ones to figure out how to get born. The others that followed just watched what the first one did and copied him...
  • chrisbtig, on 10/11/2007, -3/+44 I've been meaning to email my little brother.
  • bagelpirate, on 10/11/2007, -16/+56Im 2nd born, and my older brother is a dumbass.
  • converge, on 10/11/2007, -0/+36Amen brother.
  • isnthatheway, on 10/11/2007, -1/+34My older brother (eldest) is a cop.
    Heh. No comment.
  • Kosterfield, on 10/11/2007, -1/+32Then you my friend are royally *****.
  • Xanium4332, on 10/11/2007, -5/+35if he's a dumbass, I'd hate to think what mental level you're at.

    Sorry, just had to say it...
  • TheAkolyte, on 10/11/2007, -2/+27I think it comes from 10 years of telling your little siblings things that aren't true. My little brother still thinks cavemen come in the night and steel his candy.
  • Nudar, on 10/11/2007, -3/+24We just need to change this to firstborn sons are the cleverest and I'll agree with it.
  • jhnewt, on 10/11/2007, -4/+25I'am the most old sibbling adn definately teh intelligentest.
  • inactive, on 10/11/2007, -4/+22I'm first born, with an IQ of 250, while my other siblings all have Downs Syndrome and are so amazingly retarded it's hilarious. This article is dead-on accurate.
  • CanceledCzech, on 10/11/2007, -3/+21How is this news? I don't need a study to tell me that I'm smarter than my younger sister, thanks.
  • DragonGirl724, on 10/11/2007, -1/+17I'm the youngest, First born can keep the "cleverest" title, I get to do whatever I want. :)
  • inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+14The Bud Bundy.
  • xWintermute, on 10/11/2007, -2/+15This probably has something to do with us firstborns beating the hell out of our younger siblings (brothers anyway). We guarantee we have the highest IQ by ruling with an iron fist.
  • GafferXL, on 10/11/2007, -3/+16You become a spoiled pain in the posterior about 99% of the time, that's what happens.
  • deadowl, on 10/11/2007, -3/+15What if my older sister did a lot of drugs and killed half her brain cells while in high school?
  • POPULATIONPASTE, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12I'm my mom's third and my dad's first born. I guess that makes me an idiot savant.
  • xxTazxx, on 10/11/2007, -2/+13On the other hand first-borns get blamed for *everything*, have to watch over *all* the youngers, and if they mess up or doing something "against family rules" get blamed for it if the youngers do it later on.
  • WarcraftJunkie, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11..not as clever as your oldest sibling?
  • wheelerlt, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11I would digg down, but it's too funny
  • inactive, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10err "most clever"?
  • sfpfc, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8Really? I just thought everyone became dumber as time went along
  • mildewmedia, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8You only think that cause you aren't very clever, being a non-first born. In reality your older sister has more knowledge in real life situations.

    Sorry truth hurts.
  • cyrix, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7The least likely to get them to pay for any college?
  • deter1ii, on 10/11/2007, -6/+13What's that make George W.
  • inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6The Decider
  • Ayatollah, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6everyone thinks that they, themselves, are the most clever of anyone (if that makes sense)
  • emdash, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7Im the fourth child...
    Going by these findings, I guess that makes me retarded or brain-dead.
  • Kr4t05, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7I'm third born, and both of my elder brothers are dumb-asses.

    Inaccurate.
  • AxeSwinger, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Military service is also compulsory, unlike the American model which is voluntary. You get a wider range of skills and abilities when it's quasi random like Norway's process. Not to knock our armed services, I served with some of the smartest people I know in the Navy. The nuclear program is one of the toughest academic programs around.
  • spudnic, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5Surely 2.3 points is statistically insignificant given the average is 100
  • chrissiebee, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I'm a twin, we are identical, but she is 5mins older, so am I the younger sibling, with a lower IQ? I dont think there would be much difference between us...any studies on twins? Interesting stuff though, well dugg!
  • carpespasm, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3pfft, i'm the third, and i think we can take a note from ender's game. First might be most clever, but there's much to be said for the use of that talent, and the difference in cunning can be minimal, or overcome easily if one hone's another ability.

    wait, i mean, Durr, i R knot raterded....
  • MikeonTV, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4I got the clever gene!!!
  • Brasky, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6HAHA! Self-Sufficient??? Most only children I know are horribly dependent on everyone...spoiled *****.

    Oh and I am the second born and my older brother is not exactly clever in the least. While I am a mechanical engineer...
  • SWmania, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Ahhhhh, Scientific proof on what I already knew :)
  • ragmaster, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I'm a firstborn but heck with being the cleverest
  • Burn, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4I'm the first born (24) and my younger brother (22) teaches Year 11/12 Chemistry, Physics and Maths. I'm just an 'IT Guy', he's definitely smarter than me.
  • fantasyflamz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3The eldest ones are usually the ones that are more independent than the other younger siblings and the most likely to be blamed for everything.
  • DiscoLando, on 10/11/2007, -6/+9FYI - 'Most Clever' is the preferred modifier over 'Cleverest'.
  • queenstarsha, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3please don't call yourself "liberal" anything, racist.

    the article i read about this did consult one of your fellow racists, wringing his hands about the minorities. this study is about siblings, not how you think you're awesome 'cause people raised with more good families and good schools have higher iqs than people raised with more bad families and bad schools.
  • djAnakin, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Forwarded to my younger siblings. :D
  • simplejoe79, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3HELL YEAH!!........
  • mubbled, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3what about twins?
  • clever, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2clever says: Cleverest? Yes. Yes I am.

    Take that, lil' bro!
  • Kurisuku, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2http://utopia.utexas.edu/articles/opa/only_children.html

    Um, you guys love to buy into stereotypes.
  • Roflworthy, on 10/11/2007, -4/+6Buried as inaccurate.

    I'm the middle child and both my sisters have room temperature IQs, while mine is about 139.
  • Chrino, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2most clever*
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