Who's Smarter?

Area residents say gender not a factor in intelligence

July 17, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

It’s an age-old debate that you’ve probably heard since you were just a youngster on the playground at school. Who is smarter: men or women?
In today’s PARADE magazine insert, columnist and logician Marilyn vos Savant gives readers her opinion on the controversial issue.
In the column, a reader asks vos Savant if the gender disparity between men and women in the science field, which typically has more males, indicates that men are more intelligent than women.
When approached with the same question, Greenwood and Lakelands residents thought that, perhaps, more men are in the science field simply because they are interested in science – not because they are brighter.
“It just depends on what you are interested in,” said Greenwood resident Martha Wideman. “Everyone is unique and has their own learning ability. Women might not be as interested in science.”
Bobby Grogan, also of Greenwood, said he thinks intelligence is spread evenly between the genders and that any field – not just science – can have men and women who are equally smart.
“It all goes back to what people make out of themselves,” he said. “(Anyone can be successful) if they’re goal-oriented and they apply themselves.”
When 30 area residents – 15 men and 15 women – were quizzed with four questions involving math, science, history and spelling, the results showed both genders separated by only a few points.
Though the scores were close, women answered the most questions correctly, winning in each category, including science.
Only two of the 30 residents polled answered all four questions correctly — and both are women. But vos Savant’s column suggests that defining intelligence is difficult and that many IQ tests can have biases. Greenwood resident Donna Jones agreed, adding that tests don’t always accurately reflect a person’s ability. “A lot of people can’t take tests well but are extremely smart,” she said.
Jones, who used to work in a school, said she thinks intelligence has more to do with a person’s social and cultural environment than chromosomes. She said the stereotype that men are smarter than women possibly could have been perpetuated because, in the past, history tended to focus on men.
“I don’t think there is any genetic proof that men are smarter than women. When you think of smart people, you might be programmed to think of men. Look at the history books – that’s the way we were raised,” Jones said. “Women were ignored or written out, but I think that’s changing now.”



Quiz Results

The Index-Journal asked 30 area residents — 15 men and 15 women — four questions in a non-scientific attempt to find out which is the smarter sex. Here are the questions, answers and results:
QUESTION 1: In which U.S. city was the nation’s capital located from 1790-1800?
Answer: Philadelphia
Correctly answered
Men 4
Women 6


QUESTION 2: What is the square root of 121?
Answer: 11
Correctly answered
Men 8
Women 9


QUESTION 3: NaCl is the chemical formula for what common item?
Answer: Salt
Men 7
Women 8


QUESTION 4: (Asked aloud): Spell “accommodate.”
Men 2
Women 3


OVERALL CORRECT ANSWERS
Men 21
Women 26


Megan Varner covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3308, or: mvarner@indexjournal.com

On to second round

Post 20 scores two in 10th for 4-3 win, eliminates Spartanburg

July 17, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

It may have taken two extra days and an additional inning, but the Greenwood Post 20 baseball team will be moving on to the second round of the state playoffs.
Clint Burden scored on Justin Lovvorn’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to give Post 20 the 4-3 victory over two-time defending state champion Spartanburg Saturday night at Legion Field, giving Greenwood a 3-1 win in the best-of-five, opening-round series.
It was Post 20’s third win in a row and second come-from-behind victory, both by 4-3 scores.
“As anybody that follows Post 20, they know that we’re going to battle you until the end, no matter what, no matter how many runs we’re down,” said Burden, who scored two of the team’s four runs Saturday.
“And that’s what we did out there tonight. The team kept it up and got the hits we needed in the 10th inning to win the ballgame.
“It feels real good to beat this team. Last year, we won our league and we lost in the first round. So, beating a team like this at home feels really good. Even with all of the rain delays, we remained focused.” The team advances to face familiar playoff opposition — Irmo, which swept Fort Mill in its opening round. Irmo knocked Post 20 out of the 2003 playoffs in three straight games.
Game One of the second-round series is scheduled for 7 Monday night at Dutch Fork High School.
“There’s one thing we’ve talked about all year and that’s not quitting, and tonight we didn’t quit,” Post 20 coach Billy Dean Minor said. “We won two one-run ballgames in this series and that’s what you have to do to keep playing. This team had won the state tournament the last two years.”
Spartanburg took a lead in the first extra frame against Greenwood reliever Kyle Behrendt.
Darren Caldwell, who reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and then scored on Ross Hanna’s two-out single to right to give Spartanburg the 3-2 advantage. It was the first earned run given up by Behrendt during the legion season in more than 14 innings.
But Greenwood came out aggressive against Spartanburg reliever Jordan Costner in the bottom of the 10th.
Will Gary led a barrage of singles off the side-arming tossing Costner.
It was the first of four straight singles by Post 20 batters. Burden and Wade Scott each dumped base hits to left field, loading the bases with no outs.
Justin Jenkins, who entered Saturday’s game batting .156, picked up his second hit of the night, bringing in Gary to tie the score at 3.
With the bases still loaded and an 0-2 count, Lovvorn sent a fly ball to center. Spartanburg’s Nate Newberry made the grab, hopped once and threw home.
The toss was well late, as Burden came home standing to a jubilant crowd of Post 20 teammates.
“When I saw it come off the bat, I knew it was the ballgame,” Burden said. “I was standing on the bag and Billy Dean told me ‘don’t watch the ball, I got you. Just make sure you don’t leave early.’ And as soon as he said go, I ran as hard as I could all the way to plate.
“I knew once Will got on it was our game. I knew it was over when we got the leadoff batter on.”
Neither team could figure out what to do against the opposing starting pitcher early in the contest.
Emerald High School’s Brandon Miller retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, getting six ground ball outs and sending Spartanburg out three-up three-down in the second and third innings.
The only base runner Miller allowed in the first third of the game was a walk to Caldwell, his counterpart on the mound.
Caldwell was equally effective through the first three innings. He scattered three singles through that stretch, but two of those hits came with two outs and none got farther than second base.
Spartanburg’s first base hit came in the fourth when Patrick West led off the inning with a slow dribbler toward third. The speedy Spartanburg shortstop easily beat out Miller’s throw to first for an infield single.
Miller then walked the next three batters to send West trotting home for the game’s first run.
But with the bases still loaded and one out, Miller regrouped and got a pair of fly outs, one in the infield and the other in the outfield, to end the inning.
West caused some more problems for Miller and Greenwood in the next inning. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, West stole second. Caldwell followed with a hard grounder to Behrendt at third.
West ran right past Behrendt as he made the throw to first, but the throw was late, leaving Spartanburg with runners on the corners and two out.
But on a botched suicide squeeze-bunt play, West took off for home before Miller even started his windup to home. Miller, appearing shocked initially, threw home narrowly getting West out at the plate.
Spartanburg did add a run in the sixth for a 2-0 lead.
Greenwood made it a new ballgame in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Gary drew Caldwell’s first and only walk of the game. Burden followed by lining a 2-2 pitch off the wall in right for a double, with Gary taking third.
Gary scored the team’s first run on Wade Scott’s ground out that ended in a close play at first, with Burden taking third. Caldwell was then pulled Costner.
Jenkins hit Costner’s second pitch of the game into the gap at short and beat out West’s throw, allowing Burden to score and tie the game at 2.
Post 20 had a chance to win it in regulation. In the ninth, Justin Collier hit a two-out single to right. Brown followed by taking his team-leading seventh hit by pitch. But Behrendt couldn’t win it for himself, as his fly ball to center was corralled by Ryan Wilkins.
In other playoff series around the state, fellow-League VII team Walhalla was swept by Gaffney, which advances to the second round to face Lancaster, which swept Columbia.
Also in Upper State action, Richland Northeast swept Rock Hill and await the winner of Inman-Greenville, which entered Saturday tied at 1-1.B There were still three games yet undecided heading into Saturday. The Summerville-Florence and Orangeburg-Lake City series are tied 1-1, while Georgetown leads Manning 2-1.

Ron Cox covers area sports for the Index-Journal. He can be reached at: rcox@indexjournal.com

Opinion

Let the public be judge of vandals found guilty

July 17, 2005

Write your own editorial!
What kind of sick satisfaction does anyone get by vandalizing others’ property? Whatever it is, it’s sickening to an entire community ….. and that kind of “sickening” has everything to do with being disgusted with the reprehensible acts of vandals.
If caught, of course, vandals are prosecuted by the laws of man. That’s appropriate. When the targets of vandals are churches, though, it’s worse. If caught, the vandals in those cases face the consequences of their stupid acts according to the law. Since churches are involved, they ought to be thinking, too, what awaits them when their final judgment comes around.

READERS OF THIS newspaper should have noticed what appears to be an increase in vandalism in Greenwood in recent times. Some wonder if it has to do with school being out and whether boredom might be a factor. Law enforcement agents say some of it is drug-related. That is, various items have been stolen from churches so the thieves can sell those items and use the money to buy illegal drugs.
Whatever the reasons, if caught, those found guilty should not be given a proverbial slap on the wrist and told to go and sin no more. The sentencing should include restitution for churches’ and private interests’ property vandalized, doing time in jail, the maximum allowed fines, and on top of that, vandals should be required to do public service for the churches they vandalize.

OH, YEAH. WHY NOT make them wear a bright yellow vest in public telling everyone they are church vandals. No doubt there would be some bleeding hearts who’d complain about the thieves’ civil rights being violated. Be that as it may, convicted vandals deserve the entire community’s scorn. If a deterrent effect is the goal, public humiliation might do more than anything else.
At least, it’s worth a try. It might even be effective in other criminal cases.
Why not?
Write your own editorial!

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

Sarah P. Hamilton

TAMPA, Fla. — Sarah Peterson Hamilton, 98, formerly of Edgefield, S.C., widow of Charlie Hamilton, died Tuesday, July 12, 2005.
She was a daughter of the late Ossie and Nancy Higgins Peterson.
Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Joe (Rose) Norton and Bessie Campbell of the home, and Geneva Sampson of Tampa.
Services will be Thursday in Tampa.
The family is at the home of her granddaughter, the Rev. Queen H. Hagood, 234 N. Hospital St., and 4008 La Salle Ave., Tampa, Fla.
Announcement courtesy of Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood, S.C.

Everlee W. Horne

GREER — Everlee Watson Horne, 81, of 262 Ford Circle, widow of Johnny W. Horne Sr., died Friday, July 15, 2005 at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Born in Madison County, Ga., she was a daughter of Elisha and Ruby Vaughn Watson. She was retired from the Ninety Six Plant of Greenwood Mills.
Survivors include two daughters, Anne Wilson of Williamston and Frances Merck of Greer; four sons, Johnny W. Horne Jr. of Greer, James W. Horne of Taylors, George E. Horne of Grover, N.C., and Jerry L. Horne of Greenwood; six sisters, Verna Morris of Abbeville, Rosa Harrison of West Pelzer, Nan Sadowski of Harlam, Ga., Ojetta Breazeale of West Pelzer, Jean Shaw of Evans, Ga., and Vera Bagwell of Greenwood; two brothers, the Rev. James Watson and Bill Watson, both of Walhalla; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services are at 4 today at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Larry McCall. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Wayne Horne, Roger Blake-Ward, Tim Bagwell, Donald Bagwell, Jake Wilson and Josh Wilson. Visitation is from 2-3:30 today at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of a sister, Vera Bagwell, 425 Beechwood Circle, Greenwood. Harley Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

James R.J. New

WATERLOO — James Rodney Joe New, infant son of Rodney Joe and Holley New of 586 Old Oaktree Road, died Friday, July 15, 2005 at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Survivors include his parents; his maternal grandmother, Patrisha Lacasse of Spartanburg; paternal grandmom, Janie Barton of Greenwood, SC; paternal grandpa, James Jones of Greenwood; an aunt, Rachel Lacasse of Spartanburg; an uncle, Danny Lacasse of Montana; and his godfather, Sammy Cohen of Virginia. He was predeceased by his paternal grandmother, Henrietta Prince.
The family will receive friends Sunday, July 17, 2005, beginning at 2:00 p.m., at the home of his aunt, Tammy Blizzard, 1017 Berry Drive, Boiling Springs, SC. Funeral services will be at 4:00 p.m., Monday, July 18, 2005 at Floyd’s Boiling Springs Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Todd Black.
Jesus gave us a gift but only for a short time, so he was taken back to heaven for his Uncle James to enjoy. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the James New Memorial Fund, P.O. Drawer 1530, Spartanburg, SC 29304. An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com.
Floyd’s Boiling Springs Chapel.
PAID OBITUARY

Willie “Sonny” Wideman

HODGES — Services for Willie Wideman of 118 Embassy Court, are at noon Tuesday at Holy Springs Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. James Moss. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. The body will be placed in the church at 11.
Pallbearers are Stanley Starks, Roy Parks Jr., Robert Roman, David Wideman, Larry Wideman, Willie Richardson and Thomas Frazier Jr.
Flower bearers are Emma Jean Tolbert, Mamie Frazier, Sarah Leak, Patricia Prince, Gloria Mansel, Cerrior Mansel, Julie Ann Griffin, Gracie Tolbert and Deloris Lewis.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.

CORRECTION

In the obituary for Rykevious Deion Coates, published Saturday, July 16, 2005, there were errors in the information provided to The Index-Journal.
Survivors included grandmother, Alberta Coates of Ware Shoals and great-grandparents Joe and Lula Mae Mansel of Ware Shoals.