Anti-MENSA?

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I qualified for MENSA many years ago and then found out they wanted $40 per year to be a member of their club. I asked "What do I get for that $40/year?" The answer was a newsletter and my name written someplace that said I was a member and a card to put in my wallet. I don't remember anything else, and nothing of value to me at all.

I told them I was smart enough to know to keep my $40 and declined.

Never joined. Qualified, but really didn't see the point.

This is a community that is much more relevant to my needs.

From what I've read here, people have mixed opinions of MENSA. I wouldn't mind joining, if I could get in, just to see what the members were like. If that's an area where there are likely to be more Aspies and socially awkward nerds like myself, then I'll have to consider it.

(For those who bombed the IQ test, did you try Raven's Progressive Matrices?)

I just took a quick look at them there, they're exactly the sort of thing I don't like / do well at. But at least I can now say "I don't like progressive matrices" instead of "I don't like them thingy things!"

So screw'em. You know how smart you are. What do you care?

ruveyn

Huh?

Mensa is about as much like a pyramid scheme as a gym membership or a magazine subscription. Look up what a pyramid scheme is. You might want to pick a different way of disparaging it. If you don't feel a Mensa membership is good value, fine. Tell someone what you feel it does or does not do in return for the dues they pay.




My mother was a member. I knew I was qualified but wasn't intersted in the slightest becauce my mother alwasy assured me I'd find it pretty dull. Then some people I knew tried to get me to come to a party. I resisted, expecting dullness. They were so nice I took them up on it. It was a halloween party, with fantastic costumes, fully decorated "haunted house" theme, some pyrotechnics, lots of joking, flirting and fun. I was converted! I like fun. I love costumes and entertaining people and silly jokes. So that's why I joined.

I do not believe I ever showed my membership card to anyone. You're not the only one who thinks Mensa shouldn't exist. My sister in law found out I'd joined and gave me a talking-to that blistered my ears, telling me I was an elitist etc. etc. etc. So, wow -- I don't think admitting to belonging is a good idea!

I did drop out of the group when I moved to an area where the local group wasn't as much fun.

But -- jeez -- get some perspective. I joined Mensa partly for the same reasons YOU are HERE! To converse with people I might have something in common with, or at least hopefully more in common than the average, go greet people on the street corner kind of encounter.

"Mensa ring" Oh yes -- those famous Mensa heists, where we pulled off that nefarious chocolate-napping caper, or the one where Mensans all took off their glasses and used the combined power of the lenses to laze a hole in the side of the bank and.... Ummm. "Mensa ring???"

I qualify (I guess, I mean, my IQ is over 130 and I think that's all I need) but I once thought about joining so I asked people what they do at their meetings.

Apparently, it's a dick measuring contest (substitute dick for IQ) followed by scrabble.

Uh... I could do that without paying dues. I could just round up some nerds I know and play boardgames with THEM.

Then I realize that I don't even like boardgames OR hanging out with people.

*shrug*

Still, I don't get the whole "discrimination" angle of the original post. They honor standard IQ tests.

A number of people believe Mensa is a club for underachievers and game players (puzzle, trivia, scrabble...etc).

Don't forget the part where you pay them for all of that.

In Italy MENSA uses Raven's Progressive Matrices. Raven's Progressive Matrices are the IQ test best performing for AS people.

I'd like to start with congratulations to Strapples.

You really do know how to get people's attention and well done with the 2 sticky threads.


Now, on to Mensa and related subjects...........


When most people think of Mensa, they think of that 2% group on the far right of the bell curve.

That is certainly where they live but it is worth remembering that this is 2% of the entire population.

A more meaningful comparison might be to compare Mensans to the above average segment of the population, in which case they are only 4% of the population.


68% of the population is to be found between 85 and 115 (one standard deviation either side of the average of 100)

This leaves 32% of the population, spread equally, half (16%) below 85 and half (16%) above 115.


Those who are capable of achieving entrance to undergraduate programs typically have an IQ above 115.

That's 16% of the population.


NOW:

Although people with IQs below 115 do go to college and many with IQs above 115 (including Mensans) don't go to college it is worth remembering that IQ is a measure of potential and one that provides a reasonably good (but not perfect) indicator of potential.

Looked at in this way Mensas represent 1 in 8 of those most likely to be able to qualify for enrollment on a Bachelor program.


In this context, Mensans, when compared to their peer group might not be described as elite by everyone.


Mensans therefore represent 12.5% of the population that is generally capable of graduating from University.

Those generally capable of graduating from University represent 16% of the entire population......and yes, there are some, who consider the University system to be elitist too.



There seems to be more than one issue at stake in this thread.


1. Does IQ measurement have any real meaning or practical relevence (IQ was not invented by Mensa)
2. Are people with high IQs elitist? (People with high IQs were born that way)
3. Is Mensa elitist? (Mensans include truck drivers, people on welfare and a whole plethora of unskilled or low skilled employed people as well as Scientists and writers etc...)

Perhaps they are elitist and so for those of you who think they are, perhaps you should swithch your attention to the 'Triple Nine Society' so called because you need to score at the 99.9th percentile to join, with an IQ of 150 on the Wechsler scale.

Yes, that's right; 1 in a 1000, which makes Mensans (1 in 50) seem quite.............ordinary.

Of course in a country the size of the US, there would be around 300,000 people eligible to join the Triple Nine Society; 60,000 in Britain and perhaps 30,000 in Australia.

Worldwide, 6 million.


I hope this helps