Mensa

[bigtinkfun]

If you could join Mensa, would you? Why or why not?

 

[Inigo]

My GRE scores were high enough that I could have used them to join Mensa. I didn't. Every once in a while I think it would have been cool to be able to say that I'm in Mensa, but how often would the opportunity to say that really come up? I mean, without me sounding like a braggart.

 

[tasha99]

I could join, but I wouldn't . I don't understand the appeal of being part of a club based on IQ--it makes as much sense to me as being in a club for people with brown hair and brown eyes (a club I wouldn't join either, even though I could.)

 

[EMom]

My LSAT scores were high enough to get in. By then, I was in law school, married and busy with LIFE. If I joined to go to the meetings, it would have taken away from precious time with DH. If I joined just to be able to say, "I'm in Mensa," what was I going to do? Wear a t-shirt which said something to that effect, so as to alert everyone to my genius? I just didn't see the point.

 

[delilah]

I'm another one who wouldn't join mensa. Based on my GRE, MCAT and other test scores over the years, I would have qualified. But, in my case, I have a cousin who belongs, and she falls into the category that I would call "neurotic underacheiver". She never learned to drive, at all. Never married. Not sure if she ever dated. Her mom thought she was a genius, and so, encouraged that type of dysfunctional behaviour. Her only claim to fame is belonging to Mensa. Her mom berated my mom because I am a physician and my brothers are attorneys and my sister a PharmD. According to this aunt, there are enough doctors, lawyers and pharmacists that we are not living up to our intellectual potential by joining those professions. Well, at least, we all have jobs, and are able to support ourselves and our families.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I went to a few Mensa meetings in college and the members were all obnoxious right-wing Objectivists. I think they had driven everybody else away. They certainly drove me away!

 

[rie'smom]

A member had me take a test (this was in the 70s), and was asked to join but I didn't. It was enough to know that I did well. The only club I've ever joined was one that did community projects.

 

[clgwli]

I was given a test by a member and I could have gotten in. I took it for fun but given the person who showed it to me liked to flaunt how "smart" they are I figured they weren't a type I cared to hang around a lot. I doubt everyone is that way but if this person was an idication of it all as to the type who might be there I'd rather be "dumb" enjoy my life with the rest of the "dumb" ones.

 

[java]

No offense meant but if so many were invited(myself included) doesn't it seem like it is so exclusive.

 

[taximomfor4]

My family has a smattering of "geniuses", IQ-wise. None of them have bothered to join MENSA. My oldest dd was the closest to joining the kids' part of MENSA, only because she was having such trouble relating to her peers in school. We grade-skipped her, instead. She's now 15 and finishing up her Jr Year.

 

[Ember]

No offense meant but if so many were invited(myself included) doesn't it seem like it isn't so exclusive.

Well, Mensa guidelines state they will accept the top 2% of the population. Say the population of North America is around 528,721,000. That means in North America alone there are about 10 574 420 who would qualify. It's not exactly "exclusive."

I see nothing wrong with being proud of your intelligence. It's no different the glorifying beauty, artistic talent, or being great at sports. What I find a little amusing are the number of replies that felt the need to mention they COULD join if they wanted to.

 

[taximomfor4]

Well, Mensa guidelines state they will accept the top 2% of the population. Say the population of North America is around 528,721,000. That means in North America alone there are about 10 574 420 who would qualify. It's not exactly "exclusive."

I see nothing wrong with being proud of your intelligence. It's no different the glorifying beauty, artistic talent, or being great at sports. What I find a little amusing is that every single reply felt the need to mention they COULD join if they wanted to.

LOL! Not mine!! I am pretty sure I don't qualify. Good student, but not High-IQ.

 

[EthansMom]

We have a couple of family members who would likely qualify for Mensa.

I test very well on I.Q. tests but, if pressed to label (I hate labels), would say I'm more "academically gifted" than "mentally brilliant"... in other words, I learn well but my brain isn't wired for truly brilliant deductions. OTO, DH sucks at I.Q. tests, but is brilliant in his chosen field.

Personally, I believe that I.Q. tests only measure the performance on those particular tests... they don't measure the person's potential for greatness or how nice they are or.... well, really anything of value. So, you do well on this one odd kind of test? What the heck does that have to do with anything?

And why would I want to hang out with a group of people who are hung up on whether they are "smarter" than others or not?

 

[Reginat]

Hi!

In general, all Mensa events are open to the public, so we are not exclusive.

Basically the only Mensa event that is not open to the public is ExComm (Executive Committee planning meeting).

For my local group, our current events include a Murder On the Orient Express outing, letterboxing, trivia contests, and movie nights. Anyone is welcome to show up for those with us!

Have a great day!

Regina in NC
Charlotte-Blue Ridge Mensa ExComm

 

[clgwli]

Well, Mensa guidelines state they will accept the top 2% of the population. Say the population of North America is around 528,721,000. That means in North America alone there are about 10 574 420 who would qualify. It's not exactly "exclusive."

I see nothing wrong with being proud of your intelligence. It's no different the glorifying beauty, artistic talent, or being great at sports. What I find a little amusing is that are the replies that felt the need to mention they COULD join if they wanted to.

To me there is a difference with flaunting your intelligence and being proud. The mensa person who I was introduced to via a friend flaunted intelligence and made me feel stupid in general.

Flaunting my intelligence would have posted my IQ score and how many of the questions I got wrong on the test. I didn't.

I'll be honest for some people the type of questions that were asked on the mensa test are easy because they are used to thinking that way. The one I took had a lot of "think outside of the box" type questions. I enjoy thinking that way and I find it easy.

Intelligence isn't just what is on a test. I am sure some *extremely* intelligent people would fail that test because they just don't think that way. It doesn't mean they are stupid.

Some people also just test well but they really aren't all that smart. Some people who are very smart really do not test well. I do horrible at standardized tests. My IQ does not match up with how horrible I test on standardized test scores. I do well on other types of tests and ways of calculating knowledge though. That's why I did well on the mensa test. It wasn't a standard test.

So am I smart or dumb?

Personally I see myself as normal. By saying I chose not to join mensa is only saying I didn't get along with the person who talked ot me about it. Not trying to trump myself. Because personally I don't think they would see me as smart in general because I don't talk smart. I'm just me and I am sure I wouldn't fit. My friend who introduced us only thinks I am smart because I like to read up on things and I "know a lot" in her mind. I have a good memory but doesn't mean I am that much more smarter than her.

 

[NY Disney fan]

"Genius" is only good when you do something with it like delilah said above. I know plenty of people who, I can tell, are gifted but do nothing with it. By the same token, I know people who are plain, average people with no special talent who lead remarkable lives.

 

[Ember]

LOL! Not mine!! I am pretty sure I don't qualify. Good student, but not High-IQ.

LOL

I went back to edit, sorry!

 

[luvmyboys]

"Genius" is only good when you do something with it like delilah said above. I know plenty of people who, I can tell, are gifted but do nothing with it. By the same token, I know people who are plain, average people with no special talent who lead remarkable lives.

Along these lines... has anyone read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell? Very interesting perspective on genius and its relationship to being successful in life.

 

[Ember]

To me there is a difference with flaunting your intelligence and being proud. The mensa person who I was introduced to via a friend flaunted intelligence and made me feel stupid in general.

This is very true. Of course, bragging about anything with the intention of putting some else down smacks to me of insecurity. Being skilled (intelligence included), beautiful, wealthy etc. doesn't make anyone morally superior. A little humility goes a long way.

For what it's worth, I bet most members of Mensa are very nice people who are ashamed of the ones who think of their organization as nothing more than bragging rights. (At least that's how most organizations I know of are.)

 

[j's m]

My sister is in Mensa, has been for many years. She encouraged me to test but I was too lazy. I know I'm smart, why bother with a test? To me, it seems too stuffy.

The best part of Mensa that she told me about was the convention in WDW a few years ago. They also got a special Mensa pin that my DS wants her to give him, but she won't.