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From: spaf@gatech.UUCP (Gene Spafford)
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Mensa
Message-ID: <11149@gatech.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Dec-84 12:52:08 EST
Article-I.D.: gatech.11149
Posted: Wed Dec  5 12:52:08 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Dec-84 06:57:49 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: The Clouds Project, School of ICS, Georgia Tech
Lines: 53

To clear up some questions, etc., let me quote from a Mensa publication:
    Mensa is an international society in which the members have scored in the
    top 2% on an approved IQ test.  It is a not-for-profit organization whose
    purposes are to identify intelligence for the benfit of humanity, to
    conduct research in psychology and science, to promote creativity among
    gifted children, and to provide social contacts among its members.
    Mensa has no political or religious affiliations.  Special interest
    groups in Mensa are involved in the sharing of activities, ideas and
    opinions.  Applications of membership (in the USA) should be made to:
			American Mensa
			1701 West Third Street
			Brooklyn NY 11223

Thq "approved IQ test" includes such items as the SAT and GRE.  There
are about 50 approved exams, and the scores on any of those can be used
to meet the entrance requirements (don't ask me for details -- write Amer.
Mensa.  I just knew that my GRE scores would get me in, and I never
bothered looking at the other literature).

I'm a member of Mensa, although not terribly active.  I met my current
SO at Mensa.  I've made a few very crazy friends through the group, and
I've had a fairly good time at most of the Mensa functions I've
attended.  I have heard that some groups are very dull, or consist of
just losers and stuck-up types, but that is not everywhere the case (or
else the organization wouldn't be flourshing!).  In particular, the
Atlanta group is a growing, fun group of people with many activities
and interests.

If you're curious, write to American Mensa and ask for information.
You might also ask for the name and phone number for the LocSec (Local
group Secretary) for your area.  Mensa encourages prospective members
to attend a few local functions before joining.

Remember: intelligence does not equate to ability or success or
happiness.  A high IQ does not say that someone is a better person or
is more likely to lead a better life; neither does doing poorly on an
IQ test indicate the opposite.  A high IQ does mean that you do well on
certain kinds of standardized tests, and there appears to be some
correlation to other, sometimes desireable traits.  Anybody trying to
make you feel inferior because their IQ score is higher is simply being
a jerk.  There are some people like that in Mensa, but the organization
is not directed towards that, nor do all (most) of the members feel
that way.  Many members have been subjected to similar derision (being
picked upon in school and in the work environment for being
"different") that they are sensitive to such concerns.

Nuff said for now.  Except, I don't believe that "net.mensa" is a
good idea.
-- 
Gene "8 months and counting" Spafford
The Clouds Project, School of ICS, Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA 30332
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