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From: steiny@scc.UUCP (Don Steiny)
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Re: Mensa and elitism
Message-ID: <289@scc.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Dec-84 02:03:56 EST
Article-I.D.: scc.289
Posted: Fri Dec 21 02:03:56 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 23-Dec-84 08:11:28 EST
References: <166@ttidcc.UUCP>
Organization: Personetics, Inc. - Santa Cruz, Calif.
Lines: 49

**

	Suppose someone started a "net.mensa,"  or better yet,
a "net.hi-iq."    How would it work?  If it was unmoderated,
then anyone could post to it.  Imagine that some person
who had not taken a qualifying test recently or, if they had,
had not had any Mensa applications handy and had failed
to join Mensa.   Suppose this person (who might have a 
low-iq for all anyone knows) got interested in a discussion
and posted to the group?   How would anyone know?  I imagine
that there would be anarchy.    I am sure well meaning people
who took tests many years ago might forget their scores
upwards.  You know, someone that  was actually in the
top 2.5 % might forget and think that they were actually
in the top 2% in the same way someone that was 6 feet
and 3/4 inches might forget and think that he was
6 foot 1.

	If it was moderated, what would the moderator have
to do?  Check with Mensa to see if a poster was really
qualified to post to the group?

	Mensa is a social club.   There are no other
groups on the net that are by members of a club.   Sometimes
groups or organizations publish the times of meetings, classes,
and even parties in regional subgroups.  These local distributions
act as bulliten boards.    I doubt most people would mind
articles about Mensa meetings clearly labeled "Mensa Meeting
Announcment," distributed appropriately.

	No wonder people say it is elitist, there is nothing 
else to say about it.   It is a boring topic.  If people think
it is wonderful and hunky dorey, then the conversation is over
if they don't  ... boring.  If someone accuses
a Mensa member of being an "elitist", what could be better?
After all, it is an elite organization, only the elite 
can join.   That is why they joined, right?  To be members
of an elite organization.  Saying that Mensa is elitist
is hardely an insult, that is the whole point.   Tautologies
are make dull conversation.   There is little to say about
Mensa.
-- 
scc!steiny
Don Steiny - Personetics @ (408) 425-0382
109 Torrey Pine Terr.
Santa Cruz, Calif. 95060
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