Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttidcc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!mcnc!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe From: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP Newsgroups: net.misc Subject: Mensa and elitism Message-ID: <166@ttidcc.UUCP> Date: Tue, 18-Dec-84 15:31:27 EST Article-I.D.: ttidcc.166 Posted: Tue Dec 18 15:31:27 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 21-Dec-84 00:52:47 EST Organization: TTI, Santa Monica, CA. Lines: 38 I knew we'd get around to this sooner or later ... As usual, the point has been raised that Mensa is an elitist organization. This is true. It is also true of highschool football teams, symphony orchestras, and the company you probably work for (do you seriously think they hire anyone who walks in the door?). Any organization which sets a standard for membership is an elitist organization. I don't hear anyone condemning the American Bar Association for being elitist (you have to pass a bar exam to join). I've never been able to pass a calculus course. Is the American Mathematical Society to be criticized for denying me membership? We live in an elitist society. To claim anything else is pure hypocrisy. The concept "that all men are created equal" has a fine, high-minded, idealistic ring to it. It is also utter nonsense. The fact is that all people are not created equal and they certainly don't become equal as they grow older. If you're going to criticize Mensa then you also have to criticize Phi Beta Kappa, Psi Chi, and all the other scholastic honor societies. How many of you belong to one or more of these? Should I blank out the "Summa Cum Laude" on my diploma because it's un-egalitarian? ( :-) You should live so long.) Who out there belongs to the ACM (takes two recommendations to join) or the IEEE (full membership requires an engineering degree)? There! That should put the cat amongst the pidgeons. -- The Polymath (Jerry Hollombe) Opinions expressed here are my own Transaction Technology, Inc. and unrelated to anyone else's. 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 United States (213) 450-9111, ext. 2483 ...{garfield,lasspvax,linus,cmcl2,seismo}!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe