HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: sonic@artgate.cray.com (Curtis Swanson)
Subject: The Tai'ster......
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 23 Jul 92 21:22:16 CDT


First the rational answers:

1) Yes.

2) Yes, although the blanket generalization on Mensa member's mindsets is
   false; not all members hold that view.

3) Yes, white supremacists do.  And the rest is just your opinion, not 
   a widely held belief by any means.

Now my opinions:

I still think that you're not a person.  You're just a computer running
a "Church Lady (tm)" program with the variable Satan=MENSA busy trying
to overrun internet by 1> causing intense frustration in people who think
that they are reading the ramblings of a ignorant pre-pubescent dweeb and
2> consuming important disk space caused by forging email return addresses 
and creating huge kill files.

If you REALLY want youur views to be considered, please state WHY you hold
them and actually consider the responses you get.  Otherwise, don't be 
suprised that people insult the s**t out of you.

--
***  Curt Swanson  ***  sonic@romulus.cray.com  ***  IOTTMCO  *********
HOME:n - That mythical place where you can go and relax.......
I'd rather be in a coma.........
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: T=Real Address and Goodbye
Date: 30 Jul 92 20:14:52 GMT

In article <1992Jul29.213212.9769@ncsu.edu>, guest@bell.ncsu.edu (Mr. Guest Account) writes:
            ^^^^^^^^^

> 	My newsgroup posting privileges have been revoked!  While the appeals
> process is pending, feel free to drop me a line at the below address. :7 
> (Note that postal regulations prohibit the mailing of flaming dog excrement.)

>From: scott@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A Tai)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: T/ Fwd: T: To All MENSA Members...
Date: 30 Jul 92 02:06:22 GMT
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The evidence speaks for itself.  Don't expect us to believe that the
"appeals process" took so quickly!
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: chrisb@wixer.cactus.org (Chris Blandy)
Subject: Admission to Mensa
Organization: Real/Time Communications
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 92 10:28:14 GMT




    I have a few questions about admission to Mensa, and this seems like the
correct venue to ask.  First of all, what are the requirements of admission
to Mensa?  Is there a battery of skills that Mensa prefers, or will SAT
scores do?
    I would also like say that this seems like an interesting place to
discuss Mensa-related ideas and activities, but why do people insist on
questioning the existence of Mensa, etc?  I though this group was called
rec.org.mensa, not rec.flame.mensa!



                                                  Thanks,

                                                  chrisb@wixer.cactus.org

Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: willism@engin.umich.edu (Mark Benjamin Willis)
Subject: Re: IQ vs. Faith
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 92 19:51:51 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor

In article <920719213401.208004e9@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU> SSR48327@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU (Syed Shibli) writes:
>
>mingmar@cs.mcgill.ca (Ming MAR) writes:
>
>> I've got a question for theologians:  If God created the universe, who
>> created God?
>
>  God is All-Powerful. He created Himself. 
> 

This is logically invalid.  God did not create Himself because to do so would
mean he existed before he was created.  In fact, this very point is used in the
cosmological argument for the existence of God which includes the assertion
"each thing that exists is either uncaused or caused by another".  The third
option, self causation, of which God creating Himself is a perfect example,
is provably false.

Mark

Mark Willis                             willism@caen.engin.umich.edu
9319 Harbor Cove Circle #312
Whitmore Lake, MI  48189                Bumpersticker:  He who dies with the
(313) 449-5638                                          most toys is dead!
From: scott@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A Tai)
Subject: T/ Re: T=Killfiles and whoami
Reply-To: tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us
Organization: NCSU Artificial Intelligence Systems Laboratory
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 03:16:45 GMT


In article <3943@blue.cis.pitt.edu.UUCP>, nick+@pitt.edu (Nick C De Mello) writes:
|>In article <1992Jul28.225210.28598@ncsu.edu> tai-sa@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A Tai) writes:
|>>
|>>Maybe if your hollombe friend discontinued posting kill files for my id, 
|>>I wouldn't have to continually modify it.  Then everyone would be happy.  
|>>
|>>Get it?

|>Scott:
|>
|>   You're not in my killfile.  Still, if I chose to add your name to it,
|>indicating that I wasn't interested in listening to your arguments, what
|>purpose would be served by trying to circumvent that effort?  Wouldn't
|>you just be atagonizing people that have already decided, for good or
|>bad, that they didn't want to listen to you?
|>
|>                                               Nick

You're missing the point.  I don't care if someone chooses to put me in
their killfile.  What I do object to is the regular posting of a killfile
with my id in it. 

-- Scott Tai
   tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Subject: Re: Mensa national versus local, New York City
Organization: The Cat Factory
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 01:53:58 GMT

In article <1992Jul28.175316.2005@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov> drich@sandman.lerc.nasa.gov (Daniel Rich) writes:

}... The Maumee Valley
}group was only around 180 members when I was Loc Sec, and that isn't
}enough for Second class.

Think of it as an incentive to go forth and recruit. (-:

The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, M.A., CDP, aka: hollombe@polymath.tti.com)
Head Robot Wrangler at Citicorp                   Turn the rascals out!
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (310) 450-9111, x2483     No incumbents in '92!
Santa Monica, CA  90405
From: jlc5f@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Jean L. Cooper)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Mensa national versus local, New York City
Date: 22 Jul 92 19:05:34 GMT
Organization: University of Virginia

If you would like a copy of the report of the National
Office Location Study Committee, I can certainly
get you one.  The issue is discussed in detailed terms
in that report.
--
Jean L. Cooper    (BITNET: JLC5F@virginia.edu   CIS: 70253,1114)
"The true University of these days is a Collection of Books." 
                                           --Carlyle
From: sousa_dab@ccsua.ctstateu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: A CHALLENGE TO THE EVIL DR. TAI : )
Date: 29 Jul 92 22:12:01 GMT
Organization: Yale University, Department of Computer Science, New Haven, CT


	Has it been mentioned and/or noticed that Mr. Tai's initials are SAT?
        Could this be a clue as to the identity of the nefarious Mr. Tai?

	I dare you, Mr. Tai.  Give us some positive ID that you exist (at least
that you exist as Scott Tai.) A Social Security Number.  A birth record. 
something verifiable.
	As a measure of good faith I will first attempt to prove I exist.  You
may find my birth certidicate in Hartford.  My Birthdate is October 23, 1968. 
I was born in Hartford Hospital.


		You can look me up.  Can we look you up?


David B. Sousa
CT State University

P.S. My bet is you answer this message with a crypto-defensive accusation of my
intentions or a flame on mensa rather than a simple verifiable answer.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: moroney@ramblr.enet.dec.com ()
Subject: Re: Scott Tai's "working" email address
Summary: he he he he he he he he
Reply-To: moroney@ramblr.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 18:45:48 GMT


In article <920730160858.214020f3@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU>, SSR48327@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU (Syed Shibli) writes:
|>  The arbitrary Tai address (tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us) is a public
|>  access Unix system in Michigan. Anyone can apply for an account
|>  on m-net using a false name. Tai used to forward his mail from
|>  m-net to another public access account at nyx.cs.du.edu under the
|>  login name "bregenma." "bregenma" is Brad Regenman, which is probably
|>  another false name Mr. Tai uses for his network adventures. The
..

Thanks for the detective work.  This is rather funny getting a trace on the
fraud...

-Mike
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: T: To All MENSA Members...
Date: 27 Jul 92 18:42:21 GMT

In article <1992Jul25.201023.26713@ncsu.edu>, sat@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Andrew Tai) writes:

> You may be wondering -- Did I have a bad week and decide to take it out
> on MENSA?  Did I not qualify so I have an on-going vendetta against MENSA?
> Am I a social egalitarian with a hatred for any kind of an elite 
> organization?  The answer is none of the above.  My real agenda is not to
> pound on MENSA, but instead concerns something different; specifically,
> the question of what MENSA is and, more importantly, what MENSA should be.
> MENSA has both the structure and charter to be something great, but it is
> far from that now, and that's a shame.

Come off it, Scotty!  Your messages to date prove that is a lie.  Why can't
you own up to your own agenda, instead of trying to hide it behind that
hypocritical crap?

Besides, what difference does it make to you?  You are not in Mensa, and
have said that you don't want to be in Mensa.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: mortenaa@Lise.Unit.NO (Morten Aagaard)
Subject: Why GREENSleaves?
Organization: Norwegian Institute of Technology
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 92 13:45:10 GMT

Why is most vegetation green? Is this a result of random evolution or
is there any particular reason for not growing blue?
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: T--Polyandric Polymath and Kill Files
Date: 23 Jul 92 18:34:00 GMT

In article <1992Jul22.220109.29742@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com>, johnson@sleipnir.mnesouth.corp.mot.com ("Johnson") writes:
> 
> In article <1992Jul21.222255.166@ncsu.edu>, tai@cs.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai) writes:
> =)
> =)Although I also
> =)find the use of foul language and slanderous remarks which 
> =)seems to be this newsgroup's trademark offensive, I think that
> =)the suggestion of shutting others out is easily the MOST
> =)offensive thing I've ever seen written.
> =)
> Actually, a kill-file entry is roughly equivalent to not reading junk mail
> you're not interested in, but automatically, as if you could tell the post
> office not to deliver anything from Publisher's Clearinghouse.  The moral
> aspect of it is nonexistant.  If you find yourself in a lot of kill files,
> and object to that, probably the best defense is to make a point to say
> something of interest once in a while.

Of course, once he gets into those kill files, it doesn't matter whether he
says anything worthwhile--those people won't be able to read what he writes.

I suspect that he isn't objecting to kill files, per-se, but that people are
suggesting to other people that he be put into their kill files.  He fails to
realize that kill files are still an individual decision; it is not as if a
moderator banned him from the forum (as can be done on Compuserve, for
example).
Organization: Sophomore, Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 23:27:09 -0400 
From: "Stephen P. Marting" <sm6h+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: T/ Re: T: To All MENSA Members...

Excerpts from rec.org.mensa: 30-Jul-92 T/ Re: T: To All MENSA Members...
by "Scott A Tai"@ailab.ncsu.edu 
> |>Easy answer #1: The differeces in education, social background, culture,
> |>"coaching" and upbringing ARE the difference.
>  
> Now prove it.

Perhaps I should have used the term "theory" instead of "answer."  It's
pure conjecture.

Anyhow, because of your usual "selective editing," you left out my 2nd
"answer":

Excerpts from rec.org.mensa: 28-Jul-92 Re: T: To All MENSA Members... by
"Stephen P. Marting"@andrew.cmu.edu 
>Easy answer #2: Why the hell does MENSA have to "explain" things in a
>test it doesn't create?  It only uses the test because there is
>currently no better method.  [btw, it does currently accept at least one
>"race-normed" test]

Until you provide an answer to THIS point, I still don't see why the
hell MENSA, or any of its members, need to respond to the first point.


--
Spam is:               | This statement needs no qualifiers.
Steve Marting          | Most people never call me this.
spam+@cmu.edu          | A cute address that wastes computing resources.
sm6h+@andrew.cmu.edu   | My main address.
ap.2879@cupid.sai.com  | Mail to here is *anonymously* forwarded to me.
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: speed of light and age of the universe
Date: 22 Jul 92 17:31:43 GMT

In article <711788422.F00013@blkcat.UUCP>, Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:
> 
> mike_steiner@qm.claris.com writes:
> 
>  MS> God@seanews.akita.com (Alpha and Omega) writes:
>  [...]
>  MS> Well, now we know that God isn't One.
> 
> Seen recently in Keshernet:
> 
>  Jews: God is 1!  Atheists: God is I!
> 
> (Note that the latter "works" with "I" capitalized or not....)

Christians: 3; Jews: 1; athiests: 0

(How 'bout those lions!)
From: nick+@pitt.edu (Nick C De Mello)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: M email directory
Date: 31 Jul 92 03:38:42 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <920730190141.2140266f@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU> SSR48327@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU (Syed Shibli) writes:
>
>  I'm not sure what you mean by "junk" E-mail. Is Ed MacMahon 
>  monitoring the newtworks too? I don't see a need for an E-mail FTP
>  archive or an encryption scheme of any sort. A maintainer for the
>  E-mail list is sufficient. His name and address could be put in the FAQ
>  for this group. 
>

  OK, I'll volunteer for the the first shift as "maintainer."  If
someone will send me the latest list, I'll add names and addresses to
it as they are submitted to me, and make the list available on 
request.  Hopefully someone will voluteer to take it over in
January of next year, as I don't plan to make a career of it. :)


                                    Nick

wi

-- 
   _/   _/  _/  _/_/_/   _/   _/  
  _/_/ _/  _/  _/   _/  _/_/_/
 _/ _/_/  _/  _/       _/ _/                    Nicholas C de Mello
_/   _/  _/   _/_/_/  _/   _/                     Nick+@pitt.edu
From: SSR48327@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU (Syed Shibli)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: BEACH-BABES
Date: 29 Jul 92 07:52:56 GMT
X-Received: by usenet.pa.dec.com; id AA24924; Wed, 29 Jul 92 00:52:59 -0700
X-Received: by inet-gw-1.pa.dec.com; id AA13819; Wed, 29 Jul 92 00:52:57 -0700
X-To: rec.org.mensa.usenet
X-Vmsmail-To: smtp%"rec.org.mensa.usenet@decwrl.dec.com"


mcbeanb@brandonu.ca writes:

>In article <1992Jul25.184225.19217@ugle.unit.no>, mortenaa@Lise.Unit.NO (Morten Aagaard) writes:
>> Most humans are attracted to the beach when the sun glows hot, is anybody
>> capable of some good explaination?
>
>These people are actually volunteers for a scientific experiment to 
>determine whether or not there really is a hole in the ozone layer,
>and if there is, then how big is it?

  More important is, are there people in the ozone hole? And if there
  is, can I go meet them? Will I be able to break a twenty? 

-- 
Syed Shibli                           | Tel: +1 918 631 3257
505 South Gary, #14, Tulsa, OK 74104. | ssr48327@vax1.utulsa.edu 
From: Craig.Wagner@p2.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Craig Wagner)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: speed of light and age of the universe
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 10:35:00 -0500

  MS> From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner) Newsgroups:
  MS> rec.org.mensa
  MS> Steve contended that there has been no record of hours or days having
  MS> been other than they are now, so they must have always been the same.
  MS> 
  > But they're not the same *now*.
  > 
  MS> Can that be proven?

Not by me, certainly.  I'm willing to trust the experts in this area
whooccasionally convince the world of the necessity to throw in a "leap second"
to keep everything timed correctly.  I've been told that this is necessary
because the earth's spin rate is decreasing.  What I find interesting, though,
is that there doesn't seem to be any regularity to the necessity of doing so. 
(i.e. it's not every "n" months, but appears to be something almost random)  
While this seems odd to me, it does tend to reassure me that it's not related to
an inaccuracy in the length of our "24 hour" day.    <pondering:  perhaps we
shouldn't trust these guys after all?>
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: student membership
Date: 23 Jul 92 18:26:12 GMT

In article <920721203812.2080489b@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU>, SSR48327@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU (Syed Shibli) writes:

>   If by "professional students" you mean teaching/research assistants, then
>   that income is very little, indeed. Most graduate students (at the Masters
>   level) receive much less than $12,000 per year. Over here, PhD students
>   get around $12,000 (in the engineering and sciences). I think doctoral
>   candidates in the liberal arts get considerable less. Does Mensa define
>   a "minimum income" by which members will be charged the regular dues? 
>   I do not think an age cut-off is a reliable indicator. How about a letter
>   from the school, instead? That way, all students will be students, and all
>   regular members will be regular members.

That's not what I meant by professional student.  A "professional student" is
one who continually changes majors, takes the minimum loads to keep full-time
status, and anything else s/he can do (including intentionally failing some
courses) in order to remain a student for as long as s/he can.

Mensa does have some guidelines that automatically waive half the dues.  One
of them is to be a student under the age of 25.  Another is to be in the
military with a pay-grade of E5 or below.  As has been pointed out, anyone
can petition for a complete or partial waiver of dues, based on financial
need.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: guest@bell.ncsu.edu (Mr. Guest Account)
Subject: T=Real Address and Goodbye
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at the North
              Carolina State University Computing Center.
              The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of NCSU.
Originator: guest@bell.ncsu.edu
Reply-To: guest@bell.ncsu.edu (Mr. Guest Account)
Organization: North Carolina State University
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 21:32:12 GMT


mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner) writes:

: If you would post under your real name and real address, you might be tolerated.
: The only way that you would make everyone happy around here would be by your
: departure from this newsgroup.

	My newsgroup posting privileges have been revoked!  While the appeals
process is pending, feel free to drop me a line at the below address. :7 
(Note that postal regulations prohibit the mailing of flaming dog excrement.)

	I quote Thomas Jefferson, a man who knew how to engage in argument
and to rise above it:  "I tolerate with the utmost latitude the right of
others to differ with me in opinion without imputing them criminality."

	Draw your own conclusions.  See ya.


-- Scott Andrew Tai
   1350-A Pullen Road
   Raleigh, NC 27607
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: ex nihilo (was: Re: IQ vs. Faith)
Organization: AT&T
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 18:35:09 GMT

In article <1992Jul25.085039.22417@cs.mcgill.ca>, mingmar@cs.mcgill.ca (Ming MAR) writes:
> In <1992Jul24.221642.8002@Cadence.COM> phz@cadence.com
> (Pete Zakel) writes:
>  
> >There is at least one physicist who claims that a singularity
> >can form at random out of the background fabric of the universe
> >if the universe is sufficiently quiescent.
>  
> Can you explain how this works?

I think he's referring to Chaos Theory.  You might want to read about
it -- pretty unsettling and fascinating stuff.  Essentially, applying
chaos theory to quantum physics, you have a finite probability of
any particle existing or not existing, and a finite probability, however
small, of any particle undergoing state/behavioral changes.  Like
a random popping into existence of a singularity.  And if you
subscribe to this, you have eternity for this to happen and  no one
around to get impatient about it.

At the macroscopic scale, we humans would not notice quantum instability,
due to the "statistical" level upon which our senses operate.  Like
thermodynamics, a particular particle being superheated and another
being at absolute zero is averaged out by our senses and perceived as
a material's temperature.  The randomness of the speed of individual
particles, like the randomness of which particle "chooses" to decay
in a radioactive sample, is "filtered out" by our level of perception,
just as a single electron "chooses" to suddenly disappear in one of
our body's cells, causing that cell to "choose" for no apparent 
reason, to die.

Then, if you subscribe to the Parallel Universe idea, then you might
also consider the small-but-finite probability of a particle suddenly
crossing into another timeline.  Very, very, very unlikely, but possible.
And less possible for a body of mass large enough to be perceived by
our senses to make any change perceptible to our senses.

Consider, if you will, a technological way of modifying this
probability.  A way to effect changes in large bodies of matter
simultaneously among all its constituent particles.

Consider also how our perception of the universe and its apparent
stability and natural laws might be different at a different level
or scale.  If we could perceive the existence of an individual
particle for a longer duration of time, we might actually see a
particle come into being or disappearing for no apparent reason.
We might not perceive temperature, but a seemingly random distribution
of particle speeds.  We might see not light, but a vibration of
space.

Finally, consider that at very large scales, and similarly large
time durations, millenia or more, the behavior of galaxies, or
course, and the cycle, if there is one, of the universe, is fairly
similar.

Just an excuse to ramble.

G("Drug-free.  Honest.")MS
From: Craig.Wagner@p2.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Craig Wagner)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: daylength
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 12:48:38 -0500

  RW> From: werme@alliant.com (Ric Werme) Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
  RW> Organization: Alliant Computer Systems Corp.

  RW> ...  Twilight would continue until early November, but 
  RW> the full moon will still illuminate the ice.  (Cresent 
  RW> moons would stay below the horizon.)

Hi Ric!

Why is this?  (the crescent (sp?) vs full moon thing...)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Subject: Re: IQ vs. Faith
Organization: The Cat Factory
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 19:06:45 GMT

In article <BkS-phB@engin.umich.edu> willism@engin.umich.edu (Mark Benjamin Willis) writes:
}In article 5243 Matthew Harper (matth@progress.COM) asks:
}>  Can you give me a biblical event that cannot be resolved with a scientific
}> answer?  I've been trying, but I think I'm at a disadvantage since I feel most
}> (all) such things *can* be explained.
}
}The clearest and (incidentally) most important example of such an event is
}the resurrection of Christ.  The Bible claims that Jesus died, was buried for
}3 days (fri-sun) and then was resurrected.  (Not as in ghost, but as in a real,
}live person who could be touched, and who ate and spent time with over 500
}people.)
}
}Obviously this is a biblical event that cannot be resolved with a scientific
}answer.

Sorry, there are many clinical records of people going into deep trance
states such that they appear dead and then reviving.  Fakirs have been
doing it for centuries.  Some can stop and start their heart beat for
minutes at a time (which is all you'd need to appear dead to the
technology of the day).  It's a remarkable phenomenon, but hardly
miraculous.

The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, M.A., CDP, aka: hollombe@polymath.tti.com)
Head Robot Wrangler at Citicorp                   Turn the rascals out!
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (310) 450-9111, x2483     No incumbents in '92!
Santa Monica, CA  90405 {rutgers|pyramid|philabs|psivax}!ttidca!hollombe