HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: sonic@cray.com (Curtis L. Swanson)
Subject: Re: Mensa Membership
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 13 Oct 92 19:10:32 CDT

chorley@vms.ocom.okstate.edu writes:

~I am a second year medical student, and was vaguely interested in joining
~mensa. After reading the writings of some of your members, I think not.

One thing to keep in mind is that this is not an official part of Mensa.
This forum was started by people (both Mensans and non-) who wanted to 
discuss Mensa and things that Mensans might discuss.  To get a better idea
of Mensayou might weant to attend a few Mensa functions in your area.  
Gather information, think, make a decision, act on it.  Kind of like voting
(or how voting should be done0>

Good luck in your life...

***  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.........
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: mandrew@nyx.cs.du.edu (Marcus Andrew)
Subject: Re: t// Re: Meaning of Intelligence
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix @ U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 92 04:05:36 GMT

In article <07Oct92013041@miracle.com>, phil@miracle.com (Phil Hill) writes:
|> Scott A Tai (or one of his personalities) writes:
|> > $ while true
|> > > do
|> > > echo tai sucks | mail tai@ailab.ncsu.edu
|> > > done
|> >
|> > $ yes "tai sucks" | mail tai@ailab.ncsu.edu
|>
|> Tai, I'm not that stupid.
|>
|> Since tai@ailab.ncsu.edu is a totally bogus address, any mail sent to it woul
d
|> just bounce.  I'd end up sending mail bombs to myself.
|>
|> I consider this kind of posting extremely harmful.  It's not enought that you
|> abuse usenet by forging postings, you are now encourging people to send mail
|> bombs.  Even worse, since people would only end up bombing themselves.  If
|> someone less familiar with the net tried to follow your advice, he would
|> probably end up losing access to the net.
|>
|> I've been ignoring most of the drivel that you have been posting, but I'll
|> warn you that if you continue to post harmful shit like this again, I'll
|> see that you lose you access to the net.

As much as I hate to side with the dysfunctional Tai family, I think Mr
Hill is wrong in this instance.  If I handed you a loaded gun, and you
shot yourself in the foot with it, you have no one to blame but yourself.

Actually, the *tai clan is occasionally mildly amusing in small to 
moderate doses...

(Here, I think Mr/Dr Tai was attempting to defend his "no legitimate return
 address" policy.)

Ciao, baby.


marcus andrew			mandrew@nyx.cs.du.edu
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Is this line thing silly?
From: mcbeanb@brandonu.ca
Date: 6 Oct 92 13:31:48 CST
Organization: Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

Lemme draw a line:

<-------------------------------------------------------------------->

That line is supposed to be one dimension, extending to infinity in
either direction right?

But as we follow it one way or the other, it moves higher and higher
off the surface of the Earth, and shoots off into space, right?
Meanwhile, the Earth is rotating on it's axis and revolving
around the sun, so the line I rew above is constantly changing it's
position in the universe.  Also, the line above is being propogated
to computer screens all around the world, each pointing in a different
direction.  So doesn't the above 1 dimensional line actually occupy
a great deal of the volume of the physical universe over time?

I just couldn't sleep last night, and thought that up.  Is it silly?

Brian McBean  -  McBeanB@BrandonU.Ca
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Local Mensa Elections
Date: 15 Oct 92 22:18:57 GMT
Followup-To: rec.org.mensa

In article <14Oct92213459@miracle.com>, jcooley@miracle.com (John Cooley)
wrote:
> 
> 
>    Just curious....
> 
>    Out of the local Mensa groups that have had elections lately,
>    how many of the offices have seen constested?

San Francisco Regional Mensa is currently holding an election.  Uncontested
positions are LocSec, Ass't LocSec, Treasurer, Secretary.  Contested
position (two candidates) is Ombudsman.  I believe that those are the only
elected positions.  If there are any others, they are uncontested.  All
area secretaries, and all positions concerning the newsletter are
appointed.  We do not have an excomm.  We have monthly business meetings,
and if a quorum of the membership (12 or 13 members, I believe) attend,
actions may be voted on.  Often, people have to be called and asked to
attend in order to get a quorum.  This is the largest local group in
American Mensa (about 2700 members); and probably one of the most apathetic
when it comes to local group politics.  Include me among the apathetic
ones.

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Now that I have a reader that can do .sigs, I can't think of a witty |
|one to put here, so I won't.  All normal disclaimers apply.          |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: skh4161@mvs.draper.com (Kjeld Hvatum)
Subject: "Genius" IQ (was: Re: Ad in Air & Space)
Organization: Draper Laboratory
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 07:28:00 GMT


>From: phil@miracle.com (Phil Hill)
>Message-ID: <08Oct92030917@miracle.com>
>
>>3) Does this means I'm a genius.
>
>It's real hard to judge that from your performance on this question.  BTW,
>Mensa is about 2 standard deviations above the norm, "genius" is considered
>to be 4 standard deviations above the norm.  Most Mensans are not near the
>"genius" level.

Who considers genius to start at 4 standard deviations above the
norm?  The classifications I've seen peg it somewhere in the
range 2-3 standard deviations above the norm.  At any rate, the
term "genius IQ" has become a bit discredited.  Many people think
of "genius" as implying prodigious achievement, not just a high
psychometric score.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: sonic@bearpit.cray.com (Curtis Swanson)
Subject: Re: t// Re: t-- Re: t// t// Re: REC.ORG.MENSA TODAY
Reply-To: sonic@bearpit.cray.com (Curtis Swanson)
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 9 Oct 92 18:55:14 CDT

In article <1992Oct8.150444.9048@cbnewse.cb.att.com>,
gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
|>In article <1992Oct7.165224.18516@walter.cray.com> sonic@cray.com
(Curtis L. Swanson) writes:
|>>{Bogus name} from {bogus address} writes:
|>>
|>>*sonic@cray.com (Curtis L. Swanson) writes:
|>>*|> I have much better things to concern myself with.  You know, the thing 
|>>*|> you said you had a few months ago but have apparently lost?
|>>*
|>>*Which is?  Dissertation?  Virginity?  Help me out here... :)
|>>
|>>A life.  Your virginity is your own problem.  Or virtue.  Or feature.  Or
|>>whatever.  Anyway, it's yours.
|>>
|>>*|> Interesting.  You keep saying that you enjoy intelligent debate
but I have
|>>*|> yet to see anything more than proposals and theories from you. No
rebuttals,
|>>*|> nada.  Although, I will admit your last question about the
"separate but 
|>>*|> equal" is intriguing.  Could you elaborate?
|>>*
|>>*No--every time I try to initiate intelligent debate, the thread is
|>>*usually ignored.
|>>
|>>Really?  Usually you're much more persistant.  Or do you just save your 
|>>strength for hopeless causes so you can complain about being persecuted?
|>
|>Curt, you're ignoring the possible cases of schizophrenia, multiple
|>personalities and a severed corpus callosum.  In this case, the origination
|>of the request for intelligent debate and the ignoring of such might
|>be between the multiple personalities or the different sides of the
|>brain.  I can only speculate as to the pain involved in this, but it
|>sure would be nutty to watch.
|>
|>GMS
                               
Granted, these are possible explanations for such behavior (BTW, whats' a
severed corpus callosum and how does it relate schizophrenia and/or multiple
personalities?) but I prefer to go under the assumption that Scott (whoever)
is just spouting off for the fun of it and is now (HOPEFULLY) realizing that
actual debate can be fun, if mentally strenuous.  Of course, this does not 
preclude insults (both blatant and subtle) but is better than just insults.

***  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.........
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: radams@BNR.CA (Rodney Adams)
Subject: Re: Part of a reply to Rodney - more later re: the dark side
Keywords: way long
Reply-To: "Rodney Adams" <RADAMS@BNR.CA>
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ltd.
Date: Fri, 09 Oct 1992 19:27:41 GMT

In article <1992Oct9.081258.2464@tfs.com>, ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic) writes:
|>                   So if nothing else my *religion* says I have the right to
|> an abortion and my *god* and *bible* say so too. 

I don't think God even gave you the right to get pregnant, much less the
right to an abortion.  Or are you even more "interesting" than you let
on to be.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rodney G. Adams
The opinions expressed above are not necessarily those of my employer.
As if you didn't already know that....
"Look for the ridiculous in everything and you will find it." - Jules Renard
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: ksdavis@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Karleenus Schwartz Davis)
Subject: Re: Perot and trust
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 04:41:17 GMT

as010b@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (andrew david simchik) writes:
>
>>	Mind you, this is the average voter we are discussing.  The
>>*intelligent* voter will vote for Clinton. :)

crossgl@infonode.ingr.com (Gordon Cross) writes:
>
>No, the *intelligent* voter will choose Marrou ...
>
>:-)  :-)  :-)

              . . .if he wants Bush to win.  :-(  :-(  :-(

Unfortunately, no matter whether Marrou or Perot or Scott Tai
really would make a better president or not, a vote for them 
is essentially a vote for Bush. (or some fraction thereof)

Someone posted (on another thread) about some kind of approval
ballot, where you say Yes/No to Bush, Yes/No to Clinton, etc. . .
but I suppose it's a pipe dream -- it would remove a lot of the 
advantage of the two major parties, so it'll never be implemented.

I wish there was a way to make it "smart" to vote for a third
party or independant candidate without cutting off your own feet.


-sz  (Whose first name is really Karleen, made up by her parents)
From: radams@BNR.CA (Rodney Adams)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Geneticism
Date: 7 Oct 92 20:08:10 GMT
Reply-To: "Rodney Adams" <RADAMS@BNR.CA>
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ltd.

In article <718420709.AA00000@blkcat.UUCP>, Craig.Wagner@p2.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Craig Wagner) writes:
|> On 10/5/92, Rodney Adams said something, prompting this incredibly noteworthy
|> response: 
|> 
|>   RA> ... Homophobes are those who hate or fear homosexuals...
|> 
|> Two points:
|> 
|> 1:  One who "hate(s)" homosexuals (or homosexuality) would be a misohomosexual. 
|> It's a different root entirely.
|> 
|> 2:  In conventional usage, a homophobe is one who fears either homosexuals _or_
|> the possibility of one's own homosexuality.  There need be no hatred or fear of
|> homosexuals in order for one to be a homophobe.

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary:
"homophobe: one who hates or fears homosexuals"

By the way, thanks for thinking that something I said was "incredibly 
noteworthy."
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rodney G. Adams
The opinions expressed above are not necessarily those of my employer.
As if you didn't already know that....
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: dwolff@cozy.Prime.COM (David Wolff)
Subject: Re: Boycotting the Vote
Organization: Computervision
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 16:49:52 GMT

In article <1992Oct13.132004.13330@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>, edp@math.zk3.dec.com
(Eric Postpischil) writes:
> In article <1992Oct12.152138.10581@walter.cray.com>, sonic@cray.com
> (Curtis L. Swanson) writes:
> >Then work to chagne the system to allow write-ins and allow easier access
> >to the ballots.  Don't just protest via inaction.
> 
> Somebody tried just that; the Supreme Court recently upheld Hawaii's
> exclusion of write-in votes.  Here we have a system that has been rigged
> to close out outsiders.  It has been rigged to limit the power that can
> be controlled through voting.  In this case, other alternatives MUST be
> found; continuing to vote just lends support to a faulty system.

I hate to jump in to this with an actual fact, but it's ridiculously
easy to get *on* a Hawaiian ballot.  As best as I can recall, you need
something like 20 signatures.  Anyone running for office has to be
pretty Goofy if he/she can't get 20 warm bodies to sign a nominating form.

David Wolff

dwolff@RES-C4.Prime.COM

Disclaimer:  Reflecting Computervision policy is a non-goal of this posting.
FreeAdvert:  Esperanto, the international language *that works*:
             Call (800) 828-5944 for free info package (US or Canada)
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From: yaros@sab57.larc.nasa.gov (Steve Yaros)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Local Mensa Elections
Date: 15 Oct 1992 17:41:10 GMT
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA  USA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: sab57.larc.nasa.gov

We had a dozen candidates for the nine positions on the ExComm in the 
Tidewater Mensa elections last spring.

-- 
                           |                                                   
    Steve from Norfolk     | ...be aware that a walk through the river of most           
 yaros@sab57.nasa.larc.gov | people's souls would scarcely get your feet wet...
      804-864-3050         |                                  Deteriorata 1977
___________________________|____________________________________________________
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: Part of a reply to Rodney - more later re: the dark side
Organization: AT&T
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 17:49:32 GMT
Keywords: way long

In article <1992Oct09.192741.4161@bnr.ca> "Rodney Adams" <RADAMS@BNR.CA> writes:
>In article <1992Oct9.081258.2464@tfs.com>, ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic) writes:
>|>                   So if nothing else my *religion* says I have the right to
>|> an abortion and my *god* and *bible* say so too. 
>
>I don't think God even gave you the right to get pregnant, much less the
>right to an abortion.  Or are you even more "interesting" than you let
>on to be.
> 

If you aren't just yanking his chain, I think Eric meant this as an
example, Rodney.

Eric?

GMS
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: ksdavis@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Karleenus Schwartz Davis)
Subject: Boycotting the Vote
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 20:29:40 GMT

Awlrighty, this one took me by surprise:

I just heard someone campaigning for people to boycott the vote
in order to show people in government that we don't support them.
He argues that this is the most effective way to "fix" this 
country (USA, I'm sorry for my *centrism), because the government 
will eventually come crashing down around their ears.

Does anyone care to explain by what sort of logic this would work?

(Please, please, please don't start campaining for whom to vote.)

-sz  (19, and people want me to stop voting already!)
From: skh4161@mvs.draper.com (Kjeld Hvatum)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Bumping up the old test scores
Date: 11 Oct 92 08:23:00 GMT
Organization: Draper Laboratory


>From: ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic)
>Message-ID: <1992Oct10.081751.13357@tfs.com>
>
>tbarnes@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (thomas wrentmore barnes) writes:
>
>How to improve math performance on the tests.
>
>When I took the GRE (I did it twice) I got one copy of each prep book
>I could find and worked through them all. (Familiarity breeds . . .)

All of the test prep books have useful pointers, but I'd stick
to the ETS books with the released GRE's for practice.  Many
of the items in the phony tests are poor, particularly at the
upper end.
From: radams@BNR.CA (Rodney Adams)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Meaning of Intelligence
Date: 7 Oct 92 02:31:05 GMT
Reply-To: "Rodney Adams" <RADAMS@BNR.CA>
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ltd.

In article <15259@claris.com>, mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner) writes:
|> In article <1992Oct02.161031.15798@bnr.ca>, radams@BNR.CA (Rodney Adams) writes:
|> > 
|> > In article <1992Jul15.003110.17117@ncsu.edu>, tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai) wri
|> > tes:
|> > |>
|> > |> MENSA's entrance qualifications depend directly on your scores from IQ
|> > |> tests.  *Someone* in MENSA must have the idea that intelligence and
|> > |> scores on standardized tests are somehow highly correlated.  If you
|> > |> only had that piece of information about a person, how could you say
|> > |> with any assurance that he or she could *act* like an "intelligent
|> > |> person"?  (You can't.)
|> > 
|> > In article <1992Oct2.001731.19087@ncsu.edu>, mai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Mai Tai) writes:
|> > |> 
|> > |> Mensa's entrance qualifications depend directly on your scores from IQ
|> > |> tests.  *Someone* in Mensa must have the idea that intelligence and
|> > |> scores on standardized tests are somehow highly correlated.  If you
|> > |> only had that piece of information about a person, how could you say
|> > |> with any assurance that he or she could *act* like an "intelligent
|> > |> person"?  (You can't.)
|> > 
|> > Need I say more?
|> 
|> Do you mean that you actually clutter up your disks with his garbage?

No, I clutter up my disks with MY garbage (I pulled the above from a response
to Tai) - a practice I started after someone accused me of saying something 
that I did not after my article had been cleared from my newsreader.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rodney G. Adams
The opinions expressed above are not necessarily those of my employer.
As if you didn't already know that....
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: crossgl@infonode.ingr.com (Gordon Cross)
Subject: Re: RG Blurb
Organization: Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, AL.
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 13:47:54 GMT

In article <1bjnekINNs7e@rave.larc.nasa.gov> yaros@sab57.larc.nasa.gov (Steve Yaros) writes:
>I need a little guidance here.  Tidewater Mensa is putting on an RG in February
>1992.  Would it be in bad form or against rec.org.mensa policy to put in a 
>publicity blurb about it now and then?

Yes, please tell us more!  I'm trying to decide whether I'll go to Highland
Springs (Greater Los Angeles - "The Wizard of Owlz") or yours ("The Great
Dismal Swamp RG")
-- 

Gordon Cross          UUCP:     uunet!ingr!infonode!crossgl   "all opinions are
111 Westminister Way  INTERNET: crossgl@infonode.ingr.com    mine and not those
Madison, AL 35758     MA BELL:  (205) 730-7842               of my employer."
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: "Genius" IQ (was: Re: Ad in Air & Space)
Date: 12 Oct 92 17:10:13 GMT
Followup-To: rec.org.mensa

In article <1992Oct9.213620.27315@ttinews.tti.com>,
hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath) wrote:

> I think the terminology goes back to Binet's original tests, and is just
> as obsolete.  Normal was mean +/- 1sd, +2sd was bright, +3sd was gifted
> and +4sd was genius.  On the minus side you have moron (-1), idiot(-2) and
> imbecile(-3).

I think that you have "idiot" and "imbecile" reversed.

Actually, couldn't the descriptors be (from top to bottom)

ISPE
Intertel
Mensa
General Populace
Politicians
Densa
Tai

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Now that I have a reader that can do .sigs, I can't think of a witty |
|one to put here, so I won't.  All normal disclaimers apply.          |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Subject: Re: "Genius" IQ (was: Re: Ad in Air & Space)
Organization: The Cat Factory
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 21:36:20 GMT

In article <01GPPFD8F3IQ94DR38@ccfvx3.draper.com> skh4161@mvs.draper.com (Kjeld Hvatum) writes:
}Who considers genius to start at 4 standard deviations above the
}norm?  The classifications I've seen peg it somewhere in the
}range 2-3 standard deviations above the norm.  At any rate, the
}term "genius IQ" has become a bit discredited.  Many people think
}of "genius" as implying prodigious achievement, not just a high
}psychometric score.

I think the terminology goes back to Binet's original tests, and is just
as obsolete.  Normal was mean +/- 1sd, +2sd was bright, +3sd was gifted
and +4sd was genius.  On the minus side you have moron (-1), idiot(-2) and
imbecile(-3).

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
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: drich@sandman.lerc.nasa.gov (Daniel Rich)
Subject: Re: Local Mensa Elections
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 13:27:08 GMT

In article <14Oct92213459@miracle.com> jcooley@miracle.com (John Cooley) writes:
>   Just curious....
>
>   Out of the local Mensa groups that have had elections lately,
>   how many of the offices have seen constested?

I think we had one here in Cleveland (asst. Loc Sec).

-- 
Dan Rich                    | drich@lerc.nasa.gov   |  (216) 433-4000
Sr. Systems Engineer        | "Danger, you haven't seen the last of me!"
RMS Technologies, Inc.      |    "No, but the first of you turns my stomach!"
NASA Lewis Research Center  | -- The Firesign Theatre's Nick Danger
From: phz@cadence.com (Pete Zakel)
Subject: Re: T/ Who ya gonna vote for? (was: Re: Statistics ...)
Organization: Cadence Design Systems
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 05:14:09 GMT

In article <1992Sep25.133741.27786@ncsu.edu> tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A Tai) writes:
>Although MENSA is (arguably) a diverse 
>group, maybe there is some consensus among members.  Probably not :)

Probably not what?  Probably not diverse or probably not consensus?

If there is no consensus, I would argue that Mensa is demonstrably diverse.
I don't expect consensus, since Mensa members run the gamut from Flaming
Liberals to Staunch Conservatives to Avowed Anarchists, and there may even
be some outright Fascists in the membership as well as Pinko Commies.  I'm
a Libertarian Socialist myself (my Nolan score is exactly in the middle of
the line that separates Libertarian from Leftist).

Personally, I prefer the Libertarian party, but I feel Clinton is enough
better than Bush that I will vote for Clinton (unless I am sure enough that
he doesn't need my vote to win in California, in which case I will vote for
Marrou).

For all other races where I have a choice of a Libertarian, I will vote for
that candidate.  Where I don't, I will probably vote for the Democratic
candidate.

The stranglehold the Religious Right and the Neo-nazi Bigots have on the
Republican part completely disgusts me and I will not vote for a Republican
for any reason this year.

I had some leanings toward Perot early on, but he scares me too much to allow
me to vote for him now.

-Pete Zakel
 (phz@cadence.com or ..!uunet!cadence!phz)

One good reason why computers can do more work than people is that they
never have to stop and answer the phone.