Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Joining
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1992 23:13:38 -0500

prock@walrus.micro.umn.edu (Andrew C. Prock) writes various questions, most of
which are answered in the FAQ list, which will probably be posted RSN (he can
email me if it isn't).  In the meantime:

 ACP> that it seems that only one test score be submitted  to gain entry.
 ACP> Does this mean that if someone is lucky he/she is in for life?

Yes.

 ACP> Does the organization require verification of 
 ACP> intellegence on a periodic basis?

No.  In fact, it's somewhat of an in-joke.  (Picture: Mensan does something dumb
(which happens more frequently than most like to admit); other Mensans standing
about say "Re-test!".)

 ACP> (could someone who had a stroke continue as a member?)

Yes.  In fact, someone could have a stroke *before* becoming a member, just so
long as he had EVER gotten a qualifying score on an accepted test.

 ACP> This semms to indicate that the Mensa is more aristocratic and fraternal
 ACP> than one would like.

"One"?  You, maybe.  I have no objection, especially given that retesting would
be a logistical nightmare, requiring a drastic increase in dues to handle.  I
also don't see the connection to "aristocracy", given that rich people can
certainly lose their money, nor to "fraternal", since having a high IQ says
nothing about having common goals, liking each other, etc., and I certainly
don't see any connection to the implied negative connotations of the word (i.e.,
oppression, helping each other over the outsiders, etc.).

 ACP> Just like the Old Boys Club once a member always a member.

Not quite.  First off, you can be kicked out of most "old boy networks", for
simply offending someone in a position of power in the clique.  The only way to
be kicked out of Mensa is to be "convicted" (I am not at all sure what "due
process" is) of "acts inimical to Mensa".  Also, unlike "old boy networks", we
do not exclude on various odious bases such as gender, race, or religion...
never mind the proven-false rantings of twits like Scott Tai.

 ACP> And what are the dues that are charged, and how often?

I think it varies from country to country, but in the USA, it's $39/year.

 ACP> What do y'all do besides flame each other on the Internet?

Lotsa different stuff... like flame each other on Fidonet.  B-)  Seriously
though, this and the other electronic fora are NOT representative samples of
Mensa.  Not all of us partake of this hobby (for a wide variety of reasons) and
that of course skews various traits of the sample.

If you mean what do we do together as Mensans, we hold LOTS of parties and other
events, organize and participate in SIGs (special interest groups, sort of like
sub-clubs within Mensa) on various subjects, some fund-raisers for worthy causes
(schools, scholarships, etc.), seminars on various topics, and so on.

If you mean individually, you can find Mensans that do just about anything
either professionally or as a hobby, though there do seem to be a LOT of
computer folk and other tech-heads.

 ACP> Well any response would be appreciated I am actually thinking about 
 ACP> applying if I can improve my spelling

I haven't spotted any particularly bad errors, and even if I did, most of us
understand that spelling is not as important as having something intelligent TO
spell in the first place.

 ACP> and find out if this is an open
 ACP> minded intellectual group or a defensive pseudo-intellectual group.

We have many of both... and it also depends how you define your terms.  You
shouldn't be so open-minded that your brains fall out.  B-)


Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa