HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Suze.Hammond@f56.n105.z1.fidonet.org (Suze Hammond)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Joining?
Date: 19 Jan 93 17:38:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: therose.727598147.AA00000


 HN> From: grot@acs.bu.edu (Henry Nadig)
 HN> Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

 HN> Greetings,
 HN> 
 HN> I have been a silent reader of rec.org.sca for some time.  I have
 HN> experienced the SCA from the outside primarily, as many mof my
 HN> firends are members and I used to participate in PVC combat with them
 HN> regularly.  I live in Allston, MA (Carolingia? I believe) and am
 HN> interested in perhaps joining or participating in some fashion.
 HN> My dilema is that I have little free time.  I run a business and
 HN> attend graduate school.  I would love responses and opnions on how
 HN> one can participate on an infrequent, and perhaps less "intense" way.
 HN> My interests are primarily costuming, music, and combat.
 HN> 
 HN> Open replies here, direct replies to:
 HN> 
 HN> grot@acs.bu.edu

I did it this way for about 6 years...

You do it this way (well, as Dorothea pointed out, "tastes vary") you
subscribe to the closest newsletter whose group seems to be amiable. You
read about the events, and visit thrift shops, etc. After you've amassed
a period-looking tankard, bowl, eating utensils, and either sewn up a
simple T-tunic, or (lucky dog!) found something at the thrift that can be
stripped down or trimmed up to suit, you pick an interesting-sounding
event, and go! 

It is very useful to make a friend in the group whose newsletter you read,
so as to feel a bit less uncomfortable (and to get a good T-tunic pattern).
Hang around. Look us over. Wait a good long time before deciding on a name
or a style or an era for yourself. Go to one or two events a year. Sooner
or later, you'll probably want to do more, but no law makes you do any
particular thing... Ease into it. Only go on Saturdays of weekend events.
Attend small local feasts. Meanwhile, read up on the things that intrigue
you, and work on nice garb and maybe a piece of song. (Combat is a bit
expensive, so wait on that until you've seen a bit of it...) Make SCAdian
friends, and they will help you get started. Usually they make pretty
darned good friends even in Mundania...  :-)

Moreach




 
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: edw@sequent.com (Ed Wright)
Subject: Re: The origin of `Mensa'.  A typo?
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems Inc.
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 93 21:45:54 GMT

In article <727646451.AA00000@blkcat.UUCP> Dave.Aronson@p11.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:
>crawford@boole.mitre.org (Randy Crawford) writes:
>
>Blurb":
>
>       "Mensa" is Latin for "table".  We are a round-table society that
>                                               ^^^^^^^^^^^
>  makes no distinctions as to race, color, creed, national origin, age, or

But David! Mensa is cafeteria in German, and all Mensans Eat, so
Mensa must be an organization of people that sit around the 
cafeteria and eat, and shoot the breeze.

Mensa Mensa A  bilingual Cafeteria Table

Mensa, I think ( snicker) means Mind in greek.

Now in deep southern accent: Mensa Mensa Mensa
.OR.
Boy, yall mind that there cafeteria table.

=== Golly I hope this snowballs :-)
Ed
-- 
-- I think I've got the hang of it now .... :w  :q  :wq  :wq! ^d  X exit ^X^C ~.
 ^[x  X Q  :quitbye  CtrlAltDel   ~~q  :~q  logout  save/quit :!QUIT ^[zz ^[ZZ 
 ZZZZ  ^H  ^@  ^L  ^[c $q ^# ^E ^X ^I ^T  ?  help  helpquit ^D  ^d ^C ^c help 
 ^]q  exit ?Quit ?q  anybackbone!sequent!edw edw@sequent.COM  KA9AHQ 28.340
From: jcooley@world.std.com (John Cooley)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Membership Renewal ??
Date: 26 Jan 93 21:02:25 GMT
Organization: The E-mail Synopsys Users Group (ESNUG)

graeme@drummond.demon.co.uk (Graeme Hillary) writes:
>> jcooley@miracle.com (John Cooley) writes:
>> 
>> Great!  Remember to blame me after you've gone to your third local group
>> meeting, met some new friends and have become a Mensa "insider"  -- I'll
>> gladly take all sorts of grief if it helps you become more active.  ;^)
>> 
>> Glad to have you join us, Graeme!
>> 
>
>Thanks.  Apologies for being over-reactive at being criticised.  If I enjoy
>Mensa life enough, I may even consider coming over to the good ol' US of A
>for the American Mensa gathering...
>
>BTW, what exactly is a Mensa "insider"?  Sounds ominous!


Mensa "insiders" are people who do anything on the behalf of Mensa.  Sponsor
a calendar event in their local group's newsletter, do gifted children stuff,
help feed attendees at Regional Gatherings, anything.

To become an "insider" all you have to do is to become involved.

You get to meet all sorts of interesting and new people you wouldn't have
met any other way and eventually you get to field accusations from people
who don't like to lift a finger that you're part of an "insider clique"
that's closed and impossible to join and scares away new members!  (Fun, huh?)

                                                - "insider" John
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: Blasphemy?
Organization: AT&T
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 23:46:34 GMT

In article <516637.516637@massima.com> ajr@holly.massima.com (Arnold J Rimmer) writes:
>
>In article <1993Jan23.195123.21072@cbnewse.cb.att.com> gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
>
>>In article <C1BI81.215@world.std.com> moroney@world.std.com (Michael Moroney) writes:
>>>159muehlberg@gw.wmich.edu writes:
>>>
>>>>Help!  Who is Scott Tai? (this may be sacrilege, this may be humor....)
>>>A coward, too chicken to post his criticisms under his/her/its real name,
>>>posting under a variety of aliases instead.  Scott Tai, Dr. N O Tai,
>>>Robin Adler-Pope are some of them.
>>
>>You have to admit, however, that it is fairly rare that an individual is
>>able to make himself a virtual pariah to an entire newsgroup, as well as
>>to individuals on both sides of virtually every issue.  And I personally
>>find it absolutely hilarious that someone would engage non-stop in rude
>>behavior, then whine about being ignored, then stoop to begging, and then
>>rationalize being a "victim".  And all in different names.  I swear, it's
>>like watching Anthony Hopkins in "Magic", only it's not a movie.  I
>>believe an explosion is about to happen, so don't say I didn't warn you.
>>I'd hate to be the person's roommate about now.
>>
>>Whenever I think there's nothing left in human behavior to surprise me,
>>something like this pops up.  There must be a God -- with a real
>>sense of humor.
>>GM("Always a Reason to Smile")S
>Good point.
>And speaking of which, without Scott Tai, or any of his/her/neuter aliases and
>identities, the traffic in this group would fall off tremendously.  I
>have been following r.o.m since day 1.  And according to my calculations,
>flamatory postings cross-referenced to message id's containing, Tai, NCSU,
>and other aliases associated to Tai versus non-flamatory posts is tremendous.
>That doesn't even begin to factor in all legimate gripes ands flames from
>actual existing netters.  Not all of the flames on this group were started
>completely by the Tai-Juggernaut.  In fact, I am going to research all the
>available posts and come up with ratios and results comparing flamage to
>actual Mensa group information just to see what the results would be.  I will
>post my findings later on in the week.  Until then...

That's fine, but I'm not convinced we could reach any conclusion other
that what is obvious.  Also, I would not consider a drunk that keeps
annoying guests at a party and falling in the bean dip to be a
"juggernaut".  And I'm not sure that there would be anything to say
about how many times exchanges with said drunk to quiet him down.
Or how swiftly the other guests' appeals to reason degenerated into
shouting to be an indicator of anything else but the tenacity of the
drunk and how long he could stay awake.

It would be more difficult to count the number of original concepts
generated in all the exchanges, and more telling.

This newsgroup, being unmoderated, is a party without a bouncer.

GMS
From: nicolas@stam.nl (Nico Veenkamp)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: IQ negatives
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 93 11:10:42 CET
Organization: Stam Tijdschriften bv, Rijswijk, The Netherlands

matt@severian.chi.il.us (Matt Crawford) writes:

> Here's a bit of quadrivia*.  Imagine you are in a park in Wales and
> wish to heed a call of nature.  You see a building of obvious
> function, with two doors marked MERCHED and DYNION.  Perhaps you
> cleverly wait a few minutes to see if some locals will enter or
> emerge, but none do and you must choose.  Which door?
> 
I would choose MERCHED.


      *================================================================*
      |  Nico Veenkamp	        | You write, we publish                |
      |  Stam Tijdschriften bv  | -------------------------------------|
      |  P.O. Box 235           | Internet : nicolas@stam.nl           |
      |  2280 AE  Rijswijk      | BIX      : nicolas@bix.com           |
      |  The Netherlands        | FidoNet  : 2:281/1.7                 |
      *================================================================*
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: Jealousy (from the pages of omni....)
Organization: AT&T
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 23:11:59 GMT

In article <1993Jan25.192155.615@sj.ate.slb.com> jones@sj.ate.slb.com (Clark Jones) writes:
>Geoff Mccaughan (Geoff@equinox.gen.nz) wrote:
>: 
>: Mensa does not insist you pass there criteria. Unless, of course you
>: actually wished to join. 
>
>As an interesting (and possibly relevant) sidelight, some 11 years ago when
>I first joined Mensa, I dated a gal (a couple of times) who had taken some
>13 different IQ tests before getting a score high enough to join.  (Her
>reason for taking them was to join.)  I'm not sure what it proves, other
>than possibly the fallibility (or at least variability) of IQ tests...

Then that would make them like every other test in the universe except
for the possible exception of the test of the speed of light.

And I'm not so sure about that, either.

GM("My Max Bench is a Daily Variable")S
From: jcooley@miracle.com (John Cooley)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Membership Renewal ??
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 00:45:34 EDT
Organization: Miracle Computer Consultants

graeme@drummond.demon.co.uk (Graeme Hillary) writes:

>I'd like to see that kind of thing happen over here.  I've been a member
>for almost two years but have neglected to attend anything yet because I
>imagine that it would all be rather cosy and closed.  I also feel (wrongly
>probably) that I would have to display my intelligence and I don't feel
>particularly intelligent.
>
>If MENSA UK would arrange some kind of new member's meeting in Scotland
>I'd very gladly attend.  At present I feel like an "invisble" member.


Stop your whining for all the world to read and go to some God damned Mensa
meetings!  (If you can't guess, I'm a little tired of people who haven't
gone to a bloody event posting "why I hate Mensa" or "why I'm afraid to
go to a meeting"!  You passed the test, now go to an event!)

If it takes a LocSec from across the Atlantic to get you to try three of your
local group's events, so be it!  Blame me!  Just go try the events!

                                               - John the Activist

 ==========================================================================
       John Cooley              Zappa as a waste management engineer: 
                                  "Hey, there, Brother!  Whatcha
    jcooley@miracle.com            doing with that Cosmic Debris?"
From: shapiro@cfsctc.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Membership Renewal ??
Date: 25 Jan 93 14:40:49 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation - Marlboro, MA
Organisation: SKS Computer Consulting, Inc.


In article <22Jan93002030@miracle.com>, jcooley@miracle.com (John Cooley)
writes...

>>The point was, I endeavored to make them feel welcome within the group and 
>>know that there was at least one person around who was glad to see them.

>I'm not sure what you're saying here.  Should I decree that it be put in our
>local bylaws that thou shalt always be nice to strangers & new members?  

>How do I enforce this Oh Great One? 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Well John, I was asked what I (me, personally) did to make new members feel
welcome, and I told you all. I am not saying that it should be mandated. All I
was indicating is that something as simple as being nice is all that it takes.

Of course it was a personal decision that I, Steve Shapiro decided to do and do
not REQUIRE of anyone else. But, when asked for a solution as to HOW to make
new members feel welcome and reduce the drop out rate, I spoke my piece.

Now, you in your infinite way of being condescending make a statement such as
this which has no other purpose than to attempt to offend me.

>(So far, you've described something that
>Steve Shapiro decided to do on his own; not something that can be pushed on a
>group.  Or, if you know how to do this, please share this knowledge with me.)

Of course it cannot be forced. I don't intend to force anything. If you thought
that I did, then you have missed the point entirely.

Caring and concern must come from within. It cannot be mandated or legislated.

>In Boston Mensa, we've had many times over the years held new members parties.
>The reason why we don't do it now was because of the effect this had on the 
>poor new members. (They'd be overwhelmed by all the attention and never come 
>back.)

What this says to me is that you are saying that its your experience that
people cannot handle other people being interested in them and that when people 
paid attention to them, they ran away.

Hmmm. Maybe it is a cultural difference between Texas and Massachusetts.

Regards,
Steve.

/*******************************************************************
* Steve Shapiro                 * All views and opinions expressed *
* SKS Computer Consulting, Inc. * are my own and are offered as-is *
********************************************************************
* Steve.Shapiro@f440.n101.z1.fidonet.org  BBS: (508) 664-6354 N81  *
*******************************************************************/
From: jcooley@world.std.com (John Cooley)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Membership Renewal ??
Date: 26 Jan 93 21:16:59 GMT
Organization: The E-mail Synopsys Users Group (ESNUG)

In article <1993Jan26.131630.12460@cs.utwente.nl> helpdesk@cs.utwente.nl writes:
>In article 22Jan93012752@miracle.com, jcooley@miracle.com (John Cooley) writes:
>>apb@world.std.com (Al Beecy) writes:
>>
>>In our local newsletter, I openly admit that inside Boston Mensa we have a
>>Secret Clique that controls all that's published, scheduled or even fed to
>>people at our RGs.  The people in this Secret Cabal have virually absolute
>>power as to what's done within Boston Mensa.  Very few people outside the
>>Cabal have any say whatsoever (but on rare occassion we might toy with the
>>idea of listening to them...)
>>
>>How to people get into the Boston Mensa Secret Cabal?  They volunteer to
>>do something!
>>                                                 - John Cooley
>>                                                   Secret Cabal Leader
>>                                                   Boston Mensa
>
>
>At last! Just before my brain curled up in a corner some place for an extended 
>practice nap - a run of stuff that was worth reading - only wish I could get to
>the gathering to see who's gonna do what...
>
>Anyone over there had any experience organizing a murder weekend? I've never been
>to one let alone organized one - this is a first for Mensa NL. All suggestions welcome...
>
>
>Lynn E. Packwood


Lynn, I'm not sure but I've heard that somewhere in the Southeast US Mensans
have held Regional Gatherings with Murder Mystery as the theme.  I've heard
they're quite successful.  (My own local group, Boston Mensa, was toying
with the idea of making our Cape Cod Mini-RG into a murder mystery weekend
but that's up in the air right now.  It probably won't happen, though, because
we have a long standing tradition of that RG *not* having a theme to make
it fun just to get together and do whatever comes up.)

Ya'll can come to any of our RG's, though - it's open to all members!

Q: Why does your name sound familiar?

                                           - John Cooley
                                             LocSec, Boston Mensa
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: Boycott Colorado (was Membership Renewal ??)
Organization: AT&T
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 07:32:49 GMT
Keywords: not scott

In article <15246.46152@nord.tostit.ca> nick@nord.tostit.ca (Nicholas Xavier Tai) writes:
>
>With all the talk of boycotting Colorado,
>and the banning of homosexual activity there in
>Amendment 2, I thought up an intriuging sidebar to
>this conversation.
>
>If homosexuals are supposedly banned in Colorado, and
>President Clinton lifts the ban on homosexuals in the 
>military, will there be a subsequent ban on the military
>in Colorado.  I know the logic doesn't follow, but how
>is Colorado going to work their way around the of an
>Executive Order?   Is there precedence for such as case
>happening?  Or is it going to become a Supreme Court issue
>ala The Abortion Issue, leaving up to each states legislation.
>
>Any thoughts on this?

Okay, I give up.  What the hell is this perversity of grammar,
syntax, spelling, and concept is this supposed to mean?  Does someone
own a chimpanzee with access to a keyboard?  Or should any of us care?

GMS
From: jcooley@miracle.com (John Cooley)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Membership Renewal ??
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 17:06:58 EDT
Organization: Miracle Computer Consultants


> jcooley@miracle.com (John Cooley)
>
>>(So far, you've described something that
>>Steve Shapiro decided to do on his own; not something that can be pushed on a
>>group.  Or, if you know how to do this, please share this knowledge with me.)

shapiro@cfsctc.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro) writes:
>
>Of course it cannot be forced. I don't intend to force anything. If you thought
>that I did, then you have missed the point entirely.
>
>Caring and concern must come from within. It cannot be mandated or legislated.

> jcooley@miracle.com (John Cooley)
>
>>In Boston Mensa, we've had many times over the years held new members parties.
>>The reason why we don't do it now was because of the effect this had on the 
>>poor new members. (They'd be overwhelmed by all the attention and never come 
>>back.)

shapiro@cfsctc.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro) writes:
>
>What this says to me is that you are saying that its your experience that
>people cannot handle other people being interested in them and that when people 
>paid attention to them, they ran away.
>
>Hmmm. Maybe it is a cultural difference between Texas and Massachusetts.


Steve, this is the wisdom that been given to me by a number of old timers
in Boston Mensa.  It wasn't experience from one event, it was experience
from about a dozen events.

One problem we've had is that on occassion, we've had a quasi-problem
member scare away new members at this member's own event.  NOBODY knows
how to deal with this problem.  Talking with the quasi-problem member
did nothing, so we're stuck.  One solution we've found is that by our own
local newsletter offering something like 50 to 60 events a month, one bad
member's impact is minimized.

                                            - John Cooley
                                              LocSec, Boston Mensa


 ==========================================================================
       John Cooley              Zappa as a waste management engineer: 
                                  "Hey, there, Brother!  Whatcha
    jcooley@miracle.com            doing with that Cosmic Debris?"  

Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: eager@eagercon.com (Michael J. Eager)
Subject: Re: A newcomer...
Reply-To: eager@eagercon.com
Organization: Eager Consulting
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 17:29:22 GMT

In article 5998@clover.csata.it, martin@mvx36.csata.it () writes:
>Hi,
>   Is there any archive where i can dig-out previous posting?
>   Or a FAQ file? (I recognize I would have swapped the two questions.)

Phil Hill posts a FAQ periodically.  Last one was posted 1/19/93.  
Take a look for it.  

I don't think anyone has been archiving rec.org.mensa.   That is an idea
whose time has not yet come.  (The idea of preserving Scott Tai and flames
back and forth for all posterity is somewhat disturbing.)


---
Michael J. Eager		Michael.Eager@eagercon.com
Eager Consulting		(415) 325-8077 
1960 Park Boulevard, Palo Alto, CA 94306-1141
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Jealousy (from the pages of omni....)
Date: 26 Jan 93 19:07:03 GMT
Followup-To: rec.org.mensa

After following this topic here, and similar ones here and on other
electronic forums and in person, I have come to one conclusion:  Those
people (whether they are in Mensa or not) who continually bash Mensa and
Mensans as elitist, anti-social, or whatever, are seriously deficient in
those same characteristics which they say that Mensans Mensans lack.  They
are divisive and are forever trying to find fault with everyone but
themselves, and rarely contribute anything positive.  Those of them who are
in Mensa would do themselves and Mensa a great service by leaving the
organization, and by ceasing to have any contact with it once they do
leave.

I do not include in this categorization those Mensans who find fault with
the organizational structure and/or management/administration of the group;
they are, in their way, trying to help the organization, even though they
are not always right.

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                         Boycott Colorado                            |
|     These are my opinions, and not necessarily any one else's.      |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: JENNIFER <D237@UNB.CA>
Subject: MARITIME PROCTOR??
Organization: The University of New Brunswick
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 23:48:09 GMT

Can anyone tell me where the closest test proctor to me would be?
I live in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
Thanks.

Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: Something in us going wrong ...
Organization: AT&T
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 18:23:38 GMT

In article <1jp44dINNf4l@wendy-fate.UU.NET> kyle@wendy-fate.UU.NET (Kyle Jones) writes:
>not@mvs.ais.com (N O Tai) writes:
> > I quite agree that Scott's behavior at times has been
> > reprehensible, but may I beg you to take into account that it
> > was a mistake and make allowances for his youth?  Besides
> > which, he regrets it deeply and entreats your forgiveness.
>
>Having been around in the early days of rec.org.mensa and
>experiencing months of Tai's net.logorrhea I have to say that I
>would waste neither reason nor mercy nor forgiveness on him.
>What Tai needs is his own universe and with luck he'll find his
>way to it.

But, see, he changes his name, repeats things and whines!
Get it?  Ha-ha!  I have a retarded parrot, but he can't change
his name.

GMS
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa