HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: The Triple Nine Society
Date: 7 Apr 92 15:51:22 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T

In article <2072.29E19A2F@kennel.FIDONET.ORG>, Mike.Steiner@p1.f207.n143.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Mike Steiner) writes:
> 
> Ted Chan writes about "The Triple Nine Society" to All  [07 Apr 92 00:31]

[... stuff deleted ...]

> You qualify though, it appears.  I guess that means that the Triple Nine Society
> must discriminate against white Jewish males.  :-)

Ah-HAH!  So, Mike, why the 0.1% rule, huh??  ANSWER ME THAT!!
I contend that it is bigotted, slanted, fraudulent, conspiratorial...
...never mind...

/G/MS
From: Mike.Steiner@p1.f207.n143.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: /T/ The 2% Rule
Date: 6 Apr 92 09:43:49 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:143/207.1 - Sunnyvale Fido Conn, Sunnyvale CA


Scott Tai writes about "/T/ The 2% Rule" to All  [05 Apr 92 23:55]

> I don't think "actively" and "minorities" mean what you think they mean.
> I'd hate to think that I'm actively discriminating against fellow minority
> members, but I'm sure you know better...

ST>  Any African-American or Hispanic US MENSA members out there? 

I don't know whether there are any on the net, but there are in San Francisco
Regional Mensa--along with Indian, Pakistani, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese--to
name some whom I know personally.

Oh, yes; chalk up another Tai Lie (TM)--his statement that he won't be on here
this weekend.
 
/207 143/207
--  
Mike Steiner
UUCP: uts.amdahl.com!kennel!207.1!Mike.Steiner
INTERNET: Mike.Steiner@p1.f207.n143.z1.FIDONET.ORG
"The views expressed above are those of Mike Steiner only."
From: werme@alliant.com (Ric Werme)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Fermat's flunkeys (was Re: A Real Challenge)
Date: 9 Apr 92 20:01:37 GMT
Article-I.D.: alliant.1992Apr9.200137.13654
Organization: Alliant Computer Systems Corp.

>michaelg@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Michael Greenwald) claims:
>>I'm not trying to argue about what's ok and what's not ok on this
>>newsgroup, I just don't want to let a potential misconception about
>>Fermat's Last Theorem stand.  The thing that is frustrating about this
>>thread, is that the so-called "Fermat's Last Theorem" (it ain't a
>>theorem. Yet) isn't hard to look up (it is one of the more famous
>>mathematical conjectures and makes its way into many available
>>reference books).

In article <1992Apr9.071904.22693@ncsu.edu> cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA) writes:
>I do not, for a second, accept the argument that Fermat's theorem is
>something as commonplace as the wind, as some have made it out to be.
>It's an even bet that many netters here haven't heard of it. There were
>more than enough postings on the subject to testify to that.  What I
>suspect is that it has recently been introduced into the undergraduate
>math curriculum of some Universities, which is why so many prunes around
>here are so keen to show off their newly acquired knowledge.

>Well, it so happens that it *WASN'T* around when I took math, or number
>theory. Furthermore, only last year, (about 8 months ago, to be precise)
>I had a long and interesting discussion with a Faculty member
>(CS, not Math) about Fermat and he wasn't any the wiser.

I guess it must be my age, but I would have thought that any faculty
member worth an F would be familiar with FLT.

I've known about FLT for so long I haven't bother to remember what it is or
where I first read about it.  (After trying my hand a solving a few unsolved
problems, I decided it's much more rewarding to work on problems I can
solve.  Then again, with enigmatic notes about having proven it, it is
more tempting to work on than most!)

So, why do Michael and I think this is so well known and Chris and other
posters have only recently heard about it?

In my case, I grew up during the "golden age" of _Mathematical Games_
in Scientific American.  Soma cubes, flexagons, math puzzles, and such
great stuff.  I'd guess I ran into FLT through Gardiner's column or
something he inspired me to read.

Perhaps the question should be "Why are there people who've made it
through college without hearing about Fermat's Last Theorem?"

Is it the decline of Mathematical Games?  Lousy schools?  Other
distractions?  Hey Michael, you don't suppose there are people unfamilar
with the various sets of three laws (e.g. Kepler, Thermo, Robotics)?
-- 
| A pride of lions               | Eric J Werme                   |
| An odd lot of programmers      | uucp: mit-eddie!alliant!werme  |
| A Constitution of Libertarians | Phone: 508-486-1214            |
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: /T/ I hate /T/
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 20:31:17 GMT

In article <35078@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>, noonan@sonata.enet.dec.com (Costumes & Makeup & Kliegs, oh my!) writes:
> 
> In article <1992Apr8.231018.28108@ncsu.edu>, tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai) writes...
> >phil%miracle@merk.com (Phil Hill) writes:
> > 
> >> I have a question though.  Why the /T/'s it looks like that Scott Tai is
> >> inserting them in his postings?  Does he want to see how much traffic he
> >> is making?  Or does he want to make it easy to KILLFILE him?
> > 
> >Come on Mr. MENSA, even you should be able to figure this out!  Here's a hint:
> >the T does NOT stand for Tai... :)
> > 
> >---------
> >Scott Tai
> 
> 
> 
>          Oh, my.  Aren't *you* rude.  
> 
>          Well, I'm no Mr. MENSA, so perhaps you would be willing to
>          share this little tid-bit with me?
> 
>          Oops!  Perhaps I need a retest!

Um... Trouble?  Topical?  Two guys arguing?  Wow!  What a puzzle!  Now
we've got a new Mensa qualifying test!  Testy.  Tit for Tat.
Trivial.  Two percent.  

Don't have a clue.

- Mr. MENSA
From: tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: /T/T/T/T/T/ mrmrks and beating a dead horse ...
Date: 8 Apr 92 22:15:38 GMT
Reply-To: tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai)
Organization: NCSU Artificial Intelligence Systems Laboratory

David O Hunt <dh4j+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

>>No doubt.  The question remains:  Do you really believe that you're smarter
>>than 98% of the population?
>>
>>Scott Tai

>Judging by a majority of the people I've met in "everyday" life, that
is to say
>not in academic circles, yes.  Doesn't mean I'm "better" in every
sense.  I've
>met people I've worked with who have been quite average in intellect
but whose
>experience I'd kill to have.

Now prove it...

---------
Scott Tai
Xref: sparky rec.org.mensa:2789 alt.atheism:8073
From: ksand@apple.com (Kent Sandvik)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa,alt.atheism
Subject: Re: Brainwashing (was Re: IQ and religious belief)
Date: 8 Apr 92 00:04:57 GMT
Organization: MacDTS Mongols

In article <1992Mar30.032454.5472@bmerh2.bnr.ca>, dgraham@bmers30.bnr.ca
(Douglas Graham) writes:
> I'm speaking of the God of the theists here, the one that's supposed
> to intervene in response to our prayers.  If all we did was sit
> around and pray or sacrifice virgins, not much would get accomplished.
> Theists can do science, but they do it by compartmentalizing their
> beliefs.  On the other, belief in a god who simply created the universe
> and then let it run by itself, doesn't interfere with science,
> but also might just as well not exist at all.

Of all the possible creation scenarios by an outside intelligence,
the one where the creator left the universe running by itself would
be the most possible one. Creationists usually try to avoid talking
about this, because it would minimize the issues of a living God. Anyway,
lack of any control of the state today where people are dying due
to lack of food is a good case for the statement that God does not 
care about us at all (and if anyone states that these poor fellows
have the choice to eat, then they are naive, Bibles and holy texts
don't provide food).


Cheers,
Kent
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: The Triple Nine Society: experiences?
Keywords: ubermenschen, ubermensans, superlosers, Triple Nine Society
Date: 11 Apr 92 00:01:11 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T

In article <kuc8b5INN4j2@boogie.cs.utexas.edu>, wilson@cs.utexas.edu (Paul Wilson) writes:
> By the way, is there any point to Intertel?  Seems to me that the difference
> between the bottom half of the top one percent isn't significantly different
> from the bottom half of the top two percent---just a tiny fraction of a

My impression of Intertel was that the people were nice but more subdued.
I didn't stay long, so I have limited experience.  Mensans were a lot more
rowdy.  At least the groups in Detroit and Pittsburgh.  Very fun and
wild bunch.  'Course, that's me.  Four Sigma doesn't seem to do much
besides send out new intelligence-testing/research/puzzles now and then.
'Guess the guy that set it up found his "intelligent woman" and settled
down or something, so there's no point to running the thing anymore.
Not much chance of a good party with two people in the whole city.

The Philosophical Enquiry group (don't remember the exact spelling)
seemed more concerned with a large vocabulary for some reason, and I
think they have their own customized test.  The one guy I knew who
went in for that kind of thing seemed a rather twisted sort in a
harmless kind of way.  Not much of a sample.

I'm not sure what the real point of some of them are except that
possibly the members are dissatisfied with the other groups for 
some reason.  I've seen distinct differences in the "atmosphere"
or "character" of various groups in the same organization but in
different parts of the country.  There's always the political aspect, too.
If you have more than one human being in a group, you have potential
political problems.  Count on it.  And those that lose the competition
may want to start their own group.  It's a possible answer to this
apparent redundancy.

G. Mark Stewart
From: Mike.Steiner@p1.f207.n143.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Tai's Lies
Date: 6 Apr 92 09:50:15 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:143/207.1 - Sunnyvale Fido Conn, Sunnyvale CA


Scott Tai writes about "Tai's Lies" to All  [05 Apr 92 23:55]

> Bullshit!  Your lies, slanders, and false accusations (and those of gmc) are

> the only morally repugnant things on this newsgroup.

ST>  Bullshit! Your lies, slanders, and false accusations (and those 
ST> of phil) are the only morally repugnant things on this newsgroup 

Plagarist.  Get real, Floyd; you're bigotry jest makes me wanna puke.

You are obscene--you have no redeeming social value, fuckface.
 
/207 143/207
--  
Mike Steiner
UUCP: uts.amdahl.com!kennel!207.1!Mike.Steiner
INTERNET: Mike.Steiner@p1.f207.n143.z1.FIDONET.ORG
"The views expressed above are those of Mike Steiner only."
From: tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: /T/ minorites in rec.org.mensa
Date: 8 Apr 92 23:04:29 GMT
Reply-To: tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai)
Organization: NCSU Artificial Intelligence Systems Laboratory

kyle@uunet.uu.net (Kyle Jones) writes:

> If you know a way of positively identifying minorities from their postings, 
> without them identifying themsleves as such, I would like to hear it.

If you don't know, I'm not going to tell you :)

Seriously, I would expect to see at least a few come forward and identify
themselves.  Only a couple have.

---------
Scott Tai
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: Non-sequitor, but interesting (was: A criticism)
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 20:39:08 GMT

In article <1992Apr15.171553.4565@access.usask.ca>, choy@skorpio.Usask.CA writes:
> I criticize the idea that people are intelligent because physical laws
> may be forcing us to do things that appear intelligent but may be actually
> bad for us--we can't judge the goodness unless we know what the physical
> laws are though.

You may be on the Fate side of the Fate and Free Will argument.  It that's
true, then that assumption renders judgements regarding "goodness"
rather moot.  Depending on the outcome desired, it would be better
to describe "practical" versus "non-practical" instead.

If you subscribe to David Hume's definition as a mind being the result
of prior events only, which is entirely reasonable to me, and "free will"
as the choices to act that are results of the wants and desires of the
mind, which are in turn results of these prior events, then we do
have "free will".

If you define intelligence as the degree to which an organism can
effectively modify its behavior to increase survivability due to
increased problem-solving ability, all other things being equal,
then the extension of this to other realms of development is
pretty trivial.

As an analogy, if a breed of duck is the color of the weeds around
it, this may be viewed as a response of that duck's evolution/selection
that could prevent it from succumbing to complete entropy earlier in
life than the bright orange and lime green and blue striped duck next
to it.  The ducks have no choice in the matter whatsoever.  Possibly
a "smart" psychedelic duck might find a hole to hide in, and whether
it's free will or fate that causes this behavior is moot.

GMS
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: raphael@fx.com (Glen Raphael)
Subject: Re: A REAL CHALLENGE: Fermat's last theorem..
Organization: FXD/Telerate, Mountain View, CA
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 17:54:42 GMT

cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA) writes:
>While we're talking puzzles, Here's some really challenging stuff
>for you to figure out..

>(TO the best of my knowledge) Fermat, one of the great mathematicians
>in history, discovered the following theorem: (the '3' is a cube sign)
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
> 3      3                    3 
>a   +  b    can NEVER equal c 

>where a,b, and c are non - equal, non - zero integers.
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>There was a little note added to the theorem:

>" and I've found a really neat way of proving this "
>or at least, something to that effect.
[...]
>I used to spend hours trying to figure it one way or the other, and
>although I  came up with some interesting peripheral results, I never
>met with any success.. Anyone tried this before? 

Yeah; I spent a few weeks on it back in high school. Actually, I proved it.
The proof *is* elegant, but a bit on the long side. I'll see if I have time
to type it in later...

Glen Raphael
raphael@fx.com
From: werme@alliant.com (Ric Werme)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Goodby, Mr. Tai
Date: 7 Apr 92 17:41:57 GMT
Article-I.D.: alliant.1992Apr7.174157.1033
Organization: Alliant Computer Systems Corp.

In article <2070.29E19A2B@kennel.FIDONET.ORG> Mike.Steiner@p1.f207.n143.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Mike Steiner) writes:
>
>As soon as I save this message, "Scott Tai" goes into my twit filter.

Yippee!  Mike, you were about one day from being added to my kill file.
-- 
| A pride of lions               | Eric J Werme                   |
| An odd lot of programmers      | uucp: mit-eddie!alliant!werme  |
| A Constitution of Libertarians | Phone: 508-486-1214            |
From: tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: /T/ Goodby, Mr. Tai
Date: 8 Apr 92 22:56:22 GMT
Reply-To: tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai)
Organization: NCSU Artificial Intelligence Systems Laboratory

> So, Scotty, I bid you fond adieu with "Good bye to bad rubbish."

I bid you the same.  Your profane articles won't be missed.

---------
Scott Tai
From: Mike_Steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Argument for the sake of argument
Date: 6 Apr 92 20:06:13 GMT
Organization: Claris Corporation

In article <05Apr92225439@miracle.UUCP>, phil%miracle@merk.com (Phil Hill) writes:

> Mr. Scott Tai is currently engaged in making an attack on Mensa and Mensans
> purely for the fun of instigating an argument.
> 
> He will not respond to any reasonable argument to any point made against
> him, instead he will quote you out of context, re-post his original argument
> and start a cycle all over.
> 
> Mr. Tai has nothing interesting to say.
> 
> We should not bother responding to his postings, for when people like him
> are ignored they tend to go away.
> 
> Do not respond to his postings!  If you feel that you must comment on his
> remarks, save them up for one massive posting.  We must cut down on the
> traffic he is generating!  The amount of traffic is only booting his ego,
> and allow him to say "look I have all these smart people running around in
> cicrles".
> 
> We have many more interesting things to talk about other that Mr. Tai's
> opinions or lack of opinions.
> 
> Please help for the sake of us all.

Actually, after my episode with him last night, I decided the same thing.
In fact, I shall put him in my twit filter (which I have used only once
in the past) when I get home this evening.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: kyle@uunet.uu.net (Kyle Jones)
Subject: Re: Who's in charge here?
Organization: UUNET Communications Services
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 21:10:49 GMT

Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:
 > phil%miracle@merk.com (Phil Hill) replies:
 > 
 >  PH> I am _NOT_ in charge here (I'll leave that job to Al Haig :->).
 >  PH> Nor is Ed Bertch, nor is ANYONE.
 > 
 > Then is there nobody "empowered" to speak on behalf of the newsgroup itself?

No one is empowered to do anything.  You can do what you want,
including complain bitterly about the inappropriate posts in this
gorup for all eternity.  You could even set up a cron job to do
it for you.

If you want to help people sort out the Mensa related stuff from
the rest of the glop, you can run an index group.  Take a look at
alt.sources.index, and thank Wayne Mesard for the idea that
started it.

From: Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: TIME TRAVEL
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1992 00:15:56 -0500

cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA) writes:

 CJD> A battleship
 CJD> (which is pretty much mostly metal)  was wired up to act as a
 CJD> gigantic electro - magnet and moved to some distance from the shore 
 CJD> so that it was still pretty clearly visible.  When current was passed
 CJD> (and this huge electro magnet activated), people on the shore reported
 CJD> seeing the ship  disappear, then reappear . . I think this happened a
 CJD> number of times. It was believed that the ship had, momentarily, 
 CJD> TRAVELLED IN TIME before returning to the present. Those people on 
 CJD> board the ship at the time were found to be severely disoriented, and
 CJD> I'm not sure if they recovered.

 Of COURSE they were disoriented - such strong magnetic fields would
 probably play all SORTS of hob with the iron in your blood and cells
 and so on....  Actually, it reminds me very much of a shlocky SF
 made-for-TV movie from a few years back.  "The Philadelphia Experiment"
 or something like that, in which a modern-day naval ship of some sort
 travels back to WWII.
From: Mike.Steiner@p1.f207.n143.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Tai's Lies
Date: 6 Apr 92 10:13:03 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:143/207.1 - Sunnyvale Fido Conn, Sunnyvale CA


Scott Tai writes about "Tai's Lies" to All  [05 Apr 92 23:54]

> Wrong as usual.  The stuff written said that the tests were not IQ tests;
> they did not say that the tests did not correlate to IQ tests.  There is a
> difference between "correlate" and "equate" that you are conveniently
> ignoring.

ST>  No, MENSA has implied all along that these tests are the equivalent 
ST> of IQ tests

Another one of your fucking lies from the master liar.

ST> However, aptitude tests measure ability to learn, and are NOT 
ST> equivalent. Even the ETS has stated this

What the fuck do you think that intelligence is, asshole?  Among other things,
it is the aptitude to learn.
 
/207 143/207
--  
Mike Steiner
UUCP: uts.amdahl.com!kennel!207.1!Mike.Steiner
INTERNET: Mike.Steiner@p1.f207.n143.z1.FIDONET.ORG
"The views expressed above are those of Mike Steiner only."
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: USENET vs FIDONET moderators
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 15:00:32 -0500

* Original Area: FILK
* Original To  : Kay Shapero (1:109/10)
* Original Subj: USENET

 KS> One thing that stands out above all else is the fact that the
 KS> different definitions of moderator in usenet and 
 KS> FIDOnet are going to cause problems.

Yes, I've noticed that when describing, in a Usenet newsgroup, my position as
moderator in an analogous echo.

 KS> So we need a new term to use for describing this thing to usenet.
 KS> "Designated Topic Cop" has been suggested;

That doesn't include the fact that you can kick out a user, or even an entire
board.  Maybe net.lordhigheverythingelse, since although you can order a feed
cut, you don't do it yourself?  Or maybe this should be abbreviated to
net.poobah?

(Say, I think I like that.  I'll forward this post to that other group.)
From: terryk@encore.com (Terence M. Kelleher)
Subject: Re: /T/T/ Weekend Plans
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Date: 11 Apr 92 19:23:47

In article <ZZP1iB1w164w@miracle.com> jess%miracle@merk.com (Shi'nayne) writes:

   killer@robin.cs.hut.fi (Kalle Kivimaa) writes:

   > In <1992Apr8.004659.3196@ncsu.edu> tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai) writes:
   > 
   > >I wasn't.  Look at any standard calendar--Sunday is the first day of the
   > >week, and hence, doesn't constitute the 'weekend'.  :)
   > 
   > ---
   > 

   I hate to admit it, but Scott is right.  At least as far as American
   calendars go, Sunday is the *first* day of the week.  Apparently in
   Finland it is different???
	
No.  Scott is still wrong.  The word is "weekend" and not "week end".
The definition of "end" here is irrelevant.  I trust my Webster's on
this issue, and it says the weekend is "the period between the close
of one working or business or school week and the beginning of the
next." Week , in this case being "a series of regular working,
business, or school days during each seven-day period".  

In short, the weekend, for all us monday through friday wrok grunts,
is Saturday and Sunday.

Definitions taken with blatent disregard to copyright from Webster's
7th colligate dictionarry.  I expect Noah was not in Mensa, but he has
generally been reliable on these sorts of issues.

--

                                 +----------------+
Terence Kelleher              +--+-------------+  |
Encore Computer Corp.         |  | E N C O R E |  |
terryk@encore.com             |  +-------------+--+
607-687-2644                  +----------------+

Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai)
Subject: /T/T/T/ Weekend Plans
Reply-To: tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai)
Organization: NCSU Artificial Intelligence Systems Laboratory
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 16:58:43 GMT

Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:

>tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai) writes:

> ST> Mike.Steiner@p1.f207.n143.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Mike Steiner) writes:

> MS> Oh, yes; chalk up another Tai Lie (TM)--
> MS> his statement that he won't be on here this weekend.

> ST> I wasn't.  Look at any standard calendar--Sunday is the first
> ST> day of the week, and hence, doesn't constitute the 'weekend'.  :)

> Yes it does.  It's the front end.  B-)

No--it's the start.  Front end is a contradiction in terms. :)

---------
Scott Tai