HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Mensa Membership
Date: 14 Oct 92 00:17:51 GMT
Followup-To: rec.org.mensa

In article <1992Oct13.121814.1@vms.ocom.okstate.edu>,
chorley@vms.ocom.okstate.edu wrote:
> 
> 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.

How do you know who is a member and who is not?  Most people on the
newsgroup haven't said whether they are or are not.

Mensa is a very diverse organization, and you will find people in it of all
persuasions.  To judge any group of people by what some members of it do or
say is, to me, a very shallow approach.  If the entire membership agreed
with me on every issue, I'd probably leave it very quickly, for the same
reason that I prefer rye bread to white bread.

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|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.          |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Bumping up the old test scores
Date: 9 Oct 92 22:45:20 GMT
Followup-To: rec.org.mensa

In article <1992Oct9.175752.29349@odin.corp.sgi.com>,
lana@magenta.corp.sgi.com (Lana Mountford) wrote:
> 
> In article <Bvtzxv.E8t@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu>, tbarnes@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (thomas wrentmore barnes) writes:
> |>  	The obvious solution to getting high test scores is to improve
> |> my math (I spent most of my time in math classes drawing or looking out
> |> the window, and am quite frankly afraid of the stuff). Any less obvious
> |> solutions (since a number of IQ test questions involve, not math, but
> |> analogies and figuring out relationships, math won't help with
> |> everything.)?
> 
> Tom, you might want to take the proctored tests that Mensa offers (the
> Cattell and the CTMM, if memory serves).  I seem to recall that neither
> really contains much math (I took them 13 years ago, so my memory
> may be fuzzy).  You take both tests, but you need only "pass" one.
> 
> You're right in that they do contain analogies, but then that isn't 
> really math.

Analogies are to math as (oh, forget it)

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|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: rhs@world.std.com (Richard H Schwartz)
Subject: Re: Boycotting the Vote
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 05:28:26 GMT

edp@math.zk3.dec.com (Eric Postpischil) writes:

>Earth, America, United States, New Hampshire, Epsom.  Epsom is now
>pursuing a lawsuit for the right to abate taxes for people who pay to
>send a child (not necessary their own) to a non-government school.  And
>in 1984, the people of New Hampshire passed this amendment to the state
>constitution:  "The state shall not mandate or assign any new, expanded
>or modified programs or responsibilities to any political subdivision in
>such a way as to necessitate additional local expenditures by the
>political subdivision unless such programs or responsibilities are fully
>funded by the state or unless such programs or responsibilities are
>approved for funding by a vote of the local legislative body of the
>political subdivision."  And this is a state still without a general
>income tax or general sales tax.

Regretably.  What we have instead is a massive property tax, and insufficient
means for the state to address questions of fairness in taxation.

-rich
-- 
             Richard H. Schwartz, Scheduling Systems Inc.,
            1000 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA  02138
                  (617) 864 8330; FAX (617) 864 8377
                          rhs@world.std.com
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: crossgl@infonode.ingr.com (Gordon Cross)
Subject: Ride needed:  Dec 4, 1992  to Cincinnati RG
Keywords: ride Cincinnati RG airport
Organization: Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, AL.
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 20:59:01 GMT


Help!  I need a ride from the Cincinnati airport to the Guest Quarters Suites
for the RG on Dec 4, 1992.  I'll be arriving around 5:30pm and the best price
for a shuttle I can find is $30 one-way (for a 30 minute drive!)  *GAG*

If you can help me out, please E-mail to "crossgl@infonode.ingr.com" or to
"crossgl@gordon.b30.ingr.com".  I'll make it worth your while.  Thanks!
-- 

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."
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA)
Subject: Re: The Providence of Astrology
Originator: cjdcosta@zepplin.ece.ncsu.edu
Reply-To: cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA)
Organization: North Carolina State University, Project Eos
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 04:37:37 GMT


GMS writes:
>Wayne's World.  Skeptical response:  "Sure.  I believe that.  And
>monkey's will fly out of my butt!"

NOT!

Where there's a monkey's will, there's a monkey's way. 
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: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 16:58:14 GMT
Keywords: way long

In article <1992Oct9.091720.10921@tfs.com> ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic) writes:
>dobbs@ast.saic.com (Lynn Dobbs) writes:
>>ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic) writes:
>>>reflect neither spiritual reality, nor human reality
>
>>OXYMORON ALERT ---
>>    ... spiritual reality ....
>
>:) in advance, okay?
>
>yeah - it's left to those who perceive it, to make it known to others.
>i.e. who understands why it is not an oxymoron, understands.

Okay, place yourself in the frame of mind of someone who is skeptical
about X, doesn't have a clue about X, is viewing postings asking about
X, and sees the following response from a proponent of the existence
of X:

"who understands what X is, understands what X is"

"Hmmm," thinks Skeptic, "I guess I'M SOLD!  I'VE BEEN TERRIBLY WRONG ABOUT X!"


GM("God wrote the Bible, but gets no royalties from
 the movies, and so Evil was brought upon the world.")S
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: Def. of Intellegence
Organization: AT&T
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 22:41:56 GMT

In article <1992Oct9.133836.1@acad3.alaska.edu> fsgaw1@acad3.alaska.edu writes:
>W
>What is intellegence??
>It is the ability to understand the knowledge needed to survive and
>to thrive. To have more or less, is a two edge sword.

New poster?
>
>::Death is life's way of telling you, that you've been Fired!!!::
>
Death is life's way of telling you to take a break.

GMS
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: crawdad@fncent (Matt Crawford)
Subject: Re: Perot and trust
Organization: FERMILAB, Batavia, IL
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 22:14:52 GMT

Gordon Cross:
> The evils I see coming are -
>
>Clinton:  higher taxes, worsening economy, higher unemployment, higher
>          inflation,

Since even presidents who say they won't raise taxes, do, we can take
the higher taxes as a given.  So?  Sure, nobody likes their money
taken away, but taxes have been higher than they are now, and we
didn't all die of it.  Many other fine countries have higher taxes,
so I won't conclude that higher taxes mean ruin.

As for the other ills you list, what's your reasoning?  Is it
something specific about Clinton, or just the fact that he's a
Democrat?  If the latter, consider:

	Average change in GNP in each 4 year Democratic presidential
	term since 1948: plus 20 percent.

	Average change in GNP in each 4 year Republican presidential
	term since 1948: minus 5 percent.

(Source: Harper's Index.)

				Matt Crawford
			(No shirt, no shoes, no sig.)
From: radams@BNR.CA (Rodney Adams)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Geneticism
Date: 7 Oct 92 19:19:51 GMT
Reply-To: "Rodney Adams" <RADAMS@BNR.CA>
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ltd.

In article <1992Oct7.173222.8432@cbnewse.cb.att.com>, gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
|> In article <1992Oct07.123041.4855@bnr.ca> "Rodney Adams" <RADAMS@BNR.CA> writes:
|> >In article <1992Oct6.225829.10222@cbnewse.cb.att.com>, gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
|> >|> In article <mike_steiner-061092103933@192.35.50.131> mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner) writes:
|> >|> >In article <1992Oct05.171136.4558@bnr.ca>,
|> >|> >radams@crchh404.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Rodney Adams) wrote:
|> >|> >
|> >|> >> Second, I realized after I had posted the article that "defect" was perhaps
|> >|> >> more "loaded" of a word than I had intended.  "Abnormality" would have been
|> >|> >> more appropriate.  However, it could be considered a defect in the sense that
|> >|> >> homosexuals are inclined to forbear reproduction, thus preventing society 
|> >|> >> from the genetic benefits that would accrue from the other traits these 
|> >|> >> individuals might have.
|> >|> >
|> >|> >Do you also consider celibates to be abnormal or defective?
|> >|> 
|> >|> Maybe.  If it's not by choice.
|> > 
|> >Come to think of it, yes, I can see it that way, too.  Not always, mind
|> >you.  I would not call an infant abnormal or defective for being celibate.
|> >Or perhaps you were very much the child prodigy and see the rest of us
|> >that way?
|> 
|> Amazing how much can be divined about a person from posts.
|> 
|> Seriously, I found it funny that someone (I thought it was you)

It was me.

|> posted "Only if they choose to be celibate", I posted "only if
|> it's not by choice", and I agree with both.  Talk about your
|> Janusian thinking...

I also implied agreement with both.  It was in this sense that I used
the word "too," as in "I see it this way as well as the other way" instead
of "I, like you, can see it this way."
 
|> 
|> GMS

-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: Nazi caterpillars from Venus
Organization: AT&T
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 17:19:28 GMT

In article <1992Oct9.184428.9843@iex.uucp> muchow@venus.iex.com (Don Muchow) writes:
>
>For instance, if I were to say that "Nazi caterpillars from Venus" attacked
>me in my sleep last night, my best guess is that many replies would fall
>somewhere in one of the following classes:
>
>Lessons on entomology
>Lessons on astronomy
>Lessons on the role of National Socialism in 20th centurn American History
>Personal Attacks
>Obtuse remarks
>Unnecessarily focused dissections of the grammatical structure of the posting
>Discussions of Jung, Freud, et al, on the meaning of dreams
>MORE comments about whether Mensa serves a real purpose
>Comments about my comment about replying with nonsense
>

Jeez, Don, what else is there?  I'm the first to say I enjoy a little
nonsense now and then, and witty nonsense can be enjoyable, but I don't
mind getting factual information, even if it's not specifically
relevant to the original post.  The personal attacks I enjoy pointing
out and refuting, or laughing at.  Anyway, I think what you have here
is a list of all the possible reactions of folks, and therefore you
could consider a post to be the elephant and all the posters to be
the blind men.

And regarding the Smurf logic problems, I've always ignored them,
but never felt I had the right to ruin anyone else's fun.

GMS
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: radams@BNR.CA (Rodney Adams)
Subject: Re: Geneticism
Reply-To: "Rodney Adams" <RADAMS@BNR.CA>
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ltd.
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1992 12:30:41 GMT

In article <1992Oct6.225829.10222@cbnewse.cb.att.com>, gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
|> In article <mike_steiner-061092103933@192.35.50.131> mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner) writes:
|> >In article <1992Oct05.171136.4558@bnr.ca>,
|> >radams@crchh404.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Rodney Adams) wrote:
|> >
|> >> Second, I realized after I had posted the article that "defect" was perhaps
|> >> more "loaded" of a word than I had intended.  "Abnormality" would have been
|> >> more appropriate.  However, it could be considered a defect in the sense that
|> >> homosexuals are inclined to forbear reproduction, thus preventing society 
|> >> from the genetic benefits that would accrue from the other traits these 
|> >> individuals might have.
|> >
|> >Do you also consider celibates to be abnormal or defective?
|> 
|> Maybe.  If it's not by choice.
 
Come to think of it, yes, I can see it that way, too.  Not always, mind
you.  I would not call an infant abnormal or defective for being celibate.
Or perhaps you were very much the child prodigy and see the rest of us
that way?

|> GMS

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Subject: Re: Is this line thing silly?
Organization: The Cat Factory
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 21:54:02 GMT

In article <1992Oct6.133149.2442@brandonu.ca> mcbeanb@brandonu.ca writes:
}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?

Yes.  For your penance you are required to sit up all night and
contemplate the meaning of "infinity" and "infinitesimal." Then consider
whether a 1 dimensional object occupies space in a 3 dimensional universe.
There will be a quiz tomorrow.  Be prepared to discuss the subject and
relate it to the dimensionality of a usenet flame thread. (-:{

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: welchb@woods.ulowell.edu
Subject: Re: Nazi caterpillars from Venus
Organization: University of Lowell
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 20:36:10 GMT

Another aspect I encounter is that ascii is different than human expression.
We take face-to-face communication so much for granted, that we presume
(in scores of ways) that the other person is reading into the communication
what we want to put into it.  We make tons of assumptions about tone of voice, 
facial expressions, speed of delivery, accent, known background of the 
recipient, etc.  Then we wonder why someone gets mad, or misinterprets
what is "perfectly obvious" to us about what the words meant.
-- 
Brendan Welch, UMass/Lowell, W1LPG,  welchb@woods.ulowell.edu
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: T/ Who ya gonna vote for? (was: Re: Statistics ...)
Date: 15 Oct 92 22:10:45 GMT
Followup-To: rec.org.mensa

In article <719100043.F00001@blkcat.UUCP>,
Dave.Aronson@p11.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) wrote:
> 
> phz@cadence.com (Pete Zakel) writes:
> 
>  PZ> One good reason why computers can do more work than people is that they
>  PZ> never have to stop and answer the phone.
> 
> Oh yeah?  Mine does!

Mine answers the phone without stopping.

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|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.          |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
From: twillis@top.cis.syr.edu (Thomas Willis)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: "wrong" answers on IQ tests
Date: 7 Oct 92 23:30:18 GMT
Organization: Syracuse University CIS Dept.

|> Ha!  "Q" doesn't appear in the word, "Havana."  (You didn't say that "F" is
|> the only word on the list that doesn't appear in the word "Havana.")

caveat corrector: Q isn't a word.

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
o-----o     T.J. Willis
|\    |\                                                   Pressure(t)
| o---+-o   twillis@nova.npac.syr.edu              lim    -------------
o-+---o |   Research Assistant                     t->oo    Grace(t)
 \|    \|   Syracuse Center for Computational Science
  o-----o   Northeast Parallel Architectures Center          << Disclaimer.m
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: jt@fuw.edu.pl (Jerzy Tarasiuk)
Subject: Re: Ad in Air & Space
Organization: Warsaw University Physics Dept.
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 14:19:53 GMT

Adam Kearns writes:

>	      0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   =  1
>
>You're supposed to put in + and - signs in the correct places
>so the expression is true (the sum will equal 1.) 

A question: is the problem less easy or same than:
	      0   9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   =  1  ?
Mathematically it is same. But I suppose psychologically not.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: edp@math.zk3.dec.com (Eric Postpischil)
Subject: Most would steal from the rich? (was Re: Boycotting the Vote)
Reply-To: edp@math.zk3.dec.com (Eric Postpischil)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 15:54:55 GMT

In article <Bw1o17.AzE@world.std.com>, rhs@world.std.com (Richard H
Schwartz) writes:

> But bear in mind that an informed 
>majority would pursue precisely the opposite: distribution in proportion
>to population, not in proportion to generated revenue.

What is your source for that statement?  Does it really mean "After
being subjected to our propaganda, most people give the survey answers
we seek."?  One of the most informed groups I'm familiar with is
Mensans, and they are pretty heavily libertarian.

Even if most people did pursue that, it is a strategy that simply cannot
work in the real world in the long run.  Distribution by population
means spending by population, and when that is disproportionate to
generated revenue, you run out of money.  Yet people keep voting for it,
because they are selfish and will happily take and take and take.  The
result is a drain on the economy, rewards for not being productive, and
punishments for being productive.  And besides being economically
unsound, it is unethical.

                                -- edp (Eric Postpischil)
                                "Always mount a scratch monkey."
                                edp@alien.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: HOW DO I JOIN MENSA?!?!?
From: $ennsnr@brandonu.ca (Neil Enns)
Date: 9 Oct 92 15:25:30 CST
Organization: Brandon University

I am a 14-year old 3rd year computer science student at Brandon University, in
Brandon, Manitoba.

What I would like to know is where do I go to join mensa. I know I ahve to take 
a test, so what steps should I take to join?

Please e-mail me at $ennsnr@brandonU.ca because I do not subscribe to this
newsgroup.

Thank you in advance for your help

Neil Enns
$ennsnr@brandonU.ca

From: Dave.Aronson@p11.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Boycotting the Vote
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 11:37:24 -0500

Someone (Eric?) wrote:

 ?> You are not authorized to speak for those who do not vote; you cannot
 ?> dictate what their message is.

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

 MS> The message is not what is intended; the message is what is received.

edp@math.zk3.dec.com (Eric Postpischil) replies:

 EP> Oh.  So if one person says "No" to sex and another person figures
 EP> they're just playing around, then the message is what is received, and
 EP> it is not rape.

 EP> I don't buy it.  The meaning of a message is solely determined by the
 EP> sender.  It is the responsibility of the receiver to correctly interpret
 EP> it.  A receiver's belief in the meaning cannot in any way alter the
 EP> sender's intent.

Therefore if she says yes but means no, it IS rape?  Bzzzzt.

It takes two to communicate.  The sender must send the message in a manner
likely to be comprehensible to the receiver.  The receiver must apply the
appropriate knowledge and logic in interpreting the message.  Protesting by not
voting does not send a message of protest that is distinguishable from the more
common message of apathy, for which it will usually be mistaken.


Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: ksdavis@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Karleenus Schwartz Davis)
Subject: How To Kill Your Favorite Dead Philosopher
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 20:16:28 GMT

Schwartz writes:
>>I'd *like* to hit McTaggart. . .unfortunately, I have to objectively
>>relate his argument without inserting my measly undergraduate opinions.

GMS offers:
> [useful advice for exacting revenge on nassy nassy philosophers]


Unfortunately, he died in 1925.  But, since he "proved" 
that time doesn't exist, I'll jest skip right on over to 
where he is and bop him.

I'm done with the test, by the way.  Out of FIFTEEN choices 
for dead philosophers to ask us about, my professor picks 
(you guessed it, my hero) McTaggart.  Damn.

-sz
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic)
Subject: Re: Famous Mensans
Organization: TRW Financial Systems
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 07:34:39 GMT

gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
>In article <1992Oct2.082905.16918@tfs.com> ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic) writes:
>>> (Thorsen writes:)
>>>.................................. Madonna is Mensa material (140 SB-IQ).
>>
>>Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah.
>
>I like to say, "Get a load of the frontal lobes on that one".
>
>But courteously, in a very respectful way, of course.
>
>GMS

I recall in my mail-gap, you suggested Madonna was taken. Since she & I
have a psychic link, I'll be able to read out your sexual prowess when I
do your chart (though being born in Illinois puts you beneath 0 to start,
so here's high hopes for you.)
But, I guess, there's still Geena Davis - she's sorta flighty - probably a
Libra.
From: phil@miracle.com (Phil Hill)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Famous Mensans
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 92 16:00:46 EDT
Organization: Miracle Computer Consultants

zlsiida@fs1.mcc.ac.uk (dave budd) writes:
>I realise I'm butting into a nearly private conversation here, but I'm in 
>that kind of mood today, and you could've used mail instead of news.

A private conversation over the net???  Now I've heard everything.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Phil Hill                     | "All you people in TV land,           |
| Miracle Computer Consultants  |   I will wake up your empty shells.   |
|                               |  Peak time viewing blown in a flash,  |
|                               |   as I burn into your memory cells.   |
| Email: phil@miracle.com       |  'cause I'm alive." - Peter Gabriel   |









Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa