HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: helpdesk@cs.utwente.nl ([BenO helpdesk dispatcher])
Subject: Re: Membership Renewal ??
Reply-To: helpdesk@cs.utwente.nl
Organization: University of Twente, Department of Computer Science
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 13:16:30 GMT

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


Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: ecsd@well.sf.ca.us (Eric C. S. Dynamic)
Subject: Re: Something in us going wrong ...
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 11:31:15 GMT

not@mvs.ais.com (N O Tai) writes:
>
>ecsd@well.sf.ca.us (Eric C. S. Dynamic) writes:
>> What about Scott Tai. --- I don't have to guard against 
>
>I hadn't seen ecsd lately, but I have always marveled at his
> . . .
>I'll tell you something:  Scott's an honest fellow.  He's
>been letting off steam!  Come, forgive him!  He won't do it
>again.
>
>--
>Dr N O Tai -- Artificial Intelligence Systems Laboratory -- not@mvs.ais.com

*****

I believe, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is known as

"This is where I came in"

We're in a wormhole, right - a' la ST-TNG - ?
Do you begin to understand how it feels to be on serious drugs?

-ecsd
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: mukesh@HQ.Ileaf.COM (Mukesh Prasad)
Subject: Re: My final word (Was Re:  Jealousy (from the pages....))
Reply-To: mukesh@HQ.Ileaf.COM (Mukesh Prasad)
Organization: Interleaf, Inc.
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 17:37:05 GMT

In article <C1JL7o.CMw@cs.dal.ca> kumar@ug.cs.dal.ca (kumar yelubandi) writes:
> 	3)  You're right about that.  They only claim to accept the most
> 	    intelligent people in the world.  Maybe this is not their
> 	    fault, and the reason they come off as elitist and arrogant is

I don't quite understand the interest here.  If you feel Mensa
is elitist and arrogant, why this fascination with rec.org.mensa?
Mensa is just a club of people who happen to do well on IQ tests.
What is wrong with that?

If you ran into a club of sharpshooters, would you feel
it your duty to point out to all of them how elitist
and arrogant they all are because they have such a club?

Your allegations appear unprovoked to me, and unless
you have met many Mensans and found them elitist/arrogant,
they are not a fair evaluation.  You should go to a
party and meet a few people (you don't have to join Mensa,
just find a Mensan friend and ask him/her to invite you
along as a guest) before you make such generalizations.

  /Mukesh
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Membership Renewal ??
Date: 23 Jan 93 02:48:48 GMT
Organization: The Cat Factory

In article <1993Jan21.133039.24091@ryn.mro4.dec.com> shapiro@cfsctc.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro) writes:

}As a 10 year Mensan, who for the first time in his membership was considering
}the renewal question (and therefore started this thread), I too have found this
}conversation quite interesting. 
}
}The least of which includes being called names such as 'malcontent' and given
}the impression that Mensa doesn't want 'my kind' and feels that I am an
}'acceptible loss'. 

Excuse me, but I can't let this pass.  Surely you don't seriously believe
that I represent or speak for Mensa or any portion of its membership other
than myself, do you?  If you do, then perhaps a retest is in order.

I concede that I've been more offensive than usual of late, probably more
than intended.  Be that as it may, I've never claimed to be speaking
anything but my own opinions.  Knowing Mensa as I do, I'm sure there are
plenty of others who will bend over backwards to encourage you to stay.

The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, M.A., CDP, aka: hollombe@polymath.tti.com)
Head Robot Wrangler at Citicorp                "If you can't stand solitude,
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (310) 450-9111, x2483  perhaps others find you boring
Santa Monica, CA  90405                        as well."  -- Mark Twain
From: shapiro@cfsctc.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Membership Renewal ??
Date: 25 Jan 93 15:54:48 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation - Marlboro, MA
Organisation: SKS Computer Consulting, Inc.


In article <1993Jan23.024848.17775@ttinews.tti.com>, hollombe@polymath.tti.com
(The Polymath) writes...

>}The least of which includes being called names such as 'malcontent' and given
>}the impression that Mensa doesn't want 'my kind' and feels that I am an
>}'acceptible loss'. 

>Excuse me, but I can't let this pass.  Surely you don't seriously believe
>that I represent or speak for Mensa or any portion of its membership other
>than myself, do you?  

Mensa is its members. Sure there is some sort of abstract conceptual entity
called Mensa, and sure there is a legal entity called Mensa, but when it comes
down to day-to-day interaction and events, Mensa is its members. Whether an
individual speaks for 'Mensa' or not is not the issue and is somewhat
irrelevant. If a member of a group says something, then it is usually
attributed to that group. Whether it is accurate or not.

As I said, it was a matter of being 'given the impression'. Note the key words
in this phrase: 'given the impression'. 

>If you do, then perhaps a retest is in order.

Give it a rest Jerry.

>I concede that I've been more offensive than usual of late, probably more
>than intended. 

Keep working on it. 

>Knowing Mensa as I do, I'm sure there are
>plenty of others who will bend over backwards to encourage you to stay.

Hah. 8-)

And I don't expect them to, just for little old me. 

I'm a big boy now and having been a member for 10 years (and an active one for
most of them), I know better.

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: eager@eagercon.com (Michael J. Eager)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: IQ negatives
Date: 25 Jan 93 19:56:42 GMT
Reply-To: eager@eagercon.com
Organization: Eager Consulting

In article 727700349snx@drummond.demon.co.uk, graeme@drummond.demon.co.uk (Graeme Hillary) writes:
>In article <1jk7vnINN29h@wendy-fate.UU.NET> kyle@wendy-fate.UU.NET (Kyle Jones) writes:
>> 
>> Indeed.  But if you can get away with it, why not?  If it's good
>> enough for the English Royal Family then, by damn, it's good
>> enough for me!  1/2 :-)
>> 
>> 
>They are the Royal Family of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
>U.K. = Northern Ireland, Wales, England and SCOTLAND.
>
>I hate it when people use England when they mean the UK.

But UKish Royal Family sounds so, well, ukish.

You can say British Royal Family, since Britain consists of England, Wales, Scotland,
Ireland, and assorted smaller islands.

---
Michael J. Eager		Michael.Eager@eagercon.com
Eager Consulting		(415) 325-8077 
1960 Park Boulevard, Palo Alto, CA 94306-1141
From: nicolas@stam.nl (Nico Veenkamp)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: From the Pages of Omni, Part II
Keywords: dalupaduaduduadladuap
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 93 11:57:32 +0100
Organization: Stam Tijdschriften bv, Rijswijk, The Netherlands

In <1993Jan25.230951.2857@cbnewse.cb.att.com> gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
>In article <1993Jan25.214315.16892@ttinews.tti.com> hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath) writes:
>>	 _
>>	| |
>>	|_|
>>

>As long as the cat's out of the bag, don't forget the "nil" answer, and
>the 0/1.  Probably only one of these accepted and rationalized all sorts
>of ways, and probably why 60% got it "wrong" or were "stumped".

Or the one where you simply take away all the straws.



-- 
      *================================================================*
      |  Nico Veenkamp	        | You write, we publish                |
      |  Stam Tijdschriften bv  | -------------------------------------|
      |  P.O. Box 235           | Internet : nicolas@stam.nl           |
      |  2280 AE  Rijswijk      | FidoNet  : 2:281/1.7                 |
      |  The Netherlands        | BIX      : nicolas                   |
      *================================================================*
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: kumar@ug.cs.dal.ca (kumar yelubandi)
Subject: Re: Jealousy (from the pages of omni....)
Organization: Math, Stats & CS, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 19:07:45 GMT

>From: Geoff@equinox.gen.nz (Geoff Mccaughan)
>kumar yelubandi (kumar@ug.cs.dal.ca) wrote:

>> If the charter of MENSA is not an attempt to find a 
>> subset in the universal set of human beings, then what 
>> is it?  Am I dehumanizing them or are they dehumanizing
>> me by insisting I pass some artifically-determined 
>> criteria for membership? 

>Mensa does not insist you pass there criteria. Unless, of course you
>actually wished to join. Why you would have any desire to join an
>organisation when you seem be so at odds with their tenets is beyond me.

	I believe it was a rhetorical question I put forth.  
	But your answer is inscribed in rhetoric, so hey...
	there is, if nothing else, consistency.

	On a less benign note, I'm at odds with any organization
	whose tenets are exclusionary, ie. imposing artificial
	parameters for membership.  I have no problems with
	the Bald-Headed League (if you want to join, shave
	your head, period)...I do have a problem with Golf Country
	Clubs where membership is all male and all white, and
	is kept so by some artificial parameter such as:
		 'you can only join if you get references 
		  from three established members'.
	

>Either take the test and join or don't, but don't moan about it here, it's
>boring.

	Thanx all the same.  But no thanx.  
	Boring?  No, I don't find it boring.  
	Thanx for your concern, anyways.

	
>Geoff, Sysop Equinox (equinox.gen.nz) +64 (3) 3854406 [4 Lines]


	Kumar

ps:	Intelligence is an AWARENESS...an awareness it is neither 
	unique nor common; neither fleeting nor resident; neither
	bounded nor uncontained.  In fact, if I could define it,
	I wouldn't be intelligent.  Hence, my skepticism for 
	MENSA's attempt to portray itself as an organization of
	(and for) intelligence.


-- 
                                ********************************************
   Kumar Yelubandi               **  A wise man learns more from a fool  **
   (good wines = good times!)    **  than vice versa...or so they say    **
   ...in the year 2525...        **           -  Drink up -              **
From: zlsiida@fs1.mcc.ac.uk (dave budd)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: In God's Eyes...
Date: 22 Jan 93 14:28:52 GMT
Distribution: world,local
Organization: Manchester Computing Centre

In article <1993Jan20.115559@ece.arizona.edu> evans@ece.arizona.edu (Glen Evans) writes:


>I've heard this expression, "In God's eyes, all men
                                 who? 

>are equal." Does anyone out there really believe this?
>If so could you explain why.  

            All creatures will make merry   (on pain of death)
    Dave Budd, MCC, Oxford Rd, Manchester, England    (44|0)61-275-6033  
From: seghers@hpkslx.mayfield.HP.COM (David Seghers)
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 23:40:48 GMT
Subject: Re: The origin of `Mensa'.  A typo?
Organization: HP Response Center Lab
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa

>/ hpkslx:rec.org.mensa / crawford@boole.mitre.org (Randy Crawford) / 10:12 pm  Jan 20, 1993 /
>
>It's been said many times that `mensa' is latin for table and alludes to 
>round table discussions as exemplifying the conversational nature of 
>bright people.  Or something vague like that.

Vague how?  Oh, you mean the concept that once one is invited to sit at
a round table there is no differentiation among the status of those
sitting around it?  Like in opposition to a rectangular table where
there is a "head" or a "foot" of the table and status is implied by
one's position?

>
>Does this make sense to you?  I've always been doubtful.  Why should a

Oh, now I see!  You escaped from alt.politics.conspiracy.thoeries!

>bunch of bright people choose to name their organization after furniture?

Repeat to yourself fifty times, "The word is not the object."  Last 
time I looked, Mensa was named after a *concept* and not furniture.
Unless the Bureau of Weights and Measures has a line of table standards
with a standard table, type round, subtype Mensa...

>
>It seems more likely to me that Mensa began as `mens', the latin word for 
>mind or intellect.  Then the Brits who dreamed up Mensa in the first place
>probably said, "Hmm.  The name seems kind of obvious, since nearly every
>educated Briton knows that `mens' means `intellect'.  So let's add an `a' 
>to mens so it's not as intuitive, and call ourselves Mensa.  And since we've
>named ourselves after a table for no apparent reason, we need to concoct an 
>explanation which sounds acceptably eccentric by british standards and could 
>convince a lot of bright people of its plausibility.  Yeah.  That'll work.'
>

No, it was really supposed to be Densa, for all the really dumb things
smart people do on occasion.

>What do you think?

I think you need to find something else to worry about.  And take the
founders at their word.

>-- 
>
>| Randy Crawford        crawford@mitre.org        The MITRE Corporation
>|                                                 7525 Colshire Dr., MS Z421
>| N=1 -> P=NP           703 883-7940              McLean, VA  22102
>----------


David Seghers (seghers@hpcc01.HP.COM) 415-691-3730

************************************************************************
Solipsist Society, Founding Member  (I think, therefore you are.)

Charter member of the "I HATE vi!" Club.
************************************************************************
The statements and opinions above are my own, entirely my own, and no one
else's.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: truth@mvs.ais.com (Matt Truth)
Subject: Re: Something in us going wrong ...
Followup-To: rec.org.mensa.flame.flame.flame
Reply-To: truth@mvs.ais.com (Matt Truth)
Organization: Artificial Intelligence Systems Laboratory
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 08:08:23 GMT


gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
: 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.

Get up, you idle boy!  You seem to be a perfect idiot, and what's
more... an awful scoundrel.  I always feel stirred by your
furious little bursts of intolerance.  Your articles are probably 
*intended* for people who don't know as much as they should about 
the subject.  The tone of your articles, which *was* generally 
light, smart-alecky, antic, is *now* sour, dispirited, almost 
vindictive.  To me, your approach feels static and reductive, 
more functional than inspired; you aren't saying anything in your 
articles that you haven't said before.  For all your talk about
Scott Tai, and your disgust with the whining, you generate, too, 
some of r.o.m's most stunning banalities:

: I have a crappy 1200bd system ...
: How the heck did *I* end up in this? ...
: I get bored by stupid, repetitive, obvious, tedious conversation ...
: You've frequently lost me (frequently = three or more times) ...
: The original poster babbles incoherently and then leaves ...
: Disgusting example of a bloated ego ...

The myth of your intelligence, while formidable, as I see it
derives mainly from your alienation and strange dislikableness.

#endif

matt truth : i am a man who looks after the pigs : usually i get
along okay : i am a man who reveals all he digs : should be more
careful what i say : i am a man  who drives a local bus : i take
miners to work  but the pits all closed today : it's easy to see
that you are one of us : ain't it funny  how we all seem to look
the same?  : i am a young man : i ain't done very much : you men
should remember how you used to fight : just like a child : i've
been seeing  only dreams : i'm  all mixed up : but i know what's 
right :  the  dirty  jobs  : truth@mvs.ais.com : ai systems labs
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: crawford@boole.mitre.org (Randy Crawford)
Subject: The origin of `Mensa'.  A typo?
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, McLean, VA
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 06:12:14 GMT


It's been said many times that `mensa' is latin for table and alludes to 
round table discussions as exemplifying the conversational nature of 
bright people.  Or something vague like that.

Does this make sense to you?  I've always been doubtful.  Why should a
bunch of bright people choose to name their organization after furniture?

It seems more likely to me that Mensa began as `mens', the latin word for 
mind or intellect.  Then the Brits who dreamed up Mensa in the first place
probably said, "Hmm.  The name seems kind of obvious, since nearly every
educated Briton knows that `mens' means `intellect'.  So let's add an `a' 
to mens so it's not as intuitive, and call ourselves Mensa.  And since we've
named ourselves after a table for no apparent reason, we need to concoct an 
explanation which sounds acceptably eccentric by british standards and could 
convince a lot of bright people of its plausibility.  Yeah.  That'll work.'

What do you think?


-- 

| Randy Crawford        crawford@mitre.org        The MITRE Corporation
|                                                 7525 Colshire Dr., MS Z421
| N=1 -> P=NP           703 883-7940              McLean, VA  22102
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Something in us going wrong ...
Date: 26 Jan 93 19:15:30 GMT
Followup-To: rec.org.mensa
Distribution: USA

In article <1993Jan23.080823.24460@ncsu.edu>, truth@mvs.ais.com (Matt
Truth) wrote:
> 
> 
> gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
> : 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.
> 
> Get up, you idle boy!  You seem to be a perfect idiot, and what's
> more... an awful scoundrel.  I always feel stirred by your
> furious little bursts of intolerance.  Your articles are probably 
> *intended* for people who don't know as much as they should about 
> the subject.  The tone of your articles, which *was* generally 
> light, smart-alecky, antic, is *now* sour, dispirited, almost 
> vindictive.  To me, your approach feels static and reductive, 
> more functional than inspired; you aren't saying anything in your 
> articles that you haven't said before.  For all your talk about
> Scott Tai, and your disgust with the whining, you generate, too, 
> some of r.o.m's most stunning banalities:

Who let Tai out of his cage again?

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                         Boycott Colorado                            |
|     These are my opinions, and not necessarily any one else's.      |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
From: jcooley@miracle.com (John Cooley)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Membership Renewal ??
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 00:05:40 EDT
Organization: Miracle Computer Consultants


jcooley@miracle.com (John Cooley) writes:

 [ lots of stuff about how new members are treated. ]

>>Bring on the FLAMES!

shapiro@cfsctc.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro) writes:

 [ steve's flaming of jcooley's stuff about how new members are treated. ]

>Why?


Steve I've heard, as I expected, all sorts of flames as to exactly how everything's messed up in Mensa as a whole.  Knowing that it's much easier to criticize than to build, I hearby appoint Steve Shapiro God of Boston Mensa.

Tell me exactly, in detail, what you want me to do, Oh Great One.

Please, no generalities, I want specific detail.  Remember, I'm a dumbshit
who'll mess things up because I'm part of Mensa.  I can't really change
what going on at National - BUT I CAN CHANGE WHAT'S GOING ON IN BOSTON MENSA.

(This ougt to be interesting seeing that I don't think Steve's ever been to
a Boston Mensa gathering as far as a know....)

Please, instruct me with specifics on how my local group can improve.

                                                    - John Cooley
                                                      Your Obedient Servent

 ==========================================================================
       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: jcooley@world.std.com (John Cooley)
Subject: Re: Colorado (was Membership Renewal ??)
Organization: The E-mail Synopsys Users Group (ESNUG)
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 05:38:13 GMT

>Also, articles in a recent Orange County Register indicated that
>a large portion of the support for the amendment came from Colorado
>businessmen (such as the Chrysler? dealer in Boulder).  If a businessman
>is going to promote a constitutional amendment, shouldn't he expect the
>people it effects to pressure him through his business and his peers?

A side topic:

  Why do businesses meddle in politics so much but complain when people
  react to their meddling?   I fully understand businesses looking out
  for their interestes, but many times businesses lobby for laws that
  don't event have a remote impact on their undertakings!  It's like
  the business is an extension of the people in charge of its political
  preferences.

  This happens in both conservative and liberal politics.

  Anyone care to comment?

                                          - John