HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: moroney@ramblr.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Meaning of Intelligence
Date: 7 Oct 92 16:38:58 GMT
Article-I.D.: engage.1992Oct7.155634.14247
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

In article <15259@claris.com>, mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner) writes:
|> In article <1992Oct02.161031.15798@bnr.ca>, radams@BNR.CA (Rodney Adams) writes:
|> > 
|> > In article <1992Jul15.003110.17117@ncsu.edu>, tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Tai) wri
|> > tes:

[deleted]

|> > In article <1992Oct2.001731.19087@ncsu.edu>, mai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Mai Tai) writes:

[identical posting deleted]

|> > 
|> > Need I say more?
|> 
|> Do you mean that you actually clutter up your disks with his garbage?

I work for a Diagnostics Engineering group and part of our work is to design
tests for computer equipment and examine failure modes.  We have found that Tai
postings are extremely effective at stress-testing disks and other mass-storage
media.  We believe that filling disks with such postings actually make the disk
feel it is being totally wasted, so it actually tends to give up the will to
keep operating, allowing problems to show up.  It is rather fortunate that we
get such postings for free, as it has been estimated that it would take several
person-months to create an ASCII pattern that's equally stressful.  Before Tai,
the best ASCII pattern we had was the phrase "President Quayle" repeated until
it filled the disk.

-Mike
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: jimt@carson.u.washington.edu (James Thompson)
Subject: Re: Def. of Intellegence
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 02:01:20 GMT

In article <1992Oct10.001041.16308@netcom.com> yoo@netcom.com (Young-Kyu Yoo) writes:
>>What is intellegence??
>
>Beats me.  Do you mean "Intelegance," the aesthetic qualities of 
>microprocessors found in IBM-compatibles?       
>.
Intelegance?  Now THERE's an oxymoron.

Jim.
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Geneticism
Date: 7 Oct 92 16:35:08 GMT
Article-I.D.: cbnewse.1992Oct7.163508.5726
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Oct07.022708.29259@bnr.ca> "Rodney Adams" <RADAMS@BNR.CA> writes:
>In article <VC0IWSL0Q@linac.fnal.gov>, crawdad@fncent (Matt Crawford) writes:
>|> >From the keyboard of radams@BNR.CA (Rodney Adams):
>|> >: By the way, I do consider homosexual relations ... a perversity.  Even 
[....]
>|> Hmmmm.  I could say much the same about watching television.  It's
>|> unnatural, cannot lead to offspring, is disgusting, and most people
>|> have done it.
>|> 				Matt
>
>Just don't expect me to disagree with this, although I admit that I have
>actually tried watching television.

Well, I hope you use protection.  I. e., the "mute" button?

GMS
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic)
Subject: Re: Part of a reply to Rodney - more later re: the dark side
Organization: TRW Financial Systems
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 07:26:46 GMT

"Rodney Adams" <RADAMS@BNR.CA> writes:
>(ecsd's male w/nice-ass image)
>
>Ahh, there's the difference between us.  I'm a "face" man, myself, so I 
>would never get in that situation. ;)

>Seriously, though, THAT was the kind of response I was seeking.  For
>sharing your candid views on society, sexuality, and religion, I thank
>you.  While my beliefs differ from your own, you have given me insight
>and assistance in furthering my understanding of others.

You're welcome. Any time I can write 2,000 more words you don't agree with,
let me know. :)

Maybe, take issue with any one thing?
Life is experiential - for lots of us. Go out and do something that contradicts
your moral values, that doesn't inflict physical damage, and let us know how
it feels. :)

-ecsd
From: Dave.Aronson@p11.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Is this line thing silly?
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 12:01:48 -0500

mcbeanb@brandonu.ca writes:

 m> Why do we bother to make lines when we can't even keep track of them
 m> long enough to do anything with them.

Because without lines, everybody would be jamming into the checkout counter at
once, and all the issues of National Enquirer would get bumped off the shelf and
trampled along with the Snickers bars.  (Come to think of it....)

 m> Math is silly.

Yeah, but did you ever try balancing your checkbook without it?  I did once and
it slid off my nose and poked me in the eye!

 DA>  m> I just couldn't sleep last night, and thought that up.  Is it silly?
 DA>
 DA> Yup.  But we need silliness once in a while.  Or twice.

 m> Not three times?

Nope.  Two's the limit.  Gotta wait for the next while.
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Famous Mensans
Date: 8 Oct 92 18:44:10 GMT
Followup-To: rec.org.mensa

In article <1992Oct7.221733.4901@ttinews.tti.com>,
hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath) wrote:
> 
> In article <718444781.F00008@blkcat.UUCP> Dave.Aronson@p11.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:
> }suopanki@zombie.oulu.fi (Heikki Suopanki) writes:
> } HS> mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner) said:
> }
> }Mike> F. Buckminster Fuller ...
> 
> } HS> just wondering who are these persons....
> }
> }Famous architect ...
> 
> I never thought of Bucky as an architect.  More of an eccentric genius
> whose observations of the properties of triangular structures founded a
> design movement (for which certain rural communities may never forgive him
> (-: ).  I got to hear him speak in person when I was in grad school.
> Quite a character.
> 
> BTW, that's _R._ Buckminster Fuller (as I'm sure you're aware by now (-:{ ).

Yup, surely am.  Notice the felative positions of the f and r keys on the
keyboard?

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|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: lana@magenta.corp.sgi.com (Lana Mountford)
Subject: Re: Boycotting the Vote
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 15:38:42 GMT

Just FYI, blank ballots ARE counted in several states that I
know of:  California, Kansas, Virginia (at least the last time
I lived there -- 1980), Missouri, and South Carolina.  I'd
be willing to bet that they're counted in other states, too.

Sounds to me like your biggest problem is with Hawaii.  

Me?  I intend to continue exercising my OBLIGATION under
a republican (note the lower-case r) democracy, and vote
in every election.  I haven't missed one yet, and yes,
I believe my vote has made a difference.  Call me a
wild-eyed optimist. :-)
-- 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|    /)                      | Lana Mountford    
|   / /  __    ___    __     |   
|__(_/__(__)\__/  )__(__)\__ |  
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: A fishy story
Date: 8 Oct 92 18:07:38 GMT
Followup-To: rec.org.mensa

Yesterday, during Yom Kippur services, we discussed the Book of Jonah, as
we do every Yom Kippur. Yesterday, however, we found out a part of the
story that was not covered in the writen record in the Bible.

Just as Jonah had tried to hide from God, to avoid going to Nineveh to tell
them that they would all die if they didn't repent, the whale that was
supposed to swallow Jonah tried to hide from God.  Although God is
omniescent, He does have problems finding people and creatures who hide
from himQSee the story of Adam and Eve for an exampleQand he couldn't find
the whale.  While searching for the whale, God found the whale's friend,
the herring.

God asked the herring, "Where is your friend, the whale?"  The herring
replied, "I don't know."  God said, "I really need to find him, so that he
can swallow Jonah and take him to Nineveh for me.  Please tell me where he
is."

The herring replied, "I really don't know where he is.  After all I am not
my blubber's kipper."

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|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: ken@nate.UUCP (Ken Gacioch)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Help me!  How do I join?
Date: 9 Oct 92 14:44:11 GMT
Reply-To: ken@nate.UUCP (Ken Gacioch)
Organization: HealthChex, Inc.


To Andrew D. Simchik,

> I am a college student at U of R, and I would appreciate it if anyone could
> post or E-mail (as010b@ur.ucc.rochester.edu) me information about how to
> join MENSA.

Easy. Email your snailmail address to me:

                    nate!ken@valhalla.ee.rochester.edu
    
and I'll ask the lovely and talented Ms. Lorel Weidemann, Rochester Area
Mensa's Membership Officer, to send you The Brochure, all of which you can 
safely ignore, except for the application form on the last page. 
   This latter, fill out and send to "National", (misplaced (for the USA)
punctuation intentional) along with a photocopy of your test scores.


> 	Will I have to take an IQ test?  Is my SAT acceptable (1510, 760V,
> 750M)?  Can I have an address to write for more info?  Is there a group that
> meets in the Rochester area?

    With those scores, no test is needed.  Minimum SAT is combined math+verbal
of 1250 or 1300, depending on whether you took it before or after 1977.
See FAQ for specifics, for qualifying scores on other tests, and other 
general Mensa information, courtesy of Phil Hill.

    Address is on The Brochure. For everyone else's benefit, it's

                         AMERICAN MENSA LTD
                         2626 E 14TH ST
                         BROOKLYN NY 11235-3992

    There is indeed a Rochester Area local group.  Vmail is 716.251.4167.
Welcome to any of the events listed.  Leave smail address there,
if you prefer.  BTW, it's usually Lorel on the vmail.

                                                              Ken Gacioch.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: eager@eagercon.com (Michael J. Eager)
Subject: Re: t// Re: t-- Re: t// t// Re: REC.ORG.MENSA TODAY
Reply-To: eager@eagercon.com
Organization: Eager Consulting
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 17:28:56 GMT

In article 061092110654@192.35.50.131, mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner) writes:
>In article <1992Oct6.025547.28868@ncsu.edu>, tai@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A
>Tai) wrote:
>
>> No--every time I try to initiate intelligent debate, the thread is
>> usually ignored.
>
>You have *NEVER* tried to initiate intelligent debate on this newsgroup.


I believe that the following conversation goes as follows:

  "Did so!"

  "Did not!"

  "Did so!"

  "Did not!"

Now that we have got that out of the way, how about you two posting things which
have some substance, rather than this silly squable.

Remember, the only thing that happens in a pissing match is that your shoes get wet.


---
Michael J. Eager		Michael.Eager@eagercon.com
Eager Consulting		(415) 325-8077 
1960 Park Boulevard, Palo Alto, CA 94306-1141
From: mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (John P. Mechalas)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: t// Re: Meaning of Intelligence
Date: 8 Oct 92 14:15:28 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <1992Oct8.040536.24322@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> mandrew@nyx.cs.du.edu (Marcus Andrew) writes:
>In article <07Oct92013041@miracle.com>, phil@miracle.com (Phil Hill) writes:
>|> Scott A Tai (or one of his personalities) writes:
>|> > $ while true
>|> > > do
>|> > > echo tai sucks | mail tai@ailab.ncsu.edu
>|> > > done
>|> >
>|> > $ yes "tai sucks" | mail tai@ailab.ncsu.edu
>|>
>|> Tai, I'm not that stupid.
>|> Since tai@ailab.ncsu.edu is a totally bogus address, any mail sent to it woul
>d
>|> just bounce.  I'd end up sending mail bombs to myself.
>
>As much as I hate to side with the dysfunctional Tai family, I think Mr
>Hill is wrong in this instance.  If I handed you a loaded gun, and you
>shot yourself in the foot with it, you have no one to blame but yourself.

The difference is, some people may not recognize what "Tai" is posting as
*being* a loaded gun.  Let's face it...not everyone knows unix.  Obviously,
anyone who'd blindly type anything they saw in one of his posts would be
(in a sense) "asking" for trouble...but that doesn't excuse responsibility
from the poster.
-- 
John Mechalas                                          "I'm not an actor, but
mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu                                 I play one on TV."
Aero Engineering, Purdue University                     #include disclaimer.h
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: seb@draper.com (Steve Bacher)
Subject: homophobe
Organization: Draper Laboratory
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 04:18:38 GMT

Rodney Adams quotes...       

>Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary:
>"homophobe: one who hates or fears homosexuals"

I never liked the word "homophobe".  (Or should I say 'I never liked the
word "homophobe."'?)  "Homophobia" as well.

Etymologically speaking, "homophobia" should mean fear of people of the
same sex, or fear of those like oneself.

Or else, if it is intended to mean fear of homosexuals or homosexuality,
the derivation must be presumed to be from the phrase "fear of homos",
which is hardly PC.  (Unless it refers to an aversion to Middle Eastern
cuisine.)

 - seb
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: wiegand@rtsg.mot.com (Robert Wiegand)
Subject: Re: Doubters Of Astrology (skeptical of skeptics)
Reply-To: motcid!wiegand@uunet.uu.net
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 18:54:16 GMT

ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic) writes:

[Long post deleted to save bandwidth]

>As far as Put Up or Shut Up is concerned, that works both ways.
>I'm putting up. This isn't a forum to be children and abuse people
>who're using their minds in ways they've found useful - so you Put Up
>or Shut Up too. Or I'll label you hypocrites as often as you ridicule me
>and others who engage in "new age sewage", the occult, and related things.
>I've seen things there to work. You haven't lifted a finger except to confute,
>and know little to nothing about what you attack. I call that ignorance, yes.

>-ec "one pissed dude" sd

I would like to say a few things:

I have nothing personal against you, and believe you should be free
to believe and practice anything you want.

Some of the skeptics (myself included) sometimes over-react. Don't take
it personally. We just get tired of people telling us what to believe.
Too many people believe things without ever really thinking about what
they are doing. Then they get mad at us skeptics because we don't accept
their personal experiences as absolute proof that what they believe
is correct. If you have actually spent time examining your beliefs, and
and have decided that there is suffucient evedence to support them, then
good for you. Unfortunatly, from my experience, you would be in the
minority.

I don't believe I am sufficiently expert at statistical analysis to
perform a proper review of the Astrology studies mentioned.

I personally don't believe in Astrology because it contradicts too
much of what I know about how the world works. I believe the world
is basically a sensible place. Effects are produced by causes, miracles
don't happen. It would take some pretty strong evidence to get me
to change this.

I don't think many believers in Astrology or other such practices realize
just how much their ideas conflict with the accepted scientific
world-view. Scientific knowledge isn't a pick-and-choose affair.
Its all interconnected, and if you try to remove one part the whole
thing falls apart. Its asking alot to expect people to throw it all
away based on a few small studies.

I would like to call for a truce. The chances of either of us changing
the others mind is very small, so there is no point fighting about it.

-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Wiegand - Motorola Inc.
motcid!wiegand@uunet.uu.net            uunet!motcid!wiegand
Disclamer: I didn't do it - I was somewhere else at the time.
From: zlsiida@fs1.mcc.ac.uk (dave budd)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Famous Mensans
Date: 14 Oct 92 11:58:14 GMT
Organization: Manchester Computing Centre

In article <1992Oct10.175822.26182@cbnewse.cb.att.com> gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:

>In article <1992Oct10.084931.18162@tfs.com> ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic) writes:
>>
>>Huh? We've already concluded that my net worth is the sum of other's estimates
>>of me. What they don't know is that I don't care.

>Firstly, I don't know who "we" is, because I haven't concluded that.
>Secondly, if you don't care, how can you conclude that your net worth is
>the sum of other's estimates?  Some of us are just waiting to see what
>you come up with before  judging your input's worth.

Surely it's his GROSS worth that is the sum of other's estimates, his NET 
worth would be what's left AFTER TAXES
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.


              Have another day    [Armageddon, the musical] 
  Dave Budd, MCC, Oxford Rd, Manchester, England   (44|0)61-275-6033  
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: dan@BofA.com (Dan Brockman)
Subject: Re: Boycotting Eric.   
Organization: Bank of America, Capital Products, RMTG #5906
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 92 01:10:47 GMT

In article <1992Oct14.131631.4364@walter.cray.com> sonic@cray.com (Curtis L. Swanson) writes:
>However, while not voting does send a message, you cannot assume that it is

My entire life I've encountered people who wanted to "send a message" by 
not voting.  It does not work.  Nobody is listening.

-- 
 --------------------------------------------------------------
 Daniel Brockman             tel 415-953-0406, fax 415-622-2892
 Bank of America, Dept 5906, 555 Calif St
 San Francisco 94104 USA    email uunet!odinba!dan dan@BofA.COM
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: chorley@vms.ocom.okstate.edu
Subject: Mensa Membership
Organization: OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 18:18:14 GMT

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.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: as010b@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (andrew david simchik)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Help me!  How do I join?
Date: 8 Oct 92 18:29:40 GMT
Organization: University of Rochester - Rochester, New York

I am a college student at U of R, and I would appreciate it if anyone could
post or E-mail (as010b@ur.ucc.rochester.edu) me information about how to
join MENSA.
	Will I have to take an IQ test?  Is my SAT acceptable (1510, 760V,
750M)?  Can I have an address to write for more info?  Is there a group that
meets in the Rochester area?
	Thanks to whoever answers this.

		Andrew D. Simchik
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: Fwd: Astrology: Scientific Research (Was Re: Doubters Of Astrology)
Organization: AT&T
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 22:37:37 GMT

In article <BvvEBu.7Lo@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> ksdavis@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Karleenus Schwartz Davis) writes:
>ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic) writes in part:
>>|> 1) I have proven my beliefs to my self.
>
>In article <1992Oct9.141222.7489@m.cs.uiuc.edu> mcgrath@cs.uiuc.edu adds:
>>Lemma 1':  I never make mistakes.
>>Lemma 1'':  Personal experience is an infallible source of information
>>      about both internal and external events.
>
>Oh please.
>
>If you're not going to believe your beliefs, you have nothing 
>from which to work.  All scientists work from a paradigm, and
>whence their paradigm comes is irrelevant; they must have a
>basis upon which to build.  Eric has stated and recognised his 
>own basic assumptions, which is a good bit better than many 
>scientists do.  Others are so blind to their own unexamined
>assumptions and where they got them that they can't see the
>truth when it's right before their eyes.  It often requires 
>the insight of the uninitiated to see the situation clearly, 
>because the "expert" is caught up in his own learned bias.
>
>Pick him apart after he's shown us what he does, if you like.
>If he's willing to bare himself to your ridicule, knowing that
>your prejudices are stacked against him, respect it and watch.

As I've said before, any premise not reexamined may not have
been worth looking at in the first place.  But that doesn't mean
that we need to ignore any assumption that hasn't been completely
proven, just that we should try our best to use reasonable, useful
ones.

The fact that Eric has stated his assumptions seems to me that
he is being honest enough to invite further analysis, and if you
have problems with those assumptions, state those clearly.

I agree with this poster.  We should all try to be as open-minded
as possible.  Not so open-minded our brains fall out, but I
haven't really seen any solid arguments against Eric's assumptions
yet, and if I do, I'll be the first (or second or so) to point
them out.

I'm the first to tear into assumptions that are not constructive,
but the bottom line is that the only thing we can be 100% sure 
of is what we are currently thinking.  And if we waited for
anything else to be 100% concrete prior to acting, comfy chairs
would be the only major expense in our lives.

GMS
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: sonic@bearpit.cray.com (Curtis Swanson)
Subject: Re: Boycotting the Vote
Reply-To: sonic@bearpit.cray.com (Curtis Swanson)
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 9 Oct 92 19:03:39 CDT

In article <BvvFLG.8zp@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu>, ksdavis@silver.ucs.indiana.edu 
(Karleenus Schwartz Davis) writes:
|>Awlrighty, this one took me by surprise:
|>
|>I just heard someone campaigning for people to boycott the vote
|>in order to show people in government that we don't support them.
|>He argues that this is the most effective way to "fix" this 
|>country (USA, I'm sorry for my *centrism), because the government 
|>will eventually come crashing down around their ears.
|>
|>Does anyone care to explain by what sort of logic this would work?
|>
|>(Please, please, please don't start campaining for whom to vote.)
|>
|>-sz  (19, and people want me to stop voting already!)
|>
              
I think that it's the lazy way of protesting bad government.  Rather than
trying to understand and then trying to fix the problem, the people promoting
this just say "Don't vote - that'll show 'em."  I'd rather try to fix the 
system than try to recontruct one in the middle of chaos (which will what the 
world will be if the USA's government actually collapses).  

As for who to vote for?  Listen, research, and then make  up your own mind.
Please do the first two before doing the third....

***  Curt Swanson  ***  sonic@romulus.cray.com  ***  IOTTMCO  *********
HOME:n - That mythical place where you can go and relax.......
I'd rather be in a coma.........
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic)
Subject: Re: Bumping up the old test scores
Organization: TRW Financial Systems
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 08:17:51 GMT

tbarnes@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (thomas wrentmore barnes) writes:

How to improve math performance on the tests.

When I took the GRE (I did it twice) I got one copy of each prep book
I could find and worked through them all. (Familiarity breeds . . .)

I also ate a decent high-protein meal a half-hour before the test, and
took caffeine and B2, B6 and B12 (B2 is ace.) Don't overeat! By experimentation
I found that I could handle 300mg B2 - more gave me a headache. Stuff works.

I also had a stopwatch so I knew where I was without having to focus on the
clock. Finally, breathe well and relax.

What specific problems do you have with math? Doing it at all, or particular
kinds of problems?
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa