Mensa

[strange6]

Any members of MENSA on here?

Well, that's at least 31 of you who are not! lol

 

[Pumbaa]

Not a member of British Mensa. I'm a DIM of Mensa Int, as when I joined there was no Mensa in the place I joined. Believe there is now though.... Yep there is!

I think I know two other people on here who are possibly also members?...

 

[Oswyntail]

Was once - lost interest

 

[Nym]

Never had any intrest in joining them to be honest.

I don't personally see any benifits in being a member, I'd probebly get more benifits as a guest member of the IET, IEEE or IMechE...

 

[strange6]

Never had any intrest in joining them to be honest.

I don't personally see any benifits in being a member, I'd probebly get more benifits as a guest member of the IET, IEEE or IMechE...

I'm waiting for my test results to come back off them.

 

[Nym]

Mensa or the profesional bodies?

But ceriously, asside from toffery, I see no benifits.

I know a fair few fellows of cambridge colleges and the above associations that aren't members of mensa because there no point...

 

[ralphchadkirk]

You may not see the point Nym (or it may just be envy...), but others do. Just because some fellows of some Cambridge colleges aren't members doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile!

 

[strange6]

You may not see the point Nym (or it may just be envy...), but others do. Just because some fellows of some Cambridge colleges aren't members doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile!

It's quite a challenging objective and a personal milestone in your life if it's achieved. Certainly worth putting on your CV if achieved.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

It's quite a challenging objective and a personal milestone in your life if it's achieved. Certainly worth putting on your CV if achieved.

Yes, most certainly. It's something to be proud of.

 

[Nym]

I'm not being perticularly agressive with my point here, theres no need in being so ralph, in my feilds of profession I personally feel that it is pointless, and that the whole system is an elitist system that is obsessed by an assigned number based upon a flawed testing system to try and either make themselves feel special, or useful to sociaty.

This is the impression I've gotten from most members I've spoken to, who can't introduce themselves without mentioning how brilliant they are.

I don't go round boasting how good I am in my feilds of expertise.

"Hi, I'm Nym, I can hit somone between the eyes at 700m with iron sights on an L85a1." Makes you sound a bit of a **** right?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Yes, but someone had to actually ask here who was a member of Mensa! Nobody wrote "Hi, I'm XXX and in the top 2% of the people in the world for IQ".

 

[Nym]

I didn't say that did I?

I said thats the attitude of most of the members of mensa I have met, either in meetings or even when on an evening out.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The whole system is an elitist system that is obsessed by an assigned number based upon a flawed testing system to try and either make themselves feel special, or useful to sociaty.

In what respect do you consider the testing system to be flawed? Have you had a bad personal experiance of the system concerned for you to make such a vehement comment as this?

 

[Nym]

In what respect do you consider the testing system to be flawed? Have you had a bad personal experiance of the system concerned for you to make such a vehement comment as this?

In a word, yes. But not for what you'd think. Pushey school teachers etc.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I personally feel that it is pointless, and that the whole system is an elitist system

Of course it's elitist - you have to be elite to get in!!

 

[Nym]

There's a diference between elitism and having high standards.

The Royal Marines have high standards, but the're hardly elitist, I'd say they would represent a part of the top 2% of soildiering in the country.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

There's a diference between elitism and having high standards.

The Royal Marines have high standards, but the're hardly elitist, I'd say they would represent a part of the top 2% of soildiering in the country.

A group of people considered to be the best in a particular society or category, esp. because of their power, talent, or wealth
- the wealthy, educated elite
- an elite combat force

If the people are the best, then they are the elite. If there is an organisation that will only accept the elite, then they are elitist.

And in your example, yes, the Royal Marines (are the SAS not more elite though?) are an elitist group.

 

[ainsworth74]

And in your example, yes, the Royal Marines (are the SAS not more elite though?) are an elitist group.

The Royal Marines would be the top 2% of soldering whilst the SAS would be the top 0.5%. There are something like 7,000 Royal Marines and only a few hundred SAS troops they are more elite again.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

In a democracy such as ours, anyone is welcome to voice their own opinion. But as part of the same democracy, people are also free to voice alternative views.

The problem happens when one particular point of view decides that their own point of view is the only true and correct point of view.

Was it not in Animal Farm when the view was expressed that all animals were created equal, but some animals were more equal than others,

You cannot decry other people for not holding to your own point of view, much as you might passionately believe in the sole veracity of your stand on the matter.

This is the view of "democracy" as practised in the "Democratic" Republic of Congo.

 

[Nym]

I'm not about to argue the in-depth meaning of words in the world of sociology, that would be way too far off topic.

Elitism is a definition that can move depending on the user of the word.

And knock yourselfs out discussing various parts of the MoD, it's not a job I do any more but I'm still covered by various acts.

 

[strange6]

Personally speaking, I consider it a mental challenge; just like doing the times crossword or taking part in BBC's Mastermind. If I do get an official IQ of 140+ then so what? The only thing it would mean to me was that I succeeded in a really tough test. I would never dream of using it as a tool to put people down with. After all, there have been many people with really high IQ's who have had no common sense whatsoever and who, quite frankly, could not have been trusted to make a cup of tea without cocking it up! And that's from personal experience during my days at Liverpool University

 

[Kernowfem]

Being academic is great. Having common sense is even better

If you have both you are extremely lucky!!

 

[strange6]

Being academic is great. Having common sense is even better

If you have both you are extremely lucky!!

I have more common sense than academic ability: and I'm very thankful for being that way in all honesty! Not the best at Mathematics though. That's why I only got a 2:2 on my engineering course. However, like all things in life, I do feel I have got better at it as I have got older. I found the maths to be much easier when I completed my Masters degree a few years ago.

 

[yorkie]

The problem happens when one particular point of view decides that their own point of view is the only true and correct point of view..

Indeed.

Nym - a simple no, or not replying, would suffice. Just because you have met a few members who you didn't like, hardly means it's right to say there is "no point" and have a go at others who are. If I met some engineering people and didn't like them, that'd hardly make similar comments valid about all people in that field, would it? (that's a rhetorical question, no need to answer )

 

[strange6]

If I met some engineering people and didn't like them, that'd hardly make similar comments valid about all people in that field, would it?

I'll bear that in mind when I meet you in August!

 

[HST Power]

I'm not a member of MENSA, it looks interesting though. I did nearly join the Freemasons, but that's a totally different story.

 

[LE Greys]

I was a member briefly, and went to a few local events, but they were utterly dull and pointless. Their publications were not much better. I left after less than a year.

 

[43106]

Gary Bushell (TV Critic, hack, ardent right-winger and ex-skinhead) WAS (may still be) a member of MENSA. If he is/was, I don't want to be.
Besides, I can have the letters B.Sc. Hons (Open) after my name (pity there's no means of putting 1st into it as well) if I want, so why should I need to be in MENSA?

 

[strange6]

I was a member briefly, and went to a few local events, but they were utterly dull and pointless. Their publications were not much better. I left after less than a year.

How much did you pay for the privilege back then?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I know a member of MENSA, I once read some of the publications he was sent and it just seemed like tedious dullness!