the average IQ in the U.S. is 98

[murielm99]

90. Then you miss the point of being a member

of a social organization, any social organization. That is what Mensa is, a social organization.

Whenever there are threads here about Mensa, I taste a lot or sour grapes.

Why join any organization? Have you never belonged to a school, arts, sports, social, political or other interest related organization? Is it so hard to understand why others would want to do so?

People join Mensa for many reasons. Some of it is for social compatibility, because first and foremost, Mensa is a social organization.
Some people join to communicate with others. Some like new experiences and challenges. People on the high end of the curve sometimes have as much trouble socializing and communicating as people in the middle or on the low end.

Many people in the top two percent do not belong to Mensa. That is their choice. So if Mensa has the others, the odd people whom you might dismiss as morons or nerds, what do you care if we have our own club? If belonging to a group of unpopular nerds is not your goal in life, why announce it? Do you need to make fun of people you consider morons or nerds? Anyway, I have seen a lot of threads here lately celebrating neediness. Which is it? You can't have it both ways.

As far as bragging goes, I have never heard anyone do that at a Mensa meeting in all the years I have been a member. We already know what the membership qualifications are. Why bother to brag about it?

I don't think Mensans see themselves as better than others, only different. Sometimes we lack knowledge, or behave inappropriately, just like anyone else. We have the same problems as everyone else, but sometimes we have extra problems with communication and social interactions. There are, in my experience, many Mensans with learning disorders. In the past, I have mentioned here that I respect the way Mensans accept and treat people with Asperberger's Syndrome.

I often see comments like, "If they are so smart, why aren't all Mensans rich and famous?" Why should they be? Only people who lack imagination think that everyone should have the same goals in life. Why should everyone spend a lifetime struggling to get ahead in corporate or government culture? Some Mensans are cab drivers. Some live a marginal existence. Some are interested in everything and refuse to settle for one thing. Some can't seem to focus on anything at all. And I have never, never seen anyone treated as a lesser being at one of our gatherings, based on his or her employment, education or perceived social status.

I have always felt that people who insult and make jokes about Mensa are motivated by jealousy or feelings of inadequacy. Intelligence is something we are born with. So is singing ability, leadership ability, left-handedness. I am not ashamed of my IQ or my Mensa membership. Usually, I don't mention my membership unless I am talking to other members, or to someone I think might qualify and enjoy the benefits of membership.

I know this will come up here again. And when it does, I will again be surprised by the jokes and the smug anti-intellectualism displayed in the discussions about Mensa. I expect better from a Democratic discussion group. I expect all of you to be, well, brighter.