Topic: Anyone here in Mensa?

[Lono]

Hey - just curious if anyone here is in (or was in) Mensa?

I just joined recently partly because I mistkenly thought an old freind/co-worker of mine was in the local chapter - but it turns out I had mistaken him for someone with the same name apparently.

Some people here might be aware that I have a tenuous financial situation - as I has spoken about it - and I was trying to see if I could get this Mensa thing to work for me - not a ton of benefits for joining (though there ARE some interesting travel related discounts and programs) but I was hoping perhaps it will be good for job networking?

I normally cannot stand networking groups because I have low levels of dopamine receptors and superficial small talk is actually painful for me to endure...

(as is willful ignorance)

So anyways curious about your experiences there and what you might recommend to a noob - I saw they have a career center but it was mostly job postings looking for PHD's etc...  and if I had that credential I would probably already have a better job by now...

Any advice or networking with fellow Mensans would be very cool!

(feel free to pm me if you prefer discretion)

 

[FRA.E.Kehakoul_XC]

Well,i think they are just like any other elitist club,at least over here in Germany,instead of superficial smalltalk you will be exposed to bloated egos and sophisticated smalltalk and the associated piss contest.
Willful ignorance is something i would expect from some.
Sorry if this is sounding blunt but it really depends on you,and if you are in need of that kind of ego caressing.

You probably wont find people like Walther there.... (the guy from fringe).

[Lono]

Man - so Mensa is generally pretty despised from what I get - even internationally...

If nothing else I hope that I can possibly bring some reform to their image to change that.

I certainly don't mind an ego boost - but since Mensa is almost universally ridiculed - I don't know how one can really get anything more than a little quiet self-satisfaction from said membership.

I don't mind having having different strengths and weaknesses then others - but I do find that having a high IQ is at once both a strength AND a weakness as it is very hard to relate to most people I deal with daily.

Most of the people here (like on the Mensa forums) are extremely intelligent and articulate and I feel right at home - always have in fact.

Still would love to run into fellow Mensan's in my normal internet circles - as I only bother to visit areas of the web that are intellectually challenging and stimulating - and where I find those who tend to share my more cerebral interests...

Anyone at all here ever been involved?

[knightstorm]

If you want to network, you need to join the Bohemian club.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AAxKgYWrIQ

[Sirgod]

A long time ago, I was. I left for essentially the reasons that FRA.E.Kehakoul_XC .

Also you hit the point exactly when you said that  "I don't know how one can really get anything more than a little quiet self-satisfaction from said membership."

Once you realize that, you have enough Confidence in yourself that you don't need others.

All that being said, Hey if it works for ya, go for it. The group just drove me insane back in the 90's. (early 90's at that.)

Mind you though, It also might just be my general misanthropy towards people that is speaking in my old age. I just can't get into joining a group for status, while I can join groups because of general interest or fondness for others.

Stephen

[stoneyface]

they offered me membership after i did really well on their elitist bullsh*t test. i told them to go f**k themselves...


yes, i have a high i.q. i don't believe in the i.q. test to indicate intelligence. the iq test is flawed i took two and use the lowest number achieved as my "i.q." so, having a high  i.q. does not mean i want to hang out with only high i.q. people or mensa specifically. my friend and i actually started calling it mensis to make fun of it. if you only associate with other mensa members you are doing nothing but promoting elitism, and you are depriving yourself of "real" relationships. some of my best friends ever have all been non-traditional highly intelligent people. one is so low of a tested i.q. that they wanted to give him special education. this was AFTER he had 3 patents to his name.... i love to hang out with all types of people. the only group i actively avoid are those that relish their ignorance or those that foster ignorance as a "goal" (read racists). so, i really enjoyed wiping my ass with their acceptance letter and sending it back to them with a little note to let them know what i really thought of them.

[Lono]

FRA_stoneyface_XC,

Wow - you seem really aggressively angry at them - so far they have been a very friendly bunch here in Denver at least.

I am dissapointed that many who test with High IQ's - like you and Sirgod - don't find Mensa to be a community worth sticking with and improving. Apparently it has a very elitist reputation - even though over 130 milllion people (world wide) are by Mensa own stated criteria - more than eligible to join right away.

I like to think of Mensa as more of a support group for High IQ people - many of whom find it hard to make money or hold a normal job for long periods of time.

I would also like to see Mensa become more of an incubator and angel investment group for intelligent entrepeneurs - promoting and encouraging investment in fellow Mensan's endeavors - both for profit and non-profit businesses which - when brought to fruition - will gainfully employ many others in their community.

Right now I see a lot of smart people whose valuable idea's are often marginalized by ignorant, but aggressive, company executives and politicians - who spend more time serving their myopic self interest than in building lasting value in the market and in their communities where they operate.

I'd sure like to see you guys consider rejoining the front lines in this fight - if Mensa starts to reform and reinvent itself in this way!

 

Anyone here have any positive experiences with this organization?

[FRA.E.Kehakoul_XC]

My experience is that you always will be the odd guy in this scenery, regardless  if you are in a club with other odd folks or not.

And further  quite a few the people you will find here play in another league then those at Mensa.
Not in a ranking sense but,being beyond the state that allows   organizations like Mensa to appear to be a valid choice.

PEople , for example ,with parents who decided actively to NOT take their kids childhood away by putting them  on schools for highly gifted people,and let them gain a hS degree with 18teen.
NO math wonder kind with 12 etc.

ITs true ,that this means you wont  have other  Hiq kids to hang around with ,outside of those little  elite ghettos.
And you are never one of those normal guys but that isn't the case either ,if i am in such a club.
In these you just get instrumentalized ,preped  to invent BS.

In Europe they love to put such gifted people in elite schools ,with the goal to make them fit to become an asshole who later works for company's  who help other company's to find nice ways to lay of 6000 people down,and teach how to get away with it.

YOu know ,..not one joule of my energy will ever land in the hands of those assclowns.

So you end up with a 20ty year old  peeing baby, talking bs about how it is ok to destroy the lives of 6000 people,and if you listen carefully you will hear  his stupid daddy and or those elite clowns   having sold their inhumane ideas to a 20 year old blank. (pseudo Intelligent people).

TO be honest  LOno ,you sound as if you are already a member and try to sell this BS here on our board.

To say it again its not an upgrade but a downgrade if you join this kind of club,easy to see ,should be obvious.

Then again i doubt those at Mensa got this in the first place,if they had they wouldn't be  there.


That being said ,i would like to warn you,you will probably not get very nice feedback on this board regarding this matter,a very bad place to  run ads for conformity and hiding (disconnection from the common society).
As our philosophy is exactly the other way around.

[atheorhaven]

I'm not a joiner, I'm Chaotic Good.  >=)

Thought about it when I was younger, rejected it.  Had a crappy math teacher who tought us in a flawed fashion.  That being said, I can talk steady state temporal dynamic theory with anyone, but I R Know Good 4 Maff.  And seeing as a lot of IQ tests are math based (meaning that anyone good at math can conceivably do well on the test as opposed to those that R Su><orz at math are rolling dung), chose not to bother.

Nowadays, can't say that I'm that interested.  If you want a good networking group without a lot of negatives associated with it, Toastmasters is always looking for people..

[marstone]

alot of the newer IQ tests are actually spacial tests.  they dropped the math because it does give someone who was trained an advantage.  (depends on test tho)

I know I passed the Mensa test oh so many years ago, sent in an error to them also.  Never did join, but my friend did.

It might be neat to have all of us here join and mess with the group.

[Sirgod]

To give you an idea of how long ago it was , that I joined with them for a bit, OMNI magazine had this little card inside that you filled out and sent in.

I don't think OMNI has been around now for 20 years plus.

Stephen

[marstone]

yep, right with you SirGod, I took the test while I was in High School yet (10th grade I believe).  I have been out of the military for over 20 years now, so it has been awhile.  Probably wouldn't  pass it now

[Sirgod]

Heh,  I don't think I could pass any test unless it was color by number, and they would still take points away from going outside of the lines.

Sept. of 2012 will mark my 20 year anniversary of not being active in the corp , so you have a few days on me there.

I forget who said, I would reject any group that would have me as a member.

But as for Londo, shoot man, If it makes him happy , go for it.  <--- one of those life lessons the Mensa elite don't teach.

Stephen

[stoneyface]

sirgod, it was groucho marx who said, "i refuse to join any group that would have me as a member."

lono, basically i am not that overtly hostile to them, they just annoy the living piss out of me. i report almost daily in my own forum here a ton of science based articles and links. i can discuss in great detail for hours on end quantum physics and quantum mechanics. in fact, i have a great love of those two subjects. i am a believer in M-theory (10 physical dimensions, 1 space-time dimension), i believe the big bang was not a beginning but just one bang in a long line of bangs from two "branes" colliding and passing huge amounts of energy between the two. but apparently i am not up to mensa standards when it comes to dress code. lol, yes that is what i was told. when i was a foolish high school loner with a very small group of friends who were also all loners (we called ourselves "the island of misfit toys") i took the mensa test and scored very high. the local mensa group ( who actively recruited from the high school) approached me and said i would have to conform to their dress code to join. for one, i refuse to wear a pocket protector! just kidding. i went to a few meetings and they were exactly as kehakoul described. they basically sat around and bragged about their huge intellects and constantly fought among themselves to see who was the smartest. it was totally an elitist club. they had no fuction other than to apparently form internal cliques within the club and gather "apostles" under the few elders of the club. i thought the problem may be just that club so i went to several different mensa groups in the area and they were all the same! amazingly i did not fit in there or any of the mensa clubs i went to. they hated my likes at the time, they hated my clothes, my friends my non-high I.Q. friends i might add, but yet they wanted me to join them? at this time the internet was a new toy, it was just starting to come into the awareness of "normal" people, meaning non computer geek, computer club members. i started chating in severall "bbs'es" oh god! remember those? and already the opinion of the mensa group internationally was the same as mine, they were all elitist assholes who had nothing better to do that aggrandize themselves in front of others. i made the decision right there that not only would i never join, but i would do what i could to warn others of this annoying group.

[Nemesis]

i started chating in severall "bbs'es" oh god! remember those?

Remember BBSs?  I ran one.  I have many fond memories of various games played.    My friends and I were locally "famous" for playing Barren Realms Elite as "The Four Horsemen", I was Pestilence.  Many good times were had.

[marstone]

i started chating in severall "bbs'es" oh god! remember those?

Remember BBSs?  I ran one.  I have many fond memories of various games played.    My friends and I were locally "famous" for playing Barren Realms Elite as "The Four Horsemen", I was Pestilence.  Many good times were had.

Use to run one myself, they were fun.

But on the topic of the thread.  If (can't remember the name of the thread bearer) likes being in Mensa, great, enjoy it, don't let someone else make you quit something you are enjoying.  I myself have enjoyed these boards and a couple others as they are like the Special Olympics of Mensa, smart people and each one alittle special.

[Nemesis]

But on the topic of the thread.  If (can't remember the name of the thread bearer) likes being in Mensa, great, enjoy it, don't let someone else make you quit something you are enjoying.  I myself have enjoyed these boards and a couple others as they are like the Special Olympics of Mensa, smart people and each one alittle special.

Ok back to topic.

I took the online test and was urged to join but I'm not a joiner. 

As to your exact situation Lono it sounds like you don't like the group much and just want aid in getting a job.  You might wish to join other groups with members in jobs more like what you are aiming at.  Just be sure to treat the organization and people with respect and behave in a fashion to earn theirs.  You might even consider joining a volunteer group as they often have connections that can help their members.

Have you looked up old co-workers and or bosses?  Some of them might be in a position to direct you to a job opening or even hire  you directly. 

[Lono]

If you want to network, you need to join the Bohemian club.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AAxKgYWrIQ

Kinghtstorm,

Right - well exactly!  But really I would like to oversee the creation of an anthesis to this very organization.

Plus - I am pretty sure - just like Skull and Bones - it's an invitation only society.

(although being a legacy does help I hear)

 

[Lono]

Thanks for the advice on the Job Hunting from everyone - I am fortunate at the moment to still have a job - but after four rounds of layoffs this year alone - I am getting more than a little concerned.

(and the fact that I am in the red about 10,000 a year - a career move may just be the cure I need)

I had to skip the first Mensa meeting - due to a good friends B-Day gathering - but I do look forward to meeting with them next month and reporting back here how it went - perhaps things have changed a little - as the old guard passes the reigns to the new.

I have been taking advantage of my new access to their national forum boards - and it has struck me that their is nearly as much willful ignorance to go around as one would find anywhere else on the interent. And certainly a bit more one upping than in some other forums.

I do enjoy - that just like here - I do not have to dumb down my posts just to get a little well reasoned feedback - something that I rarely find in other corners of cyberspace.

(not a whole lot of swearing or other sh*t talking as well - which like here is appreciated also)

So far I'm diggin it - but ultimately I would like to reform them - and perhaps turn them into my stepping stone towards becoming Emperor of this solar system.

We'll see how it goes...

"You must begin by gaining power over yourself; then another; then a group, an order, a world, a species, a group of species… finally, the galaxy itself."

―Darth Plagueis (the wise)

[Grand Master of Shadows NCC37385]

To give you an idea of how long ago it was , that I joined with them for a bit, OMNI magazine had this little card inside that you filled out and sent in.

I don't think OMNI has been around now for 20 years plus.

Stephen

I remember those. They usually had a question. Once my math teacher brought in a question from one of those little cards. Now this guy was supposed to be a math whiz. He bragged that it had taken him only a minute to solve the problem. He then challenged us to solve it and asked for volunteers. He gave us five minutes. He wrote the problem out and called us up to the board. Two minutes later he told us to sit down. I was working on my fifth solution to the problem. He checked my work and then asked me how I had solved it. I told him it was a trick question that had many solutions and was designed for grammar school kids. 

This is the question: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10=1. Add or subtract the numbers to make the solution true.

I told him that the trick was that the numbers added up to 55. To achieve the answer of "1" all you needed to do was to add enough numbers so that one group equalled -27 and the remaining numbers equalled +28.

My math teacher was a member of Mensa...and as dumb as a post. 

[Bonk]

I'm with Stoney.

My ego is enough all by itself, I certainly don't need mensa to encourage me. My IQ also tested very high (resulting in education enrichment programs ect. - no longer offered). But as Stoney feels, the Intelligence Quotient test is a measure of means. It is dependent on the average performance and so is a relative measure. I do not want to have an IQ of 200 in an idiocracy - that would mean I was still pretty stupid.

Intelligence comes in all forms, many not very testable by any traditional means.

Dynaverse.net is an alternative to Mensa. Many smart folks here, but I doubt there are many mensa members. (or if so they probably won't say so now.)

[Lono]

Haven't been able to attend a real meeting or meet-up yet but I've been a regular on the American Mensa's forum for a couple of weeks now.

First impression is it's pretty similar to here - variety of topics - depth of discussion - general civility - etc...

(not nearly as much videogame discussion however)

I was somewhat surprised to find Mensa has an older demographic than I expected - at nearly forty I'm on the younger side of the forum participants.

(apparently partly due to a surprisingly soap-operaish political drama with the main leadership in the latter 90's from what I hear - large increases to yearly dues was also a factor)

I am occasionally surprised to find some there who are surprisingly thick - but for the most part they are in the minority...

Saw a few pics from past annual gatherings - whoa - not a ton of lookers and a whole lotta sausage!

;-)

I have probably stirred up the pot a bit much - but I am amazed at how short sighted some of the regulars there are - it comes as no surprise that one of the original founders - on their 50 year anniversary gather in 1996 - essentially said that he was disappointed to find that [the membership] were essentially still mostly ego-centric infants who spent a lot of time on pointless puzzles and other "mental masturbation".

I'd hafta agree - but I do think some of the "young" blood - such as myself - do have some good ideas on how they can expand their charter and increase their membership - mostly by providing more material benefits and education to fellow members - and also their communities.

Apparently - I hear - they have blown around 2 mil on legal fees suing for trademark infringment in recent years which has been seen as a somewhat questionable use of members funds at best.

I have a lot of faith that this org can be turned around and become something that people will actively and publicly want to be part of - and I am already finding some likeminded members who are eager to bring such reforms right away.

Wish me luck!

 

[stoneyface]

you actually touched on one of the major things that annoyed me with the membership when i "tried them out" no one wanted to discuss how to make life better or easier for all. no one wanted to discuss or brainstorm things to make the planet better. they were more concerned with how long it took them to solve dracula's puzzle and other retarded puzzle brainteaser crap. very infuriating when i think i have found mental peers who have the brain power to change the world only to find they are more interested in fluffing their egos... sigh

i say, stir the pot man. go for it. really whack that hornets nest a bit. maybe it will shake them out of their complacency and get them to do something!

[Bonk]

... no one wanted to discuss how to make life better or easier for all. no one wanted to discuss or brainstorm things to make the planet better. ... when i think i have found mental peers who have the brain power to change the world ...

Why not start such a group? Does one already exist? We have ranks... and a wide variety of views and thinkers.

Dynaverse.net is an alternative to Mensa. Many smart folks here, ...

Problems: let's pick em off in bite sized pieces. First, get our own house in order.

Stoney, I like the way you think. I have decided that it is OK to go for big dreams and to aim high. I've had enough moaning and pissing. It's time to do something. We are old enough, it is our social obligation.

Sermon over.  (actually, to be continued... )

[marstone]

Will agree Bonk.  You aim high, thus if you fall short, you still got something done.  But take it in pieces you can handle (or a group can handle).

[Lono]

So I was finally able to attend an "official" Mensa meeting in Denver and I found most of the attendees to be pretty stand up folk.

They wouldn't have looked out of place sitting around a SFB board imho.

Of course - that's a testament to their ages also - at almost 40 - I was the second youngest at the table!

Almost everyone worked in IT or related disciplines - which wasn't too surprising - however they all seemed socially well adjusted - much to my surprise.

I did actually find that my local group was much more positive about my new ideas for the organization - then I have experienced in the online forums - but people are usually a little more amenable when face to face.

Ironically I developed a full blown migraine shortly before the meeting - making reasoned debate very very difficult for me - in fact I almost couldn't drive myself home!

I think that there is a real changing of the guard at Mensa as the Gen X'ers start to take more positions of authority - and I - from my experiences so far - would really recommend that many here re-consider joining at this time.

(many many here may already be pre-qualified by tests they have already taken)

Let me know if any of you decide to come back into the fold!

 

[Sirgod]

Thanks for the update Lono, I am pleased as punch that you are enjoying it, headache withstanding.

Heh, It's a catch .22 for me man. I'm kinda set in my ways, and can hold a grudge for 25+ years at times, so I don't know how I would fit in with the new blood, who while I appreciate trying to change the old guard, Would find me somewhat More misanthropic then I appear here.

I mean with you guys, it's a friendship that has went well over a decade, so I am happy to BS all day with you, but new people, I just can't work up any excitement to do so.

That being Said, I do appreciate the offer Lono, your as stand up a guy as anyone I know.

Stephen

[Dash Jones]

I only have an IQ of 155, so not exactly stellar Einstein...plus I don't see what Mensa does to actually change the world.

Now the Illuminati...

[Sirgod]

LOL @ Dash.

ok, that one had me almost choke on coffee.

Stephen

[Lono]

So Mensa has been okay so far - I've actually dealt far more with them online than offline.

Started a national SIG (special interest group) to create a Mensa Credit Union - and explore entrepreneurial avenues for other Mensans.

Worth the $63 Dollar yearly fee imho...  if only to see the nerd flame wars that even sometime out nerd these forums.

Love if some of you guys would consider joining - just had the annual clichéd Star Trek vs. Star Wars debate - Star Trek wiped the floor with SW (of course).

Ran into a few SFB lovers - have pointed them here for a piece of the action...

 

[ShadowDiver]

Umm.....

I can cook....and scuba dive....

[Sirgod]

Scuba FTW!!!

Stephen

[Lono]

Umm.....

I can cook....and scuba dive....

I can't....  yet.

Would love to learn - especially the scuba!

I assume it takes a little bit of disposable income to pursue however, eh?

[Sirgod]

Yes indeed. It's been 20 years or so since I took classes, but even then, with equipment, it was around 2-3k. More if you want to get into say a college type excursion on wreck or cave diving.

No clue what a PADDI goes for now, but I know a few of the guys here also Dive.

Stephen

[ShadowDiver]

cool maybe....we could start a scuba thread 

BTW, this is me...

and this is my current rig...

and this is what I do...

and if your in construction...you'll understand this one..

and yes it's very very $.....

[Sirgod]

Where are you located ShadowDiver? If you don't mind me asking that is.

About 10 years or so, I had a chance to go to Texas to study science dives, and I kick myself in the butt for not going. Alas, I'm getting to old for school now, but it would have been fun.

Stephen

[Sirgod]

Here ya go Lono, all in jest of course.

----------

The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again invited readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

Here are the winners:



1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.

2. Ignoranus : A person who's both stupid and an asshole.

3. Intaxicaton : Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

4. Reintarnation : Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

5. Bozone ( n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

6. Giraffiti : Vandalism spray-painted very, very high

7. Sarchasm : The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

8. Inoculatte : To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

9. Osteopornosis : A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit..)

10. Karmageddon : It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

11. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

12. Glibido : All talk and no action.

13. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

14. Arachnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

15. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

16. Caterpallor ( n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.



The Washington Post has also published the winning submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words.

And the winners are:



1. Coffee, n. The person upon whom one coughs.

2. Flabbergasted, adj. Appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.

3. Abdicate, v. To give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

4. Esplanade, v. To attempt an explanation while drunk.

5. Willy-nilly, adj. Impotent.

6. Negligent, adj. Absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a nightgown.

7. Lymph, v. To walk with a lisp.

8. Gargoyle, n. Olive-flavored mouthwash.

9. Flatulence, n. Emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller.

10. Balderdash, n. A rapidly receding hairline.

11. Testicle, n. A humorous question on an exam.

12. Rectitude, n. The formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.

13. Pokemon, n. A Rastafarian proctologist.

14 . Frisbeetarianism, n. The belief that, after death, the soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

15 . Circumvent, n. An opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men

Stephen

[Lono]

So I have now become the main coordinator of the Mensa SIG I belong to - and I have changed the format from a one issue special interest group into more of a general Mensan think tank for brainstorming and supporting ideas/projects to help enrich/assist fellow members.

It is actually quite surprising to me that - at this time - there is only one other genuine think tank out there that actually serves the general membership.

Unfortunately my current work situation - and lack of personal resources - has kept me from fully pursuing all opportunities for the group.

I would love if anyone here would consider joining Mensa and contacting me so that I recruit you into the SIG - as I can use all the allies I can get!

Please note that many of you here may already be pre-qualified to join:

http://www.us.mensa.org/join/testscores/qualifyingscores/

Let me know if you are interested - I would love to get you on board - things are really poised to take off in 2012 in my opinion.

 

[Sirgod]

I think that's wonderful you Lono, But shoot man, I'm not even sure where my old scores would be. I might be able to pull up the old old old SAT's , and possibly the old Asvab, But I see that's not even used, and for good reason.

Stephen

EDIT. I think I'll give the old College a call later, But it has changed hands so much since I went there, It's hard to say.

[Lono]

Well that would be awesome if you can join - and if you don't have the scores you can always take the Mensa supplied test to get in.

In any case - if I can get some resources this year - I intend to create a parallel think tank that is not restricted to just the Mensa membership - and I will be recruiting from these forums for sure.

One thing we might want to think about around here is creating a formal game company - if no one here has done that yet. With the recent mega-success of Minecraft and other independent ventures - and the excess of talent around here - this year might be the time to have the Dynaverse expand into something more formalized like that.

(again - forgive me if this is already in progress - and if so we just maybe need to run a kickstarter like internal donation drive)

[Sirgod]

That internal Donation drive was awesome! I was so proud of what they did.

Anyways, It is not my place to say what is going on behind the scenes, outside of saying, IT is looking good, But I advise caution with any and all current franchises or intellectual property.  What I would suggest, if we go down that route, would be to create our own world/universe.

On a personal note with Mensa, IF I do go back, I want it made clear, my loyalty would be to you, and your goals, and not Mensa as a group. I have gotten too old , too bitter, and WAAAY to misanthropic to enjoy a multitude of new people. I am not saying, that they would not be treated with the utmost respect, nor would I ever do anything to damage the name of Mensa, But I fall back on that old line of thought, that any group who would have me as a member , needs their head examined.

Stephen

[Dash Jones]

Why would they allow SAT's or AFQTs?

I had a friend who had, I think about a 130-135 IQ and he got lower than their required for the SAT at around a 1200...however he was rather strange on his explanation of the AFQT.  He got in the 99% for all numbers like Math and Reading and one other arena...however they also have the Pilot and Navigator portion which he got an 85% and 79% in.

How would Pilot and Navigation ability transfer into Intelligence quota?

Of course from what I see they only use it for those who had it prior to 10/80 ironically.

More quirkiness he got a 32 ACT if I recall correctly, but didn't get near that 95% for the LSAT.  What would an LSAT and ACT have in correlation to each other anyways.  The ACT and SAT are easier than the LSAT to get a high score or percentage simply due to the quality of people you are competing against.

I'm not certain how they are measuring one's intelligence with all those different tests they allow as that covers a pretty wide range of differences.

If their goal is simply to raise their numbers in membership, it's a good idea, but overall not all tests are created equal in relation to IQ.

Which is my point with my friend.  Some of his would disqualify him, while other tests included there would qualify him.  I would think it's an yes or no, not an either/or.

[Lono]

So quick update - I just lost my day job in Dec. and now have been able to focus a little more on My Mensan Think Tank - even got quite a few new national and international members recently too - including a legit member of the RLSH movement.

Looking to get funding for some big projects - if anyone has substantial resources - and/or is currently in Mensa - I would love to get you involved with my group.

I'm thinking 2013 is the year we turn it up to 11!

Let me know if you are interested - biggest returns for those who get in on the ground floor of my up and coming semi-secret society!

 

[knightstorm]

Do you guys have a 40 ft. stone owl?

[Lono]

Nah - owls are too old school - we prefer this as our centerpiece:

[knightstorm]

The great owl of Bohemia is cooler.  That might make a nice offering though.