Are you a member of Mensa and why?

[Vedran]

Originally posted by Thoran: For me... a sure sign someone is ignorant is when they think they've got all the answers.

"The true knowing is the knowing we know nothing..."

[Timber Loftis]

In other words, I'm plum smart cause I know I'm ignernt.

[Aelia Jusa]

Originally posted by MagiK: Like TL took the practice tests (and learned that I score very high on tests written in the USA and poorly on tests written in the UK) but wasn't interested in pursuing it...especially since I was out of the country and traveling more often than not. I didn't score quite as High as our Esteemed mensite genii...genuii? whatever

I'm sure it's geniuses. Certainly not genuii since the singular is genius - the i and u wouldn't suddenly switch round [img]tongue.gif[/img]

That's one of the many problems with intelligence tests, MagiK - too culturally-specific. Then if you do one of the culturally-neutral ones like Raven's Progressive Matrices they're so domain-specific that they're pretty meaningless as well. Not a big fan frankly

Vedran, perhaps you could ask if you could attend a meeting as a potential member to scope it out before spending the money if you're really interested. I imagine it would be thought-provoking and challenging to socialise with lots of geniuses, but then you would have to consider the sort of people who would be in an organisation merely because they're geniuses and they know it. Might be a little... overimpressed with themselves? Certainly it's flattering that you've been invited to join. Bear in mind though that it is based on one intelligence test, which as I mentioned above, have plenty of problems with what they're actually testing, and the most you can say without making too many assumptions about your performance is that you scored well on that test.

[NiceWorg]

Has someone tried the famous emode.com test? Hehe.. gives you nasty scores. All in all, my results have varied from elementary school candidate to a mad professor depending on sources. I would not join, knowing your score is enough and intellectual people are known not being good company in general.

And very few women fall into that...

[Reeka]

I could be wrong, but I have always gotten the impression that they are rather elitist.

[Olorin]

I briefly thought about joining when I was finishing high school. They sent me some recruitment info, but I didn't think it would really be worth it.

Back before they redid the SAT exam, they accepted scores from that in leiu of an IQ test. Kind of says something about the idea that the SAT tests your mastery of high school content huh?

[Aelia Jusa]

Originally posted by Olorin: Back before they redid the SAT exam, they accepted scores from that in leiu of an IQ test. Kind of says something about the idea that the SAT tests your mastery of high school content huh?

I thought the SAT was an aptitude test rather than an achievement test? [img]graemlins/confused2.gif[/img]

[Olorin]

The SAT has always been a college entrance exam, and there has been debate over its usefullness in that regard. It doesn't accomplish much in the way of testing how well a student did during high school, it seemed more like an IQ test than a test of scholarly ability. I took the test in 93 before they redid the format somewhat, and I have to say that it was more a measure of your test taking ability than a test of your skills. How it was supposed to show if a student would be a good college student or not I don't know.

Personally, my high school didn't challenge me enough (we were small, so I don't hold a grudge), so when I went to college, lots of students with lower scores than I did much better in college classes. Maybe they didn't perform as well on the SAT, but they had learned good study habits in high school that I didn't.

There are even some rumors in California that the UC (University of California) system is going to stop using the SAT as an admission tool.

[LordKathen]

I am just plain to smart for them. Why would I pay them, to be in a club to show that I am smart?

[Flaming Fist Enforcer]

Originally posted by Vedran: ~SNIP~ Some time ago, me and Flaming Fist Enforcer applied for Mensa membership. We paid 70kn each (circa $10, not so cheap) to take the test. And we did it! My IQ was 154, and his somewhere around that number as well. ~SNIP~

Well... yes, around that number. It was 172 actually (don't be ashamed of it, Vedran ), though it was just one side of man's intelligence.

Worg, there are more interesting tests on The spark. You might want to see them.

Reading the posts, I understand that only Talthyr Malkaviel and Olorin were invited to join. Is there anyone who's currently a member? Is it really not worth joining? BTW, I never thought to seduce girls with my mensa membership card, but are there any advantages at all?