# Mensa --- Yes or No **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 31, 2002, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665 "2002-10-31T06:01:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/21 "2002-11-01T06:03:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RTA \* > \*\*I believe quite strongly that reciting Monty Python dialogue has never been an acceptable substitute for adult conversation. > > You’ll find a lot of that at your MENSA meetings - with a bit of passive-aggressive “Higher IQ than yours! See? I’m smarter!” posturing, for good measure. \*\* I hear a lot of people say that Mensans compare IQs, but I don’t think that I’ve ever actually seen it in a Mensa gathering. Nor have I heard more Monty Python references than I would in any other setting. ---
**Author:** ![Firebat023](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a4c791/32.png) [@Firebat023](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Firebat023)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/22 "2002-11-01T11:29:02Z")
“I am smart! Much smarter than you! Hibbert!” –Sung to the tune of Star Trek’s theme, by Arnold, the Comic Books Store Guy /Simpsons ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/23 "2002-11-02T02:58:01Z")
The problems of living in a small town are somewhat different, of course, but here in the DC area, there are plenty of Dopers, and no membership fee is required to hang out with them. So I can’t see joining Mensa, but that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/24 "2002-11-02T04:30:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynn Bodoni \* > \*\* > > I hear a lot of people say that Mensans compare IQs, but I don’t think that I’ve ever actually seen it in a Mensa gathering. Nor have I heard more Monty Python references than I would in any other setting. \*\* I am sure you are not referring, of course, to a setting of people who have not seen the movie. FOR SHAME! Remember kids, all generalizations are stupid. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![merbelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@merbelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merbelle)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/25 "2002-11-02T14:39:39Z")
when i was 16 i transferred to a new high school and they made me take an aptitude test before signing up for classes. i’d already taken so many of those i was sick of them, and just filled in blanks as hurriedly as possible, so i could move on. the following year, everyone in my small advanced debate class decided to join some Mensa group for high school students. one girl worked in the counselor’s office and got into our files. she named every score aloud. turned out i was the lone non-qualifier. the teacher felt she had to take me aside and console me, as my score was only 126. that aptitude test had been used to determine our IQs. i had a wonderful private laugh over that! imagine just randomly filling in circles and still scoring that high! since that time, i’ve had “real” IQ tests done for fun and for employment, and enjoy knowing i can do better if i actually think before answering. i admit i get weary of having few people with whom i can talk on any meaningful and intelligent level, but if i were to seek out a group in my own tiny town, i’d look for some specific common interest first, even start my own club, before joining one that’s based on a personality characteristic. there really is more to the people around here than meets the averted eye. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/26 "2002-11-02T15:11:31Z")
I went to a Mensa party once (a guy I was dating was a member). It was fun. Lots of smart people. No IQ measuring (they all knew they were smart). Just a little Monty Pyton subbing for a real conversation. But enough truly interesting people that if you managed to sidestep the few completely socially inept, it was fun. I think a lot probably depends on the group - and that you should call and ask to check them out. If there isn’t too much going on in your town, you don’t have a lot to loose…and who knows, your new best friends might be a Mensa member. (Anyone else ever get into a group like this and end up struck by how many truly DUMB smart people are running around?) ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/27 "2002-11-02T15:57:06Z")
Why do you think I gave up on Mensa when I lived in Hawaii? When the two guys who got me to join here told me they were in Mensa, they swear a look crossed my face which said, “Oh. And you were such nice people. :rolleyes:” I’m glad I let them convince me I was wrong. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/28 "2002-11-02T18:08:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Firebat023 \* > \*\*“I am smart! Much smarter than you! Hibbert!” > –Sung to the tune of Star Trek’s theme, by Arnold, the Comic Books Store Guy > > /Simpsons \*\* When was CBG revealed to be named “Arnold”? I thought he and Bumblebee Man were the only totally nameless characters. ---
**Author:** ![Badandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@Badandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badandi)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/29 "2002-11-02T19:47:11Z")
I joined a few months ago, but I wasn’t around for most of the summer, so I’ve only been to two meetings. It was quite amusing, to say the least. I live in a rural area, so it was rather like the episode of the Simpsons where Lisa joins the high IQ club, (there were only about 10 people) but it was fun, nonetheless. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/30 "2002-11-03T02:32:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Menocchio \* > \*\* > > When was CBG revealed to be named “Arnold”? I thought he and Bumblebee Man were the only totally nameless characters. \*\* According to Matt Groening’s forward in the recently-published **The Simpsons Beyond Forever!** we still have no name for CBG. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/31 "2002-11-03T08:56:18Z")
I would think you could find smart people to hang out with without forking over a membership fee. Paying money to prove your smart sounds pretty stupid ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/32 "2002-11-03T08:56:20Z")
I would think you could find smart people to hang out with without forking over a membership fee. Paying money to prove you’re smart sounds pretty stupid ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/33 "2002-11-03T08:57:25Z")
Drat. I thought I caught that typo before it went through. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/34 "2002-11-03T12:46:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Legomancer \* > \*\*…My question is, what would membership in MENSA allow you to do that you can’t already do… \*\* Caution, the following is only rumor and innuendo: I’ll bethca they got a newletter. And think of it like a dating service. You’ll find people of similar interests: namely, self-absorption in their own intellectual prowess. And my local chapter has quarterly video parties at member’s homes, so I’m told. The main reason I decided not to join was the complete lack of enthusiasm, not to mention knowledge, by the local membership rep. He just couldnn’t answer some basic questions like, “What you you do for fun?” ---
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/35 "2002-11-04T00:43:25Z")
Mensa = retard in Spanish ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665/36 "2002-11-04T17:24:16Z")
I am not a member nor have I ever been to any meetings, but I am at a bit of a loss to understand some of the _a priori_ hostility towards Mensa. I am sure it is not all about cranial dicksizing. You are bound to find cheez-whiz masturbators in _any_ club or group of enthusiasts. I’ve known a handful of Mensans and they’ve all been decent sorts. As many posters above have mentioned, they joined due to the dearth of other things to do around their locales. Is it their exclusivity that pisses people off? Does refusing to submit to their test give people an ego charge? No condemnation on my part, I am just a little confused. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mensa-yes-or-no/134665.md?page=1)