I probably wasn’t clear. This was an M made an error that the non-M spouse caught. Like, “Isn’t it adorable that my clearly less intelligent spouse was able to figure this out when I didn’t.”
I joined in the mid 90’s. Took the test on a lark after seeing a newspaper ad and was accepted. The people seemed nice enough but the meetings were about an hour’s drive away for me and I just couldn’t muster the enthusiasm to make a 2 hour round trip. So I just went to a couple meetings and let it drop.
People were fine though. I’ve heard plenty of stories of social rejects or huge egos and didn’t feel any of that. Just too far.
This is absolutely my experience. I think I can honestly say that everything fell into place when I joined Mensa.
This is a problem we have in our group too. I think it exists everywhere.
There is one, and only one, criterion for joining Mensa: Scoring in the top 2% on a recognized IQ test. That, and paying your dues.
Unless, of course, this is a whoosh.
Yes
Ah, I guess I read that wrong. I see that sort of thing as a putdown of onesself, not a laugh at the expense of the non-M. It’s actually kind of common to hear stories of a person trying some complex solution or other, and then another person comes along and fixes it it one second flat with a far better response.
I took the test when I was seven and got an invitation, but I didn’t see much point and my mother didn’t push it.
Yep. I had a similar experience.
I joined after passing the exam in 2006, and was pretty excited, to be honest. I just didn’t like the vibe at the events. I decided they weren’t for me after the second Snowball I attended. I think I still get the Mensa Bulletin, but I no longer read it. I have back-copies of the magazine if anyone wants them.
If you’re in the US, doing a search on “mensa <your zip code>” should give you the info on the local group. Let me know if you still have problems.
The joke answer is, of course, that finding your local group is just another test. 
I enjoy taking my card out and waving it in people’s faces. I say “I’m a member of Mensa, by DEFINITION I’m not an average person.”
There’s a couple of articles on this website that people might enjoy reading, “Getting Active” and “Nobody’s Perfect”.
I’ve been in several groups, in several states. Some groups I liked much more than others. In every group, though, I was warmly welcomed by the regulars. The regulars want the group to stay active, they want new members, and they are willing to accept most newcomers, as long as the newcomers are making an effort to be sociable. As long as you’re not bothering people, you will probably be accepted.
It’s not too bad if she’s discreet with the pads and doesn’t get too emotional every month.
Consider it a test in which you did not score in the top 2%.
Actually, I went back and it was alternately letting see a page then wanting me to log in. I expect the people there to be a little flaky, in fact, if they weren’t, I’d be worried about my own sanity - but when it’s infecting the web site, IDK. It’s either incredibly eccentric or incredibly scary.
Anyway, i just set a mirroring utility loose on it and slurped up the whole site so I look at it later. 
Do you mind telling which years you attended that gathering? It’s one of the most highly regarded in the country these days. What was it that didn’t work for you?
Seriously? We used to have people there from the Center for Advanced Study which was pretty cool, but ‘most highly regarded . . . ?’ Damn.
What really turned me off this last time was their attitude toward member privacy. They seem to be ok in terms of how they handle your personal information vis-a-vis “outsiders” but in terms of what gets shared internally, that wasn’t as clear. IDK. I should probably just admit I’m either a control freak or paranoid and likely both.
Well, to each his own. I can’t imagine what kind of personal information you are concerned about. As far as I know, the membership list with name and address is shared on a “need to know” basis. For example, the person responsible for mailings has to have your address. Other than that, the only information anyone has access to is what you choose to share. You are not required, for example, to provide a phone number or email address unless you choose to do so. You don’t even have to reveal your age or your gender if you don’t want to.
The most recent gathering there was a complaint that there were so many good speakers, no matter what you attended you were missing something equally good. Again, to each his own; can’t please all the people all the time.
At the events in their local and nationwide events, the rule is that you can bring your significant other and no one can ask you which one of you is the MENSA member. At least that’s how it was 15 years ago.
It’s still that way in the groups I know of.
I don’t know about any such rule; it’s just that it wouldn’t occur to anybody to ask. We don’t ask if your kids are legitimate or if those are your real teeth, either.
I joined four years ago (when I was ten). At first I found it exciting, but I don’t actually find many of the events interesting, probably because there are not that many events for people in the UK who are my age.