I was a MENSA member for a year. I let my membership lapse because I really didn’t get anything out of it.
I joined to meet women. Then I met my wife on Match-dot-com.
I went to a couple regional meetings and a couple of the events, and while the folks at most of the events weren’t noticeably elitist, the folks at the game nights were very much so… and an aversion to elitism had been my main reason for avoiding Mensa in the past.
And at the game events, a couple people kept trying to recruit me into even more elitist “Super-Mensa” organizations, that accepted only the top 99.9th percentile test scores, etc… I gathered that there were seperate, successively elite clubs for every additional 9 in your percentile score, up to something like 99.999th percentile. (Turns out my score is only 4 nines and an eight… darn.)
So, since I didn’t like the elitism, and I had fulfilled my mission elsewhere, I just didn’t send my dues in the following year.
My existing friends are geeky and nerdy enough, TYVM.
And besides, I feel even more elite by knowing I qualify to join their special little clubs, but don’t want to.
I’ve been a member of Mensa (please note it’s not an acronymn; it’s Latin for “table.”) for over 20 years now. I met my very best friends in this group, and had some of my best times. Yes, you’ll meet some jerks. You’ll also meet some fascinating people that you would never have met otherwise.
The Chicago regional gathering is legendary. Boston and Central New Jersey are widely reknowned as well.
Why join? It’s masturbation you can perform in public!
Seriously, I’m not a member, but I knew a guy who was. You can hang out with people who will stimulate you mentally. I’d think it would be a refreshing break from the mundane.
(On the other hand, I wouldn’t want to belong to a club that would have me as a member…)
I’ve benn in Mensa for a couple of years now. Haven’t actually been to any gatherings though, so all that membership means to me is a magazine or two popping through the door every month. The magazine is usually fairly interesting. On the whole, if the membership wasn’t a direct debit i would have probably lapsed, but as it is ennui keeps me in the club.
As far as American Mensa - going to the weekly local events, the regional gatherings, and the annual national gathering is what it’s about. Mensa is a social organization. If you don’t do the Mensa activities than, IMO, Mensa isn’t worth the annual dues. So, find your direction. Here’s mine ---- tonight I will get drunk with a bunch of guys and a two foot bronze owl. See? OK, there’s actually much more to Mensa - getting drunk with guys and an owl is just more fun for me. Locally there are also speakers and there are parties - If the parties have beer I’m there also. If it’s a ‘book talk’ - no show.
As far as the People of Mensa – you can’t paint ‘em with a broad brush. I, for one, don’t read SF, Creative Anachronism doesn’t stimulate me, and I don’t program computers. Yet, I read a lot (except SF), played high school football, watch sports, like ideas, drink beer, hate wine, and, contrary to the opinions of my friends and the owl - can get real dates with real women.
One thing about my local group, we seem to be blessed with more old, bald people than local demographics would suggest. Both men and women. Locally, Mensans tend to be a pretty butt-ugly crew ----- except for me. :dubious:
I asked myself the OP question some time ago, and decided not to join. First of all, tt took 3 or 4 prompts from me before the local rep would even respond. Second, because the national organization would not enter into the political fray by taking stands on any social issue.
But I did and still do find two appealing features of Mensa. One is ti have a membership card in your wallet (or purse) that more or less certifies your brilliance, The other would be to say, “Sorry, tonight’s my Mensa night” to some dinner invitations.
I found membership too expensive for what little I got out of it. There wasn’t really anything happening that couldn’t happen just as easily with any other college-educated crowd, and the group seemed to attract people with personalities that I wanted to avoid. For example, the social activities described above given as reasons to join sound like reasons to avoid them at all costs to me.
Like anything else, your mileage will vary. And, to be fair, I haven’t been a member for more than ten years.
Eh? Unless I’m very much mistaken, the charter of Mensa specifically prohibits it from taking such stands. There might be some SIGS that will take stands, and even try to get people involved, but Mensa is supposed to be politically neutral.
Lynn is absolutely correct (as usual). International Mensa, American Mensa and any local Mensa group are specifically stated not to hold any opinions as groups. This is a condition of their charter and bylaws. This obviously has no impact on the rights of individual members, or of a Special Interest Group to state whatever opinion they want within the other governing laws of the land. Individual members could certainly organize a Republican SIG, Democrat SIG, Animal Rights SIG, or whatever, so long as they don’t represent their opinions as being those of the group.
Responding to another of Boyo Jim’s comments, it is unfortunate that occasionally a local group officer for one reason or another, is not prompt in acknowledging inquiries. Most are quite aware that this could cost the group a potential member. It’s difficult, however, to censure a volunteer. Families, jobs health and other issues often interfere with Mensa duties. And of course sometimes a person who volunteers turns out not to be very good at a particular task.
The character and “personality” of any local group change over time, of course. The nature of local activities and events is dependent entirely on the interests and initiative of the local members; it’s a very grass-roots, do-it-yourself type of organization. People who like horse racing or baseball put days at the track or the ballpark; bridge players run bridge parties. Poets could sponsor poetry-reading afternoons in the park.
Is there some disagreement here? I said the national organization would not take stands on social issues. I see that as a detriment, and among the reasons I didn’t join.
Every once in a while, someone within Mensa will complain that the organization is not using its brain power and alleged influence on behalf of some issue or other. Of course, trying to get even a sizable minority of Mensa to agree on anything would be a monumental task – sort of like herding cats. It’s been said that two Mensans in a room guarantees you to have at least three opinions. You’re right – if an activist group is what you’re looking for, Mensa is not it.
OK, there’s actually much more to Mensa - getting drunk with guys and an owl is just more fun for me. Locally there are also speakers and there are parties - If the parties have beer I’m there also. If it’s a ‘book talk’ - no show.