Any other Mensans?

[Parsimonious]

I know there are loads of people here who are gifted intellectually, artistically, socially, or in other ways. But are there any other Mensans here?

In the last couple of months, I didn't attend any of the local Mensa events, and I notice the difference - I don't have a social life anymore I think I should get back to the habit, especially since there are meet-ups basically two streets away from where I live. I enjoy them, because people there tend to be as crazy as I am. Crazy in different ways, that is, but to the same degree :-) And I love being able to talk as fast as I can, and to be able to cram as much ideas, information and puns into a sentence as I want, without people staring at me as if I had done something unusual

What does you local chapter have to offer?

[ladykemma2]

i do not know if I'm a mensan, but i teach chemistry and physics. try to get a date - see jack run, run jack run.

[pat in east texas]

Got the card, but never been to a meeting. My friends know I'm odd, but put up with me anyway, so I don't feel the need for a meeting.

[iida]

I would like to take their test. My DH is officially tested and his IQ is high. So is my DS´s. And I don´t think that DD and I are any less intelligent. If only I had the guts to actually do the test. I have done their free internet test and did very well. But it is not official and I don´t know if it really tells anything.

[madhen]

I had my IQ tested professionally about 18 months ago, and it was 165, so I qualify. But every person I personally know who is an actual member seems to be a little caught up in themselves, so I have no desire to join the "club." I really think there is not a lot of connection between IQ and being able to function in society, anyway, so other than sounding impressive, my giant brain ( ) isn't much different than everyone else's.

[LastDragonfly]

i do not know if I'm a mensan, but i teach chemistry and physics. try to get a date - see jack run, run jack run.

bwhahahah.Sorry for the highjack, but I just wanted you to know you made me laugh so hard.

Now back to mensa....

[Moor]

I agree with madhen. I don't attend the meeting because most of the people in my local chapter are all too full of themselves.
It angers me somewhat, the outlook most of these people have. I find that if I stick with "my" family and friends, then I get more intellectual conversations, than I did in those meetings. Most of the meetings were like this:
I am so smart.
My IQ is higher than yours.
I have done this, I have done that.

Never once did anyone of them say something of the effect of, I volunteered today, I gave food to the pantry, I helped someone today.

[Dixie]

Ladykemma, I was lol at your post!
I don't think I'm a candidate for Mensa, however, I'm pretty sure I qualify for 'Densa'.

[joyofsix]

Ladykemma, I was lol at your post!
I don't think I'm a candidate for Mensa, however, I'm pretty sure I qualify for 'Densa'.

LOL My IQ tests high enough, but I just don't see myself fitting in there. People tend to be amazed that I make it through the day.

[Parsimonious]

I agree with madhen. I don't attend the meeting because most of the people in my local chapter are all too full of themselves.
It angers me somewhat, the outlook most of these people have. I find that if I stick with "my" family and friends, then I get more intellectual conversations, than I did in those meetings. Most of the meetings were like this:
I am so smart.
My IQ is higher than yours.
I have done this, I have done that.

Never once did anyone of them say something of the effect of, I volunteered today, I gave food to the pantry, I helped someone today.

Well, here, we don't discuss the second very often (since I do volunteer work through Mensa, I discuss this there quite often, but I cannot imagine "Oh, by the way, I brought food to the pantry" to result in an interesting conversation), but we do not do much of the first either. In my chapter of Mensa, IQ is TABOO. Like big, bad taboo. I know who is a member and who isn't (of course you can just come and attend meetings without being a member, and without qualifying to be one), I do not know who has rated higher than me in their test. It is just not being talked about.
People DO talk about the things they do, and about the things they are proud of, of course. If you've got a new job after being unemployed for a year, you DO have some bragging rights. Or if you've finished school, or gave a concert. You are happy, and you deserve to be happy and to SHOW you are so. But I've never seen this turn into a game of comparison, i.e. "But my grades are better" or "But I earn more!" This hasn't happened to me EVER.
For me it's a way to get to know people I probably wouldn't meet outside of Mensa, and to dive head first into discussion with them. I love the debates, the puns, the wide field of topics. I
I also enjoy that people talk AND act, instead of doing only one thing (e.g. you're good at programming, so your giving free programming classes in your living room; or you like music, so you give a nice concert when there's a big national meeting to share your enjoyment of music; you like to do cabaret, so you teach others and perform a show). Now, free programming lessons, free concerts and great cabaret are not normally considered 'volunteering', but for me they are valuable contributions to society nonetheless. They are a great contribution to my life at least

[Parsimonious]

I would like to take their test. My DH is officially tested and his IQ is high. So is my DS´s. And I don´t think that DD and I are any less intelligent. If only I had the guts to actually do the test. I have done their free internet test and did very well. But it is not official and I don´t know if it really tells anything.

I know, nobody wants to be diagnosed as gifted. It's a lifetime affliction that's impossible to cure and difficult to treat. But isn't it better to know for sure, than to live in fear of the diagnosis?

(I think Mensa USA only tells you whether you have reached their criterion or not. Here, they give you your IQ. So here it's not about 'failing' or 'passing', but about being 'very intelligent' and 'even more intelligent'. The worst that can happen here is that you are told that you are very clever indeed )

[Parsimonious]

LOL My IQ tests high enough, but I just don't see myself fitting in there. People tend to be amazed that I make it through the day.

You'd probably make a charming addition to any Mensa meet-up

By the way, a relation of mine has the same problem. Her IQ is very close to mine, but she doesn't want to do the official test, since she's not sure she wants to be a brainiac

[TheRootedNomad]

They tested my brothers and I in elementary school. Both of my brothers qualified. I on the other hand found the test boring and was playing with fuzzy caterpillars instead of bothering with it. For years this made me the "not as smart" one in the family. I was still labeled gifted for school and stayed in the top classes but I was constantly reminded how MUCH higher than me my brothers scored. Years later I tested to prove to myself that I was just as capable. That was quite some time ago and I have since moved hundreds of miles. I have been told I would need to retest since I didn't keep a copy and was never on record as attending anywhere. My life is so full right now though I've never bothered to retest. I think in a few years when my life slows down some I will probably retake the test and join the "social" group as most people have a hard time "getting me" as well. In the meantime I have my father and my brothers that can follow my train of thought and give me a good arguement when I need one .

[vigilant20]

I've had my IQ tested and have thought about joining in the past. A couple years back I tried contacting the local chapter...but I don't know if it was old information on the website or they just aren't active anymore, but no one ever got back to me

ETA: Ah, I'm guessing it was old. They even have a new site now. Maybe when my situation settles down I'll look into it.

[rasilla]

I think the Mensa/gifted concept is a bunch of cr*p. I have a "high IQ" - can't remember the number, but I started college on full scholarship at 15 in part because of it... AND... I don't think I am any more intelligent than someone else, maybe I can remember things more than they can, but that is only because of the circumstances of my life and the emphasis and games (obsessions) of my parents. Being "gifted" for me was merely the result of training not something inherent in me (or in any one else, I believe). My hubby is much more productive and I would even argue "smarter" than I am even though his official IQ may be a bit lower than mine.

Read the book by Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers. It is great "food for thought" regarding intelligence and success.