IsabelC Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Assuming that you meet their criteria and you can afford the membership fee without difficulty, would you join? Why or why not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I was a member in the past, and didn't find it worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 No, I don't see much point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I was a member in the past, and didn't find it worth it. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Don't see the point. DH and I are surrounded by high IQ people anyway ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Don't see the point. DH and I are surrounded by high IQ people anyway ;-) :iagree: All 4 of us have some sort of qualifying score, but don't see much point unless there was a fabulous social environment or some other draw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jar7709 Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 The only people I've met that advertised they were members were insufferable, so no thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ipsey Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I wouldn't belong to any club that would accept me as a member ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 No, I don't see much point. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferLynn Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I've always been curious and the parents of a good friend in high school belonged, but at this point we are more focused on the kids' education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccolopy Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 DH was a member for a few years, but he doesn't think he got anything out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 No, I don't see the point in socializing with people whose only commonality is IQ. I know plenty of brilliant people. Some are friends with whole I have a lot in common, some are insufferable, most fall in between and, while I may enjoy our conversation, there is nothing particularly appealing about spending my little free time with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I was a member in the past, and didn't find it worth it. A friend of mine joined many years ago...she said the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I have heard good things about the homeschooling Mensans subgroup, but the last time I looked into it, I got sticker shock at the dues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durriyyah Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I put maybe because if I was looking for work again, then I'd join so I could put it on my resume. My sister's ex-husband was part of Mensa and he said that was really the main perk of it. He said the parties were pretty bland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I don't see any benefit in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I said 'yes' only because I was a member in the past. When I met my (now) husband, I was a nuclear engineering major in my junior year. I loved the academics and potential future but changed my major to education so when we had children I would be able to more easily stay at home. Since his job offered opportunity to travel, teaching offered an opportunity to get a job anywhere. Good in theory except that it left me feeling resentful when DH's engineering friends would gather and exclude me from the conversation because i couldn't possibly understand their conversation. Mensa was the paper proof that made me feel validated. That said, I've grown up a lot and realize my worth doesn't need that kind of validation. So, membership status is currently inactive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I didn't find out about Mensa here but it is a snob group where I come from. Most of the nice ones quit unless they were using Mensa for networking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiana Daniels Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Well there's one group I never have to worry about joining.... LOL! I wish I had the option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elizabeth Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 It depends on the local chapter if they are nice, interesting and curious about everything then yes. The local here had as much warmth and spark as a dead carp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamatohaleybug Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Nope. What would be the point? Nothing appealing in it for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElaineJ Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 No. I don't feel the need to make a public statement about my I.Q. I guess I don't see the point. Elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth in MN Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I wouldn't belong to any club that would accept me as a member ;) Best Groucho Marx on-liner ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 The only people I've met that advertised they were members were insufferable, so no thanks. :iagree: It sorta feels like those that join have something to prove. My BIL made a huge deal of joining because my husband qualified for gifted classes and was a national merit scholar and he didn't so it was his way of "catching up." His words not mine. That's strange. My husband is certainly eligible, as is my son and I reckon I would be too but I am just not tied to IQ like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EthiopianFood Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I would if the social events had interesting people. I have a hard time finding people with whom I connect well, so I am open to options that are outside the box! Unfortunately, my brain is so shot at this point in my life that I know I wouldn't pass the entrance exam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I was a member for a while, but since I wasn't participating in many of the get-togethers, I let my membership lapse. I think it can be fun if your local group is friendly and if you make the effort to attend the events. I don't recall anyone acting superior or talking about being smarter than other people. It was more of a social and networking kind of group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 (edited) I wouldnt sign my kids up, but DH should have been a part of it, he needed a group like that. I tried taking the quiz they have on their site and I got lost on the 2nd question, DH was speaking a foreign language explaining it. Edited November 7, 2012 by Jpoy85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 No, I don't see much point. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 (edited) The only people I've met who own up to belonging were sort of pitiful. It was a sample of three, but each one was boorish in their own way. So no. Edited November 7, 2012 by kalanamak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 No. I don't feel the need to make a public statement about my I.Q. I guess I don't see the point.Elaine :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 No, I have never felt the need to join. There don't seem to be any benefits for me or my kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowbeltmom Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I have heard good things about the homeschooling Mensans subgroup, but the last time I looked into it, I got sticker shock at the dues. :iagree: We joined when we first began homeschooling because I was hoping to find activities/groups for my kids. I did not renew the membership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I wouldn't join because the group is too far away. I'd check it out if it were closer, hoping to find an interesting and fun-loving group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisbeth Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I was a member in the past, and didn't find it worth it. This. We got a lot of negativity for having children. The group near me lived to argue to hear themselves yap. Wasn't pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ipsey Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Best Groucho Marx on-liner ever. I've always wanted to use it it real life; I'll settle for the board. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 No, for the reasons mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 There was never a group withing driving distance of where I've lived so I didn't see the point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a27mom Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I could both qualify and afford it. But it doesn't appeal to me. I am not a "joiner" though in general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 DH's sister is in it. Her license plate says MENSA, she has it all over her house. She talks about it all the time. She rubs me the wrong wall all the way around. MENSA is a dirty word in our house.....for being so smart she sure is NOT smart when it comes to real life. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SproutMamaK Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Nope. I thought joining when I started going to college, to feed my ego a little. So glad I didn't now, the LAST thing I needed at that point in my life was an ego boost. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
higginszoo Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I haven't yet. I just don't see enough benefit. I passed my first qualifier when I was 6, my parents probably didn't have the money then. Dh, both older kids and I all have qualified, the little ones haven't really been tested. We're all in the 'highly gifted' range, as opposed to some people I've known in the profoundly or exceptionally gifted range, where I can see it being a great tool to find people to be able to relate to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momma2three Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 The people I've known IRL who have talked about being members are all kind of obnoxious all-around. I wouldn't pay money to hang out with them and hear more about how smart they are. I think a lot could do with location, though. Where I live there's a vibrant intellectual community with tons of colleges which all host lectures and events open to the public, and where if you are super smart and have a very high level interest in an area you can probably meet that need easily. (Not that I personally have any such talent or interests!) If someone feels that that sort of community is a lot harder to find where they live, a membership might be worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I did the tests, (proctored, by Mensa) and more than qualified, for fun only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I think it would really depend on the local chapter, but in general, I don't see much benefit from it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMA Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 My mother is a member. Growing up, I went to a lot of the local chapter meetings and I helped put the monthly newsletter together. So I know a lot about making newsletters and bulk mailings. I met a lot of people at the chapter. While they all have placed high on an IQ test, it is a social group. So if you are interested in joining and you have already have a qualifying score, check out the local chapter. It's just like any other group - craft guild, book clubs, supper clubs, service clubs, etc., with the connecting thread of a high IQ. You really should be interested in the mission of the group since you have to pay membership dues, just like any other group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I qualify and was invited, but I don't see the benefit of being in a group that only accepts you based on your IQ. I'm not an "exclusive" kind of person. And it's not like IQ limits the ability to be in any other group. I also feel it would be uncomfortable to have that going on when you have loved ones who do not qualify. I can't imagine saying, "I can't come that day, I have a MENSA event." And would there not be pressure to make sure your kids qualified? Yuck. No thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 No way. I know a man who is a complete jerk and makes a point of telling everyone he knows he is a member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I never had any interest, myself. However, good friends of ours joined primarily to get their son access to local activities with other smart kids. They were active with the youth stuff for a while and had a good experience. By the time I joined the e-group, things there were petering out. Most of the kids had gotten older and found their niches elsewhere. So, it wasn't much help to us. I voted "maybe." I wouldn't be bothered to join for me. But I might if I had a kid I thought would benefit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I'm noticing that a few people wouldn't join Mensa because they know someone who is a member, and who is really obnoxious about it. The thing is, you probably also know other members, who wouldn't even think to tell you that they were Mensans, in the same way they wouldn't brag about having a nice car, new furniture, or a big house. What I'm trying to say is that, the people who brag about their Mensa membership are the same people who will brag about anything and everything else that makes them feel important. It's not a Mensa thing. It's an Obnoxious Bragging Idiot thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpyTheFrog Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 The thing is, you probably also know other members, who wouldn't even think to tell you that they were Mensans, in the same way they wouldn't brag about having a nice car, new furniture, or a big house. :iagree: If I were a member, I probably wouldn't tell people in real life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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