hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (Jerry Hollombe) (11/19/84)
One week ago I posted an article in net.net-people, with some pointers elsewhere, to see if anyone would be interested in a net.mensa news group. Since then, I've received 20 responses from members, former members, potential members, and the just plain curious, some from as far away as Sweden. I'd like to respond here to a few of the issues these people raised to continue the discussion of whether or not such a news group would be justified. This is my way of following the 6th commandment: "Thou shalt spend forty days and nights in meditation before adding or removing any news group". First, my apologies to those who requested information and didn't get an answer. I can only plead time and ignorance. I couldn't answer everyone. Some answers I tried to send out got bounced back by the net. Q & A: ----- > What would be the content of this news group? This is hard to predict, since Mensans will discourse on just about anything at the drop of a hat. (Maybe a high-IQ version of net.misc? (-: ) From experience I'd say there will certainly be flames from people who resent Mensa's existence for one reason or another (most common complaint: "it's an elitist organization"). These will naturally be responded to. This might eventually lead to discussions on the nature of intelligence, intelligence testing, and what "IQ" really means. The subject of elitism also has interesting aspects. A frequent complaint from members (and non- members, for that matter) is that no practical use is ever made of all that supposed brain power. Net.mensa might at least provide a venue where mensans from all over the world could come together for such a purpose (with appropriate kibitzing from everyone else) on an on-going basis. Apart from the above, I'd expect some gossip, reports on events that most members would be unable to attend, inquiries as to how/where to get membership information, postings of new special interest groups, and general encouragement of potential members to become members. > Would there be enough people? To this I can only reply "How many is enough?". High volume doesn't seem to be a criterion for news groups (as witness net.suicide, net.social, net.rec.nude, etc.). Also, some people said they seldom post to the net but are avid readers. They should count for something. While the overall potential membership in Mensa is 2% of the general population (by definition), I would expect the percentage of potential members on usenet to be significantly higher. This is, after all, a highly selected subset of the general population. The theoretical qualified population in the United States is on the order of 4.6 million people. How many people access usenet world wide? > Is net.mensa appropriate to a primarily social organization? Some responders said they considered Mensa to be primarily a social rather than intellectual organization and didn't see how net.mensa would be relevant or useful in that context. I'd say that in a world where people have met and even married on computer networks one can hardly discount the socializing potential of a news group. I also note that the people who expressed this opinion all lived in metropolitan areas where there were active groups and many activities available. A number of other responses I received were from people in areas or countries where there were no local groups at all. These isolated members were all very much in favor of anything that would allow them more participation. In the end, I suppose net.mensa, if created, would become whatever the users choose to make of it, as has every other news group on the net (e.g.: net.wobegon, net.women.only, net.social). Finally, for those who are wondering what this is all about: "MENSA is an international society in which the sole requirement for qualification for membership is a score at or above the 98th percentile on any of a number of standard IQ tests. Mensa is a non-profit organization whose main purpose is to serve as a means of communication and assembly for its members. Special Interest Groups within Mensa provide a basis for involvement in various activities and the sharing of opinions and ideas. "Qualification for membership may be determined by tests administered by Mensa or by submission of properly certified prior evidence. All inquiries should be addressed to: American Mensa, Ltd. 1701 West 3rd Street Brooklyn, NY 11223 "Telephone answered 24 hours (718) 376-1925. Office hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Eastern time)." -- From "Mensa Bulletin" number 281 November, 1984 I suppose this officially throws the question out for debate. Should there be a net.mensa? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mensa is registered at the U.S. Patent Office as the collective mark of an international membership organization. -- The Polymath (Jerry Hollombe) Opinions expressed here are my own and Transaction Technology, Inc. unrelated to anyone else's whether living, 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. dead, or imaginary. Santa Monica, CA 90405 (213) 450-9111, ext. 2483 {garfield,lasspvax,linus,cmcl2,seismo}!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe
pag@hao.UUCP (Peter Gross) (11/21/84)
I propose a net.densa for all those unqualified for MENSA membership. This organization actually exists!
gam@amdahl.UUCP (Gordon A. Moffett) (11/25/84)
Jerry Hollombe > > What would be the content of this news group? > > This is hard to predict, since Mensans will discourse on just about > anything at the drop of a hat. (Maybe a high-IQ version of net.misc? (-: ) > From experience I'd say there will certainly be flames from people who > resent Mensa's existence for one reason or another (most common complaint: > "it's an elitist organization"). These will naturally be responded to. > This might eventually lead to discussions on the nature of intelligence, > intelligence testing, and what "IQ" really means. The subject of elitism > also has interesting aspects. A frequent complaint from members (and non- > members, for that matter) is that no practical use is ever made of all that > supposed brain power. Net.mensa might at least provide a venue where > mensans from all over the world could come together for such a purpose > (with appropriate kibitzing from everyone else) on an on-going basis. > > Apart from the above, I'd expect some gossip, reports on events that most > members would be unable to attend, inquiries as to how/where to get > membership information, postings of new special interest groups, and > general encouragement of potential members to become members. Why can't net.sci, net.social, net.misc and even net.flame be used for these purposes? I see no reason that Mensans should be given their own newsgroup just because they are Mensans. I also question the "use ... of all that supposed brain power" that net.mensa is supposed to facilitate. Is there something wrong with using brain power in ``mixed company''? Why ISN'T this an elitist news group, anyway? -- Gordon A. Moffett ...!{ihnp4,hplabs,amd,nsc}!amdahl!gam 37 22'50" N / 122 59'12" W [ This is just me talking. ]
tower@inmet.UUCP (11/26/84)
Re: net.mensa
How about calling it net.mensa-people
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U.S.A.jec@iuvax.UUCP (11/28/84)
[] I think it would be a good idea to go ahead with this group. It would give Mensa people a place to converse where it wouldn't bother a bunch of other people in net.social or other places. If Mensa people are going deal with elitist criticism at least it should be kept somewhere that it isn't going to clutter up existing news groups (although net.social could use the traffic). -- James Conley Indiana University 68K Education Board Project ...iuvax!jec