Better hide that Mensa membership under a bushel

[mgc1961]

I’m no genius, as regular readers are well aware.

But at a time when the Snookis of the world have higher status than your average Poindexter — who is derided as a nerd, or, worse, an elitist — exceptionalism ain’t exactly the plus it was in Einstein’s day.

Ask any Mensa member.

“I get more ridicule than praise in our culture,” Kansas City Councilman Russ Johnson said when I asked how his membership in the high-IQ society was received.

Me, I get enough ridicule already, and deserve most of it. So last Sunday I set out to confirm my lack of high intelligence by sharpening a couple of No. 2 pencils and heading over to the library — to take the Mensa test.


Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/11/04/102844/commentary-better-hide-that-mensa.html#ixzz14JvJRPTG

[Moostache]

1. "Exceptionalism"

Quote: "exceptionalism ain’t exactly the plus it was in Einstein’s day."

Unless you extend this to a jingoistic interpretation of the role of the United States in global geopolitics, then "exceptionalism" is just fine and dandy by people who really do not understand what it means.

To summarize:

Exceptionally intelligent or well-spoken or well-versed educationally = BAD.
Exceptionally militaristic or imperial on the world stage = GOOD.

Or in monosyllabic wingnut terms:
Smart = Bad
Violent = Good.

[mgc1961]

2. One of my Senators, Corker, spoke on Tuesday night.

He was congratulating our new Republican governor saying he likes to defer to someone in the private sector who has met a payroll.

While he was patting himself and his party on the back I was thinking: Public service officials have to meet a payroll too. After all, it takes a lot of people to provide government service be it the military, road repair, firefighters, police, Social Security administration, etc... And certainly, those people don't work for just smiles and handshakes any more than oil company employees do.

[Hestia]

3. I've provided a payroll - so? and? At least I know I'm not qualified to represent my state

I just wish others were as knowledgeable.

[SharonAnn]

15. Corker is an expert at getting taxpayer money to pay for things for his businesses.

He's a slimy, sleazy bag of dog doo-doo.

[SharonAnn]

16. Here in East Tennessee I hide the fact that I'm a Mensa member and have an MBA.

It's just easier because a large part of the culture around where I live is "anti" anything that might be "book learning" or "smarts".

First place I've ever lived where being educated is looked down on.

[Demeter]

4. What's Worse is Being a Card-Carrying Mensan and STILL Being Sneered At

because you aren't wealthy, married, doing a sexy job, look your age, or whatever.....

[oldhippydude]

5. the one mensa member i know

is a fox news, rush ditto head... go figure

[Demeter]

6. It Takes All Kinds

Consider the Bell Curve. Now spin it on its y axis. Now take away everything within 2 sigma. You get left with a very thin, spotty doughnut: and that's the Mensa population. The only unifying characteristic is being 2 sigma away from the average...

[Stuckinthebush]

7. Technically, 2.05 and some change

:)

But we all know that performance on an IQ test doesn't indicate an individual is highly intelligent in all areas. IQ testing is full of serious issues related to the theoretical construct of "intelligence".

The smartest guy I know is a dumb ass.

[Demeter]

8. there's also the autism issue

there's a problem with genetics--perfection in breeding is not likely due to multiple errors....

[TalkingDog]

9. I know several Mensa members.

They've invited me to take the test a number of times. I don't doubt I could pass, but it's only worthwhile (IMHO) if it works FOR you rather than against you. Otherwise, it's just a club with bragging rights.

And I will agree with you on the dumb-assery. I invited 3 of the mensa crew to my house for Thanksgiving one year. They ran out of gas twice with in a 5 mile stretch.

Smart yes, good a taking tests yes. But still very human with all the attendant foibles.

[Stuckinthebush]

10. Twice?!

That is funny.

[kckc]

11. luckily

I had already finished my coffee when I read that. LOL

The only member I know worships He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named (rhymes with Lush Flimwah), Sarah Palin and Ann Coulter. You just never know how they will apply their intelligence.

[ladywnch]

12. if only we could insure that they would use their intellect for good!! LOL

[juajen]

13. My late husband was a member of Mensa. Though we have

many highly educated and smart friends and relatives, he is the only one who is a member of Mensa. How in the world did you know three. BTW, my husband was an encyclopedia. He had a remarkable memory, and missed only one question on his SAT, which was taken in 1960, which some would say was a much harder test than the one used today. He also made the highest score on his US Air Force test that had ever been made at that time. He was a master of a lot of trades and an undoubted genius. Not all exceptionally gifted people are awkward or lacking in common sense.

[TalkingDog]

18. I agree with you.

And immodestly include myself among that number in regards to being not being awkward and having common sense.

But I credit my upbringing on those counts. I think many geniuses are "nurtured" to death. Neither of my parents had a high school education, both were hella smart. So they saw no reason to treat me as "special".

I've had more than one super smart person tell me what a freak they felt like growing up because they were expected to know things and to react to things differently because they were geniuses. But kids are kids and "smart" does not make up for lack of experience.

I often felt freakish. But only in relation to people at school. I would get "that look" when I instinctively knew something beyond my education. People (mostly peers) would effectively accuse me of cheating.

I can only recall getting that look from my mother (and aunt) one time at Christmas. I was about 4 and took all 2 seconds figuring out and fixing one of the toys that they were having trouble with.

Other than that instance, my family considered me bookish, but not freakish.

[TalkingDog]

19. I know more than 3 members.

I just invited these 3 over for dinner.

I met a member through my job and we hit it off famously

She was close friends with some other folks in the local group, one of whom was the test administrator.

They were courting me to join the group.

I did give a presentation to the women's chapter (I don't remember what it was called at this point), but I'm not much of a joiner. I'll pitch in to help or socialize, but like my solitude.

[IrishEyes]

14. My brothers are both Mensa members as is my father

My brothers are very conservative republicans. My father is a republican but he is sensible and reasonable. We talk politics all the time. He voted for Obama and thinks Palin is a complete moron. My friend is also a Mensa member and a liberal democrat.

[Harry Monroe]

17. Idiocracy begins!!

[TalkingDog]

20. It'll have to push the Plutocracy out of the way first. n/t