[Guest]

So my friend and I were talking about the BD (I keep telling him that he should join) and he told me about Mensa. Which is a world wide society of genius'. He gave me a link to their practice test. I didnt score great, but I did okay.

You're supposed to time yourself and finish in less then 30 min.

Take the test, dont cheat, and post your score (if you want)

http://www.mensa.org/workout2.phpMensa

I think some of the BD's can crush this test. prove me right.

[Guest]

21/30

[Guest]

I'd take it, but I already did, though I was working with my friends. We got all but one or two in probably 15 minutes. I don't really know what I would have gotten by myself, though a number of the questions are pretty easy.

[unreality]

the Mensa test is notorious for being inaccurate... I might still take it anyway

[Mekal]

I got a 20/30, and that was skiping at least 5 problems... I think they should just make a school out of BD...

[Guest]

Not that I'm putting any stock in it, but I got 25/30 in <30min, but I missed the one about the typists...GEESH!!

[itachi-san]

Well apparently Mensa wants me now... I highly doubt this test means much though. I once took a real IQ test that was pages and pages long and incorporated a much wider variety of skills. I highly doubt one's intelligence can be determined in this manner and even though I haven't looked into it, I doubt Mensa recruits this way. If they do then BD > Mensa any day of the week

[Guest]

28 out of 30, unless using a pen and paper is considered cheating...

[itachi-san]

28 out of 30, unless using a pen and paper is considered cheating...

sweet, we're fake mensa buddies , edit: no pen and paper here though

edit: did anyone get the "insatiable" one? just curious. I didn't sweat over it because it just looked rediculous, then I saw the answer and realized I was right.

[Guest]

25/30 in 30 min.

I skipped the anagrams because they make my brain hurt.

[Guest]

27/30

For words question I use the help from Microsoft Words dictionary

And some other questions have been conditioned to think 'that way' after trained from BDs

[Guest]

20/30

then again i've been up for almost 48 hours (finals time) and i kept dozing off while taking it

[Guest]

You have to wonder what exactly the point of Mensa is. Maybe there are some Mensa members who can set me straight on this one. Seems to me its principle function is to enable people to identify themselves as superior (based on extremely arbitrary criteria), and meet up with other likeminded numpties to compare notes on who is the most superior.

I almost want to join just to find out whether the spotty-bow-tie-wearing social failures (compensating for all that school bullying) outnumber the middle-management wannabe-intellectuals (I suspect not). But I get such a warm glow of superiority just from not joining Mensa, I'd probably best leave things as they are.

Does anybody know if Mensa charge you some kind of fee for being so clever?

[rookie1ja]

You have to wonder what exactly the point of Mensa is. Maybe there are some Mensa members who can set me straight on this one. Seems to me its principle function is to enable people to identify themselves as superior (based on extremely arbitrary criteria), and meet up with other likeminded numpties to compare notes on who is the most superior.

the point of Mensa for me is that I met a few people who think a bit like me and understand things quite quickly ... of course, the important thing is to find someone with similar personality (so it's not only about the brains) ... I know a few great Mensa members and we go out from time to time (climbing in mountains, rafting etc.) - so it's not that "intellectual" at all ... it's about finding people with similar interests and their intelligence is a great bonus

I almost want to join just to find out whether the spotty-bow-tie-wearing social failures (compensating for all that school bullying) outnumber the middle-management wannabe-intellectuals (I suspect not). But I get such a warm glow of superiority just from not joining Mensa, I'd probably best leave things as they are.

well, you won't believe it but Mensa members are normal people ... they just have the ability to understand a lot and see connections

Does anybody know if Mensa charge you some kind of fee for being so clever?

there is a small yearly fee ... something about 50 USD here I guess (and it does not even pay the costs of magazine)

as you have probably deduced, I am a member of Mensa Slovakia and I enjoy our adventure vacations a lot

[unreality]

*images Octopuppy fumbling for the EDIT button to take back what he just said* Hehehe

[Guest]

I got a 26 out of 30. Yay! Maybe I'll join Mensa when I get older. I'm 16. Anyone know the youngest you can be in Mensa?

By the way, I don't know what "banalities" are so I couldn't have gotten that one.

[Guest]

I guess I joined just to see if I could get in! My dad was/is a member and so I thought i'd give it a try. As already mentioned there is a small yearly fee, but you get sent magazines regularly and can also join special interest groups (on a varietry of topics....literature, crime, films etc etc) and you get sent newsletters for these with interesting stories/pictures/discussions. There are also regular social meetings but I haven't been to one yet.

People have a bad impression of it, but its full of all kinds of people with all kinds of interests. I'm guessing it was more beneficial years ago when there was no internet and therefore no websites like this to meet like-minded people.

And BTW that test is just a sample....to join you have to do a supervised test which, in my opinion, was much much harder and quite time-pressured!

[Guest]

Just did the test and got 30

[unreality]

I got a 26 out of 30. Yay! Maybe I'll join Mensa when I get older. I'm 16. Anyone know the youngest you can be in Mensa?

By the way, I don't know what "banalities" are so I couldn't have gotten that one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banalit%C3%A9

[Guest]

27/30

For words question I use the help from Microsoft Words dictionary

Help?! I think that's called cheating.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banalit%C3%A9

So that's what they are! Thanks for the info.

[Guest]

well I am surprised to see that I got 20/30.

I didnt answer 4 of them.

I took one of the online mensa tests and apparently got

140. Are those real? Who cares.

Edited September 25, 2008 by crazypainter

[Yoruichi-san]

the point of Mensa for me is that I met a few people who think a bit like me and understand things quite quickly ... of course, the important thing is to find someone with similar personality (so it's not only about the brains) ... I know a few great Mensa members and we go out from time to time (climbing in mountains, rafting etc.) - so it's not that "intellectual" at all ... it's about finding people with similar interests and their intelligence is a great bonus

Hmm...interesting. When I read that I was thinking "that's exactly what college was...". It sounds like a good idea for older members who miss being around "people like us", but I think for younger members, it is more effective to put their efforts into getting into a good college (with lots of intellectual and interesting people )

[Guest]

the point of Mensa for me is that I met a few people who think a bit like me and understand things quite quickly ... of course, the important thing is to find someone with similar personality (so it's not only about the brains) ... I know a few great Mensa members and we go out from time to time (climbing in mountains, rafting etc.) - so it's not that "intellectual" at all ... it's about finding people with similar interests and their intelligence is a great bonus

OK, OK. So far so good. It's nice to meet people with similar interests and have fun times together. But what about the whole IQ thing? I mean, if there was a club exclusively for, say, people who could burp their way through the alphabet, you'd really only join if either

a) You're so into burping that you want to meet other burpers and have burp-offs or whatever, or

b) You want everyone else to know you're part of this exclusive club so they will be in awe of your burping prowess

But probably not

c) You want to meet people to do basket weaving and play croquet together

You and other Mensa members have something in common, but can that really account for why you want to be in Mensa?

Honestly?

well, you won't believe it but Mensa members are normal people ... they just have the ability to understand a lot and see connections

I know lots of intelligent and fascinating people, some of whom understand life in quite different ways to me, and from whom I am constantly learning. Not many of them would get into Mensa though. Excelling in IQ tests is a particular skill (or set of skills) which requires thinking along particular lines. I should know, I'm exceptionally good at that kind of thing (except for the anagrams). But to set myself apart from those whose abilities lie elsewhere would serve no function other than to limit my scope of experience.

as you have probably deduced, I am a member of Mensa Slovakia and I enjoy our adventure vacations a lot

In the UK, where I'm originally from, Mensa is very well known (perhaps more so than the rest of the world judging by NM_EJL's opening post), and Mensa membership is something that people boast about if they are inclined to boast about such things (hence my very low opinion of it, since this seems to be the whole point).

I can't speak for how Mensa is perceived in other countries, and I'm not saying that you don't get genuine value from being a member. It's just that there are so many other ways to meet people of all interests (especially in the age of the internet), that this function of Mensa is surely beside the point. To me Mensa is intrinsically objectionable, due to its defining characteristic, namely the fact of its exclusivity, based on the absurdly named "Intelligence Quotient", which wrongly implies superior intelligence to the rest of society. Elitism based on IQ is a pretty ugly thing. Why would you want to socialise particularly with people who buy into that?

It's a bit ironic that you have stood up to defend Mensa. In Brainden, you have created something much better! People are drawn here by a common interest, and you get a fun and interesting mix of people. No exclusivity, no testing, no hubris necessary.

*images Octopuppy fumbling for the EDIT button to take back what he just said* Hehehe

Ah, what the hell, I like to be provocative! I'm think rookie1ja knows better than to take me too seriously. I admit I was a bit out of order, but that's my feelings in the subject, so I had a good rant! Perhaps I undermined the point I was making with the vehemence I made it with, but I won't be editing it. As you might have gathered, elitism in any form is not a thing that sits well with me.

[rookie1ja]

You and other Mensa members have something in common, but can that really account for why you want to be in Mensa?

Honestly?

Why did I take Mensa IQ test?

Because I wanted to know my IQ and wanted to know people with high IQ. Now I have a better idea what my intelligence is (in comparison to others as well) and what kind of people Mensa members are.

Why do I want to be in Mensa?

Actually, I do not need to buy a stamp "Mensa member" with the annual fee. I know that even if I don't pay the annual fee, I met a few people (of course not all) that I can spend some great time with (outside of Mensa gatherings). BTW, this seems to be the first time that I mentioned my connection to Mensa and this site is many years old, so I do not need to brag about it.

I know lots of intelligent and fascinating people, some of whom understand life in quite different ways to me, and from whom I am constantly learning. Not many of them would get into Mensa though. Excelling in IQ tests is a particular skill (or set of skills) which requires thinking along particular lines. I should know, I'm exceptionally good at that kind of thing (except for the anagrams). But to set myself apart from those whose abilities lie elsewhere would serve no function other than to limit my scope of experience.

I see it every day - IQ is not that important ... it's not the recipe for happiness ... actually, I would sometimes exchange a few of my IQ points for other qualities

In the UK, where I'm originally from, Mensa is very well known (perhaps more so than the rest of the world judging by NM_EJL's opening post), and Mensa membership is something that people boast about if they are inclined to boast about such things (hence my very low opinion of it, since this seems to be the whole point).

I can't speak for how Mensa is perceived in other countries, and I'm not saying that you don't get genuine value from being a member. It's just that there are so many other ways to meet people of all interests (especially in the age of the internet), that this function of Mensa is surely beside the point. To me Mensa is intrinsically objectionable, due to its defining characteristic, namely the fact of its exclusivity, based on the absurdly named "Intelligence Quotient", which wrongly implies superior intelligence to the rest of society. Elitism based on IQ is a pretty ugly thing. Why would you want to socialise particularly with people who buy into that?

I have not met people in Slovakia who boasted about their Mensa membership ... I would not want to socialise particularly with people who buy into that, and I haven't - simple as that

It's a bit ironic that you have stood up to defend Mensa. In Brainden, you have created something much better! People are drawn here by a common interest, and you get a fun and interesting mix of people. No exclusivity, no testing, no hubris necessary.

BrainDen, my preciousssss ... I am glad that you enjoy this site ... although I have to admit that there is a bit of exclusivity - a few members were deleted, banned, suspended or "regulated" in other ways ... simply: "You can enter, but behave."

[itachi-san]

I know lots of intelligent and fascinating people, some of whom understand life in quite different ways to me, and from whom I am constantly learning. Not many of them would get into Mensa though. Excelling in IQ tests is a particular skill (or set of skills) which requires thinking along particular lines. I should know, I'm exceptionally good at that kind of thing (except for the anagrams). But to set myself apart from those whose abilities lie elsewhere would serve no function other than to limit my scope of experience.

Here here on the anagrams. Kudos to anyone who got the "banalities" one...

I agree somewhat with what you're saying, however I do see the point in measuring intelligence. It doesn't have to be an IQ test, but that seems to be the most widely excepted method. I'd compare it to running a mile, which of course tests athleticism and endurance. I believe in making one's self better in every way, then testing yourself to see where you stand and then building on that foundation.

I see smarter people than me everyday and I'm always happy to be around them. And it seems Mensa can be a place where it is easy to meet people of the like. I don't see why surrounding oneself with people who think on a certain level can be bad as long as it doesn't lead to an extreme elitism. I have never been berated by someone saying how great they are because they belong to Mensa, so maybe that would change my mind

As far as I'm concerned, it's as elitist as any club. One can be a member of Mensa and still play soccer, fish, dance, or whatever. Intellectual discussion is a hobby just like any other. It's one of mine, which is why I love this site. Speaking of the internet though, I agree that it has made connections easier, but there is still a totally different (and arguably more complete) experience to gain when speaking and interacting with someone in person.

[Guest]

I agree somewhat with what you're saying, however I do see the point in measuring intelligence. It doesn't have to be an IQ test, but that seems to be the most widely excepted method. I'd compare it to running a mile, which of course tests athleticism and endurance. I believe in making one's self better in every way, then testing yourself to see where you stand and then building on that foundation.

I see smarter people than me everyday and I'm always happy to be around them. And it seems Mensa can be a place where it is easy to meet people of the like. I don't see why surrounding oneself with people who think on a certain level can be bad as long as it doesn't lead to an extreme elitism. I have never been berated by someone saying how great they are because they belong to Mensa, so maybe that would change my mind

As far as I'm concerned, it's as elitist as any club.

I'm not saying that measuring IQ is pointless. It is a way of quantifying certain types of abilities, so measuring it and aiming to improve your IQ is in some ways useful. I just don't like the mindset promoted by an exclusive club for those with high IQ. It suggests that they are in some way better, or better company, or more interesting or stimulating than other people. If you didn't have to take a test to join, it would be a different matter. It would be a club like any other, defined by the interests and qualities of its members, who would be (as in most clubs) self-selecting. But by setting a target IQ and testing, they create an artificial standard of "intelligence" and promote the notion that this matters more than it really does. Real intelligence manifests itself in so many ways, and largely boils down to values and choices. As Forrest Gump says, "stoopid is as stoopid does".