So, what's Mensa really like.
My friend Joan-who-does-not-have-an-LJ has made a great post about Mensa in her blog, BunsOfStrudel.
If you've never been to a Regional Gathering and wonder what it's like, read her post about "the last socially smelly sock at the bottom of my nerd hamper", Mensa membership!
If you've never been to a Regional Gathering and wonder what it's like, read her post about "the last socially smelly sock at the bottom of my nerd hamper", Mensa membership!
I’ve found the same kinds of things to be true, usually, when people find out that I’m a member. People definitely do get wacked out about it. The most common reaction is that people tend to not believe me and want to see proof. So I carry my membership card with me at all times in case there’s ever a debate I need to win easily (“Oh yeah?! BOOM! Mensa member!”) (Joke. I have never done and would never do that.)
Anyway, I like to keep it to myself. A lot of my friends know, and they just tease me about it, which is fine. I don’t get mad if they tell other people, really, but it’s not something I publicize myself. I’m proud of being a member, but it just tends to be so divisive for people and there’s no need for it - especially since I really don’t consider myself to be all that knowledgeable. I actually consider it kind of a fluke that I got in. So I definitely wouldn’t be one of the people in the boat discussing Proust or reciting poetry in Old English. I’d probably just be drinking beer and cracking jokes with one of the funny uncles.
I don’t fraternize at RGs or anything though, and I’m definitely curious to know about them. It seems like they would inevitably turn into pissing matches.
Reply
I actually pull my card out to lighten the mood during those awkward moments when I've done something kind of stupid, and people around me are smothering their laughter because they aren't sure whether I'm going to be goodnatured about my mistake or whether I'm embarrassed. I usually grin, show them my card and say, "Want to know what makes this moment even funnier?" And then they see it, realize I'm laughing at myself too, and they share in the joke.
The only other time I "outed" myself was when I overheard a (somewhat obnoxious) co-worker having a conversation about Mensa people with a friend; she regularly got into loud personal calls at her desk, and little anyone said could dissuade her from toning it down. One day she'd either seen a TV show or read a news article about a murderer, and the culprit apparently was in Mensa. I heard her going on at length about how MENSA people were all weird and freaky and psychotic.
A little later, she stepped away from her desk. I made a copy of my membership card, and wrote a little note on it saying that I couldn't help overhearing her talking about MENSA -- mind, I couldn't hear what she was saying, only that she was talking about it, but say, I happen to be a member, so if she was interested in hearing more, just let me know! ...I slipped the note and photocopy into her bag, and then returned to my desk.
...You know, she never asked me anything about MENSA. Funny, that.
Reply
Leave a comment