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Several decades ago (last time I took an IQ test), I had an IQ at the lower end discussed here. I am not in Mensa. I am of the opinion that I do not have any

Several decades ago (last time I took an IQ test), I had an IQ at the lower end discussed here. I am not in Mensa. I am of the opinion that I do not have any mental illnesses. And yet, I am of the opinion that statements like "everybody knows Mensans are dorks and this is a club for underachievers", subtract considerably from the persuasiveness of the article. Not that I doubt it's basic thesis that Mensa is not a random or unbiased sample of the population in question, but these are after all people who went out and joined a social club. Not necessarily the worst signifier of mental illness.

MisterBastahrd 4y ago
I don't completely disagree, but there's a difference between joining a social club because you have interests and goals in common with the other people there, and joining a club for the status it affords you. A national merit scholar will let you know about it for about how long it takes them to graduate from college (or forever if they flunk out), but most Mensans I've met are happy to let you know they're in Mensa, even if you never bring up the topic.
- weberer 4y ago
  Eh, that's not what I took away from the article. 1) People who feel dissatisfied with their lives or are from broken homes are likely to reach out and join a social club 2) People with high IQ are eligible to join MENSA The fallacy is thinking that MENSA is made up of a representative sample of group 2, but really it is made up mostly of people who fit criteria 1 AND 2. Therefore, any studies of mental health of group 2 by sampling MENSA members would be flawed since you're oversampling people from group 1.
- mod 4y ago
  How many have you met? Considering there's only 17,000 worldwide, it seems unusual to have met and spoken with more than one of them. I've never met one, and the "everyone knows" line surprised me, because I don't know the first thing about the average Mensa member.
  - giantg2 4y ago
    I know at least two Mensa members. I still wouldn't stereotype individuals based on those low numbers. I will say it seems like there's not a lot of value in being a member. And without the person bringing up their membership, there's nothing that would make one think they're in Mensa.
  - rossdavidh 4y ago
    If I have ever met a Mensa member, I am unaware of the fact, so I'd have to agree on this point.

MisterBastahrd 4y ago

I don't completely disagree, but there's a difference between joining a social club because you have interests and goals in common with the other people there, and joining a club for the status it affords you. A national merit scholar will let you know about it for about how long it takes them to graduate from college (or forever if they flunk out), but most Mensans I've met are happy to let you know they're in Mensa, even if you never bring up the topic.

weberer 4y ago
Eh, that's not what I took away from the article. 1) People who feel dissatisfied with their lives or are from broken homes are likely to reach out and join a social club 2) People with high IQ are eligible to join MENSA The fallacy is thinking that MENSA is made up of a representative sample of group 2, but really it is made up mostly of people who fit criteria 1 AND 2. Therefore, any studies of mental health of group 2 by sampling MENSA members would be flawed since you're oversampling people from group 1.
mod 4y ago
How many have you met? Considering there's only 17,000 worldwide, it seems unusual to have met and spoken with more than one of them. I've never met one, and the "everyone knows" line surprised me, because I don't know the first thing about the average Mensa member.
- giantg2 4y ago
  I know at least two Mensa members. I still wouldn't stereotype individuals based on those low numbers. I will say it seems like there's not a lot of value in being a member. And without the person bringing up their membership, there's nothing that would make one think they're in Mensa.
- rossdavidh 4y ago
  If I have ever met a Mensa member, I am unaware of the fact, so I'd have to agree on this point.