kevinthenerd

Platinum Member
Jun 27, 2002
2,908
0
76
I used to be in Mensa. My mom thought it'd be a good thing or something. I only held my membership for a year.

I'm considering getting back into it in order to actually talk to real people who might understand me. I don't like the idea of buying friends, but seriously, I feel pretty damn lonely most of the time, even when I'm around all kinds of people. I haven't had a real geek friend since highschool, and while he's only a two hour drive away, he's changed so much that we don't get along any more. He works at Jiffy Lube and has no ambition for anything but games. His latest addiction is WoW, but he's also crazy about role playing and collectible card games (Magic, etc.). After I failed out of Saint Leo University from over-gaming, I came to the conclusion that I'm alive for life, not to waste it all on fantasy, so I've done everything in my power to avoid games since then. It sucked at first, but now that I've broken free, I've gotten myself quite a few more practical (or at least real) interests: philosophy, mathematics, astrophysics, music, engineering, computers, and, above all, CARS. God I love cars, but I can't find anybody who understands them well enough to talk about the relevance of block material or about the Eulerean buckling of a tube chasis.

I did find one guy, and to give you an idea about his intelligence, his IQ is 174. He's in a few local car clubs. He's an art major, but it seems that he can keep up with anybody on any subject. I'll have to hang out with him more, but I can't always get in touch with him.

Cliff notes: Should I restore my Mensa membership?
 

Cuda1447

Lifer
Jul 26, 2002
11,757
0
71
Some smart people are the dumbest people I know. IQ isn't everything my friend. So you are smart, learn some social skills?
 

jonessoda

Golden Member
Aug 3, 2005
1,407
1
0
While I'm qualified for Mensa, no way am I paying good money to join that snob organization. My quals speak for themselves, and if you can't find friends you can talk to you aren't trying.
 

rocadelpunk

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
5,589
1
81
I've never met one person who would know their iq off the top of their head.

you sound kind of whiney.

maybe try myspace or you know, persuing one of those interests in an academic environment if that's the type of person you're looking for.
 

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
My recommendation: Go back and finish your degree. A degree will help you realize your potential (assuming you are as bright as you say you are), and a university is the best place to find a group of intelligent people with common interests.
 

brxndxn

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2001
8,475
0
76
Mensa, despite the requirements, is full of idiots, imo.

It's like how the dumbest computer tech people are the ones that brag about having A+ certification..

 

kevinthenerd

Platinum Member
Jun 27, 2002
2,908
0
76
Originally posted by: MrChad
My recommendation: Go back and finish your degree. A degree will help you realize your potential (assuming you are as bright as you say you are), and a university is the best place to find a group of intelligent people with common interests.

I'm in school now. UCF for BSME
 

kevinthenerd

Platinum Member
Jun 27, 2002
2,908
0
76
Originally posted by: Baked
For a former Mensa member, you suck at writing.

Good writing is re-writing, and when I'm frustrated and just want to get something down, this is what you get. This ain't school.
 

kevinthenerd

Platinum Member
Jun 27, 2002
2,908
0
76
Originally posted by: MrChad
My recommendation: Go back and finish your degree. A degree will help you realize your potential (assuming you are as bright as you say you are), and a university is the best place to find a group of intelligent people with common interests.

not as easy as it sounds. What am I going to do... put up fliers? "Hey, I'm a geek who's looking for friends." I really feel weird asking people to just hang out. I haven't mastered that social skill of smoothly introducing myself. I have classmates, and I can name a couple who know and care about cars, but I just plain suck.

/whine

I know I really just need to grow up or something. Something about bitching here makes me feel better, so humor me. It's just that I've been content for so long being essentially by myself that it's been a very hard shock realizing that I have few to no close friends who really understand what I'm all about.
 

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,653
100
106
You sound like a level headed person that won't be affected by elitist snobbery that can come with some mensa members.

Ignore the idiots around here who are lost in their own insecurities and do what works for you. If its worth the money to you to give it a shot by all means absolutely do it. You already know what its like so noone knows better than someone who's been there if its worth the money.
 

SarcasticDwarf

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2001
9,574
2
76
ok, this is weird. I was talking to my mom a few minutes ago. Her sister (VP of a very large company) has an IQ about 140. According to her, my mom's IQ is higher than hers. Now, mine was tested at 119 (IIRC) when I was younger, yet I scored higher on my ACTs than my mom. Weird.
 

QED

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2005
3,428
3
0
Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
ok, this is weird. I was talking to my mom a few minutes ago. Her sister (VP of a very large company) has an IQ about 140. According to her, my mom's IQ is higher than hers. Now, mine was tested at 119 (IIRC) when I was younger, yet I scored higher on my ACTs than my mom. Weird.

Funny how that works.

It's actually a nice case study for people who occasionally exaggerate things about themselves only to find out that over the years its built into something rather absurd.

I have no doubt your Mom's sister is smart.. I have no doubt that your Mom is smart... but somehow I doubt either has an IQ over 140.
 

mrSHEiK124

Lifer
Mar 6, 2004
11,488
2
0
What the fvck is Mensa?
Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
ok, this is weird. I was talking to my mom a few minutes ago. Her sister (VP of a very large company) has an IQ about 140. According to her, my mom's IQ is higher than hers. Now, mine was tested at 119 (IIRC) when I was younger, yet I scored higher on my ACTs than my mom. Weird.
That's because statiscally, guys do better than girls on standardized tests. Something about girls being more prone to test anxiety; my middle school principal told me that. And an IQ test really is BS, the brain is so complex that some dumb test can only do so well in figuring out just how great yours is.
 

flawlssdistortn

Senior member
Sep 21, 2004
680
0
0
Originally posted by: kevinthenerd
Originally posted by: MrChad
My recommendation: Go back and finish your degree. A degree will help you realize your potential (assuming you are as bright as you say you are), and a university is the best place to find a group of intelligent people with common interests.

not as easy as it sounds. What am I going to do... put up fliers? "Hey, I'm a geek who's looking for friends." I really feel weird asking people to just hang out. I haven't mastered that social skill of smoothly introducing myself. I have classmates, and I can name a couple who know and care about cars, but I just plain suck.

/whine

I know I really just need to grow up or something. Something about bitching here makes me feel better, so humor me. It's just that I've been content for so long being essentially by myself that it's been a very hard shock realizing that I have few to no close friends who really understand what I'm all about.
Join a LUG or something. You must know what I mean considering your avatar.
 

spunkz

Golden Member
Jul 16, 2003
1,467
0
76
i'm finishing my CS degree at UCF, so i'll be around this semester if you want to meet up. not a car fanatic, but i'd be happy to come by panera or the steak escape on campus if you want to talk politics, music, philosophy, games, or whatever. i got a friend who i'm sure can keep up with you about cars, too, so i'll introduce you!
 

PowerEngineer

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2001
3,602
781
136

With all due respect to the well-rounded responders who don't feel the need to join Mensa, I suggest you give it a try. I did when I moved across country. It put me in immediate touch with a lot of very interesting people...and some real loser too. But that's true of any club you join. See what the local group is like.

Good luck!