Would anyone here (not you Threaded) actually join Mensa?

[darmstadt]

I used to go to the Mensa at Frankfurt University to get cheap lunch and saw a great band from Catalan supporting Leaterhead there once. Didn't understand a bloomin' word, mind you, nor did anyone else

[Fungus]

As my old A-level physics teacher said:

People who are in Mensa (or have a high "IQ") are good at passing Mensa (or other IQ) tests. In actuality its a very crap method for determining how intelligent someone is.

Quite. It only measures a limited range of skills.

I recall that 20 years ago when I graduated, I went to several interviews with big companies such as Shell, and it was all the rage to spend a day or more testing a candidate. One company gave me a programming aptitude test and concluded from the results that I was not suited to programming. Odd then that I have worked for some of the biggest names in telecoms fixing bugs that have been present for years and which no-one else could locate, re-architecting and rewriting code to make it work, and producing new code. Maybe an aptitude for programming is a hindrance to producing stable efficient bug free code.

Between 15 and 20 years ago I went on several week long courses designed to given someone a feel for business. So for example you had to work in a team and design and make a simple product using basic materials. I got a big pat on the back from several course organisers as did the worst manager I've ever dealt with. They were total bollux. Unrealistic. No politics. Bollux. Did I say they were bollux?

To be honest I think that these things are self serving industries. Some expert comes along with the latest fad, be it Mensa or a programming aptitude test, and people accept without question that the test measures what it is said to measure. The person who benefits most is the expert.

[Spacecadet]

One company gave me a programming aptitude test

I had one of those for my first IT job - thats how I got into IT in the first place. Beat some wanky phd type to the job too

[sasguru]

You're all thick. I have a high IQ and use it effectively ....hic ...

[wendigo100]

Yes, but do you put it on your CV?

No.

I guess doing well in IQ tests shows potential for some types of work, or when taking on trainees, but in most cases employers look at experience and past performance, especially when taking on contractors.

[jenever]

M y
E go
N eeds
S ome
A ttention

nuff said

[Clog II The Avenger]

Mensa

I though that Mensa was for dyslexic women with heavy periods.

[wendigo100]

I though that Mensa was for dyslexic women with heavy periods.

No, that's MPT.

[Spacecadet]

I'm sure thats Carlisle station

(Before anyone says anything, I'm from Carlisle, I don't have a working knowledge of every station in the country)

[wendigo100]

MPT = PMT to dyslexics