I was always told I was "extremely smart," often as a prelude to saying something
negative about me. ("Smart but..." and what follows is generally a projection of envy.)
I am still kept up at night remembering a professional (by which I mean unprofessional)
encounter, where I was told that "your intelligence is your greatest curse." The one who
said that to me has made good on the "curse" part. His commentary about me has
wrought lasting damage.
But---in that dark, painful moment of legalized teasing---what else could I do but stare
back blankly, and keep on being myself?
For years, I had graduate school to keep me occupied. From that pool of people, I
found friends whom I still value highly; friends who, even in the environs of Hyde Park or
the country's leading music school, stood out for sheer intelligence and original thought.
I've addressed the issue of IQ on my blog. For the time being, I've chosen to take those
postings private. Believe it or not, I have received hate mail (from my beloved collegial
homeland of New York City) in response. This is a very common response, borne of
envy and insecurity, toward people who are neurologically non-mainstream...especially
by poseurs, who sadly abound in the arts.
No apologies will ever be offered here, but I do prefer to block vindictive persons out of
my life whenever possible.
Finally, "degreed out" and badly in need of mental stimulation, I took the Mensa
Admission Test---a reputable test, supervised by a psychologist and administered by a
certified Proctor---in September 2008. The results were consistent with all past test
results of my life. The Mensa cutoff is two percent, a mark I am in no position to miss.
There are smaller groups out there, with stricter admission requirements. Some of
these, also, employ questionable examinations, or lack a consistent track record of
fellowship or productivity. Some of them are little more than a listing of names---often,
of the people who passed their test, which is little more than a set of "brain-teasers"
rather than a valid psychometric instrument. I'm not reaching out to any of these.
God makes you as smart as you are; as He makes you gay or straight, male or female.
You have no say in the matter, and there's no use getting upset about your results or
someone else's. Be who you are. And a club is never a total solution.
If you're curious to know more---if you can relate to anything I've said---click the Mensa
logo below and have a look around. It might not be as intense as the University of
Chicago, but it'll certainly beat doodling during Sister Janet's math class!
negative about me. ("Smart but..." and what follows is generally a projection of envy.)
I am still kept up at night remembering a professional (by which I mean unprofessional)
encounter, where I was told that "your intelligence is your greatest curse." The one who
said that to me has made good on the "curse" part. His commentary about me has
wrought lasting damage.
But---in that dark, painful moment of legalized teasing---what else could I do but stare
back blankly, and keep on being myself?
For years, I had graduate school to keep me occupied. From that pool of people, I
found friends whom I still value highly; friends who, even in the environs of Hyde Park or
the country's leading music school, stood out for sheer intelligence and original thought.
I've addressed the issue of IQ on my blog. For the time being, I've chosen to take those
postings private. Believe it or not, I have received hate mail (from my beloved collegial
homeland of New York City) in response. This is a very common response, borne of
envy and insecurity, toward people who are neurologically non-mainstream...especially
by poseurs, who sadly abound in the arts.
No apologies will ever be offered here, but I do prefer to block vindictive persons out of
my life whenever possible.
Finally, "degreed out" and badly in need of mental stimulation, I took the Mensa
Admission Test---a reputable test, supervised by a psychologist and administered by a
certified Proctor---in September 2008. The results were consistent with all past test
results of my life. The Mensa cutoff is two percent, a mark I am in no position to miss.
There are smaller groups out there, with stricter admission requirements. Some of
these, also, employ questionable examinations, or lack a consistent track record of
fellowship or productivity. Some of them are little more than a listing of names---often,
of the people who passed their test, which is little more than a set of "brain-teasers"
rather than a valid psychometric instrument. I'm not reaching out to any of these.
God makes you as smart as you are; as He makes you gay or straight, male or female.
You have no say in the matter, and there's no use getting upset about your results or
someone else's. Be who you are. And a club is never a total solution.
If you're curious to know more---if you can relate to anything I've said---click the Mensa
logo below and have a look around. It might not be as intense as the University of
Chicago, but it'll certainly beat doodling during Sister Janet's math class!
Since joining Mensa, I've appreciated the
opportunity to publish in the national
newsletter and in the newsletter of my Local
Group. I look forward to further participation.
No organization is perfect; and so far,
honestly, no organization has ever offered
me so much collective (and productive) IQ
as the C-Shop (in Hutch Commons at the U.
of Chicago--a kind of mental Mecca in my
mind's mappemunde).
But I'm staying in the game, as I tend to do!
opportunity to publish in the national
newsletter and in the newsletter of my Local
Group. I look forward to further participation.
No organization is perfect; and so far,
honestly, no organization has ever offered
me so much collective (and productive) IQ
as the C-Shop (in Hutch Commons at the U.
of Chicago--a kind of mental Mecca in my
mind's mappemunde).
But I'm staying in the game, as I tend to do!
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