When to Share Your Mensa Membership
Would you bring up your Mensa membership if you were discussing IQs with friends?
Understanding Mensa and IQ Scores
It's rare for me to sit around discussing IQs with friends, and when it does happen, I don't feel the need to share my own IQ score. Anyone who can score in the top two percent or more accurately in the 98th percentile is eligible to join Mensa. However, different IQ tests produce different results. For example, if my hypothetical IQ score is 135, it would be outside the 98th percentile on the Cattell Test (92.47) but inside on the Wechsler Test (98.96). The latter qualifies for Mensa membership, while the former does not.
I might share my score within a certain percentile range during conversation, such as the 85th, 92, 98.5, 99.3, or 99.99. If someone asks if I am a member of Mensa, I would answer accordingly. Alternatively, I could simply display a Mensa bumper sticker on my car to avoid the discussion altogether, saving valuable time.
Why Not Volunteer the Information?
Discussing IQs or mentioning Mensa membership can be seen as arrogant. It's better to refute the notion that IQ equals intelligence and shift the conversation towards a more comprehensive view of intelligence. However, I would bring up my membership in Mensa only if they suspect I might be biased against the system due to a seemingly lower score.
Most Mensans do not bring up their membership in casual conversation or on their resumes. Mentioning it may come across as pretentious. This doesn't diminish the value of Mensa as a great organization with impressive members. Just as being a member of the Elks is not a topic most people bring up, being a Mensa member is not a topic that comes up frequently either.
Personal Reflections
I tend to keep quiet about such matters. If someone asks me outright about my IQ, I would be honest but unlikely to volunteer the information unless it was relevant. In my experience, the topic of IQ is rarely discussed by average people, and when it is, I participate humbly without mentioning my Mensa membership. However, given the time, I would be more than happy to promote Mensa and encourage bright individuals, especially younger ones, to apply for membership.
In the society I live in, intelligence is often underrated and undervalued. Sports prowess, entertainment skills, and rhetorical persuasion are more highly valued. However, intelligence, when used wisely, can make a tremendous positive impact on humanity and the world we live in. This is the perspective I hold.