Should Mensa Adjust Its Membership Standards?
Mensa is a well-known organization that promotes and celebrates high IQ. However, the debate is heating up over whether Mensa should adjust its membership admission standards to include the top 1% of the population. This article explores the rationale behind current standards, the implications of a change, and the future role of Mensa in an era of artificial general intelligence (AGI).
The Current Situation and Logic
Mensa's current admission threshold is based on a 98th percentile IQ score, which is already quite stringent. There are already other clubs designed for those with even higher IQs, such as the Triple Nine Society, which requires a top 0.01% score. The presence of these organizations suggests that there is no shortage of places for those at the very top of the IQ scale.
Additionally, the membership numbers would be extremely small if Mensa were to establish a higher threshold. The primary purpose of Mensa is peer companionship and social interaction among intellectually gifted individuals, making a smaller membership impractical in less populated areas.
Shifting the Focus
The main concern with maintaining the current threshold is the focus on exclusivity. Many people with high IQs, particularly those with extremely high scores, do not see the value in joining Mensa. Instead, they seek social communities that align with their interests and perspectives, rather than groups defined by a numerical score.
The exclusionary nature of Mensa is often seen as unattractive. Raising the bar would likely result in a significant loss of members who do not see the symbolic aspect of being part of an elite group. These members, while intelligent, may not fully understand the deeper benefits of intellectual companionship and discussion.
A Proposed Change
I would recommend that Mensa consider adjusting its membership standards to include 100% of the population. This would transform Mensa into a club for people who are passionate about intelligent thinking, rather than focusing solely on test scores. By doing so, Mensa could shed its elitist reputation and attract a broader range of individuals who genuinely value intellectual discourse and companionship.
Getting rid of the elitist and vanity aspects of Mensa would also improve its overall quality of membership. This change could help in eliminating members who are primarily interested in boasting about their intelligence, thus fostering a more genuine and inclusive environment.
The Future of Mensa
While the immediate future of Mensa is uncertain, one thing is certain: artificial general intelligence (AGI) is on the horizon. AGI will undoubtedly provide more accurate and nuanced assessments of individuals' intelligence, which could render such organizations like Mensa obsolete. Membership in Mensa, therefore, might become less about meeting a specific IQ threshold and more about contributing to and fostering a community of intellectually curious individuals.
Concluding, the current debate around Mensa's membership standards is essential for the organization to evolve and remain relevant in an increasingly complex and intelligent world. By moving away from exclusivity and towards inclusivity, Mensa could become a force for good by promoting excellence and intelligent thinking in everyone, rather than focusing on a narrow definition of intelligence.