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How valid is studying Mensa to get a representative cross section of intelligent people? I would wager many on this site are intelligent enough to qualify for Mensa, but why would they join? Most will be sufficiently surrounded by intelligent people in their day-to-day life to be stimulated. I wouldn’t be surprised if the membership of a selective club for clever people is most sought after by people missing something from their lives.

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I can second this. I have met a few Mensans who said I should join, and I think I would qualify, but I just don't feel that interested in it (though it might be a good way to get some more community in my life). I too think people who would bother to enter Mensa probably think or feel a bit differently in a way which would affect a survey like this.

> Most will be sufficiently surrounded by intelligent people in their day-to-day life to be stimulated.

Totally independent of the discussion of Mensa, I'm somewhat sceptical of that claim.

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