Thursday, September 13, 2007

Joining the Group

Every now and then a new member complains because there’s nothing interesting to do and no one cool to do it with. Other members point out activities, but they’re turned down with disdain. When someone suggests that the new member start up whatever it is that he finds interesting, the suggestion is ignored, and if the new member does try to initiate something and gets little or no response, he throws in the towel and gripes about how resistive to change the established group is.

That really bugs me.

“Mensa” is not resistance to change, but plenty of members are. So many new, younger members come in expecting a large crowd of fascinating and available people to rush to befriend and entertain them at times, places, and methods they prefer. Dinners out? Not spontaneous enough. Elists? Too 20th Century. Newsletters? Too static and dull. Meetings? Too far to drive.

Geesh. These members have to meet people half way if they want to make friends. And they have to make a few friends before anyone will jump at the chance to spontaneously join them for coffee.

A High IQ and $52 does not buy a pre-made clique—we all have to forth a little effort to accept what we find and to create what we wish for.

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