What a Wonderful ‘WeeM!

Numbers are still forthcoming, but it looks like there were around 525 people there, not including the speakers. Everything went well and a good time was had by all. Including the volunteers. Janet Century will be stepping down as Chair and Beth Anne Demeter and I will be taking over for next year. Even before this event was over, all of the major chairs said they were willing and happy to do it again next year and several others came forward and asked to be appointed to positions.

We are also starting to make our plans for the other two gatherings we’ll be hosting next year: AGOG and BFD. Those will be smaller, of course—only 100-200 people and just two days instead of WeeM’s three and a half.

Despite the eulogies on some of the Yahoo lists, the “spirit of volunteerism” is alive and thriving in Chicago.

Kill Doctor Lucky

Today's HalloweeM chore: painting the lines on half of the canvas for a re-usable Life-Size Kill Doctor Lucky board. Why lines on just half? Because this thing is so big only half can be unrolled at a time in my garage— and it's a two and a half car space!

HalloweeM Programs

And here it is, hot off the virtual press:
HalloweeM Program Book

Bring a time-turner if you have one!

WeeM Work

I've been working like crazy preparing the program book for HalloweeM. Wow, there are some amazing presentations and activites scheduled! I may even make time to attend a few.

AFK for a few days

Real life is busy this weekend, so I'm taking a couple days off. If anyone reading this has any suggestions for topics, please leave a comment. Thanks.

Political Correctness

Every now and then I read members’ complaints about if Mensa has no opinions, then why does the Bulletin, Forums, local newsletter, etc. have the right to censor members’ contributions? Isn’t that censorship basically the editor’s or moderator’s expression of a personal value? Has Mensa become so concerned with being politically correct that it stifles intellectual debate from fear of offending someone?

“Politically correct” describes language, ideas, policies, or behavior which seeks to minimize offence to racial, cultural, or other identity groups. I can see how that would curtail free debate on many topics, and I agree with the editor of the SCAM that “political correctness has no place in Mensa.”

If controversy and edginess are good for our minds and conversations, why then does the magazine ever reject such content? Here’s my opinion: articles or ads are not rejected from publication because the content is considered by some to be offensive or politically incorrect—they’re rejected because the person with the authority to judge decided that the content is poorly written or not of significant interest to enough people to warrant the space.

There is a difference between censorship of potentially offensive ideas—and rejection of shameless self-promoting or mean-spirited crap. Good editors are expected to distinguish between the two.