Drawing inspiration from the warning labels that now appear on cigarette packages in Canada and the U.S., I am wondering if we should consider a similar word of caution for the benefit of Mensa's publicity posters and quite possibly those members about to overdose on positive thinking.
Warning to Literates Beyond the 98th percentile: illiterates are 4 times more likely to graduate from university; 9 times more likely to graduate from high school, and 18.5 times more likely to be hired or promoted in the business world.
During the past year I have encountered several literacy surveys in print. Something like 37% of the general population, 18% of high school graduates and 8% of university graduates are reported to be functionally illiterate. In other words, illiterates are 18.5 times as likely to be hired or promoted in business, 9 times as likely to graduate from high school and 4 times as likely to graduate from university as the most literate 2% of the population.
The most intelligent or literate 2% is less successful than the 3% known as morons,idiots and imbeciles. There may be some benefit in realizing that the stereotypes and role models we have thrown at us from childhood are those of a normal person who is scarcely more literate than a ten-year-old child. Indeed, "intelligence" as a concept is suspect. Do you really believe that everyone who reads well has been born mentally gifted?
If participation in happy socials, glossy publications, and first order conventions is less than it could be, there could be reason for it.
If our losers outnumber our winners, something positive is bound to come from being more aware and tolerant of it.
And I'm thinking that mankind would benefit considerably in learning that intelligence or literacy beyond the 98th percentile is virtually the same thing.

This item by George Noviss was printed in MC2 May 1992

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