NOVEMBER 1983 - SPACE COAST AREA MENSA - LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Oct 3, 2026

November 1983 issue of Space Coast Area Mensa centers on an editorial policy for the SCAM publication, including a reprinted joint letter that defines responsibilities of editors and distinguishes editing from censorship. The editor summarizes commentary from InterLoc and presents the policy as a framework for reasoned debate versus emotional bigotry or bias. The issue also reports local Mensa activities, including PIG SIG events, Pub Night, and upcoming November gatherings such as pot luck movie nights and themed Thanksgiving leftovers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time12 min

AccessFree to download

Letter from the Editor

Editorial policy and responsibilities

Here’s the SCAM: local events and announcements

NOVEMBER 1983 | SUN | MON | TUE | WED | THUR | FRI | SAT | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11
Pot
Luck
Pics | 12 | | 13
Photo SIG
Brunch
Bun ch | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18
SCAM
Deadline | 19 | | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25
SCAM
Mailing
Party | 26
PIG SIG | | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | | | | SPACE COAST AREA MENSA LETTER FROM THE EDITOR This issue of the SCAM wil1 deal with its editorial policy,which remains largely unwr itten,but very much in effect.There is a reprint of a joint letter from AMC Chairman HenryNoble and Past Chairmen Gabriel Werba and Charles Fallon onpage five.They express the edi torial policy of thispublication more eloquently than I can.Al though many mayfind it hard to believe,this policy has been tested in theSpace Coast Area during the past year. InterLoc is a national Mensa publication that is sent to allLocSecs,Editors,national SIG coordinators,national Mensaofficers and the American Mensa Committee.In the Octoberissue of InterLoc,Linda Kelso(InterLoc Editor)commentedon the letter mentioned above. Her ideas also eloquentlyexpress your humble editor's policies.Here is her letter: "Wel1 stated,gentlemen,and I think most Mensanswil1 strongly agree. But a word to the editors.Whilewe can,to whatever degree each of us per sonally chooses,embrace as peers those who differ in belief,wehave a legal and mor al responsibility to consider whichof these per sonal beliefs and opinions of members wepublish --render into print for posterity. In thecommunications field,it is axiomatic that whatever getsprinted automatically gains authority.Moreover,ourprinted materials,from our Bu1letin and brochures,right down to our most modest local newsletter,repre-sent Mensa to the public at large. Editors have aresponsibility to Mensa and to themselves,per sonally,to carefully distinguish between that which is simplydifferent or generally unpopular opinion,and that whichis just plain emotional bigotry or bias --and to printthe first,if they wish,but eschew the latter. "An editor's responsibility is to the local group,notthe individual member.No matter how scarce the contri-butions,the editor bears no obligation to print every-thing received. Fur ther,there is a distinction betweenediting and censorship. Editing is fact checking,gr am-mar,polishing,condensing,excerpting,and eliminatingthat which may be inaccurate,libelous or inappropriate.Censoring is just plain refusal to print something be-cause the editor doesn't agree with the writer. "Finally,the editor must distinguish between that whichdisagrees with an idea and that which attacks the idea'sadherent(s).Reasoned debate about ideas and issues hasa welcome place.Attacks,negative comments or emotionalbigotry and bias accomplish nothing." There you are. I couldn't say it any better than Linda.She has put in writing the editorial policy SCAM hasfollowed in the past,and wil1 continue to follow in thefuture. HERE S THE SCAM The PIG SIG at the at the Colosseum Pizza gathered sixteenMensans for every type of Italian food you can imagine. DonArgo,along with James Earle,were old guard members many hadnever had the pleasure of meeting. Don is beginning to planfor his annual two week vacation. He traditionally jumps onhis motorcycle and travels any interesting highway he canfind. That's what I cal1 living! And James Earle had hisletter concerning the inequity in the cost of a Mensa lifemembership,originally published in the SCAM,reprinted inthe Oc tober issue of InterLoc,the national Mensa publica-tion mentioned earlier,This is the second time that theSCAM has been quoted by InterLoc in recent mon ths. I'd liketo remind our readers that even modest Mensa publicationssuch as our own are sent to(and read by)national officersand editors. If you want your voice to be h

FAQs

What editorial policy does this issue emphasize for SCAM?

It stresses careful responsibility in deciding what to publish, distinguishing reasonable differing opinions from emotional bigotry or bias. It also defines editing as fact-checking and polishing, not censorship based on disagreement.

How does the issue describe the difference between editing and censorship?

Editing is presented as fact checking, polishing, condensing, excerpting, and removing inaccuracies or libelous or inappropriate content. Censorship is described as refusing to print something solely because the editor disagrees with the writer.

What November events are highlighted besides the editorial content?

The issue mentions Pub Night activities, Pot Luck Pics at the Cocoa Beach Drafthouse Theater, and a special PIG SIG featuring Thanksgiving leftovers hosted by Mary Anne O’Neill. It also references a return engagement to the Tea Room for gourmet brunches.

Oct 3, 2026

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