One wonders if at least one of those Mensa members will ask themselves “What’s wrong with Detroit anyway?” Hopefully no one will get hurt. -Ed
by Tom Greenwood
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know Detroit has an image problem.
But try telling that to the 2,000 high I.Q. Mensa members (including rocket scientists) who will gather in Dearborn in July for their annual convention under the slogan: “Who’s the Genius Who Picked Detroit?”
Mensa is the oldest high I.Q. society in the world, specifically for those who score in the 98th percentile or higher on standardized intelligence tests.
The genius behind the snarky slogan is the Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau, which has been running a series of ads highlighting Detroit’s lackluster image.
“Isn’t it a wonderful ad?” said Renee Monforton, director of communications for visitdetroit.com, the slogan originator.
“These self-deprecating ads have been very effective. When you make fun of yourself you stand out from the clutter.”
Other ads the bureau has used in the past two years include: “Who in Heaven’s Name Chose Detroit?” for the Church of God in Christ convention and “AA is Bringing 50,000 Members to Detroit: I Need a Double” for Alcoholics Anonymous.
Dearborn spokeswoman Mary Laundroche said the city is happy to host the event. Mayor Dave Bing’s office had no comment on the slogan.