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Why Do Some People Learn Faster?

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Re: Why Do Some People Learn Faster?

#61

Post by simon_weber »

WalterBright wrote: post #38
bored wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And the very best just seem to be "luckier" than the rest...

The difference between lucky people and unlucky ones is that the lucky ones were able to recognize opportunity better. I've seen some research on this, but don't have a link handy.

I prefer the idea that the lucky ones "made their own luck" by increasing luck surface area.

In this view, the lucky may not have recognized opportunity better, just created better opportunities for themselves (through hard work). Even if this notion isn't completely correct, I like how it incentivises working rather than waiting.

Re: Why Do Some People Learn Faster?

#62

Post by _delirium »

megaman821 wrote: post #53
franticpedantic wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You argue that intelligence and tenacity are more important than luck, but then it follows that since China and India have the most entrants, the only explanation for their lack of proportional success is lack of intellence and tenacity relative to Americans(I'm not saying you think this, I'm just noting it follows from your argument). I would argue luck does play a big role, and that they weren't lucky enough to be…

I didn't mean to provide an exhaustive list successful characteristics. Also it is a bit of a logical fallacy to say just because luck is not the main factor in success that being unsuccessful means you are lazy or dumb rather than unlucky. You can take the luck argument too far though. You were lucky to be born as the you that you know because there were millions of other sperm competing to fertilize your mother's e…

You can take it too far, but I think at a macro-level "luck", by which I mean random factors beyond your control, is by far the dominant factor. I do fairly well for myself, among the top 0.5% by world income, but I'm quite sure this is not because I am among the top 0.5% in world intelligence+tenacity. I like to think I'm fairly smart, especially when it comes to reading widely, in an interdisciplinary way, and making unexpected connections between different domains.

But honestly, I came pretty close to "winning" by the time I was 10 years old. I was born in one of the richest countries of the world, to well-off parents who were science/technology-minded, attending a good school district, etc. I also happen to have computer science as one of my strengths from a young age, partly due to foresighted parents who sent me to an after-school Logo program, and partly due to what feels like natural affinity. That pays well, while I could just as easily imagine being gifted in something less-lucrative, like music or history (I'm personally completely in awe of people who have perfect pitch and what seems like an innate sense of rhythm). I had to do relatively little on top of all that to succeed, at least compared to what other people would've had to do to succeed similarly. Basically had to not completely fuck it up. (And I assure you I am lazy as shit compared to a lot of people doing less well.)

Re: Why Do Some People Learn Faster?

#63

Post by mkramlich »

WalterBright wrote: post #38
bored wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And the very best just seem to be "luckier" than the rest...

The difference between lucky people and unlucky ones is that the lucky ones were able to recognize opportunity better. I've seen some research on this, but don't have a link handy.

i've come to view luck as preparation + opportunity. You can't directly make yourself "lucky" but you do have control over how much you prepare (study, practice, exercise, think, train, drill, paying attention to surroundings, planning for future, etc) and you can expose yourself to more opportunities by meeting more people, being more ambient, being social as well as analytical, watching community and industry news, etc.

ps. huge fan of Empire! thank you sir for working on that game. i think Sid Meier cited it as a design influence for Civilization as well.

Re: Why Do Some People Learn Faster?

#64

Post by jongraehl »

ohyes wrote: post #16
tpatke wrote: post #5

I think about Spolsky's post on programmer productivity quite often [1]. I think the most interesting part of the post is when he says, "The mediocre talent just never hits the high notes that the top talent hits all the time." Obviously, I wonder if I am a programmer who can hit the high notes and, if not, what it will take to get there. When I read a post like this, I try to apply it to making myself a better progr…

I think the point of this article is that it doesn't matter if you are top talent. It is detrimental to your growth think that you are. It is better to approach learning anything from a position of humility and interest rather thank thinking that you are hot shit.

Beware drawing conclusions about causes in the top decile based on averaged effects over the whole distribution. And adults based on studies of kids, etc.

But sure, it's suggestive of what you say.

Re: Why Do Some People Learn Faster?

#65

Post by aik »

drzaiusapelord wrote: post #60
paulhauggis wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Kids at that age get the language in a way that you'll never get after." This is just an excuse that will limit you. Yes, kids might learn at a faster rate, but they also don't do anything else but learn that language for years. Most people have busy lives which doesn't allow for this unless they completely immerse themselves. As an adult, you also have the advantage of understanding difficult concepts (because you'…

>This is just an excuse that will limit you. Apoligies if I am making a strawman or unfairly characterizing you, but lately I've been seeing a lot of "Get Motivated" stuff here and on reddit that is completely false. Sorry, but children do have the "language acquisition" device. I'm bilingual and learned both my languages during those golden years. My memory as a child is amazing, and I can name scene for scene the m…

Due to past research it has become accepted fact that children learn languages faster. However there has been a lot of research lately that has shown this to be false. So sorry I don't believe this is simply a motivational tool (however even so, belief that you innately don't have a particular ability often leads to self-limiting behavior).

I agree though that a language learned at childhood more easily sticks with you than one learned later in life. This makes sense for a number of reasons. However this is a completely different topic than one's ability learn a language.

Just curious -- how many years did you spend immersed in Greek? In addition, speaking Greek 5-6 times a year is great. If you changed that to 0 times a year, I can assure you that your ability to speak it would dissipate.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21128224.000-age-no-ex...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/06/050615060545.ht...

Re: Why Do Some People Learn Faster?

#66

Post by aik »

kevinalexbrown wrote: post #31
tpatke wrote: post #5

I think about Spolsky's post on programmer productivity quite often [1]. I think the most interesting part of the post is when he says, "The mediocre talent just never hits the high notes that the top talent hits all the time." Obviously, I wonder if I am a programmer who can hit the high notes and, if not, what it will take to get there. When I read a post like this, I try to apply it to making myself a better progr…

EDIT: So I got a coke and thought about this a bit. I like your point, but I feel like maybe the high-noters are high-noters precisely because they're ruthlessly self-critical and growth-minded. Ever see someone who was really good at something cringe after what you thought was an amazing performance, because they missed, e.g. the f6 in Mozart's Queen of the Night? They're better (honest?) at seeing their mistakes, a…

>>Maybe that's the natural talent?

It could partially be natural talent, however much of it is nurture. Carol Dweck has proven that the growth-mindset can be taught. Parents, friends, communities, media and school systems alike can promote "fixed" mindset thinking through various means, thus limiting learning from mistakes. It's incredible how much harm someone can do by steering someone off the growth-mindset path.

Re: Why Do Some People Learn Faster?

#68

Post by wtvanhest »

I'm going to apply this to my management style and make sure I praise people for working hard, trying hard, but not being smart, or naturally good at anything. They know they are good at stuff naturally, but for the team to be most effective, the smartest people need to work the hardest.

Re: Why Do Some People Learn Faster?

#70

Post by gitah »

espeed wrote: post #22

This is a perfect example of what Alan Kay meant when he said, "A change in perspective is worth 80 IQ points." I had this epiphany three years ago, and it has been my manifesto ever since ( http://jamesthornton.com/manifesto ).

Wow great read. I've been having similar thoughts lately and your manifesto puts my thoughts in words perfectly.

My frustration is that I want to see things in another perspectives, but I simply can't a lot of the time..

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