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Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

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Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#21

Post by keyboardcaper »

tomcam wrote: post #20
greazy wrote: post #11

A lot of comments and yours are heavily focusing on materialistic and financial status. While money or access to it is important to feel safe, it is not all there is to measure and compare. What about friends and family? Partners? Children? Activities? Hobbies? I scored a 2 it I noticed a lot of the questions focused on physical and alcoholic/drug abuse. I grew up in a culture/religion where none of these things exis…

For me material and financial success represent dramatically increased safety. My goal was not to live in the same kind of gang infested place I grew up in. And it means I can afford the $50k a year I pay in health insurance for first-rate medical care.

This is how gangs benefit the economy.

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#22

Post by askHN2024 »

mrangle wrote: post #13

I took the quiz, but am going to decline to give a score or other info. Maybe consider me to be qualified to comment, however. I understand "unsafe', albeit this is a little vague. But I get it. Given that, I surmise that your core resultant issue is unyielding anxiety. That's rough, and arguably the roughest. What you are likely missing is truly competent support. Which would be either a smart family member, a rare…

The co-occurrence of these conditions is an extensive area of research, there is some evidence which suggests what you’re saying, and other evidence which says the two conditions are distinct. I also read somewhere that both conditions are in fact part of a larger, underlying one. Here’s an interesting paper on the genetic profiles https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-022-01171-3

Thanks for sharing your insights, I think you’re absolutely right about the role and need for a mentor.

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#23

Post by askHN2024 »

tomcam wrote: post #19

Beaten, neglected, molested, unsafe, etc. Many family & friends died from drugs, disease, poor life choices. Read books on success & business. Moved out at 16. Taught myself programming and business. Married a hot smart fellow nerd. Got good jobs, bought a business and monetized it. Had fantastic kids. Grateful every day to not be where I woke up. Retired to a farm recently.

Sorry you had a rough start, but so glad you made it out. This is so awesome, glad to read it. Good luck to you all!

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#25

Post by hiAndrewQuinn »

ACE = 4 here, 30 years old for reference. Pretty satisfied!

My net worth is currently less than a tenth of yours, however, because to get here I took the drastic step of moving to Europe and going no contact with my immediate family for a couple of years.

I chose to focus on getting married and starting a wonderful family first, with the woman of my dreams there, before I started really stepping on the career gas pedal, and I think that was absolutely the right choice for me at the time.

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#26

Post by malux85 »

tomcam wrote: post #19

Beaten, neglected, molested, unsafe, etc. Many family & friends died from drugs, disease, poor life choices. Read books on success & business. Moved out at 16. Taught myself programming and business. Married a hot smart fellow nerd. Got good jobs, bought a business and monetized it. Had fantastic kids. Grateful every day to not be where I woke up. Retired to a farm recently.

Congrats, I’m very similar to you I’m just at the monetised it phase now, one day I hope to retire to a farm too :)

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#27

Post by EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK »

tomcam wrote: post #20
greazy wrote: post #11

A lot of comments and yours are heavily focusing on materialistic and financial status. While money or access to it is important to feel safe, it is not all there is to measure and compare. What about friends and family? Partners? Children? Activities? Hobbies? I scored a 2 it I noticed a lot of the questions focused on physical and alcoholic/drug abuse. I grew up in a culture/religion where none of these things exis…

For me material and financial success represent dramatically increased safety. My goal was not to live in the same kind of gang infested place I grew up in. And it means I can afford the $50k a year I pay in health insurance for first-rate medical care.

50k a year is a gang extortion rate.

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#29

Post by tomcam »

EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK wrote: post #27
tomcam wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me material and financial success represent dramatically increased safety. My goal was not to live in the same kind of gang infested place I grew up in. And it means I can afford the $50k a year I pay in health insurance for first-rate medical care.

50k a year is a gang extortion rate.

Very grateful I can afford it. Shitload of preexisting conditions in my family.

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#30

Post by tomcam »

malux85 wrote: post #26
tomcam wrote: post #19

Beaten, neglected, molested, unsafe, etc. Many family & friends died from drugs, disease, poor life choices. Read books on success & business. Moved out at 16. Taught myself programming and business. Married a hot smart fellow nerd. Got good jobs, bought a business and monetized it. Had fantastic kids. Grateful every day to not be where I woke up. Retired to a farm recently.

Congrats, I’m very similar to you I’m just at the monetised it phase now, one day I hope to retire to a farm too :)

Really more of a hobby farm. Was a dream of mine for 50 years before we bought it. Incredibly beautiful.

My best to you and yours. It can be done!

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