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Both geniuses and madmen pay attention to what others ignore

nautil.us

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Re: Both geniuses and madmen pay attention to what others ignore

#101

Post by sverige »

da02 wrote: post #88
sverige wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, how many times have I done this. I think it is a side-effect of growing up in a time when the idea of genius was especially promoted, and also of being raised by parents who were teachers and who thought geniuses were important. Thankfully, I have a good counterbalance of extensive readings in philosophy and theology. Now, for a real sense of loss, two days ago the grandmother of my best childhood friend died. Sh…

I would recommend Void Linux if Manjaro doesn't please you.

Thanks, I had not heard of that one. +1 for LibreSSL. Downloaded it and will try it.

Re: Both geniuses and madmen pay attention to what others ignore

#102

Post by [deleted] »

sverige wrote: post #20

Every time I read one of these articles about genius and madness, I become smug for a little while, then I get depressed because I realize that I haven't accomplished anything noteworthy, then I'm mildly reassured because occasionally my wife will spontaneously aver (contrary to all expectation) that I am a genius, then I get distracted and start chasing some ideas, then I get depressed again because, well, shit, I s…

[deleted]

Re: Both geniuses and madmen pay attention to what others ignore

#103

Post by da02 »

sverige wrote: post #94
da02 wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are some examples of why your friend is a genius? IQ or discoveries?

One is a genius of entertainment. He's on TV five times a week. TV doesn't do him justice -- he's much more interesting in person. He always knows exactly what to say in any given situation. One is a genius of memory. He memorized the entire Norton Anthology of Poetry when he was a child. (I'm not even kidding.) In college we all played a game where we would give him the first line of a poem. He would then supply the…

Do any of them have any quarks or eccentricities? What are their views of politics and economics?

Re: Both geniuses and madmen pay attention to what others ignore

#104

Post by erlehmann_ »

sverige wrote: post #20

Every time I read one of these articles about genius and madness, I become smug for a little while, then I get depressed because I realize that I haven't accomplished anything noteworthy, then I'm mildly reassured because occasionally my wife will spontaneously aver (contrary to all expectation) that I am a genius, then I get distracted and start chasing some ideas, then I get depressed again because, well, shit, I s…

> I still haven't accomplished anything that anyone but my wife knows about, and anyway these ideas I chase are very interesting but once I've figured it out, I am satisfied and don't share it with anyone, because I don't really give a shit about becoming known as a genius, if I even am (which I doubt seriously).

I propose to blog anonymously about those “interesting ideas” then. That way you can achieve something, but get none of the personal recognition you seem to want to avoid.

> Then, as a general rule, I start drinking if I have no obligations for the evening.

Please stop drinking alcohol regularly, especially when you feel depressed. It may make you feel good for a short while, but drinking alcohol regularly can result in liver failure, mental illness, and an increase in the risk of cancer, among other diseases.

Re: Both geniuses and madmen pay attention to what others ignore

#105

Post by faraggi »

alanh wrote: post #99
noir_lord wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When my GF tells me I'm really clever I just say "not really, I have a good memory and read a lot." I'm not proud of my intelligence, why would I be? (much of it) is determined by genetics and the environment you grew up in and I had little control over either of those. I also point out she is the one who speaks 3 languages fluently, has a degree in finance and qualified as a shipbroker, I just explain things really…

> I just explain things really slowly and simply to a very fast idiot for a living. Given that I have the same job as you do, this took me an embarrassing number of seconds to understand. Well said.

I don't know what he means. why 'fast idiot'?

All I come up with is you guys are lawyers?

Re: Both geniuses and madmen pay attention to what others ignore

#106

Post by arghimonmobile0 »

faraggi wrote: post #105
alanh wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I just explain things really slowly and simply to a very fast idiot for a living. Given that I have the same job as you do, this took me an embarrassing number of seconds to understand. Well said.

I don't know what he means. why 'fast idiot'? All I come up with is you guys are lawyers?

Computers are high-speed morons, according to folklore. If I had the source I'd quote it.

Re: Both geniuses and madmen pay attention to what others ignore

#107

Post by rpedroso »

faraggi wrote: post #105
alanh wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I just explain things really slowly and simply to a very fast idiot for a living. Given that I have the same job as you do, this took me an embarrassing number of seconds to understand. Well said.

I don't know what he means. why 'fast idiot'? All I come up with is you guys are lawyers?

They're programmers, the fast idiot is a computer.

Re: Both geniuses and madmen pay attention to what others ignore

#108

Post by arghimonmobile0 »

sverige wrote: post #61
mtdewcmu wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You seem to have a fixation on the idea of genius. You are susceptible to momentarily convincing yourself​ that you're a genius, which is followed by feelings of inadequacy. Why don't you try to put this genius idea out of your head? Convince yourself that you are probably not a genius, but that's ok because you do your best. You may have to grieve for a bit as the loss of your genius fantasy sinks in. If you feel a…

Oh, how many times have I done this. I think it is a side-effect of growing up in a time when the idea of genius was especially promoted, and also of being raised by parents who were teachers and who thought geniuses were important. Thankfully, I have a good counterbalance of extensive readings in philosophy and theology. Now, for a real sense of loss, two days ago the grandmother of my best childhood friend died. Sh…

I don't have anything constructive to say, except that you sound like a quite special and definitely very perceptive person. It is random meetings in meatspace with people like you seem to be (I am likely projecting, but near with me) that light up my life. That is no recognition in a public sense, and perhaps not bona fide genius either, but I'm sure that you contribute more than you realise to more people's experience than you realise.

But perhaps it's just me rambling on a Saturday night.

Re: Both geniuses and madmen pay attention to what others ignore

#109

Post by funthree »

Please quit judging upward. How many thousands of years have geniuses been hounded by those with smaller brains? How many great sorcerers, magicians, electricians and plumbers have been lost because of this thing where people think they have the right to speak confidently and negatively of men who are of higher caliber?

Maybe geniuses are kooky because of how outnumbered they are by irrational people? Or something else like that.

Re: Both geniuses and madmen pay attention to what others ignore

#110

Post by sverige »

erlehmann_ wrote: post #104
sverige wrote: post #20

Every time I read one of these articles about genius and madness, I become smug for a little while, then I get depressed because I realize that I haven't accomplished anything noteworthy, then I'm mildly reassured because occasionally my wife will spontaneously aver (contrary to all expectation) that I am a genius, then I get distracted and start chasing some ideas, then I get depressed again because, well, shit, I s…

> I still haven't accomplished anything that anyone but my wife knows about, and anyway these ideas I chase are very interesting but once I've figured it out, I am satisfied and don't share it with anyone, because I don't really give a shit about becoming known as a genius, if I even am (which I doubt seriously). I propose to blog anonymously about those “interesting ideas” then. That way you can achieve something, b…

Haha, I do blog anonymously! Raoul Xemblinosky and the spiders are the only ones that have found it. (If you don't know Raoul, you could google it, but I have no idea what it will show these days. Google keeps changing the reality of Internet history according to some unknown algorithm.)

I only drink alcohol very occasionally, and not compulsively. It is quite different than it was when I was compulsive decades ago. I have been to literally thousands of AA meetings, but have abandoned that philosophy as incomplete and disingenuous. (See the Orange Papers if you understand the previous sentence and are curious.) I sincerely appreciate your concern.

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