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What makes a genius?

nationalgeographic.com

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Re: What makes a genius?

#21

Post by tinlicker »

socmag wrote: post #13

I don't downvote, even if I could. However, this comment is exceptionally rude, disrespectful and out of place here on HN. [EDIT] Specifically I don't appreciate the way you changed the narrative.

I apologize that you (or anyone else) are offended -- I didn't intend my comment to have anything to do with rape, or to imply anything.

We were discussing the definition of a "genius" and I was trying to point out a problem with the definition proposed. I feel that's perfectly in line with the "narrative".

Any number of unacceptable labels/behaviors could have been used as an example here.

Re: What makes a genius?

#22

Post by Godel_unicode »

kartan wrote: post #5
badpenny wrote: post #2

I really don't like the popular concept of "genius". It's divisive and trivialises the accomplishments and struggles of people who aren't "geniuses".

> It's divisive and trivialises the accomplishments and struggles of people who aren't "geniuses". I agree. But I will add that it also devalues the hard work of "geniuses". The concept of "geniuses" don't bring any value to anyone, except to novel writers. :)

I find this attitude particularly strange, given that I find stories about geniuses inspiring. I like to read about/talk with people who are elite in their field of endeavor, I find it amazing what they can accomplish with hard work and grit.

I do find the excuse "oh, he's a genius, I can't do that" to be annoying though, maybe that's what you're referring to?

Re: What makes a genius?

#23

Post by hackinthebochs »

kartan wrote: post #3

I think that there is a lot of revisionism in the concept of "genius". Just look at the movie "Amadeus". It looks like Mozart genius is the envy of the mediocre Salieri. In fact, Salieri was an incredible composer himself. Then you have people like John Carmack. He is a figure in the game industry. But one of the best Doom ever has been developed without him. The solitary genius creates an interesting narrative, but…

>This is for me, a more down to earth, realistic explanation.

It's called modesty. Tao is the quintessential genius. Certainly hard work is a necessary condition for works of genius, but it's not in itself a sufficient explanation.

Re: What makes a genius?

#24

Post by socmag »

tinlicker wrote: post #21
socmag wrote: post #13

I don't downvote, even if I could. However, this comment is exceptionally rude, disrespectful and out of place here on HN. [EDIT] Specifically I don't appreciate the way you changed the narrative.

I apologize that you (or anyone else) are offended -- I didn't intend my comment to have anything to do with rape, or to imply anything. We were discussing the definition of a "genius" and I was trying to point out a problem with the definition proposed. I feel that's perfectly in line with the "narrative". Any number of unacceptable labels/behaviors could have been used as an example here.

Thank you for the clarity.

I actually knew what you meant and probably the other person did as well.

It did come off a bit harsh, that was my only point and I don't think think it was offensive but it seemed like it was conflating two very different things that should have no "nearest neighbor search" with each other.

Yes, definitely agree on the last point.

What makes a genius -> My personal experience -> Rape.

Not a good flow at all :)

Re: What makes a genius?

#26

Post by coldtea »

socmag wrote: post #13

I don't downvote, even if I could. However, this comment is exceptionally rude, disrespectful and out of place here on HN. [EDIT] Specifically I don't appreciate the way you changed the narrative.

>However, this comment is exceptionally rude, disrespectful and out of place here on HN

I don't find anything "exceptionally rude, disrespectful" or out of place here" about the comment.

Except if we knee-jerk associate the mention of a word such as "rape" with an insult.

>Specifically I don't appreciate the way you changed the narrative.

The parent didn't change the narrative. They pointed an flaw in it with a crystal-clear example to make it immediately obvious.

Re: What makes a genius?

#27

Post by coldtea »

socmag wrote: post #18
nnfy wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact that you're offended does not make a comment rude. It makes a valid, interesting point, that disdain for rules can be common to genius and criminality. In fact, I think your comment is exceptionally rude and disrespectful. If you're not prepared for viewpoints to be challenged, stay out of discussions.

I'm not offended, I'm stating a fact that we were talking about what makes a genius and you decided to make it about rape and there was an implicit derision aimed at the person you replied to in addition. I'm here discussing... Carry on.

>I'm stating a fact that we were talking about what makes a genius and you decided to make it about rape

Conversations move and branch out from their starting subject. That's in the nature of conversation.

But even keeping it on the same subject, sometimes people bring an example or a metaphor from a different area to clarify something about the subject. And sometimes they try to use something obvious or universally agreed as a good or bad counterexample to drive a point home. Which is exactly what happened here.

If we talk about computing and I bring an example from baking, I don't "make it about baking" anymore than the parent "made it about rape". If anything, the parent just made a single comment that just happened to use rape, he could have used any number of similar examples, e.g. arsonists or flat earth believers or Drake fans -- you fixated on his use of the word rape.

>there was an implicit derision aimed at the person you replied to in addition.

Only an imagined one. The only thing the parent did was to aim at a gaping hole in grandparents definition. No derision towards the person itself.

Re: What makes a genius?

#28

Post by coldtea »

kartan wrote: post #3

I think that there is a lot of revisionism in the concept of "genius". Just look at the movie "Amadeus". It looks like Mozart genius is the envy of the mediocre Salieri. In fact, Salieri was an incredible composer himself. Then you have people like John Carmack. He is a figure in the game industry. But one of the best Doom ever has been developed without him. The solitary genius creates an interesting narrative, but…

>I think that there is a lot of revisionism in the concept of "genius". Just look at the movie "Amadeus". It looks like Mozart genius is the envy of the mediocre Salieri. In fact, Salieri was an incredible composer himself.

That's not a "revisionism in the concept of "genius"" -- just a misrepresentation of Salieri (at best). A revisionism in the concept of genius would involve redefining what genius itself means. And in any case, nobody really thinks of Salieri as a big a genius as Mozart, movie or not.

>Then you have people like John Carmack. He is a figure in the game industry. But one of the best Doom ever has been developed without him.

So? John Carmac being a gaming genius or not doesn't preclude other geniuses, or other people being able to do equally good work (even less so since he already laid much of the groundwork for them for 2+ decades).

>The solitary genius creates an interesting narrative, but it is just a simplification of the reality. Too much get attributed to individuals once they achieve fame.

That's true.

Re: What makes a genius?

#29

Post by [deleted] »

socmag wrote: post #13

I don't downvote, even if I could. However, this comment is exceptionally rude, disrespectful and out of place here on HN. [EDIT] Specifically I don't appreciate the way you changed the narrative.

[deleted]
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