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The Prodigy Puzzle
theodp writes "Once neglected, the NY Times reports that America's smartest children have become the beneficiaries of a well-organized effort to recognize their gifts and develop their talent. Programs like those offered by the Davidson Institute, run by Bob and Jan Davidson of Math and Reading Blaster fame, have sprung up to nurture the intellectual development of profoundly intelligent young people. But do we know how to identify the child whose brilliance might change the world? And do we really want to?"
You better believe it! :)
We'll know the most brilliant -- and useful -- ones if they *don't* get totally freaked after they find out the 'simulated' games were real and contact the queen.
I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
Once neglected, the NY Times reports that...
If you ask me, the Times asked for it with all that required registration crap.
Is the implication that the next Doctor Evil might be out there among the prodigy? Kill the smart ones first I say!
For the most part, I was either giving more challenging work or simply challenged myself.
;)
It's a shame those challenges didn't include English grammar.
Fuck it
I thought Professor Lucas had once and for all established that measuring midichlorian counts in the child's blood are the only true way to determine if said child is in fact a prodigy. Please see the Jedi archives for further reading on the subject.
It's a shame those challenges didn't include English grammar. ;)
Yeah, I noticed giving/given after I submitted my post. Really though, it was just an attempt to related to the average Slashdotter. Surely you can relate.
Be relentless!
True brilliance is (by definition) extraordinarily rare. Thus, it is difficult to exclude the possibility that the majority of brilliant folks we see are those with both brilliance and the ability to overcome adversity, while many other more delicate geniuses wither on the vine. My experience with life has been that whatever adversity doesn't kill me nonetheless makes me weaker. Seems to me that the guy famous for reporting the opposite experience is widely considered to have been mentally ill.