I associate the word genius with thinking and ideas rather than production. Which is to say, accomplishments can be ideas or new approaches (not just implementa

I associate the word genius with thinking and ideas rather than production. Which is to say, accomplishments can be ideas or new approaches (not just implementations). Wikipedia helpfully mentions "new advances in a domain of knowledge". Many people here are not be convinced that an advance has been made without an implementation, without functioning proof. Maybe you would say you can only look back later once ideas have been proven to classify someone as a genius. Not everyone is like that. For me, genius is independent of proven success. It's more a general mode of operation, a type of creativity coupled with directed effort, and you know it when you see it. I think this dichotomy of people is interesting and helpful. Maybe the people calling Bret a genius are just in the latter category, and you're in the former.