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I really wish all the best upon this boy, but I wonder what becomes of these gifted people. From time to time, we see articles like this of a gifted children.

I really wish all the best upon this boy, but I wonder what becomes of these gifted people. From time to time, we see articles like this of a gifted children. And then we never hear from them ever again. It seems to me that having a gift is not synonymous with being (moderately) successful. Am I totally biased, wrong on this notion?

Finch2192 7y ago
I have the same notions about such cases. Can anyone think of child prodigies that went on to do notable things? (not including the unabomber)
- spieglt 7y ago
  Just read this today: https://medium.com/cantors-paradise/the-unparalleled-genius-of-john-von-neumann-791bb9f42a2d https://medium.com/cantors-paradise/the-unparalleled-genius-...
arandr0x 7y ago
1. being successful and famous are not the same thing 2. being famous at an early age is probably correlated with wanting to be as far away from the public eye as possible as an adult, if any other options are there. But also, I was in one of those articles (a long time ago and am now an Old in internet time), so AMA, I guess.
elcomet 7y ago
I can think of Terry Tao which was mentioned today in another thread. He was a child genius and is now a world famous mathematician.
- louwrentius 7y ago
  One? Just one?
TrackerFF 7y ago
Terry Tao turned out well - but he's just one of many. I know one guy that finished his Bsc in math by age 17, and got accepted to Cambridge - he's a rich fund manager today. Didn't really contribute to science, but interests change with time.
codingdave 7y ago
Gifted != famous. They probably are off living their lives. Just like everyone else.
louwrentius 7y ago
People talk about 'famous' but it's not about fame. It's about being known because you were so smart you achieved something special (of value).
gridlockd 7y ago
> From time to time, we see articles like this of a gifted children. > And then we never hear from them ever again. "Child prodigy turns into well adjusted and highly regarded member of society" just isn't news. The opposite of that is news.
Rambunctious 7y ago
The number of kids featured in such articles is really a drop in the ocean. So, coming to the conclusion that 'having a gift is not synonymous with being successful' is not entirely correct. As a counter example, Zuck, Sergey Brin and Lady Gaga were identified as talented youth. They may not have been covered by the Economist when they were kids. But all of them are certainly successful in my book.

Finch2192 7y ago

I have the same notions about such cases. Can anyone think of child prodigies that went on to do notable things? (not including the unabomber)

spieglt 7y ago
Just read this today: https://medium.com/cantors-paradise/the-unparalleled-genius-of-john-von-neumann-791bb9f42a2d https://medium.com/cantors-paradise/the-unparalleled-genius-...

arandr0x 7y ago

1. being successful and famous are not the same thing 2. being famous at an early age is probably correlated with wanting to be as far away from the public eye as possible as an adult, if any other options are there. But also, I was in one of those articles (a long time ago and am now an Old in internet time), so AMA, I guess.

elcomet 7y ago

I can think of Terry Tao which was mentioned today in another thread. He was a child genius and is now a world famous mathematician.

louwrentius 7y ago
One? Just one?

TrackerFF 7y ago

Terry Tao turned out well - but he's just one of many. I know one guy that finished his Bsc in math by age 17, and got accepted to Cambridge - he's a rich fund manager today. Didn't really contribute to science, but interests change with time.

codingdave 7y ago

Gifted != famous. They probably are off living their lives. Just like everyone else.

louwrentius 7y ago

People talk about 'famous' but it's not about fame. It's about being known because you were so smart you achieved something special (of value).

gridlockd 7y ago

> From time to time, we see articles like this of a gifted children. > And then we never hear from them ever again. "Child prodigy turns into well adjusted and highly regarded member of society" just isn't news. The opposite of that is news.

Rambunctious 7y ago

The number of kids featured in such articles is really a drop in the ocean. So, coming to the conclusion that 'having a gift is not synonymous with being successful' is not entirely correct. As a counter example, Zuck, Sergey Brin and Lady Gaga were identified as talented youth. They may not have been covered by the Economist when they were kids. But all of them are certainly successful in my book.