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> > I don’t think I was ever motivated by the notion of winning prizes, although I have a couple of dozen of them in the other room. Being a genius is a good t

• olau 6y ago
  Don't know if he was bragging or not, but if you have achieved something, I think it's hard to talk about yourself without someone thinking you're bragging. I once got a top grade after passing an exam where I had read one page beyond what was required (can't remember if it was by accident, or because I was curious about something - but we're talking one page). After my presentation, the examiner asked a final question. This was covered in that page, so I just had to connect two dots and could give him a little proof immediately. Very little brain activity needed. Pretty sure I couldn't have come up with a proof on the spot otherwise. I sometimes bring up that story as an example of why grading is stupid, but even though the point is how arbitrary the situation was, I can't shake off the feeling that people might think I'm bragging. I think we should cut people some slack, if we don't know their intentions.