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This was the most important part of the Malcolm Gladwell book. That chapter, *Trouble With Geniuses Part 2, compares the lack of success by super genius Chris L
by austincheney 5y ago
This was the most important part of the Malcolm Gladwell book. That chapter, *Trouble With Geniuses Part 2, compares the lack of success by super genius Chris Langan to Robert Oppenheimer who graduated with honors despite attempted murder of a university faculty.
Anybody who has submitted a proposal to a standards body knows this experience. It does not matter how amazing or ingenious the idea is. The most important thing is to achieve buy in from highly skeptical people. The idea can be garbage, but if there is enough charisma and popularity associated people will eagerly polish the idea for you.
The lone genius might build that amazing thing but it takes more to achieve adoption. Originality irrationally scares the shit out of people.
- rogersbacon17 5y agoAuthor here - well said, I shared your comment below. In situations like what you describe, cultural narratives and inspirational stories matter... swinging to far toward the myth of the lone genius might have negative effects, at least on the margins