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Why is it tough? This may be worth reflecting on [0]. [0] https://www.newadvent.org/summa/3036.htm https://www.newadvent.org/summa/3036.htm

dylan604 4y ago
Yeah, I have no problem admitting that there are people much smarter, more talented, better looking, etc than I am. The day that I assume I'm the top of whatever category is a sad sad day, as I must be the only one left.
- bluGill 4y ago
  Either that or you have narrowed the field so much that you are the only one even doing what you do. (you might sometimes have a junior to help you, who then becomes the second best in the world)
  - munk-a 4y ago
    Personally, I can claim, without a doubt, to be the world champion at writing this comment.
- markus_zhang 4y ago
  I think what really bugs me is that for some hobby I chose, there is a always someone who already achieved everything I could dream to achieve in my life. Then I figured some hobbies are better suited for my use case. For example science is better suited for me. I somehow was never bothered by the fact that some geniuses in 19th century already knew enough math/physics that I could digest in my life. Science is infinite so however much knowledge someone gained, it's zero comparing to the total amount. I guess I need that kind of comfort to commit to something. Fossil collection is also a good one because every piece I collected is MINE and unique so I don't need to compare with someone else.
  - Quekid5 4y ago
    > I somehow was never bothered by the fact that some geniuses in 19th century already knew enough math/physics that I could digest in my life. Science is infinite so however much knowledge someone gained, it's zero comparing to the total amount. I think this is important to consider. Anyone even cursorily interested in science can know (just via public information, libraries, etc.) so much more about "everything-except-very-specific-thing" than any of the 19th century geniuses who knew and understood so much about "very-specific-thing". Ofc, the geniuses are ultimately the ones responsible for the advancement of the state of the art, but... there's also a lot to appreciate for the rest of us.
    - markus_zhang 4y ago
      Yeah. I kinda feel like a medieval monk: we are all equal under God (in the case he is the Cosmos/Natural)

dylan604 4y ago

Yeah, I have no problem admitting that there are people much smarter, more talented, better looking, etc than I am. The day that I assume I'm the top of whatever category is a sad sad day, as I must be the only one left.

bluGill 4y ago
Either that or you have narrowed the field so much that you are the only one even doing what you do. (you might sometimes have a junior to help you, who then becomes the second best in the world)
- munk-a 4y ago
  Personally, I can claim, without a doubt, to be the world champion at writing this comment.
markus_zhang 4y ago
I think what really bugs me is that for some hobby I chose, there is a always someone who already achieved everything I could dream to achieve in my life. Then I figured some hobbies are better suited for my use case. For example science is better suited for me. I somehow was never bothered by the fact that some geniuses in 19th century already knew enough math/physics that I could digest in my life. Science is infinite so however much knowledge someone gained, it's zero comparing to the total amount. I guess I need that kind of comfort to commit to something. Fossil collection is also a good one because every piece I collected is MINE and unique so I don't need to compare with someone else.
- Quekid5 4y ago
  > I somehow was never bothered by the fact that some geniuses in 19th century already knew enough math/physics that I could digest in my life. Science is infinite so however much knowledge someone gained, it's zero comparing to the total amount. I think this is important to consider. Anyone even cursorily interested in science can know (just via public information, libraries, etc.) so much more about "everything-except-very-specific-thing" than any of the 19th century geniuses who knew and understood so much about "very-specific-thing". Ofc, the geniuses are ultimately the ones responsible for the advancement of the state of the art, but... there's also a lot to appreciate for the rest of us.
  - markus_zhang 4y ago
    Yeah. I kinda feel like a medieval monk: we are all equal under God (in the case he is the Cosmos/Natural)