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>Should we feel bad for smart people because society tricks them into financial services rather than less-paid cancer research? No, we should feel ashamed that

>Should we feel bad for smart people because society tricks them into financial services rather than less-paid cancer research? No, we should feel ashamed that we've created a society where the brightest are funneled into financial services. We should feel utterly devastated that we let genius wallow in menial jobs. It is a failing of the system at every level that these people fall through the cracks and end up doing nothing with their gifts. Raw intelligence is a resource that society should work hard to 'exploit'. Sure doctors and nurses save a lot of lives and that doesn't necessarily require genius. But compared to, say, the guy who discovered the double-helix structure of DNA, their impact on humanity doesn't even come close.

gurkendoktor 14y ago
> It is a failing of the system at every level that these people fall through the cracks and end up doing nothing with their gifts. Are we speaking of different groups of people? I agree that young geniuses should be treasured and given all the freedom they need to grow. But as adults, if they take on a job in HFT and stay there, it is not falling through the cracks anymore. They're irresponsible by choice, not because a faceless society forces them to (well, in most cases). I agree about the double-helix discovery, but does anyone really need to do an IQ test to find out whether they'll be a scientist? I don't want to say "the proof is in the pudding", because there is lot of chance in science, but "the proof is in the job" comes close IMHO :)
- hackinthebochs 14y ago
  I was attempting to comment on those on both sides of the spectrum, the finance gurus, and who fall through the cracks or otherwise don't thrive in our educational system. But I don't think laying the blame solely on those who choose a lucrative path is being completely honest with ourselves. People as a whole respond to incentives, and when we give a genius every incentive possible to buck science and research in favor of finance, we as a society bear a large amount of responsibility for this choice. We must change what we value as a society first, then we'll see this trend reverse itself. Admittedly, I haven't the slightest clue how to accomplish this.

gurkendoktor 14y ago

> It is a failing of the system at every level that these people fall through the cracks and end up doing nothing with their gifts. Are we speaking of different groups of people? I agree that young geniuses should be treasured and given all the freedom they need to grow. But as adults, if they take on a job in HFT and stay there, it is not falling through the cracks anymore. They're irresponsible by choice, not because a faceless society forces them to (well, in most cases). I agree about the double-helix discovery, but does anyone really need to do an IQ test to find out whether they'll be a scientist? I don't want to say "the proof is in the pudding", because there is lot of chance in science, but "the proof is in the job" comes close IMHO :)

hackinthebochs 14y ago
I was attempting to comment on those on both sides of the spectrum, the finance gurus, and who fall through the cracks or otherwise don't thrive in our educational system. But I don't think laying the blame solely on those who choose a lucrative path is being completely honest with ourselves. People as a whole respond to incentives, and when we give a genius every incentive possible to buck science and research in favor of finance, we as a society bear a large amount of responsibility for this choice. We must change what we value as a society first, then we'll see this trend reverse itself. Admittedly, I haven't the slightest clue how to accomplish this.