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Not sure if I agree with this (Linus Pauling comes to mind), but speaking anecdotally, I once had breakfast with a recent winner of a MacArthur grant (the so-ca
by benbreen 12y ago
Not sure if I agree with this (Linus Pauling comes to mind), but speaking anecdotally, I once had breakfast with a recent winner of a MacArthur grant (the so-called Genius Grant) expecting to be the recipient of untold wisdom. Instead he gave me a blow by blow explanation of the delayed burial of William the Conqueror, his pet topic. Seemingly unconcerned that describing a dead king's corpse exploding wasn't great breakfast conversation.
- nocman 12y agoPerhaps he grew up on a farm. :-D That kind of discussion (and much worse) often occurs at the breakfast table on many farms without anyone ever batting an eye.
- HeyLaughingBoy 12y agoTyping this while scarfing down a burrito.... For example "hey, do you know what kind of animal that foot on the front steps is from? There's a blood trail behind it but the cats aren't very interested."
- larrys 12y agoI've read a few counter comments here which indicate I may be off in my thinking. That said I don't think your one example proves my theory wrong simply because I didn't say that someone couldn't have other interests what I believe I was trying to say is that they aren't "all over the place". The question really is "how many pet topics" do they have I guess. I would just think that that type of brain has to be more focused. I've also noticed this with Physicians as well (anecdote of course). I've told them different things and they tend to react as if "wow who would know that or think of that" type of stuff. Because my brain (and I'm not even saying this is an advantage) tends to be all over the place in what I find interesting. So maybe it's a matter of degree not an absolute that can be measured.