I wish I was this smart

[gopunk]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-einsteins10.html

dayam.. i don't even know what poset games are

 

[Jfur]

you will notice these people almost always have uber-parents (who undoubtedly help with the actual project) as well as provide lifetime encouragement and opportunity

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: axiom

Originally posted by: Jfur
you will notice these people almost always have uber-parents (who undoubtedly help with the actual project) as well as provide lifetime encouragement and opportunity

I doubt the parents were behind the project. Yes, they were probably behind the encouragement in the project, but the desires of the student were the ultimate driver in winning the scholarship. $100,000 is a sweet ass prize. Univ. of Chicago is an excellent school.

True, but my point is EVERY one of the winners of these major prize competitions I've seen has been the child of a prominent engineer or professor. If one was not raised in such a priveleged fashion, it's hardly worth comparing oneself to these kids. They are not necessarily smarter -- they just got a head start on him.

 

[tcsenter]

you will notice these people almost always have uber-parents (who undoubtedly help with the actual project) as well as provide lifetime encouragement and opportunity

haha, you mean like:

"Byrnes, whose father, Jonathan, teaches at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology..."

But of course! All the super brainic kids I went to high school with were children of math or science teachers who probably had them learning the periodic table at age 3. The smartest kid in our class was also a pretty good athlete (basketball and football) and competitive shooter (skeet and traps). Come to think of it, he was good at EVERYTHING - damned him! haha

His father was a math and physics teacher.

 

[tcsenter]

If one was not raised in such a priveleged fashion, it's hardly worth comparing oneself to these kids. They are not necessarily smarter -- they just got a head start on him.

Nor were they necessarily "privileged", in the socioeconomic sense. Teachers at my school didn't make much at the time. Most of them took a job during summer break to pay the bills. My father worked hourly in the auto industry and probably pulled-down 50% more than a teacher in our school with similar length of service.

Money has little to do with it. I'm fairly certain a math or physics teacher could produce an academically gifted child with little more than lots of pencils, paper, and a few old textbooks. Costs = minimal.

Which underscores the fundamental error in thinking that the key to education is 'money'. Its not, the key to education is a stable home, supportive parents, and surrounding community which values education (i.e. "culture"). Money can't buy that.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: Jfur

Originally posted by: axiom

Originally posted by: Jfur
you will notice these people almost always have uber-parents (who undoubtedly help with the actual project) as well as provide lifetime encouragement and opportunity

I doubt the parents were behind the project. Yes, they were probably behind the encouragement in the project, but the desires of the student were the ultimate driver in winning the scholarship. $100,000 is a sweet ass prize. Univ. of Chicago is an excellent school.

True, but my point is EVERY one of the winners of these major prize competitions I've seen has been the child of a prominent engineer or professor. If one was not raised in such a priveleged fashion, it's hardly worth comparing oneself to these kids. They are not necessarily smarter -- they just got a head start on him.

i agree with you in that the parents play a really large role... but regardless of how he got to be smarter, he is smarter...

and besides, the guy proved a theorem that many professional mathematicians couldn't prove (this was in a different article). i think at the age of 18, that indicates a little more than just parents... i think he was given a little extra oomph by nature.

actually, more than anything, i wish i had the booklust that smart people have. i really enjoy reading and learning, but i don't think i enjoy it to the point where that is my entire life. which seems to be a common trait in super smart people... i mean sure, einstein played the violin (albeit horribly), but it seems to me that geniuses all seem to have a much more focused range of activities in life.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I don't care much for the kids that are too smart. They always say smart things that make me sound dum. I don't kare for them cuz they're mean to me and the smart kids with glasses always beat me up at recess.

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
I don't care much for the kids that are too smart. They always say smart things that make me sound dum. I don't kare for them cuz they're mean to me and the smart kids with glasses always beat me up at recess.

you should throw the dodgeball at their head

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: Jfur

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
I don't care much for the kids that are too smart. They always say smart things that make me sound dum. I don't kare for them cuz they're mean to me and the smart kids with glasses always beat me up at recess.

you should throw the dodgeball at their head

I'm not very athletic... I think they'd just beat me up again if I tried.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

If one was not raised in such a priveleged fashion, it's hardly worth comparing oneself to these kids. They are not necessarily smarter -- they just got a head start on him.

Nor were they necessarily "privileged", in the socioeconomic sense. Teachers at my school didn't make much at the time. Most of them took a job during summer break to pay the bills. My father worked hourly in the auto industry and probably pulled-down 50% more than a teacher in our school with similar length of service.

Money has little to do with it. I'm fairly certain a math or physics teacher could produce an academically gifted child with little more than lots of pencils, paper, and a few old textbooks. Costs = minimal.

Which underscores the fundamental error in thinking that the key to education is 'money'. Its not, the key to education is a stable home, supportive parents, and surrounding community which values education (i.e. "culture"). Money can't buy that.

I agree with all of what you said, but remember this kid's father teaches at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; I suspect he gets paid a good deal more than some others.

But, money matters aside, and I'm not saying that their parents had a lot to do with these projects - but it's always nice when you get stuck with something you don't understand and can go to mommy or daddy and have them explain it to you.

Neither of my parents are science freaks, though I could probably learn more than I ever wanted to know about accouting, tax codes, etc. from my dad if I wanted to. Needless to say, I'm not that good in science, though it is funny at times ("this is a video of male gametes at 400X magnification..." ).