The kid who taught himself latin at 3?

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Krassus

Golden Member
Jan 30, 2003
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What was his name? The kid who taught himself latin at 3? Knew every language in the world by the time he died? His father was a Polak who claimed to have taught the kid how to use a secret source of power? I read an article about this once, but lost it. Anyone?
 
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wfbberzerker

Lifer
Apr 12, 2001
10,423
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um, i dont know about knowing every language in the world... even in the guiness book of world records, the most languages someone could fluently speak was around 10, i think
 
datalink7

datalink7

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
16,765
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William James Sidis with his highest ever known IQ estimated at between 250 and 300. At eighteen months he could read The New York Times, at two he taught himself Latin, at three he learned Greek. By the time he was an adult he could speak more than forty languages and dialects. He spent most of his life wandering from one menial job to another. [Source: Boogie Jack ]
 
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gotsmack

Diamond Member
Mar 4, 2001
5,768
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but was he any good at the languages? If he was, he would have made a fortune being a translator.
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Originally posted by: iwearnosox
Iway aughttay yselfmay atinlay atway anway earlyway ageway asway ellway.
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You just add an "a" to the end, not "ay". :p
 
L

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
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Damn, what a sad story. Wonder what he could have done if he was just taken care of better.
 
zCypher

zCypher

Diamond Member
Aug 18, 2002
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Maybe he just didn't want to do anything else? Having a sky high IQ doesn't mean you have motivation or drive.

IQ does not = success necessarily!
 
datalink7

datalink7

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
16,765
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Originally posted by: zCypher
Maybe he just didn't want to do anything else? Having a sky high IQ doesn't mean you have motivation or drive.

IQ does not = success necessarily!
Click to expand...

I personally think that such high an intelligence would be a curse.

I doubt it would be possible for him to do any kind of normal job. He would be bored out of his fricking mind after 5 minutes for just about anything.
 
OREOSpeedwagon

OREOSpeedwagon

Diamond Member
May 30, 2001
8,485
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Originally posted by: zCypher
Maybe he just didn't want to do anything else? Having a sky high IQ doesn't mean you have motivation or drive.

IQ does not = success necessarily!
Click to expand...

No motivation??! I'd say it'd take a hell of a lot of motivation to learn 40 languages, thats just insane. Maybe just not motivation to actually put his mind to good use (ie making a sh!tload of money).

 
L

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
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Originally posted by: zCypher
Maybe he just didn't want to do anything else? Having a sky high IQ doesn't mean you have motivation or drive.

IQ does not = success necessarily!
Click to expand...

Did you even bother reading up on him? He went into Harvard at 9... and even got a professorship... but it was his students that was making life hell for him. Then somethign happened with his parents, and i think after that is when he just gave up.
 
B

BruceLee

Member
Sep 18, 2002
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Originally posted by: MacBaine
But did he know Klingon?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!111111111
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That's awesome. What else matters?? Seriously though that's a pretty cool thing to do. He reminds me of a younger version of myself. He's good, but with my training he could be the best.
 
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