Which comes first, Genius or Insanity?

[stormbv]

We've all heard the cliche, "There's a fine line between genius and insanity." With that in mind, do geniuses become "mentally ill" because they are so wicked smart, or do the "mentally ill" become geniuses because they see the world in relation to their personal afflictions? Isn't it possible that there's a fine line between insanity and genius?

And why does Mental Illness have a social "stigma"? Something isn't right with this picture...

 

[PaperclipGod]

Originally posted by: stormbv
We've all heard the cliche, "There's a fine line between genius and insanity." With that in mind, do geniuses become "mentally ill" because they are so wicked smart, or do the "mentally ill" become geniuses because they see the world in relation to their personal afflictions? Isn't it possible that there's a fine line between insanity and genius?

And why does Mental Illness have a social "stigma"? Something isn't right with this picture...

I say genius to insanity.

They feel trapped in a world that can't see things as they do, and get whacked out.

 

[stormbv]

Originally posted by: PaperclipGod

Originally posted by: stormbv
We've all heard the cliche, "There's a fine line between genius and insanity." With that in mind, do geniuses become "mentally ill" because they are so wicked smart, or do the "mentally ill" become geniuses because they see the world in relation to their personal afflictions? Isn't it possible that there's a fine line between insanity and genius?

And why does Mental Illness have a social "stigma"? Something isn't right with this picture...

I say genius to insanity.

They feel trapped in a world that can't see things as they do, and get whacked out.

Yep...as long as we label them insane, they're insane, huh?

 

[Willoughbyva]

Maybe there isn't a clear line to indicate insanity/genius. I would think that there might be shades of both or one or the other or something indescribable. It isn't a black and white issue, there are varying degrees maybe?

 

[Mavrick]

Geniuses get insane because nobody understand them, thus, they become solitary and introvert and lose touch with reality. So I say genius comes before insanity.

 

[Alchemist99]

True Genius potential is genetic so there in lies your answer, but i honestly believe that the reasons a genius is more prone to insanity is because his brain is not wired or developed in a balanced way, one part of the brain is over developed therefore creating a general state of imbalance, secondly what keeps us sane is not so much IQ as it is EQ.
also many real genius tend to isolate and obsess two unhealthy habits. add drugs to the mix presto you have madness!

 

[Willoughbyva]

How would you determine genetically if someone was a genius? I also tend to think that genius may be in one area and the person might not be well rounded. At least for something like autism, but I don't really know any genius folks in real life so I have no experience to go upon. I wish I had studied more psychology. I find stuff like this really interesting.

 

[Siddhartha]

Geniuses and truly creative people in general are by definition very different in how they perceive, interact, and approach everything. So I think saying these people are insane has more to do with how functional they are in their environments.

 

[nan0bug]

We're not productive anymore, nobody makes anything anymore, its all automated
WHAT ARE WE FOR THEN
WE'RE CONSUMERS
eh okay, okay, buy a lot of stuff you're a good citizen
but if you don't buy a lot of stuff? if you dont? what are you then I ask??? WHAT?
MENTALLY ILL
FACT JIM FACT
If you dont buy things, toilet paper, new cars, computerized blenders, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SEXUAL DEVICES, stereo systems with brain implanted headphones, screwdrivers with miniature built in radar devices, voice activated computers!@##

eh, nevermind...