Mensa, curse and blessing

I found this board using the keywords, Mensa forums. Apparently the geniuses are lacking in their online social credentials these days, so there was no real representative venue to choose from, at least none that showed up prominently on the search engines. Yes, this place showed up right at the top of the list.

I clicked on in and to my delight, I noticed we have a wide array of topics and sections to dive into, finally a place that wouldn't bore the crap out of this curious mind. I'm happy not to have pissed everybody off, being able to bounce from entirely different topics, subject matter, and in general, being competent within all of them. In the past, I've faced a lot of resentment from outsiders due to that. I also enjoy the fact, we have a mixture of flavor's and cultures, and this combo, in particular with our joint efforts between the UK and the USA, really helps lighten things up and this clearly shows a unique angle along how much we compliment each other.

In the past, I've noticed some definite blessings being able to just figure stuff out on the fly, with little to no effort. I don't look at these elements as being part of ego, or self absorption as much as it's just another puzzle and not much more then that. At the same time, it's a curse, you have no idea how frustrating it is when you are forced to be subordinate to individuals and institutions that clearly don't get it, and you observe them going head on into a major train wreck, dragging you right along with them, all due to their utter stupidity. I even avoid going to certain places to make purchases because the person behind the counter is so stupid, it's an insult just tolerating them in the first place. I know, the latter sounds arrogant, but everybody feels the same, ordering something from a drive through you have to repeat 5-6 times before they get it for example....

I look back through history, seeing the greats accomplish tremendous tasks, way, way ahead of their time, and clearly can relate to their frustration, knowing full well, they were in their own world, separate from the rest of their fellow man, striving forward with the only benchmark being one they themselves set.

My own particular expertise is within engineering, not being a human spell checker, not having a built in calculator to solve difficult equations on the spot. I figure out how things work, I innovate what ever I need to on the fly, and on my feet as needed, and the only limits I face are within my own budget and imagination. This is great when I have to do impossible things, it's also bad being forced to limit what I do within the context of the tools and materials we have on hand. As an artist, I'm into the process, not the end result as much, and in fact, once I've mastered something, I will get bored with it and move on, and actually get a little depressed in the process, for I have to now find something new to figure out, that the process is over, and I loath running out of stuff to challenge my mind, for the fun is over.

Anyway, this is a rant of sorts, it's also an invitation to others that feel the same who want to join in. This little thread can and should cover anything and everything, bring it on, and let's chat people.

My venue has been the study of the human psyche,which although studied is not an exacting science. It's been my frustration while teaching the titled- Socially and Emotionally Gifted Adolescents; to find tools and teachers who had the patience and skills to help the brilliant. I often felt that these students would not have had an emotional problem (in many cases) had they not had the exasperation of being so quick to understand anything thrown their way. The schools and teachers were ill prepared to challenge their minds. My situation ended sadly,( which won't be discussed here) with people unwilling to deal with the diverse needs. You speak of having the needed tools; my students had the mental gifts but not the mental acumen to use them. This may be a bit different than what you're speaking of, but it all boils down to the frustrations of the human mind.
Somedays I just want to say to someone who still depends on a machine to make change: "Look you moron you owe me 62 cents." Can you tell what kind of genius just waited on me. I sound terrible, but am tired of this also.
Excuse my little rant, I've been doing that.If Da Vinci didn't get bored often, we never would have had his diverse work. Is it boredom, or need of another challenge? Great thread.

Thanks for the input readsalot, it's funny you mention Da Vinci, he is one that has inspired me in the past. All of his inventions so far ahead of their time, and many never made it off of the drawing board because the materials on hand were too crude to make happen.

I was a D average student, except for one year where I gave in and actually did the mindless daily work, where it was all A's. I know exactly what you mean along not being challenged. I used to sit in class, drawing in the back of it, listening to the lectures and Ace the tests, yet ignoring the rest, for it wasn't necessary. Looking back, if the GED was available by the time I was 12, and I knew the frustration I'd be facing during the rest of the school years, I would have just taken it and went on to college. We should recognize these gifted children that are largely left to obscurity within the academic circles, sadly we don't.

I'd see this with my brother all of the time, he's a genius, but he never studied. Today he says, "I could have done so much more." He's successful because the work ethic in my family is way up there. I'm no dolt, but I got As more out of competition: he was solo chair in band, I had to be. I guess it was the challenge with me; so I truly understand that need. You could study Da Vinci until the end of time, and still not finish learning. What frustration he must have faced. Thanks for this chat.
My son was asked to join Mensa when he was 7, I wanted a well rounded child and said no; he was challenged, he didn't need Mensa. There are at least nine teachers in my family, if that answers, how?

I hear you on the lead chair. I did so with the trumpet, and I thought it was fun to ad lib all of my solo's, even during contests. I grew up with a good friend of mine that had a rather privileged family who spared no expense for private tutoring. We too used to be in constant competition, on the horn or anything else for that matter.

It's probably just a well you didn't let them place your son in a special needs class, I often find myself butting heads with people that have a much more extensive formal education. The reason why I'm saying this, is that in too many cases you are told things are rigid, never changing, and not to challenge what you are being taught. Yet in all cases, radical advancements are always formed by those that dismiss all of it and remain free thinkers. It's so necessary to dream, and even more so, not setting restrictions in that area and this includes stuff that clearly goes against the grain such as perpetual motion, for even falling short, you do tend to come up with some pretty cool, original stuff.

What are you exposing him to on your own? My mother used to give me books that dealt with metaphysics, it was good and it was bad, for there was plenty of garbage I had to unlearn, but in other areas, they have given me some decent insight into the human condition.

Sorry, I shifted into musician mode and I've been having a bit of a temper tantrum as you may have seen. The genuine me likes this type of intelligent conversation; most musicians aren't into art and literature, although I am so that's too stereotypical. My mother was a professional artist, the kid could draw Garfield better than an adult when he was three; so he had years of AP art. My dad was a retired Army Colonel and mechanical engineer. He was with the corp of engineers in WW II. They were the ones who really made it safe for the others to come in. My son was exposed to all of that. Around our home the walls are being held up by books, I can't get enough. He's picked up that habit from my mom and me. As I said there are 9 teachers in the family :reading specialist, Latin and panish teachers. My aunt married a man from Madrid, he was exposed to the Spanish language and culture extensively. My grandmother was from Luca, Italy and he was exposed to that culture. The rest of me is English and Welsh. The music that comes out of a Welsh church is like no other. He played the clarinet for 8 yrs. and sang in choirs for twelve. We travelled extensively, and with family in Baltimore and Washington, he had all of that. I had trouble getting him out of the Smithsonian. He's 29 now, and I believe that we did a pretty good job. He was also an alstar baseball player with the travelling team, and bowled in a league. He's well employed, well rounded and if I sound proud , excuse me, I am. He's humble, but about him I won't be. I got on a roll, but you asked. It did more for him than Mensa. Thanks, it reminded me of what's really important.

Being a genius can be a pain...really!