"Misuse of the word genius" Topic

Unto every generation, precious few geniuses are born. These are people who see fundamental truths no-one yet could, and thus advance mankind. However, apparently our generations have an abundance of geniuses, all of whom have decided to work in entertainment.

Here's a guide:
Being the first to understand that the motion of celestial bodies can be described by mathematics: genius.

Being the first to pretend to be a clown from space, and proposing that the listener dance: entertaining, maybe, but not genius.

Being the first to invent an integrated circuit: genius.

Being the first to convince people that dumbing down computers was inventing them, and using that as a marketing tool: lucrative, but not genius. (And also, trying to cure cancer with acupuncture, fruit juice and magic: not even intelligent.)

Being the first to introducing depth and perspective to painting: genius.

Being the first to repeat images other people made, but in large numbers and in bright colours: a superficial statement, but not genius.

Dying doesn't make the above non-geniuses into geniuses. Because someone makes something you like or which makes life incrementally easier doesn't make them a genius.

Opinions vary…

Claiming to have invented the internet while running for political office: Not genius.

Wile E Coyote – Genius

Suuuuuper Genius

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Genius is currently classified as having an IQ of over 160. I am technically a genius. I haven't done a thing with it, because I am lazy. Einstein said genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

At least I have the inspiration, right?

Actually, opinions vary as to what constitutes a genius-level IQ. The numbers range from 135 to 160, with almost all including me, my sister, my girlfriend and, painful though it is to admit this, John the (in this sole instance) Greater.

The only pleasure I derive from this is the knowledge that the average IQ level in the state of Louisiana will drop by about 50 points when, (insert name of favorite deity here) willing, I finally leave.

LT

The Mighty FSM (with crawdads).

Was it Einstein or Thomas Edison who said genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration?

I think it was Einstein.
Edison said don't run with scissors.
It's easy to confuse the two.

The 99% perspiration quote is generally attributed to Edison. It's how he explains his success, that his working method was to evolve a theory, devise a test of that theory, often proving it wrong, then discarding that theory, and starting again with another theory.

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Einstein has many great quote, including several about working hard, but not that one.

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In the late 1970s and 1980s, I worked in Games Unlimited Limited, in Kingston-on-Thames in the UK, at the same time that "Trivial Pursuits" was launched. I lost track of the number of people who came in to buy it and asked for the "genius edition".

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