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Humanities Section => Philosophy & Rhetoric General Discussion => Topic started by: _Xenu_ on June 16, 2013, 12:11:41 AM

Title: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: _Xenu_ on June 16, 2013, 12:11:41 AM
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162- ... have-jobs/ (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57443315/why-geniuses-dont-have-jobs/)
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: Solitary on June 16, 2013, 12:53:52 AM
:cry: Unfortunately I am only unstable and a dumbass.  :shock:  But I really try harder, and harder, and harder until I have succeeded and able to live better than Kings did.


I also practiced, and practiced, and practiced, and practiced some more, to be a professional in music and graphics arts. Practice makes perfect if you are a prodigy, it only made me very very good.  Good enough in music to play at the Sherman hotel at 15, and be on exhibit In San Bernardino museum for 9 months as an illustrator.  I never played music after high school, and I never did any art work after 40. In fact I despise both now. I get bored once I reach my limits. It's been the same with everything in my life. I even got bored with drugs. What's strange, I'm happier now than I ever was, because I'm not driven.  :-D I still like to think a lot, especially about eternity and the many infinities there are.  :-k  :rolleyes:  :-?   #-o   :rolleyes:   8-)  Solitary
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: Hydra009 on June 16, 2013, 04:26:03 AM
Type 2, reporting for duty.  And I'd really like to know why the interview process is apparently looking for a gregarious, really extroverted sort of guy when the company itself is looking for a task-oriented techie.  Does not compute.
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: WitchSabrina on June 16, 2013, 07:45:29 AM
Geniuses don't have jobs because they generally *see* things differently and no normal person can handle that.  If the see-things-differently (like being quick problem solvers) doesn't show up during the job interview it certainly does quickly thereafter.
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: stromboli on June 16, 2013, 08:25:38 AM
Quote from: "WitchSabrina"Geniuses don't have jobs because they generally *see* things differently and no normal person can handle that.  If the see-things-differently (like being quick problem solvers) doesn't show up during the job interview it certainly does quickly thereafter.

^this. I worked for the DOD for 20 some years. I ended up working as a facility manager, the only job I actually enjoyed. At the end, something like six people took over the jobs I was doing. I hired on with the DOD as a welder, worked several different jobs, and ended up as a Technical Order (manual) editor. I did everything from run the coffee fund to diagnose building heating and cooling issues, to physically repairing some equipment. I was the guy that called in the repairman, changed the toner on the copy machine, directed traffic for incoming material requests and so on. The only reason I was able to do that was because my last boss knew me from previous places I had worked and knew what I could do. Only non idiot I ever worked for.

See? We're a bunch of smart ass misfits.
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: Mermaid on June 16, 2013, 08:53:24 AM
I will join this pile. I came as close to having a nervous breakdown last year as a person can get because do not fit The Corporate Mold.

It was ugly. I want to send this article to my former director.
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: WitchSabrina on June 16, 2013, 08:59:17 AM
Quote from: "stromboli"
Quote from: "WitchSabrina"Geniuses don't have jobs because they generally *see* things differently and no normal person can handle that.  If the see-things-differently (like being quick problem solvers) doesn't show up during the job interview it certainly does quickly thereafter.

^this. I worked for the DOD for 20 some years. I ended up working as a facility manager, the only job I actually enjoyed. At the end, something like six people took over the jobs I was doing. I hired on with the DOD as a welder, worked several different jobs, and ended up as a Technical Order (manual) editor. I did everything from run the coffee fund to diagnose building heating and cooling issues, to physically repairing some equipment. I was the guy that called in the repairman, changed the toner on the copy machine, directed traffic for incoming material requests and so on. The only reason I was able to do that was because my last boss knew me from previous places I had worked and knew what I could do. Only non idiot I ever worked for.

See? We're a bunch of smart ass misfits.

QFFT ^^^ !!!

And Mermaid - I've already had my nervous breakdown due to those florescent office lights and office gossip, pressure and my inability to conform.  Mine so severe- was enough for two.  I've got you covered.  Don't do it.  No office or work environment is worth it. None. I'm also proud to say I survived it and am better for it.
You simply accept at some point that you **see** things differently and you always will.  There were years I hated myself for being different; now I embrace it.  After all how dull would the world be if there were no true oddballs?
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: Mermaid on June 16, 2013, 09:09:40 AM
Quote from: "WitchSabrina"
Quote from: "stromboli"
Quote from: "WitchSabrina"Geniuses don't have jobs because they generally *see* things differently and no normal person can handle that.  If the see-things-differently (like being quick problem solvers) doesn't show up during the job interview it certainly does quickly thereafter.

^this. I worked for the DOD for 20 some years. I ended up working as a facility manager, the only job I actually enjoyed. At the end, something like six people took over the jobs I was doing. I hired on with the DOD as a welder, worked several different jobs, and ended up as a Technical Order (manual) editor. I did everything from run the coffee fund to diagnose building heating and cooling issues, to physically repairing some equipment. I was the guy that called in the repairman, changed the toner on the copy machine, directed traffic for incoming material requests and so on. The only reason I was able to do that was because my last boss knew me from previous places I had worked and knew what I could do. Only non idiot I ever worked for.

See? We're a bunch of smart ass misfits.

QFFT ^^^ !!!

And Mermaid - I've already had my nervous breakdown due to those florescent office lights and office gossip, pressure and my inability to conform.  Mine so severe- was enough for two.  I've got you covered.  Don't do it.  No office or work environment is worth it. None. I'm also proud to say I survived it and am better for it.
You simply accept at some point that you **see** things differently and you always will.  There were years I hated myself for being different; now I embrace it.  After all how dull would the world be if there were no true oddballs?

Sorry to hear that you understand.  :-|

I don't hate myself for it, it is something that I have recently learned about myself, however. I do realize that nobody else is going to give a fuck about me but me, so I have to take care of myself. Nobody else is gonna do it.

I think I am ok now, but still would not call myself a happy person with a happy work life. I am currently feeling lucky to be in a position that I can mostly tolerate. I am basically counting the days until I can retire in 15 years.

I am a very slow and deliberate thinker and I must be Left Alone or I cannot function.  I need to learn things in a certain way or I can't retain it. Once I do, however, I have superpowers. I think I am pretty talented, but for some reason I have to do things the way I need to do them or I cannot function at all.

Pair that with a stupid need to please everyone and it's a recipe for disaster.
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: Seabear on June 16, 2013, 09:19:36 AM
There are probably as many different types of genius as there are types of people. We grossly overload a single word in our language as a catch-all to describe them all.

There are mathematical geniuses, musical geniuses, social geniuses, etc. There are people who see relationships between seemingly unconnected things that most people miss.

Having the wrong type of genius in a given job might worse than having an idiot there.
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: WitchSabrina on June 16, 2013, 09:28:44 AM
Quote from: "Mermaid"Sorry to hear that you understand.  :-|

I don't hate myself for it, it is something that I have recently learned about myself, however. I do realize that nobody else is going to give a fuck about me but me, so I have to take care of myself. Nobody else is gonna do it.

I think I am ok now, but still would not call myself a happy person with a happy work life. I am currently feeling lucky to be in a position that I can mostly tolerate. I am basically counting the days until I can retire in 15 years.

I am a very slow and deliberate thinker and I must be Left Alone or I cannot function.  I need to learn things in a certain way or I can't retain it. Once I do, however, I have superpowers. I think I am pretty talented, but for some reason I have to do things the way I need to do them or I cannot function at all.

Pair that with a stupid need to please everyone and it's a recipe for disaster.


Every office job I ever had I was hated instead of loved for being a problem solver.  Go figure.

I blame my mom for that Need-To-Please-Everyone gene.  My therapist explained that I operate as though the two sides of my brain are constantly at war. I use hobbies, massage therapy and telling people (randomly) to fuck the fuck off to hold onto the little bit that is me.

(hug)

Whatever you do - find some corner of the world - some small thing - some random, doesn't matter what anyone else says or thinks thing - to call your own. Hobby, sport, doesn't matter.  Just address and learn to love your weirdness.  Only you can do that.

And I'd like to clarify that I don't think ANYthing I've described about myself is sign of genius - Don't think I am one. But my life indicates I've lived as they do.  Typically dysfunctional in ordinary circumstances.
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: Mermaid on June 16, 2013, 09:41:25 AM
Quote from: "WitchSabrina"
Quote from: "Mermaid"Sorry to hear that you understand.  :-|

I don't hate myself for it, it is something that I have recently learned about myself, however. I do realize that nobody else is going to give a fuck about me but me, so I have to take care of myself. Nobody else is gonna do it.

I think I am ok now, but still would not call myself a happy person with a happy work life. I am currently feeling lucky to be in a position that I can mostly tolerate. I am basically counting the days until I can retire in 15 years.

I am a very slow and deliberate thinker and I must be Left Alone or I cannot function.  I need to learn things in a certain way or I can't retain it. Once I do, however, I have superpowers. I think I am pretty talented, but for some reason I have to do things the way I need to do them or I cannot function at all.

Pair that with a stupid need to please everyone and it's a recipe for disaster.


Every office job I ever had I was hated instead of loved for being a problem solver.  Go figure.

I blame my mom for that Need-To-Please-Everyone gene.  My therapist explained that I operate as though the two sides of my brain are constantly at war. I use hobbies, massage therapy and telling people (randomly) to fuck the fuck off to hold onto the little bit that is me.

(hug)

Whatever you do - find some corner of the world - some small thing - some random, doesn't matter what anyone else says or thinks thing - to call your own. Hobby, sport, doesn't matter.  Just address and learn to love your weirdness.  Only you can do that.

And I'd like to clarify that I don't think ANYthing I've described about myself is sign of genius - Don't think I am one. But my life indicates I've lived as they do.  Typically dysfunctional in ordinary circumstances.

So how did you solve your corporate problem? Did you find another gig that works for you?
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: stromboli on June 16, 2013, 10:32:40 AM
I really feel for the women on this, because as a man in a traditional job, a certain amount of maverick behavior is allowed. But for women it is very much about being the smiling, supportive group think princess. My daughter is a genius. Her first corporate job she had seniority and ample experience to be promoted into a position, but was passed over for not being a Mormon and for actually pointing out issues the company had, to correct them. She's much better off now, but it took her quitting, getting a degree and moving to get there.
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: AllPurposeAtheist on June 16, 2013, 10:53:34 AM
...mumbles something about the genius of ChristianFuckBuddies.com and excuse for being unemployed..
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: Solitary on June 16, 2013, 12:34:02 PM
My heart goes out to all of you that have had so much shit happened to you. My last job the GM called me the miracle worker for solving next to impossible problems. I got employee of the month the first month working there. I was sent on special assignments all over the world. I was chastised by others for making them look bad, It seemed like everyone hated me for doing my job, even my boss, who was afraid I'd take his job away from him. It was also the reason teachers and students hated me in school when I did good on tests or corrected a teacher that was wrong. I gave up on school because I hated it, for those reasons and because it was as boring as hell (heaven?) and taught myself by reading everything I could about everything. Solitary
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: Plu on June 17, 2013, 05:31:55 AM
This is why I only work for small companies. Big companies suck, by neccesity.
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: Mermaid on June 17, 2013, 07:51:56 AM
Quote from: "Plu"This is why I only work for small companies. Big companies suck, by neccesity.
You can say that again.
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: _Xenu_ on June 17, 2013, 09:24:11 AM
Quote from: "Mermaid"
Quote from: "Plu"This is why I only work for small companies. Big companies suck, by neccesity.
You can say that again.
Did you get the PM I sent you?
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: NeoLogic26 on June 17, 2013, 04:54:30 PM
On one hand, I could see possibly everyone identifying with this article in some way, thus making it bullshit. On the other, I really identify with the type 2 "geniuses" even though I don't consider myself a genius. I am terrible on interviews, but there isn't a thing I can't learn on the job once I'm given the opportunity. I really enjoy solving problems on my own and I'm great at that, especially when it comes to technical issues. I feel like I'm wasting potential and wishing that someone would see that I can be a real asset. That is one of the most depressing realizations I've had of late.
Title: Re: Why geniuses don't have jobs
Post by: Mermaid on June 17, 2013, 07:52:04 PM
Quote from: "_Xenu_"
Quote from: "Mermaid"
Quote from: "Plu"This is why I only work for small companies. Big companies suck, by neccesity.
You can say that again.
Did you get the PM I sent you?
Are you asking me or Plu? If you are asking me, no, I didn't.