What is genius?

[Mozart]

     I hope that I'm posting this in the right forum. What do you think genius is? What characteristics does one have to have to be considered a genius? Do you think that IQ tests are a good way to determine whether someone is a genius? I would like to know what you all think.
     

[Sadderbutwisergirl]

     I hope that I'm posting this in the right forum. What do you think genius is? What characteristics does one have to have to be considered a genius? Do you think that IQ tests are a good way to determine whether someone is a genius? I would like to know what you all think.
     

I think a person would have to have a high IQ in order to be a genius. And a genius should also have some common sense.

[Mozart]

Are you sure that there isn't more to it than that? I think it would be more complicated than that.

[Sadderbutwisergirl]

Are you sure that there isn't more to it than that? I think it would be more complicated than that.

I guess you would also have to have a very wide range of talents, too. Da Vinci certainly fit into that category. He is most famous for his artwork, but he did about a million other things as well.

[Connie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inRak4jGgmE&feature=user
The link above will take you to a 4 1/2 minute video of an autistic man.  I feel/believe he is a genius.
I do not know of any IQ test that could capture his genius.
Take Care,
Connie

[Mozart]

I just watched that video. He is a beautiful human being. I wish more people were like that.

[Sadderbutwisergirl]

I just watched that video. He is a beautiful human being. I wish more people were like that.

I envy your ability to watch this video. Could you please give a transcript of the video here? 'Cause I just found out that you can't watch Youtube videos on the school computers. I am so bummed because I thought it might give me a chance at watching some of those Youtube vdeos that you guys seem to talk about so much.

[Mozart]

I decided to transcribe the video that Connie and I were talking about above. So here goes.
The video starts in a house. There is a close up of a man named Wally lying in a bed. He has very alert eyes. Some of his written words appear on the left side of the screen.
"At a very young age I realized I had a feeling that there was a power over my reality."
"I remember wondering at that time who made the day and the night; the rain, thunder, snow; the wind, cold, heat of summer."
"I did not have any way to ask these questions because I had no way to communicate my concerns."

Then his parents start talking.

Mother: Well he's 41 years old, about two years old when he was diagnosed with autism. He was 25 when he started to use facilitated communication, and when he was 35 he was diagnosed with ALS. He's had epilepsy, grand mal epilepsy, since he was 9. I remember the game Wally and I would play where I would sit on the floor and pretend I wasn't looking at him he would circle me and when he thought I wasn't looking he would charge me and throw his arms around me. So I told the doctor that, and he said that never happened, that I was just wishing that that would happen, so right there I didn't trust him. We were told that while he didn't understand anything that was said to him, or have any feelings. And I remember one time visiting with the doctor, Wally went over and sat on his foot with his back to him, and he said to me, "See, he thinks I'm a chair."

Father: And when he started to communicate, we found out that he could read and that he had taught himself to read he says when he was about three years old. When you read some of the letters that Wally has written to family members and to his friends, it's very apparent that he has feelings and love for other people a lot deeper than what we had ever imagined. And I think his world is a lot larger than I think ours is. Part of what he wrote was that he was going to contact all of the autistic people that he knew and put out letters on the internet that the autistic people should multiply , and take over the world, and teach the rest of us what, compassion, and understanding, and acceptance is really like.

There is another close up of Wally.

Then at the left side of the screen more of his written words appear.

"My visions of immediate success with this program tease at reality as I think of armies of autistic soldiers in full battle dress, sun at their backs, charging over the horizon each day mounted atop their brightly colored hoppity balls and delighting in their sweet dessert of ginger bread as they lightly and festively bounce, like bubbles escaping from a frosty glass of orange soda pop across the emerald green pastures, fiercely establishing their superiority over those who stand in their way by gently assimilating them into the autistic culture and lifestyle by teaching them decency, love, compassion, and brotherhood."



I hope you enjoy this Sadderbutwisergirl.

[Connie]

Mozart, I just returned home from taking Adam swimming and saw your post. I haven't had a chance to read it yet but you have me "tearing up" already. For you to take the time to do this for Sadderbutwiser I feel is a beautiful act of loving kindness. You mentioned that you felt Wally (in the video) was a beautiful human being and you wished more people were like that. You see someone "like that" everytime you look into the mirror.
You've said in a past post that you can't imagine someone finding you attractive.  I can't imagine those around you NOT finding you attractive. Your wonderful.
Take Care,
Connie

[Mozart]

Thank you Connie,
     I needed to hear that. It is just going to make my day. You should see me now; I'm smiling.

[Sadderbutwisergirl]

Thanks for taking the time to do this transcript, Mozart. I think Wally has really big dreams for the world that relate to my dreams. I heard someone say that autistics are incapable of thinking about the future or past. This is in no way true. I have met plenty autistics who can think about their past and future. And being stuck in the here and now is actually a very good talent to have! There is this quote from a character from The Alchemist who says that he only thinks about the present and never about the past or future because that's when he is happiest. Personally, while I support learning from your mistakes and making plans for the future, you shouldn't be obsessed with either one. It's good that Wally is communicating about his dreams instead of just sitting around wishing for a world like that. Don't you agree?
About your thinking about no one finding you attractive, I think you're a very nice person, Mozart and anyone would be fortunate to know you.

[Mozart]

I also think it's good that he is communicating about his dreams. Thanks for the compliment. I also think that you're a nice person, and anyone would be lucky to know you as well.

[Sadderbutwisergirl]

I also think it's good that he is communicating about his dreams. Thanks for the compliment. I also think that you're a nice person, and anyone would be lucky to know you as well.

You're welcome, Mozart and thanks for your compliment. By the way, I like your selcection of avatar. Whose portrait is it?

[Mozart]

That  is a portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  Eventually I might post a picture of myself, but I'm not sure yet.

[Connie]

Mozart, What are you doing with your music?  Do you mind sharing? I am very interested.
Have a beautiful day Everyone,
Connie