Life Being good at stuff - Page 3

**Rain Man** · 02-09-2015, 04:06 PM

Would you rather

a) be really, really good at one thing with an immense natural talent (top 0.001 percent), but below average in everything else

or

b) be in the top 5 percent of almost everything, but not in the top 1 percent of anything?

If you pick Option a, what would your desired skill be?

Poll forthcoming. But then you probably already knew that.

keg in kc · 02-09-2015, 04:26 PM

I'm 95th percentile in slacking. But that's about it.

ThaVirus · 02-09-2015, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I think it's everything in this context.

You're a person who can play the violin like a virtuoso, but you're below average in looks, intelligence, weightlifting, ability to distinguish Dr. Pepper from Pibb Extra, and so on.

However, "below average" doesn't necessarily mean terrible. 49 percent of the population is below average and still gets along quite well.

This is a game changer.

I'd be in the top 5% of everything.

If I'm more intelligent and skilled than 95% of the population Id have to believe I could finagle a decent wage out of it. Everything else would just be icing on the cake.

Katipan · 02-09-2015, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

being top 1% in computer skills would be apropos during this point of human development

imagine if you could program/hack/build/fix virtually anything computer related at an amazing world class level

computer savant

I think of what below average communication skills look like.

Build great computers, have a tiny penis, be unable to hold meaningful conversations, and lose most things you attempt.

But helluva computer. Lots of money. And thats cool I guess.

**Rain Man** · 02-09-2015, 04:31 PM

The genesis of my question is that I suspect that being in the top 0.001 percent is a guaranteed good career if your skill is marketable at all. Whether it's flying an airplane or doing math or playing a trumpet, I bet you could earn a living. However, as I think about it, it still may not be enough in some cases to to be world class. If there are roughly 400 NBA players, you almost have to be 1 in a million to make an NBA roster. That's rarified air. So maybe you wont' get uber-rich depending on what the skill is, but you'll succeed in that field, most likely. And on the bottom end I'll assume that you're functional but unspectacular, which is true for most people in most things.

Being in the top 5 percent but not the top 1 percent guarantees that you'll be good at a lot of stuff, but never elite. You'll routinely run into someone better than you at anything, but you'll still be in the top tier in your everyday life and I would think you would be in demand. Plus, you'll have more flexibility to do different things, which I would think could lead to more happiness. But at the same time, you'll seldom seize the brass ring at the end of the day.

**Bugeater** · 02-09-2015, 04:33 PM

"A" being something that will make me wealthy, everything else can be rented

**DaneMcCloud** · 02-09-2015, 04:33 PM

C. Both

keg in kc · 02-09-2015, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

I think of what below average communication skills look like.

Build great computers, have a tiny penis, be unable to hold meaningful conversations, and lose most things you attempt.

Well shit. You just described me. Except for the great computers part.

Katipan · 02-09-2015, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Well shit. You just described me. Except for the great computers part.

Liar, liar, pants on fire.
Take them off and stay awhile.

keg in kc · 02-09-2015, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

Liar, liar, pants on fire.
Take them off and stay awhile.

The computer I built's only pretty good. It's not quite great.

Mr. Laz · 02-09-2015, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

I think of what below average communication skills look like.

Build great computers, have a tiny penis, be unable to hold meaningful conversations, and lose most things you attempt.

But helluva computer. Lots of money. And thats cool I guess.

poll is flawed

He didn't say you would be an imbecile and suck everything but that single skill

He said below average

btw who told you about my penis

**The Franchise** · 02-09-2015, 04:40 PM

I think the real question is:

A. Top .001 percent in one thing and below average in everything else.
B. Top 25% percent in everything but excelling at nothing.

Pepe Silvia · 02-09-2015, 04:43 PM

Neither.

Mr. Laz · 02-09-2015, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dicky McElephant

I think the real question is:

A. Top .001 percent in one thing and below average in everything else.
B. Top 25% percent in everything but excelling at nothing.

now you are getting closer to a real decision and quality Poll

How much would you be willing to sacrifice to be in the absolute best in a certain skill?

keg in kc · 02-09-2015, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

How much would you be willing to sacrifice to be in the absolute best in a certain skill?

That's probably a more revelatory question than you realized when you posed it.

ie that level of skill has to be a product of sacrifice, among other things, and I would imagine that many of us aren't skilled to that level because we've never made such sacrifices.

scho63 · 02-09-2015, 04:52 PM

SPECIALISTS make far more money and have a greater life of opportunities then a GENERALIST!

View Poll Results: One laserlike skill or well rounded? See opening post for details.
Option A. I would rather have one fantastic skill that sets me apart from the crowd.	13	38.24%
Option B. I would rather be a well-rounded renaissance person who's good at everything.	19	55.88%
Neither. Incompetence is underrated.	1	2.94%
I don't understand the question.	1	2.94%
Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll

02-09-2015, 04:06 PM
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $1838491 VARSITY	Being good at stuff Would you rather a) be really, really good at one thing with an immense natural talent (top 0.001 percent), but below average in everything else or b) be in the top 5 percent of almost everything, but not in the top 1 percent of anything? If you pick Option a, what would your desired skill be? Poll forthcoming. But then you probably already knew that.
Posts: 142,636

02-09-2015, 04:26 PM	#31
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	I'm 95th percentile in slacking. But that's about it.
Posts: 58,682

02-09-2015, 04:31 PM	#34
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $1838491 VARSITY	The genesis of my question is that I suspect that being in the top 0.001 percent is a guaranteed good career if your skill is marketable at all. Whether it's flying an airplane or doing math or playing a trumpet, I bet you could earn a living. However, as I think about it, it still may not be enough in some cases to to be world class. If there are roughly 400 NBA players, you almost have to be 1 in a million to make an NBA roster. That's rarified air. So maybe you wont' get uber-rich depending on what the skill is, but you'll succeed in that field, most likely. And on the bottom end I'll assume that you're functional but unspectacular, which is true for most people in most things. Being in the top 5 percent but not the top 1 percent guarantees that you'll be good at a lot of stuff, but never elite. You'll routinely run into someone better than you at anything, but you'll still be in the top tier in your everyday life and I would think you would be in demand. Plus, you'll have more flexibility to do different things, which I would think could lead to more happiness. But at the same time, you'll seldom seize the brass ring at the end of the day. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 142,636

02-09-2015, 04:33 PM	#35
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $4032680	"A" being something that will make me wealthy, everything else can be rented
Posts: 70,535

02-09-2015, 04:33 PM	#36
DaneMcCloud Supporter Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hollywood, CA Casino cash: $10053648	C. Both
Posts: 88,960

02-09-2015, 04:40 PM	#41
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $2555047	I think the real question is: A. Top .001 percent in one thing and below average in everything else. B. Top 25% percent in everything but excelling at nothing.
Posts: 92,316

02-09-2015, 04:43 PM	#42
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $474664	Neither.
Posts: 17,059

02-09-2015, 04:52 PM	#45
scho63 Politically Incorrect Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $1291110	SPECIALISTS make far more money and have a greater life of opportunities then a GENERALIST! __________________ *"The only difference between sex for free and sex for money is that sex for free costs you a WHOLE LOT more!"* ~Redd Foxx~ ~~2018 2019 2020 20212022 2023~~ 2024 Adopt a Chief - Clark Hunt and Brett Veach "The men who drafted Patrick Mahomes"
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