The long and not-so-short of it

[cupidsbow]

I was going to write a long chatty post which:

• discussed how weirdly different the pattern of LJ comments is from story to story, and how some stories end up being sleeper hits (at least according to the somewhat dubious measure of number of comments received), while others have a brief flash of commentiness when first posted, and then fade into

Comments

Genii

[banksiapossum]

Yes, it can be quite difficult for very intelligent and talented people to come to terms with how different they are from the majority of people around them. Having insight into situations through genius is almost like having extra senses that are able to perceive things that most people can neither perceive nor imagine.

There are some nice Buddhist teachings about intelligence. One lovely description is about the way that the more intelligent a person is, the more subtle richness they can enjoy with their other senses and in understanding ideas.

Another Buddhist saying that comes to mind is about the way that a person can only comprehend another person to the depth that matches their own understanding. This is what makes it difficult for people with genius to feel as if they have been understood by most of those around them.

There is a large mismatch in subjective experiences that I think of as being similar to the difference in the way that flies see, and the way that humans see...HUH??...Yeah...let me explain...

Have you ever seen a fly buzzing against a window trying to go outside when the door next to it is open?
All the fly has to do is go sideways instead of forward and it will get there. But unfortunately for the fly it is unable to perceive there is glass in the way. Their eyesight is just not that refined. However a person can see glass, and figure to go out the door. Such is the nature of difference in subjective realities due to perception and intelligence.

Of course most people are more intelligent than flies. The analogy is only meant to show what it might be like for a genius to be able to have insight into things that are imperceptible and inconceivable to most people.

The mismatch can cause social stress and isolation for the genius. There was a study done on how genius children adapt to this social stress. One method was for them to play on their own, doing something like writing where they can pursue their genii and challenge themselves. So in your case Cathy, although it comes with its hardships, genius may also have come with its great enjoyments 

And I, and I guess others here, have noticed that your writing has the enriched subtlety that only comes from being able to perceive the world with genius.