[riskable]

I'm keen on the eccentricity inflation idea. We've all become "eccentric" by the standards of old so we're not quite sure what counts anymore.

The guy down the street cares for a tree that bears many different types of fruits. It's not his specialty, just a hobby. In his day job he works at a museum that specializes in the collection of mummified body parts and at night he likes to role play with random naked women from all over the world. Does that even seem strange anymore‽

If he invented something amazing would we history books of the future describe him as eccentric? I don't think so.

[xyzelement]

I'd think the thread between eccentricity and invention is the lack of fear (or ability to overcome it) about what society thinks and how it works.

Your guy down the street I guess is kinda weird, but to your point, today that level of weirdness doesn't require courage or innovative thought so probably wouldn't correlate to invention.

My hunch is that in the near future, brave "weirdness" is going to be people who dare to not be woke.