[auganov]

Wow, hits close to home.

I tend to see it as the bi-polar disorder of learning. There are periods of maniacal interest in a certain topic. I can acquire vast knowledge in a matter of very short time yet it always quickly wears of.

The lack of immediate recognition, reward etc. is definitely a factor. I too always knew school didn't mean much, but being straight A has always been sort of a thing I had to do, it was my responsibility. How could I let other people see I am not the smartest guy?! Haha.

I was actually thinking about finding some projects partners on-line in a similar situation so all of us could work to gather on fairly simple projects (and perhaps building those out later on), it's definitely far harder to just dismiss a project if there's other people expecting you to perform.

I know I have all the capability to deliver crazy performance. And hey, I still do from time to time, it's not like we're doomed. We have already proved that we have the mental capability to achieve great things, now it's time to utilize it.

[twink]

> I know I have all the capability to deliver crazy performance. And hey, I still do from time to time, it's not like we're doomed. We have already proved that we have the mental capability to achieve great things

Yes, sure we are. But isn't it sad how much of our potential is wasted?

> now it's time to utilize it.

Motivating words, but I need more than that ;-)

[auganov]

Wasted sounds too dramatic, misallocated I would say.

I would love to be able to achieve a 100% focus at will. But I think acquiring knowledge in so many different fields has also allowed me to have a pretty unique personality that I'm satisfied with. Sometimes I look at those people that are completely sucked into one thing and I just think I wouldn't like to be like them. I would love to have tons and tons of money, but would I want to be Warren Buffet? No way.

For example I spent a year learning Chinese (completed an equivalent of 3 years of study for a 'normal' person + naturally expanded over the next year without effort or loosing too much time). I know it's something pretty much without use unless I want to get a crappy job, but I'm happy I did. I just like having that extra knowledge. It's no different than how I want to have a fancy car. If I was to put a price tag on that knowledge it would definitely be millions.

My point is that although there's no doubt we need to improve let's do it our way. A good analogy is when you play a game, say soccer and you invent your own way to kick the ball, you know how other, better people kick it, you know your way is 'wrong' but it's so much more fun. And who knows maybe one day it turns out you can still win that way.

Let's not get depressed (you sound a little hopeless there, haha). We can adjust this and that and we'll be fine.