[agraphmaul]

'It's arrogant beyond belief but it also makes me think "fuck yeah".'

Well put. I agree that the version of the story in which Wolfram quietly notices that he doesn't know facts, retreats to his room, and tries to learn something doesn't make me want to tear off my shirt and pound my chest NEARLY as much as the version in which he tells everyone he's better than they are before going to his room and trying to learn something.

[WilliamLP]

The part of me that you mock, who wants to pound my chest and watch the Ultimate Fighting Championship and write abrasive comments on internet forums, I now realize is a gentle creature who needs nurture, and the direct source of much that I value.

[agraphmaul]

Sorry if that was opaque, but I'm trying to point out that you don't have to be obnoxious to be driven.

[WilliamLP]

I know that, but the question is if it can help? I don't think Wolfram is as significant as he thinks he is, but I think he's a lot more significant than a version without the obnoxious ego would be.

[agraphmaul]

I can see two possibilities here.

(1) You don't understand the distinction between having a big ego and being annoying. In this case I don't know what to say, except: thinking you're great doesn't necessitate telling everyone you're great.

(2) You do get the distinction, and you're really arguing that, big ego or small, immodesty is desirable. Again, there's not a lot to say here: it seems possible that Wolfram's success has a lot more to do with creating Mathematica than with telling people he's smarter than they are. If your position is really that being obnoxious (as opposed to merely having self-confidence) is useful, and that we should therefore be obnoxious, then so be it.