[dirktheman]

I have an identical twin brother. We took separate classes in high school, he was really good at math, physics and science, while I really, really sucked at them. If you asked me at that time, I would tell you 'I just don't get math'. Those were my literal words. We are genetically the same, so it's impossible that his brain is somehow wired in a different way than mine, but I would still say the problem was me, instead of my crap teacher. I got a bad start with math and physics in high school, and it wasn't until years later I picked up programming as a hobby that I regained some interest in mathematical subjects.

I'm just finishing up on a Bayesian flamewar detector. If you would tell the high-school me this years ago I would have said you were crazy...

[dllthomas]

"Bayesian flamewar detector"

Is that a Bayesian detector of flamewars, or a detector of Bayesian flamewars?

[ddorian43]

why didn't you go on the same classes/teachers ?

[dirktheman]

That was a conscious decision. Being twins and all is fun, but people (and thus, teachers), tend to see you as one entity. We split classes when we were 11 years old, we both felt like we had to be our own person, with our own friends, independent from one another.

This also had some nice side effects, I was really good at languages, history and biology, so I could take my brother's tests. He was good at math and science, so he occasionally took mine.

[001sky]

Do you have thoughts as to the complementary skillsets are/were in part identity driven? in some areas perhaps compete and in others complement other's skill.