How many polymathic geniuses have you known?

[NNadir]

I'm talking about a man or a woman who could intelligently discuss almost any subject with impressive detail, who could speak several languages, do great math and great science and still have an impressive sex life...

I knew one guy like that. He was dead before he was thirty. Occassionally you meet these people who are very bright or creative in one area, but provincial and ill informed in others. The true polymath though, is something to know.

[DarkTirade]

1. Unfortunately I have neither the focus nor the memory retention to pull that off myself.

So I just end up knowing a little bit about a lot of random things. :)

[Heidi]

2. I know one person like this.

This person also has a high degree of emotional intelligence.

[TrogL]

3. You mean other than me?

[triguy46]

8. No, this must be about me.

[seemunkee]

4. Just one

RIP Dave C.
:cry:

[harmonicon]

5. probably a few....

... mostly my teachers in college and grad school. I had one teacher who spoke loads of languages (not his field at all). Once I asked him what languages he spoke, and he said, "oh, the germanic ones", which wasn't the half of it. He learned Finnish for fun, and learned to read Japanese so he could read cd liner notes in Japanese cds.

[riderinthestorm]

6. Although I'm not privy to his sex life, my dad is definitely a polymathic genius

Scary smart with the degrees (Master's in Electrical Engineering, MBA, PhD in physics), patents (worked for Bell Labs when it was in it's heyday), as well as being a talented musician (offered a full ride to Julliard when he was 17 years old. But I guess math geniuses are often musically able as well).

Beyond that though, he was a terrible alcoholic, the worst father in the universe - almost autistic in his ability to "connect" or be empathetic, and sadistic in his relationships with us kids ("this room isn't clean enough! Now you'll really have something to clean up" as he dumped out all of your clothes from your dresser - kind of sadistic).

He finally abandoned us when I was 10 years old as his alcoholism really spiraled. I see him verrrry occasionally now and we only discuss politics (he's a Dem - whew!), philosophy, religion (philosophically), global affairs etc. Thankfully he didn't manage to piss or drink away all of his cash so he's not a burden which means I don't feel any sense of obligation or responsibility. I can meet him for lunch every few years and then walk away feeling relieved that I did my "duty" winning me a few more years without feeling that old familial tug.

I'm not sure these people ARE truly something to know. In my experience, I am very wary of true genius and would have really been upset actually if any of my kids had "inherited" my dad's uh, skills as that road appears to lead to madness. Genius is a terrible burden for most. There are so very few who manage to survive it.

[NNadir]

7. So your theory of the universe is that all bright people are pyschopaths because your Dad was?

As it happens the genius I knew best had some profound personal problems and was dead at 28.

On the other hand, I hardly accept that your father - and really you have my sympathy - is representative of the entire class.

[Turbineguy]

9. "impressive sex life"

Well, that disqualifies me.

[LynzM]

10. Two, I think.

A friend from college and a friend met online, both of whom are fantastic intellectuals.

[emilyg]

11. One person. My ex.

[Deep13]

12. None.

I've never met anyone like that.

[MilesColtrane]

13. Ce'st Moi.

I'll take "Great Republican Lovers Throughout History" for $1000 Alex.

Talk about arcane, esoteric, trivia...