Is there less call for eccentric geniuses these days?

Question

I ask this because I think I may well fall into that category but am finding it hard to gain the recognition - plus attendant wealth and celebrity - that I feel I so richly deserve.
In days of yore (whenever that was) I understand a slightly off-beat intellectual could find employment as, say, philosopher or theoretical physicist, or even mad "abstract" artist if they could hurl a pot of paint at a canvas. These days, however, not so much.
What path, therefore, should an eccentric genius take today to get proper remuneration for simply being?

Answer 1

yes, there is less of a call for eccentric geniuses... us laymen have become fed up with their over use of fluttery language and unkempt hair... not to mention always being proven wrong when in a friendly discussion about things scientific and/or cultural... please, if you are as you term an "eccentric genius" then the rest of us would prefer that you keep it out of the public arena and use it only in a private manner among your closest of friends... it's kind of like an orgy, everybody desires it, but since it's something so few of us can actually attain, the majority of the citizenry just abhor it...

Answer 2

Interesting question. I think that genius and mental capabilities are subjective terms. They do go hand in hand, but their relation is different for everyone. Some people see the mental illness as the sole contributor to their intelligence. Others argue that their genius overpowers their mental illness. It's so strange how some of the most reputable figures in history possessed these mental disorders. I think that I am intelligent and introspective. I have a social anxiety disorder. I feel threatened by strangers and I am constantly wondering. It takes me a while to open up to people because I can be reserved at first. Maybe my lack of social ties has caused me to be more observant in my spare time. I just don't know. I do have some friends, but for a girl at my age, I should be out there, "living it up," so to speak. I'm not a bar hopper or a clubber. Perhaps I can't exactly relate to my peers. I'm just not a "party girl." Maybe all of this will change in the future. I think I'm still finding myself. From the looks of it... I have a long way to go.

Answer 3

I agree with you Lefty. Today we are so locked on technology that we leave little room for the thinkers. Everything must be backed up with solid scientific evidence.



If its paint you want to through against a canvas, then New York might be a place for you. The Soho section still celebrates those who can do that well. There is always a desire here to be the first to have a piece from an emerging artist - and they pay top dollar for it too.

Answer 4

Maggie Babe:

Being my Girl Friday is actually a full time occupation for LF - 24/7, on call at all hours - so I'm not sure what makes her think she has room in her schedule for anything else.

However, poor Lefty does have a heavy workload, and I am always looking to employ additional talent for my stable of attractive young "busy beavers". You've already impressed me mightily on a purely social basis, Maggs.

Fancy putting your impressive skills to a more professional use now, my dear?

Answer 5

You certainly are Eccentric and a Genius at writing my friend.....



I've always wanted to throw paint at the canvas and call it art. It sounds like fun to hurl a pot of paint...all different colors......*sigh*

Can we do that when I come out to visit?

Maybe we have talent....DOH,........see how easily I get distracted Lefty?



Are you not getting enough recognition as Hattie OJs Gal Friday?



Hey....does that mean you only work on Fridays?......or get to take off on Fridays? that always confused me.



Hattie....sounds like a deal....this "busy beaver" was looking for something new and exciting....Move over Lefty...you can take a ciggy break now.

Answer 6

Well, you could do dry comedy like George Carlin did--tell us your theories without needing anyone to actually buy into them or accept you as an expert, and you can still make money off of them. I think that is the only way philosophers get paid nowadays--no one reads philosophy except college students, so sell it as comedy.



The other answer is to come up with something new, practical and sellable, and then manufacture and sell it.

Answer 7

Are you a little out of centre and a bit wobbly? My friend Dougal said, a true eccentric is not aware of the fact that they are eccentric, apparently I am one and I think I am one but not in the way that he sees me as one.



I think I am a genius too but they wouldn't know this he didn't mention it either, I just happened to ask him for tips on your behalf.

Answer 8

My dear, thankfully I am always looking for an eccentric genius. In my line of work, one needs to be both eccentric and a genius - how else could I conjure up such magnificent scams to inflict on those sad wealthy millionaires who so easily fall foul of my magnificent cons.



Indeed, there will always be a place for a woman of your caliber to work alongside me. When can we meet to discuss business?

Answer 9

I'd be an eccentric genius if I only had a glamorous assistant to help me with my mad experiments!



I think I'm actually an eccentric, flawed genius. Either that or I'm just a flawed weirdo!!

Answer 10

Learn to play guitar. Rock will always be friendly to the eccentric geniuses of the world.

Answer 11

(Bowing down now to your most excellent question...)



"Touche, Madam! I entirely relate...



And how like a winter hath my absence been from thee, and what freezings have I felt, what dark days seen, what cold December's bareness everywhere.. the teeming autumn, big with rich increase, bearing the wanton burthen of the prime, like widowed wombs after their Lord's decease...



Let this be my Career Application for the position of "Senior Eccentric Genius" forthwith, tallyho, and all that rut...Harumph!"

Answer 12

I see a bright future in the cheese powered rocket industry for any scientist with courage to abandon traditional aluminium construction.

Answer 13

You could try welfare.... or have yourself labeled as a savant, get a psychologist to testify that it prevents you from employment capability and get a disability check ... or...(excessive punctuation) you could turn into this guy:http://www.leskobooks.com/images/lesko-redbook.jpg

Answer 14

I wouldn't know, I feel I'm quite normal, hey look what I did today

http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2008/06/SnailFree_450x300.jpg

Answer 15

Not really. But today we call them oddballs.