The Quick and the (Grateful)__

It seems to me that there are quick-witted people and there intelligent people. These are not necessarily the same people. And there are the fortunate few who are quick-witted and intelligent.

It's that latter class (obvious examples from the computer world: the Steveses, the Sergeys and Larrys, the Linuses) that gets most of the work done.

Those of us who are merely intelligent and not spectacularly quick-witted, can appreciate and admire their work in awe, celebrate it, and elaborate upon it at the fringes. And indeed, I think that is what we should be doing.

Yet we live in a sick world that admires jealousy and doesn't admire admiration. And so, we are told, if we make no major contribution to science we shouldn't bother. It is a "waste of time".

I think, if you'll pardon the expression, that is a horrible crock of shit, destructive in so many ways.

It's very similar to the terrible, pernicious idea that if you can't make great music you should just shut up and listen.

Bang a drum once in a while.