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Re:Ask HN: What can be done to prevent a climate catastrophe? by DoreenMichele on Wednesday October 10, 2018 @03:34AM (#18182782)
Geniuses don't need the masses to advise them what matters. They can figure it out for themselves and are frequently ignored for long periods.

Einstein worked in a patent office for years, unable to get the university job he longed for. It took two tries of photographing a solar eclipse to finally get proof of his theory and once proof existed, he was world famous overnight.

He didn't stick with it because the masses were haranguing him about how very, very, very important this was.

Re:Ask HN: What can be done to prevent a climate catastrophe? by jogjayr on Wednesday October 10, 2018 @03:47AM (#18182850)
Good point about Einstein. It's true that bright minds also go after problems they think are important, regardless of what everyone else thinks.

Haranguing masses can decide what gets funded. Einstein's research didn't need much money, which worked out well for him. What if his genius had been in something that required more capital?

Re:Ask HN: What can be done to prevent a climate catastrophe? by DoreenMichele on Wednesday October 10, 2018 @04:07AM (#18182933)
I think the short answer is "If he's a real genius, he either finds the capital or finds a cheaper way to do it."

The long answer is probably a screed that I would probably regret posting.

It's 1am here. Please, excuse me, but I think I'm done here for now.