Re: [tlug] [OT] Raising a geek (was: Interesting Hans Reiser article in Wired)

["Keith Bawden" <keith@example.com>]

On 7/16/07, Josh Glover <jmglov@example.com> wrote:
> > No, they're not.  They may envy his grades (or the preschool
> > equivalent), but I doubt they envy him.  The point is that unless a
> > person is already different in this way, they simply don't understand
> > it well enough to want more of it than they already have.  It's a
> > qualitative difference, not a quantitative one.
>
> Hrm... not quite sure I buy this. I think that the reason people pick
> on those who are different is some desire, whether conscious or
> subconscious, to be different themselves. Having said that, though...

How about fear as a reason, or inbred <insert variety of> hatred, or
the desire to belong to a larger group (usually motivated by fear of
being alone or being treated as the loner is)...

Regards, Keith