Profile for Dabem - Random Thoughts on Talent

Dabem aka JK is a 24.32 year old boy, has been a member since June 22, 2007, has scored 491 submissions, giving an average score of 3.27, helping 26 designs get printed.

Mar 31 '08 by Dabem
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Random Thoughts on Talent

So I was thinking earlier, my mistake I'm sure, but I came up with something intelligible. Well intelligible-ish, I'd like to hear your thoughts, especially since the people here have so much talent.

What exactly makes up talent? Do you have to have a specific talent to be talented? Why do we feel the need to define ourselves by our abilities rather than our person?

For example, I feel I can write well, well enough to write an interesting email, a pointless blog here and there and possibly a moving letter. However I would not consider myself a writer by any means. I can also draw, not to an extremely amazing extent, but I can create fairly accurate figures and images from a model. I do graphic design for work, so I must have some knack for it, but I'll never be the next Glennz, Ste7en or Somni. I can sing, I'd say pretty well, better than most, but I'm not trying out for American Idol anytime soon. I play the guitar and piano, and I've even written a few songs, but I'm not going to perform anytime soon. I can play basketball, offering a heavily defensive game, but I'm never the first to be picked. I don't mind public speaking, and I would venture to say I'm fairly good at speaking extemporaneously and improvising. I've even tried my hand at stand up comedy, writing a set that was good enough to make some of my classes laugh. I'm going to stop here to limit my narcissism, but the point is although I'm decent at many things that are typically considered to require talent, by any of them on their own I may be above average at best. Does that make me talentless or a Jack of All Trades?

They say that those who can't do teach, which I've been doing more of lately. Is there a measure of truth to that? Is my ability to teach sprouting from my inability to do anything else?

So now I ask again: What exactly makes up talent? Do you have to have a specific talent to be talented? Why do we feel the need to define ourselves by our abilities rather than our person? Do people have a quantifiable amount of talent or is it a thing that lives and grows with time?
Discuss

chelly on Mar 31 '08 at 10:09am

interesting. it seems to me that talent consists of a natural inclination toward a skill plus the needed determination to master said skill.

although i doubt this has much to do with the overall, i find that when a person has a skill it gives other people something to talk to them about. ex. if you fix old bikes, people can talk to you about bikes or antiques or fixing. people like to be social.

or maybe it is about breeding. being the best at something as a way to validate being alive or some day creating a life. and if not a life, then creating something with that skill.

or it is just very important to have control over something.

i dunno, it is a good set of questions.

fmf on Mar 31 '08 at 10:10am

Everyone is talented in their own way, but some talents are more valued than others.

For instance, being able to sing and draw is often seen as a better talent than being able to differentiate between different species of birds, or being able to put 50 cigarettes in your mouth at the same time.

And there's also the difference between talent which can reward you financially, socially, or just personally.

And also, different cultures and societies reward and recognise different types of talent. An Inuit society would rank a talent in hunting or fishing pretty highly, whereas this may be a pretty useless talent for a city-dweller.

sonmi on Mar 31 '08 at 10:15am

i think sometimes talent is fueled by one's personal interest. whatever talent i might have in art is only from drawing constantly when i was little, because i liked doing it. i think i like sharing my art here because it introduces me to people who also share this interest. i'm naturally drawn to people who enjoy art, because i feel some kinship with them..

sometimes people can have a talent in something they have no real interest in, though, and i think sometimes a person will never discover their talent.

i'm kind of all over the place with this, though. sorry if it doesn't really cover what you're talking about!

Dabem on Mar 31 '08 at 10:16am

Thanks chelly!

interesting. it seems to me that talent consists of a natural inclination toward a skill plus the needed determination to master said skill.

I like this explanation, it would actually somewhat explain me being involved with so many different skills. I have a bit of ADD and tend to lose focus easily, so I don't mind having so many things I like doing because I can change things up depending on how I feel.

I too think there is a definite social component to talent. Some people I know even define their friendships by talent. i.e. They wouldn't consider dating or befriending someone without a specific talent. The most heinous offender is girls who are looking for a guitarist, but there are other examples.

Dabem on Mar 31 '08 at 10:22am

For instance, being able to sing and draw is often seen as a better talent than being able to differentiate between different species of birds, or being able to put 50 cigarettes in your mouth at the same time.

So is the cigarettes thing really a talent? If not do we define that personally or does society? I definitely see your point though. However I'd probably be more impressed by the bird guy.

And there's also the difference between talent which can reward you financially, socially, or just personally. And also, different cultures and societies reward and recognise different types of talent. An Inuit society would rank a talent in hunting or fishing pretty highly, whereas this may be a pretty useless talent for a city-dweller.

Good point, so do we generally only persue the talents our culture values?

Somni: Is an undiscovered talent really a talent? or might it just be an undeveloped knack, which is useless because it's never been applied?

anushka on Mar 31 '08 at 10:25am

Ability = 5% Talent 95% Hard work. and let that be a lesson to all of you.

Talent = the thing you think other people have, but you lack.

More nonsense to follow.

Dabem on Mar 31 '08 at 10:28am

So do I lack ability due to a lack of working hard enough?

On second thought don't answer that.

Dabem on Mar 31 '08 at 10:43am

Shameless bump. I'd like more views on this one.

olie! on Mar 31 '08 at 10:45am

I agree with anushka and sonmi. Practice makes talent.

V1ctorya on Mar 31 '08 at 10:48am

One Talent have I

To take to the sky

While others are blessed

With ten of the rest

Sorry, sunday school flashback. . .

"any of various ancient Hebrew or Attic monetary units equal in value to that of a talent weight of gold, silver, or other metal"

V1ctorya on Mar 31 '08 at 10:50am

Hey! It didn't print my whole thing (at least not that I can see)

"a power of mind or body considered as given to a person for use and improvement: so called from the parable in Matt. 25:14�30"

That goes to the 5% natural, 95% persperation. I do think people have natural abilities that when nurtured blossom into something more.

Dabem on Mar 31 '08 at 10:51am

Funny, I hadn't even thought about that. I actually just read that account the other day too. Any thoughts on the type of talent we were discussing?

Dabem on Mar 31 '08 at 10:53am

Sorry, hadn't seen the second half yet... So we're reaching a bit of a consensus then?

sonmi on Mar 31 '08 at 10:53am

Somni: Is an undiscovered talent really a talent? or might it just be an undeveloped knack, which is useless because it's never been applied?

i guess a good example of this is ray frenden, who says he only started drawing a few years ago. i think he definitely had an undiscovered talent. or knack. those words are kind of interchangeable for me, though. but i agree that it is kind of useless because it's never been applied. some people will never know their potential!

skeletondance on Mar 31 '08 at 10:54am

I think to be talented, you have to be passionate at that particular skill you practise, and you must be competent at it too.

Talent, meanwhile, it's basically something you love doing, but you may not be the best in that area.

Actually, I'm not so sure now...

Dabem on Mar 31 '08 at 10:58am

Yeah I see what you mean, undiscovered talents definitely exist even if it is like I said just a certain knack that's never been applied. Should a talent remain undiscovered though, it really is pointless. It's no good to anyone if you were the next michaelangelo but you never picked up a brush or chisel in your life.

anushka on Mar 31 '08 at 11:09am

We all have undiscovered talents, if only we knew what they were!

I always thought I'd be amazing as shark bait, but never had the balls to throw myself in at the deep end.

anushka on Mar 31 '08 at 11:10am

*that was terrible

edean on Mar 31 '08 at 11:18am

i thought i was talented at soccer in h.s. and then a kid that graduated a couple of years before me went pro and after about 3 years of sitting on the bench decided to quit...then i realized i couldn't even hold a torch to him and he didn't even play all that much, so basically this ruined my dream of thinking i was talented in soccer :(

fmf on Mar 31 '08 at 12:21pm

Imagine you had amazing programming powers and had the potential to be the next Bill Gates - but computers hadn't been invented yet...it would suck!

Dabem on Mar 31 '08 at 12:25pm

But just because you're not FIFA status doesn't make you untalented at soccer. You were probably great! That's my point, do we have to be recognized by society to be talented, or is talent something that you possess that no one can take away from you

V1ctorya on Mar 31 '08 at 12:28pm

Possess! But people do try to discourage, even the individual with the talent discourages themselves cause they think there's someone better, and there's always someone better, but they're not, different strengths and all that, or they are, or they try harder, or just have better publicists.

shirtflirt on Mar 31 '08 at 12:28pm

noone has any talents, really. we're all here doing essentially the same things. a talent is an arbitrary measurement. to do one thing well and something else is poor is not a lack in talent, but a balance, not imbalance. what are perceived as talents, can also be seen as 'avenues' or 'outlets' for 'expression'. these are only more divisions which can be compared contrasted, etc..which also really mean nothing.

bottom line, talents are just another category we create and uphold to throw into the daunting face of the void.

Dabem on Mar 31 '08 at 12:29pm

how true that is FMF, how true it is

Dabem on Mar 31 '08 at 12:32pm

ok wasn't going to go that far on the existentialism here. However your view is as valid as is anyone else's.

bafocomics on Mar 31 '08 at 12:36pm

wow a whole blog about me!

fmf on Mar 31 '08 at 12:38pm

Yeah bafocomics, we're debating your existence.

We just realised that your birth was the result of 99% perspiration, and 1% inspiration. And a faulty condom.

shirtflirt on Mar 31 '08 at 12:38pm

that's existentialist?

can talent exist without a lack of talent?

shadowboy on Mar 31 '08 at 12:41pm

To me, talent can be defined as easily as something you do well. I don't thing you need to be some kind of prodigy to be considered talented. In the artistic sense, I think people often confuse talent with pouplarity. Especially around here. But really, if you gain a sense of satisfaction from something you do, does anything else matter? Everyone wants validation, sure, but I'm not sold on "talent" being determined by others.

fmf on Mar 31 '08 at 12:45pm

Shadowboy: I don't totally agree with you. If you watch even one episode of Pop Idol/American Idol, you see these people who think they have an amazing singing talent but when they open their mouths, they are simply awful. Some talents do rely upon others appreciating them!

But then again, there are many painters who gained fame after their deaths. This also shows anyone is capable of being talented at anything, but you need to be in the right society/time/fashion/other to be appreciated. Even if appreciation is only fleeting.

bafocomics on Mar 31 '08 at 12:49pm

fmf don�t like jokes.

:(

i think that hope and actions are what talent is all about.

fmf on Mar 31 '08 at 12:51pm

I like jokes. I just love making them even more :-)

bafocomics on Mar 31 '08 at 12:56pm

Oh, you little ...

Dabem on Mar 31 '08 at 1:41pm

So I'm off now but I know some people are just getting up or to work now, so let's keep this going. Nobody's really touched on this question, mostly because we're still discussing whether talent is a state or possession, but feel free to tackle it:

Do people have a quantifiable amount of talent or is it a thing that lives and grows with time?

iPear on Mar 31 '08 at 1:43pm

I think anything can be a talent, even if you're not really that great at anything. Like, take for instance, myself. I'm not that great at anything, but I'm not the worst. so...my talent..is...to be ... not the worst at anything.

fmf on Mar 31 '08 at 2:40pm

oh, talent definitely grows. If you spend time and effort on something, then it will develop. If you neglect your talent, then it diminishes or stagnates.

By the same reckoning, some people have more 'advanced' talent than others. One person can practice their opera skills for years and years to finally become an expert. Another person than get to the same expert stage, but only by doing a fraction of the practicing.

shirtflirt on Mar 31 '08 at 3:43pm

i've gotten worse at something after the first time trying.

it 'definitely' isn't anything.

it's different for everyone.

it's like oxygen, in that, it's the same for everyone but used in different quantities.

2 days later

Dabem on Apr 03 '08 at 6:46am

I'm gunna try and revivify this blog in explanation for my existence.

p.s. not sure what that means, just roll with it.

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