[OKdOut]

We are all talented in some way, but how about freaks of talent like Tiger woods, Leonardo da Vinci, Einstein, Mozart. Were they born with that talent?

I purposely made this a 1 choice only poll. You have to make up your mind on only the most important element to talent.

 

[Metallic]

I think people are born with some bit of talent, but in order to become great you need to develop it with practice, practice, practice. A basketball star isn't born with the ability to easily dodge and make tons of baskets, they need to practice.

 

[seanybhoy]

You've either got it or you've not so yeah the Natural shabang one.

 

[shyvr6]

I think it's part natural and part work your butt off at it. Like your example with Tiger. He was probably a natural, but his dad made him practice all the time, and now he's a champion.

 

[coldmorning]

I think freaks of talent are born that way. Yes, they have to work hard to get to that state. But hard work alone isn't going to turn someone into a Michael Jordan or a Mozart.

 

[anonymid]

I think talent is innate/inborn. Success is something else, and dependent on other factors. Work ethic, motivation, passion, ambition, desire, economic opportunity/advantage, etc. can all determine the extent to which one is able to translate one's innate talent into success. Some people's talent goes to waste, but the very idea of "wasted talent" or "wasted genius" implies that the talent or genius was there to begin with, regardless of what one did or didn't do with it.

 

[OKdOut]

I think talent is innate/inborn. Success is something else, and dependent on other factors. Work ethic, motivation, passion, ambition, desire, economic opportunity/advantage, etc. can all determine the extent to which one is able to translate one's innate talent into success. Some people's talent goes to waste, but the very idea of "wasted talent" or "wasted genius" implies that the talent or genius was there to begin with, regardless of what one did or didn't do with it.

So then, would you judge someone more by their talent or by their success. Which do you value more, someone who had no talent, but worked hard and made it big after 20yrs, or a gifted prodigy who has a PhD at age 14, but doesn't do any thing and doesn't care about anything as his talent comes about without much effort.
NOTE, for someone without talent, success may be being employed as a bus driver. Do you think a bus driver deserves more praise than Mozart, for whom, talent was evident from birth.

 

[anonymid]

So then, would you judge someone more by their talent or by their success. Which do you value more, someone who had no talent, but worked hard and made it big after 20yrs, or a gifted prodigy who has a PhD at age 14, but doesn't do any thing and doesn't care about anything as his talent comes about without much effort.
NOTE, for someone without talent, success may be being employed as a bus driver. Do you think a bus driver deserves more praise than Mozart, for whom, talent was evident from birth.

"Judge" in what sense, for what purpose, with regard to what? In a general sense, "as a person," so to speak? I think people should be judged on their character, not on their talent or their success. I'm not sure that's what you're getting at, though.

As for the bus driver v. Mozart question, I again would ask--praise with regard to what? A bus driver deserves praise for helping me get from point A to point B; Mozart deserves praise for having composed music I find beautiful. It's apples and oranges. People deserve praise for doing what they do well, whatever it is they happen to do (assuming what they do is something useful, desirable, or admirable).

 

[solitarymonkey]

i believe you are mostly born with the qualities that build the talent. rather than born WITH the talent. you do need to practice, yes, but some people can practice for years, and still be terrible at it, while someone else will just be able to pick it up and go!!

 

[huh]

It's usually a combination of things and not simply one thing or another.

 

[bezoomny]

Yeah, I'd say it's a combination. Take the piano. Natural talent will only get you so far if you don't practice, but at the same time you can't force yourself to become a virtuoso if you're not naturally talented.