The privilege and elitism of genius

Genius is a word we often use for people who do things differently, who refuse to follow the usual rules, who challenge the way things are done. It's a term reserved for people who show extraordinary creativity, often paving the way for groundbreaking change.

Geniuses don't follow the crowd. They have the ability to see the world from unique perspectives and refuse to conform to established norms. It takes a lot of self-confidence, a willingness to be different, and a strong determination to think in new ways.

While genius can lead to groundbreaking innovation that benefits society as a whole, it can have a downside. Some geniuses, because they're so focused on their ideas, might make life harder for others. Their focus can lead to a disregard for social or organisational conventions and expectations, which can mean they get special treatment. There are many examples of this in the news at the moment, like this article about Elon Musk and moving servers at X (Twitter).

This behaviour is often accepted because of someone’s perceived genius. The example shared above is at the extreme end of the scale, it takes a certain level of elitism to be that bold. At the extremes, genius can come at the cost of the realities of the world, and can have huge impact on people at the front line. Sometimes that’s necessary, to make things better for future generations, but the cost has to be equal to the benefit.

If you don't have certain privileges in life (like money, social status, being white, being hetrosexual, being able-bodied, being a man) things can be very different. When people with less privileged advantages have bold ideas, they might not get celebrated. Instead they may be dismissed, criticised, or even treated as criminals.

The concept of genius we have today can be inherently discriminatory. It tends to favour those who can pursue their unconventional ideas without without the burden of social repercussions.

While the idea of genius celebrates people who break the rules and think in new ways, it can also hinder the ideas of people who lack privileged advantages. Until we make sure that everyone has the same chances in life, we might only see the genius in those who are already privileged.