The Chemistry of Charisma

Eight days ago, I saw something both sweet and surprising.

I had brought Ainan to the playground where we live and, instead of playing with the other kids he had set about doing an experiment with the materials to hand in the park area, next to the swings.

Studiously, he attended to the details of his work. I didn't approach closer to see what exactly he was doing, but I knew him well enough to understand that it was The Great Experimenter at work on some investigation or other.

He never looked up once to see what the other kids were up to in the playground, but focussed on his craft. Yet, I was touched to see that, after a few minutes alone with his project, a blond German girl, of the same age as him, left the playground and her friends, to join him. I could see him explain to her what he was doing - and then she began to assist him. The two worked together quite amiably, Ainan quietly directing her efforts. She was still there half an hour later.

It was sweet to see that though he had made no effort to do so, his intensity had drawn the girl to him. There is something charismatic in his manner, that even a young girl can see across a crowded playground.

I think sincerity of purpose is attractive to people of all ages: it has a charisma all of its own - and Ainan has it in plenty. I didn't approach them for fear of disturbing the sense of unity they had achieved, but watched from afar.

It was a beautiful sunset, with my son, at play.

Rousseau: correction of a misunderstanding

Regarding the posting on Rousseau's thought regarding women and genius, a number of women have posted, on another site, a misinterpretation of my intention.

Firstly, I do not hold Rousseau's opinion myself. I was just interested in whether his opinion actually represented a phenomenon at work in the modern world: what do women actually think about and feel towards geniuses? I would also ask the question the other way around: what do men think of WOMEN of genius? Are they attracted or not?

One poster thought that Rousseau implicitly stated that women could not be geniuses. I don't think he meant that at all, since he clearly thought highly of women, for a man of his time, calling them: "Cleverer than men...in matters of practical reason." Also there were a few distinguished women, from aristocratic circles, that Rousseau would have known about and perhaps had acquaintance with.

Neither, as one poster suggested, do I have "veiled contempt for women": an astonishing conclusion to come to. I have always had a fondness for women, and, indeed, most of my friends have been women, in my life. Furthermore I have been more interested in those who were talented, gifted or otherwise on the way to genius (at least one is a genius), than those who were not - so I personally have shown a bias TOWARDS women of gift.

So, let us consider the question both ways: what do men think of genius women...and what do women think of genius men?

I would be interested in your comments. Thanks.

If you would like to read the original posting on Rousseau, click here: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/12/how-is-genius-perceived-welcomed-or.html Thanks.

(If you would like to read about my scientific child prodigy son, Ainan Celeste Cawley, seven years and three weeks plus, or his gifted brothers, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html I also write of child prodigy, child genius, adult genius, savant, the creatively gifted, gifted adults and gifted children in general. Thanks.)