"They're just better people..."

[SonicKaos]

Everyone has a talent of some kind, but many are too shy to show them. Every once in a while though, someone comes along and just blows your mind. Many people idolize these talents, and wish they had it themselves... because it just makes that person SOOO much cooler than anyone you know. It may be a great singing voice, incredible skill with an instrument, inhuman gaming reflex's, amazing artistic talent, or certifiable geniusness. Regardless, they have such grand skills that your perception of those people is that they're more interesting, more exciting and just plain better people then yourself.

Is there any one skill that people can have that makes you feel this way? Like they're such cool people that you'd be wasting their time if you were to talk to them? Alternativly, people you just wish you could be around so that some of their skills magically leaked their way into you?


For me, it's singing. If someone has an incredible singing voice, I feel like they're automatically a better person than I. Sure, they're still technically just regular people who like to laugh and have a good time, but I get really nervous when I talk to them. Whether they are actually better people or not is irrelevant (and debatable), but it just makes me feel that way.

For example, there is a girl that plays shows in my town every once in a while, and I've stumbled upon a couple of them (literally by random chance). She isn't famous, and I REALLY would like to talk to her because she seems like a cool person... but I just can't bring myself to do it. Just because she has that one talent, I feel like she is better than me, and talking to me would be boring for her. I know this is not true, and I'm sure we'd get along just fine... but I just haven't been able to do it yet. Similarly, when I meet people from famous bands that I admire, my mind just goes completely blank and I have nothing to say to them. All because the person can sing well.

 

[Danny Ocean]

Any skill, taken to its peak and mastery, implicitly represents the kind of dedication and time-management skills present in all the greatest people throughout history. That they can devote so much of their free time to the learning of skills and the bettering of themselves rather than waste it on petty entertainment is a characteristic to be admired and emulated to the fullest extent of one's ability. There is such a thing as natural talent, but really that is simply a natural enjoyment of practicing the skill. It's an inclination, not a predetermined ability. What is far more important is tenacity in practice.

Take it to its limit and you'll reach the capacity of your human potential. Push further and you end up a right nutter like Theodore Roosevelt [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt].

 

[EdwardOrchard]

Singing is not a skill. Therefore it has no value. It is a gift. You are either born with the potential to be a great singer or you're not. That is nothing to admire. A real skill, however, like on an actual instrument - that is something.

Wrong. While its true that some people are born with the potential to be better singers, and others simply cannot, it is a skill that has to be trained and practiced. Singing is something to be perfected and mastered... There are vocal teachers and coaches, just like for any instrument.

I'd like to hear your reasoning for singing not being a "Real" skill, and why it is different from any other instrument. Please elaborate.

 

[Biosophilogical]

I like people who can sing, and people with good-natured spunk. Mainly because I wish I could sing.

 

[EdwardOrchard]

I am a musician, and having been to a musical conservatory myself I do not see what your opinion can change about what I have learned through my trade. I'm sorry, but a voice is something you are born with, like good looks or a strong metabolism. Some people just can't become singers at all. The actual "learning" when it comes to song is so minute and insignificant when compared to an actual musical instrument that it is not considered learning intensive.

In fact, most singers shouldn't "learn" singing techniques at all, because it can ruin their uniqueness.

Its strange, I hear what you're saying, and agree with most of it, but on the whole, I disagree. What you just said could describe any other skill. One point I definitely do agree with is that my opinion will not change yours, so I won't derail this thread any further.

However, I think that this is definitely a topic worthy of its own thread/dsicussion/debate/angry bickering.

 

[Android2137]

Well for me, it's not people with just one exemplary skill, but multiple good ones. I always wanted to be a jack of all trades, so when I'm faced with one, I can't help but be in awe.

 

[dyre]

I get a bit intimidated by people who are a lot better than me at something I'm good at, and are of about the same age. So, great violinists, students, chess players, etc

 

[electric_warrior]

I admire the ability to work really hard and focus. People who succeed are always such people, they strive that little bit harder, achieve that little bit more and are that little bit better.

 

[Astoria]

I'm intimidated by people with greater music knowledge than me. Silly I know but I feel stupid when people are going on about a musician and I have no idea who they're talking about. Also people who I see are just cooler than me. Again stupid but what can you do.

 

[Esotera]

Anyone who can program elegantly, understand complex maths, or do art. Also, anything my cousins can do (read: develop for apple since age of 15).

Singing is not a skill. Therefore it has no value. It is a gift. You are either born with the potential to be a great singer or you're not. That is nothing to admire. A real skill, however, like on an actual instrument - that is something.

People have said this before, but no. You're born with the potential to be a great guitar/piano player because you have hands. Brilliant singers don't train by doing nothing all day; they practise.

 

[Doclector]

People with musical skill. I'm downright terrified to speak to them. Musicians often appear to be near the top of the social ladder in any given situation.

 

[Rawne1980]

I've said it before and i'll say it again, no one is "better" than anyone.

One person can sing another is a gifted musician, Bob down the road is an artist without compare, Fred can play any sport he puts his mind to while Paul can put together a company network blindfolded while building the pc's for it himself.

They are all good in their own way at what they do.

Being better at 1 or 2 things certainly does NOT make them a better person.

 

[SonicKaos]

Not really sure how this turned into a debate on whether singing was an actual skill or not... but ok. arguably, you could say that people are just born with X natural ability and it's only a matter of practicing said skill for anything though. Some people are naturally more athletic, but they still have to practice a lot to become great at a sport.

I've said it before and i'll say it again, no one is "better" than anyone.

One person can sing another is a gifted musician, Bob down the road is an artist without compare, Fred can play any sport he puts his mind to while Paul can put together a company network blindfolded while building the pc's for it himself.

They are all good in their own way at what they do.

Being better at 1 or 2 things certainly does NOT make them a better person.

I'd debate that. Many people simply do nothing with their lives, whether they're actually good at something or not. In order to be a "better" person, I'd argue that you should use your talent in any way that effects others. Whether it's by creating a song that brightens someone's day, artwork that makes people think or volunteer work for a charity. It doesn't have to be a big effect at all, but if all you do is wake up, go to work, and then go home (and I know some people like this)... in my opinion at least, there are better people out there.

On the other hand, James may be a great artist who paints incredible murals, but his work technically speaking isn't as good as Bob's work. He is not a worse person than Bob is in any sense, even though his art may not be quite as good. Some people are just better than others at certain things, but that itself does not make them better people.

Anyway, the whole point of this was to find out if others admire one skill so much that they FEEL like anyone who has this skill is above them. Doesn't mean they are, because they could be great at anything else, but they wish they also had this skill.

 

[Erana]

This is a matter of insecurity.

I mean, I've known some extremely intelligent and gifted young women whom I know blow me out of the water in things like mathematics and writing. But you know what they've told me before?

They wish they could make art like me.
They wish they could cook like me.
They wish they could game like me. And I'm bad at games, and its an impractical skill to have.
They wish they could dance like me. And I really can't dance.

I could say the same thing about tons of topics, but I don't. For the most part, I like the things that I have chosen to nurture within me, and respect them for their choices. If you feel like they make you feel inferior, then find something to like and work at it. And don't go needlessly coveting things you don't feel a heartwrenching urge to pursue.

No matter what level you are on, there's always going to be someone to hand your ass to you in a countless number of ways. Thinking that one skill or talent makes someone an inherently better person is undermining yourself.

 

[TheLaofKazi]

Any skill, taken to its peak and mastery, implicitly represents the kind of dedication and time-management skills present in all the greatest people throughout history. That they can devote so much of their free time to the learning of skills and the bettering of themselves rather than waste it on petty entertainment is a characteristic to be admired and emulated to the fullest extent of one's ability. There is such a thing as natural talent, but really that is simply a natural enjoyment of practicing the skill. It's an inclination, not a predetermined ability. What is far more important is tenacity in practice.

Take it to its limit and you'll reach the capacity of your human potential. Push further and you end up a right nutter like Theodore Roosevelt [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt].

Good point.

I tend to be good at things that I do often and casually. There are certain activities that I just naturally do, and there are even some that I've forced myself to do until they became natural, frequent and casual things for me to do (running and exercise being one of them). Does that make me gifted? I don't know, nor do I really care. The point is, it doesn't take some sort of magic to acquire certain skills, it's a matter of how much effort, time and love you are going to put into it. Sure, there's factors you can't really change, such as genetics. But there are ways around perceived obstacles, as long as you don't perceive them as obstacles. You just have to be persistent and keep an open mind.

Here's a simple example: Compared to something like the piano, the guitar can seem limited, because the notes aren't as organized. Complicated, multi-part compositions can't be played with as much ease (such as playing the main chords and lead melody at the same time). The notes aren't lined up on convenient keys like they are on the piano. But do many guitarists view that as a disadvantage? Or that they are 'musically handicapped' on their instrument? No. I certainly don't. In fact, those 'limitations' have just forced me to think outside of the box when composing music. In fact, that is partially what makes the guitar unique from a piano, as well as capabilities for note bending and other things that aren't necessarily possible on a piano.