[ SECRET POST #4870 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #4870 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.



__________________________________________________



02.


__________________________________________________



03.


__________________________________________________



04.


__________________________________________________



05.


__________________________________________________



06.


__________________________________________________



07.



__________________________________________________



08.


__________________________________________________



09.








Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 21 secrets from Secret Submission Post #697.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

07. https://i.imgur.com/TNEY7R3.png

[(Anonymous)]

What.

[(Anonymous)]

I mean, there's a bit of a difference, isn't there? Someone can be naturally talented at something, while also working at improving that gift to become more skilled.

Like people with perfect pitch. That's gifted. That doesn't mean they don't work hard with that gift to become more skilled.

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah-- to me, gifted and skilled are two different things, which usually have crossover as people with gifts may work to develop skills.

I guess I can understand being nitpicky when the words are used interchangeably, or with seeing 'gifted' used to describe a character who is SHOWN to actively work to improve skills they may not be naturally more inclined towards... but some people ARE gifted, and if they're not written to be dicks about it, then I'll probably enjoy taking a journey with them.

[(Anonymous)]

Like people with perfect pitch... you mean all babies who grow up in a house with a regularly used piano? Because that's how people develop perfect pitch. They aren't "gifted" the skill, they learn it.

DA

[(Anonymous)]

I mean.....yeah?

Even if they're gifted by their parents instead of, like, GOD

the babies didn't practice and work to have perfect pitch, they just absorbed it. adults cannot stumble into that ability and would have to work very hard to attain even an approximation if they aren't raised by musicians.

Also, like, if there's any genetic component, this is the worst cofounder in the WORLD.

Are you actually saying no one has different baseline abilities?

Re: DA

[(Anonymous)]

I do agree that a lot of skills, maybe all of them, are much easier to learn if you've been exposed to them at an early age, but I don't believe in any genetic component in baseline abilities, except in the way of modifying objects for the ease of use of some people.

For example, piano keys today are significantly larger and set further apart from each other, than they used to be centuries ago. So a person with short fingers would have a hard time playing music composed by old masters on the modern pianos equally well as a long-fingered person can play it. But that doens't mean they lack the predisposition for playing pianos, because, ironically, this music was designed by the old masters with an intent of being played on pianos with keys more comfortable for short-fingered people to use. Those pianos just aren't produced anymore, so any short-fingered person, who wants to play piano, is going to believe the reason they're struggling is because they don't have the innate talent for playing pianos. Which is simply wrong.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't know what this secret is saying. OP, do you not like when the word "gifted" is used for a skilled character? Or do you not like when a character is written as just naturally gifted at something (e.g. Harry Potter being good at flying the first time he ever holds a broom)?

I don't really care when people use the word "gifted" to mean skilled. They are different in my mind, but I'm pretty comfortable with reading between the lines to determine exactly what the writer means when they say "gifted."

I actually like when a character is depicted as having a natural aptitude for something - however, it's really important to me that they are show working to improve their skill, as well. Natural aptitude only takes you so far. I find it so much more engaging to read about a character who is naturally good at something working hard at said thing and becoming amazing at it. If they're just instantly the best at said thing with no effort at all on their part, that can be pretty obnoxious.

[(Anonymous)]

Makes sense. Skilled characters have to work to be as good as they are, while gifted characters just are. I prefer skilled characters overall, tbh.

But some are.

[(Anonymous)]

Harry Potter is gifted, but not skilled.
James T. Kirk is gifted and skilled, but is impulsive and reckless enough that sometimes he just leaves them both by the wayside and sort of goes on stubbornness and luck. (And this describes a startling amount of characters that I know and I'm not sure how I feel about that.)
Natasha Romanoff is skilled (very, very skilled), not gifted.
Jar Jar Binks is neither skilled, nor gifted.

Re: But some are.

[(Anonymous)]

Uh... Excuse you, but Jar Jar Binks is VERY gifted at being unbearably annoying.

Re: But some are.

[(Anonymous)]

ayrt

Yes, you're right. I apologize for any mental stress I have caused by not acknowledging how truly talented he is at being annoying.

Re: But some are.

[(Anonymous)]

Team Darth Jar Jar!

[(Anonymous)]

I prefer "skilled" characters too, if that's what you mean.

I like the idea of people working hard and making goals and improving themselves rather than just being lucky or blessed.

[(Anonymous)]

I like it when "gifted" and "skilled" characters interact, like characters who have a special talent but lack practical skills interacting with characters that lack their talent but are way better equipped to handle other things. There can be really interesting dynamics between them, like whether there's resentment.

[meadowphoenix]

ahistorical Salieri from the movie Amadeus is that you?

[(Anonymous)]

I have a hard time believing in "talent" after everyone told me to give up drawing on account of having no talent, and after a few years of work, now everybody is fawning over how "talented" I am, including the same people, who used to tell me I have no talent. This annoys me, because I was really close to giving up, because I wasn't blessed with some mystical natural "talent" that apparently makes people pick up a pencil for the first time and instantly create masterpieces, but it seems that all skilled people are automatically assumed to be talented, and untrained beginners are automatically considered untalented. I wish people wouldn't obsess over the idea of having a natural talent so much. Imagine how many world champions have been dissuaded from their path by people, who told them they should give it up if they're not instantly amazing.