Golly! I am old enough to be Coastman's mother!

anonGerman

I'm afraid I've beaten you in the ages stakes I am 34 and will be 35 in two weeks ( Happy bithday to me, Happy birthday to me !!!)

Anyhow to answer the genius child question.

Gifted/ genius children thrive on challenging projects, most do not feel isolated, because they are too busy pursuing the projets they love.

My guess is that it would depend on the background. They could be bullied for being just clever etc which could make them feel isolated.

However, I agree that if you are streched it doesnt matter to much. I remember that at primary school I was quite happy to play and be on my own, and sit outside in the wet area trying to get as far advanced in the maths course as I could (and I am certainly not gifted or a genius) and was very content, so as long as you are occupied it doesnt bother you too much being alone. If social interaction doesnt bother you, then you would gain nothing from it at uni etc.

Anyway, I still beleive it is to do with how fast your brain develops. You may have the academic age of a 21 year old at 15, but when you are 30, you will prob be academically 30 years old. While someone who is academically 15 at 15 will also be 30 at 30 (all other things being equal). I think things will even out. (eg is a professor of physiscs who did normal school better or worse than one who did it 10 years faster? I highly doubt it (intersting to see how many gifted children won noble prizes to test this idea).

Anyway, I feel better now. They are not better than me. Good, much better