• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 00:57
CET 06:57
KST 14:57
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Clem wins HomeStory Cup 280HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview12Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info3herO wins SC2 All-Star Invitational14SC2 All-Star Invitational: Tournament Preview5
Community News
Weekly Cups (Jan 26-Feb 1): herO, Clem, ByuN, Classic win2RSL Season 4 announced for March-April7Weekly Cups (Jan 19-25): Bunny, Trigger, MaxPax win3Weekly Cups (Jan 12-18): herO, MaxPax, Solar win0BSL Season 2025 - Full Overview and Conclusion8
StarCraft 2
General
Clem wins HomeStory Cup 28 Stellar Fest "01" Jersey Charity Auction StarCraft 2 Not at the Esports World Cup 2026 Weekly Cups (Jan 26-Feb 1): herO, Clem, ByuN, Classic win HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview
Tourneys
HomeStory Cup 28 RSL Season 4 announced for March-April PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar) StarCraft Evolution League (SC Evo Biweekly) $21,000 Rongyi Cup Season 3 announced (Jan 22-Feb 7)
Strategy
Custom Maps
[A] Starcraft Sound Mod
External Content
Mutation # 511 Temple of Rebirth The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 510 Safety Violation Mutation # 509 Doomsday Report
Brood War
General
BSL Season 21 - Complete Results Bleak Future After Failed ProGaming Career [ASL21] Potential Map Candidates Can someone share very abbreviated BW cliffnotes? BW General Discussion
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues Azhi's Colosseum - Season 2 Small VOD Thread 2.0 [BSL21] Non-Korean Championship - Starts Jan 10
Strategy
Zealot bombing is no longer popular? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Current Meta Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread Path of Exile Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Beyond All Reason
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread The Games Industry And ATVI Canadian Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The herO Fan Club! The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Play, Watch, Drink: Esports …
TrAiDoS
My 2025 Magic: The Gathering…
DARKING
Life Update and thoughts.
FuDDx
How do archons sleep?
8882
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1361 users

People are born with talent

Blogs > hoby2000
Post a Reply
hoby2000
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States918 Posts
November 29 2012 20:01 GMT
#1
But not skill. The two things are different. Meteorskunk wrote a blog about this already, but replies get ignored constantly in threads and blogs, so I'm going to make another blog that settles this.

Talent exists and people are born with it. But talent isn't skill. Talents are the conditions under which you must perform to achieve a certain goal. This can range from genetics to environment - doesn't really matter. All that really matters is that talent does exist, but it's not skill. It's a tool that needs skill to make it worth something.

Skill is how you use your talents, or how well you perform a certain task given the conditions. If you have great skill in Starcraft, chances are that you have used your talents to develop the mindset needed FOR YOU to succeed. Notice that i used "FOR YOU." If you are not born Korean, or in an asian culture (which are generally WAY more strict than American culture(s)), that doesn't mean you can't be the best at SC2. It just means you may have some things working against you that Koreans don't.


Basically, what people perceive to be talent is really just effort more than anything. Yes, they were born in an environment or with the genetics to become who they are, but they still had to put forth effort and work their own challenges to get were they were. Anyone who is really good at what they do will never say they got there because it was easy. They'll say they got there because they had the passion and the will power, and practiced their ass off to get there. It wasn't always easy for them, but they make it look easy because they've done it SO MANY DAMN TIMES.

If you're not learning something as quick as someone else, look at why they're learning so fast. Is it because they're just natural at what they do, or is it because of another base set of fundamental skills they developed because environment or genetics? Then look at yourself, and find out why you don't have those fundamental skills, and find your talents to fix them.

**
A lesson without pain is meaningless for nothing can be gained without giving something in return.
meteorskunk
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Canada546 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-11-29 20:18:53
November 29 2012 20:16 GMT
#2
You make good sense. This is very insightful and helps me out a lot. thanks But it makes me realize that talking about these kind of things is not clear at all.
Girl Blog Credentials: Comfortable talking to some women. Tried the sex once
hoby2000
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States918 Posts
November 29 2012 20:27 GMT
#3
On November 30 2012 05:16 meteorskunk wrote:
You make good sense. This is very insightful and helps me out a lot. thanks But it makes me realize that talking about these kind of things is not clear at all.


It really isn't but a big part of that is definition. A lot of people assume "talent" means "skills you're born with" but it's not. Being born with long legs is not a skill - running USING your long legs you were born with is a skill.
A lesson without pain is meaningless for nothing can be gained without giving something in return.
meteorskunk
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Canada546 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-11-29 20:37:54
November 29 2012 20:35 GMT
#4
My definition of talent is "a unique combination of traits that allows someone to learn a skill in an outstanding manner"
Girl Blog Credentials: Comfortable talking to some women. Tried the sex once
Franthier
Profile Joined November 2012
China64 Posts
November 29 2012 20:47 GMT
#5
I think a better way to say this is gifted(not talent). Take blacks for example they are extremely gifted in the physical aspect, Look at all the basketball players, football players and especially track and field where blacks dominate in the 100m sprint. Skill is something you can build upon repetition and learning. However, without the genetic gift, you ain't gonna run faster than blacks no matter how hard you train or how much steroids you take. I remember the famous USA track and field coach John Smith said, "you can't make donkeys win Kentucky derby", that is a very fine statement spelling the truth between skills and gifted. Of course, if the person is gifted and doesn't work hard, he won't achieve success.
CecilSunkure
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States2829 Posts
November 29 2012 20:56 GMT
#6
I think talent is very limited and overrated, in the sense in which you've defined talent here.
meteorskunk
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Canada546 Posts
November 29 2012 20:57 GMT
#7
On November 30 2012 05:47 Franthier wrote:
I think a better way to say this is gifted(not talent). Take blacks for example they are extremely gifted in the physical aspect, Look at all the basketball players, football players and especially track and field where blacks dominate in the 100m sprint. Skill is something you can build upon repetition and learning. However, without the genetic gift, you ain't gonna run faster than blacks no matter how hard you train or how much steroids you take. I remember the famous USA track and field coach John Smith said, "you can't make donkeys win Kentucky derby", that is a very fine statement spelling the truth between skills and gifted. Of course, if the person is gifted and doesn't work hard, he won't achieve success.


Your comment may have real information, but when you said "you ain't gonna run faster than blacks no matter.." i found it inaccurate. There are many factors that effect a person's body type. It may be true that many of the top athletes in some sports have dark skin but what does that say? One needs the fundamental principle to extrapolate valuable information.
Girl Blog Credentials: Comfortable talking to some women. Tried the sex once
Franthier
Profile Joined November 2012
China64 Posts
November 29 2012 21:57 GMT
#8
On November 30 2012 05:57 meteorskunk wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 30 2012 05:47 Franthier wrote:
I think a better way to say this is gifted(not talent). Take blacks for example they are extremely gifted in the physical aspect, Look at all the basketball players, football players and especially track and field where blacks dominate in the 100m sprint. Skill is something you can build upon repetition and learning. However, without the genetic gift, you ain't gonna run faster than blacks no matter how hard you train or how much steroids you take. I remember the famous USA track and field coach John Smith said, "you can't make donkeys win Kentucky derby", that is a very fine statement spelling the truth between skills and gifted. Of course, if the person is gifted and doesn't work hard, he won't achieve success.


Your comment may have real information, but when you said "you ain't gonna run faster than blacks no matter.." i found it inaccurate. There are many factors that effect a person's body type. It may be true that many of the top athletes in some sports have dark skin but what does that say? One needs the fundamental principle to extrapolate valuable information.


Yep, I agree that I should have phrased it better. Due to the variations in the body shape, muscle fibres, and body structure of the blacks they are able to run faster.
G_G
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
Canada178 Posts
November 29 2012 22:06 GMT
#9
"you can't make donkeys win Kentucky derby" doesn't apply to every skill, although it is certainly true.

No matter how hard a short person reaches for the sky every day, they won't be tall with just effort. However, that's because their height is limited by physical reality. Conceptual skills, which do not actually exist in the physical sense, may not be so limited. A minuscule physical change in a person's brain can mean the difference between dripping drool while starring at a complex mathematical problem or having the ability to solve it effortlessly.

I wonder if a monkey could get to masters if there were no communication barrier while trying to teach them.
pebble444
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
Italy2501 Posts
November 29 2012 22:21 GMT
#10
I agree completely, talent is worth nothing without effort and devotions.
"Awaken my Child, and embrace the Glory that is your Birthright"
32
Profile Joined February 2010
United States163 Posts
November 29 2012 22:26 GMT
#11
I think of talent as being a lot more than effort. Maybe that makes me pessimistic, and perhaps it's also why I didn't get past diamond. It seems like common sense to me, however, that at the highest level of play, luck and effort are going to be maximized just by the amount of people trying to get to the top. Natural talent is what remains to set players apart as superior or inferior.
Franthier
Profile Joined November 2012
China64 Posts
November 30 2012 02:09 GMT
#12
On November 30 2012 07:26 32 wrote:
I think of talent as being a lot more than effort. Maybe that makes me pessimistic, and perhaps it's also why I didn't get past diamond. It seems like common sense to me, however, that at the highest level of play, luck and effort are going to be maximized just by the amount of people trying to get to the top. Natural talent is what remains to set players apart as superior or inferior.


Yeah, I agree. Given that everybody studies, trains and eats the same or what not, the ultimate deciding factor comes down to talent/genetics. As much as I want to believe everybody is the same and equal, unfortunately, it ain't. This is life, people just need to learn to accept it, but don't give up before you even started, always try everything and give your best shot, in the end you would know you have left everything out there and there is no more regret.
Itsmedudeman
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
United States19229 Posts
November 30 2012 02:58 GMT
#13
On November 30 2012 05:57 meteorskunk wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 30 2012 05:47 Franthier wrote:
I think a better way to say this is gifted(not talent). Take blacks for example they are extremely gifted in the physical aspect, Look at all the basketball players, football players and especially track and field where blacks dominate in the 100m sprint. Skill is something you can build upon repetition and learning. However, without the genetic gift, you ain't gonna run faster than blacks no matter how hard you train or how much steroids you take. I remember the famous USA track and field coach John Smith said, "you can't make donkeys win Kentucky derby", that is a very fine statement spelling the truth between skills and gifted. Of course, if the person is gifted and doesn't work hard, he won't achieve success.


Your comment may have real information, but when you said "you ain't gonna run faster than blacks no matter.." i found it inaccurate. There are many factors that effect a person's body type. It may be true that many of the top athletes in some sports have dark skin but what does that say? One needs the fundamental principle to extrapolate valuable information.

Well actually, although it's not directly related to skin color, but it is a scientific fact that black people tend to have a lot of advantageous physical aspects passed through their genes. At the highest level, genetics matter more than effort because when you train to the maximum that your body allows, then you're eventually going to reach the peak limits of your body.
Franthier
Profile Joined November 2012
China64 Posts
November 30 2012 03:25 GMT
#14
On November 30 2012 11:58 Itsmedudeman wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 30 2012 05:57 meteorskunk wrote:
On November 30 2012 05:47 Franthier wrote:
I think a better way to say this is gifted(not talent). Take blacks for example they are extremely gifted in the physical aspect, Look at all the basketball players, football players and especially track and field where blacks dominate in the 100m sprint. Skill is something you can build upon repetition and learning. However, without the genetic gift, you ain't gonna run faster than blacks no matter how hard you train or how much steroids you take. I remember the famous USA track and field coach John Smith said, "you can't make donkeys win Kentucky derby", that is a very fine statement spelling the truth between skills and gifted. Of course, if the person is gifted and doesn't work hard, he won't achieve success.


Your comment may have real information, but when you said "you ain't gonna run faster than blacks no matter.." i found it inaccurate. There are many factors that effect a person's body type. It may be true that many of the top athletes in some sports have dark skin but what does that say? One needs the fundamental principle to extrapolate valuable information.

Well actually, although it's not directly related to skin color, but it is a scientific fact that black people tend to have a lot of advantageous physical aspects passed through their genes. At the highest level, genetics matter more than effort because when you train to the maximum that your body allows, then you're eventually going to reach the peak limits of your body.


Couldn't have said it better myself!
Wohmfg
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
United Kingdom1292 Posts
November 30 2012 03:26 GMT
#15
On November 30 2012 07:06 G_G wrote:
"you can't make donkeys win Kentucky derby" doesn't apply to every skill, although it is certainly true.

No matter how hard a short person reaches for the sky every day, they won't be tall with just effort. However, that's because their height is limited by physical reality. Conceptual skills, which do not actually exist in the physical sense, may not be so limited. A minuscule physical change in a person's brain can mean the difference between dripping drool while starring at a complex mathematical problem or having the ability to solve it effortlessly.

I wonder if a monkey could get to masters if there were no communication barrier while trying to teach them.


You got to remember why there's a communication barrier between humans and monkeys in the first place! Chimps can't learn human languages even if they grow up around us because I assume they have less cognitive ability than humans.
BW4Life!
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Replay Cast
00:00
Rongyi Cup S3 - Playoffs Day 2
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
ProTech136
StarCraft: Brood War
EffOrt 613
actioN 254
Leta 164
Shuttle 116
Hyuk 52
GoRush 29
Noble 18
Icarus 15
Dota 2
NeuroSwarm142
febbydoto13
League of Legends
JimRising 917
C9.Mang0424
Counter-Strike
m0e_tv584
Foxcn208
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox956
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor122
Other Games
summit1g6926
tarik_tv2395
Livibee68
Organizations
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 15 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH301
• practicex 40
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• Azhi_Dahaki22
• Diggity5
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Lourlo1047
Upcoming Events
The PondCast
4h 3m
WardiTV Invitational
6h 3m
YoungYakov vs MaxPax
ByuN vs herO
SHIN vs Classic
Creator vs Cure
Replay Cast
18h 3m
RongYI Cup
2 days
herO vs Maru
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Wardi Open
4 days
Monday Night Weeklies
4 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-02-04
HSC XXVIII
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

CSL 2025 WINTER (S19)
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Acropolis #4 - TS4
Rongyi Cup S3
Nations Cup 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
eXTREMESLAND 2025
SL Budapest Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S1: W7
Escore Tournament S1: W8
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals
FISSURE Playground #3
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League Season 23
ESL Pro League Season 23
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.