The Economist: Desiring Dyslexics, ADD and Aspies

"In praise of misfits, why business needs people with Asperger's syndrome, attendtion-deficit disorder and dyslexia" this week's Schumpeter column from the Economist rhymes in.

I can tell you these folks "Think Different" if I may borrow from Steve Jobs. I know them first hand. I also fear that too many of them are wasted and we cannot afford that. If we think they will be out-sized trail blazers of tomorrow then our education system must be more ambitious. Don't just accommodate them. Go much further: nurture them.

After a while you will learn that there is nothing new from the Economist. It is just simply helping ignorant business people and government leaders catch up what trail blazers and niche players already know. Where Economist fills the gap is in helping make connections across various islands of knowledge so that we get the picture of the forest. Actually there are many possible pictures but the Economist only provide a libertarian one.

I wonder will there come a time when fad chasers become stupid as they usually do and try to fake Asperger's syndrome. The other two is much harder to pretend. Already Hollywood has extolled geekiness as sexy after leading geeks became very rich peddling their craft.