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Comment by bryanrasmussen | Hacker News Reader

I seem to remember some story of a dinner party with Gates where he was bragging his intelligence would have allowed him to rise to the top in whatever culture he was born into. Can't find a link to the anecdote however so maybe my memory is playing tricks on me.

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Can we focus on what the article says rather than on a distraction that focuses on an alleged anecdote about the author from decades ago that does nothing to confirm or refute the research and presentation of this article?

Maybe he isn't talking about becoming a dollar billionaire at an early age at any community. Maybe he is talking top in the context of that community. If he was born in a remote village of a third world country, maybe he was going to rise to the top and have more cattle than anyone else, but globally, he was going to be a successful but an unknown herdman.

Edit: Removed confusing Latin terms.

> persona non grata

That phrase does not mean what you think it means. You're looking for the words "person of no consequence".

Sorry. I thought it can also be used for an "insignificant person". I will avoid Latin terms next time.

persona non grata = unpleasant person. You probably meant "unknown person"? (I don't think there's a canonical Latin phrase for that.)

Yes. That's what I meant. Sorry for the confusion.

Even so, people are allowed to grow and change their ideas.

I expect so, I just found it amusing. I picture him looking back on his callow middle age with a bemused expression.

on edit: finished, got cut off early by interviewer.

guy seems to have matured a lot in his later years.

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