How much genius was lost due to abusers?
Forgive them their trespasses, for they are a genius. This sort of sentiment has permeated the arts, politics, academics, science, business and much more over the centuries. It’s one that has given countless socalled geniuses a carte blanche when it comes to egregious of behaviour such as pedophilia, sexual harassment, bullying, racism and much more.
Charles Dickens, Charlie Chaplin, William S. Burroughs, Elvis Presley, J.D. Salinger, Pablo Picasso, Roman Polanski, Mel Gibson, Bill Cosby, John Lennon, Jimmy Page, Sean Connery, James Brown, Miles Davis, Woody Allen, the founding fathers of the U.S. up to the current president, Ted Haggard, Henry Ford, Louie CK, Roger Ailes, Rush Limbaugh, Hugh Hefner, Bill O’Reilly, Kevin Spacey.
From left to right on the political spectrum, from all religions, from all background, these types of “geniuses” appear in all fields of work. Beloved and celebrated, they’re memorialized as juggernauts, with awards and accolades coming out the wazoo. And horrendous behaviour often rationalized and romanticized, as has been the case for centuries as being just another aspect of genius — hand-in-hand, of course, with mental and emotional instability, drugs for coping and creating, and just generally being a deep tortured soul who isn’t understood by the world.
The argument is, If we blacklist these talented folks for their sins, we lose great pieces of art and progress. Rarely mentioned is how by celebrating and tolerating these “geniuses” we silence other voices.
Take the stereotypical Hollywood story, with the genius leading actor/producer/director using their power and status as leverage against young hopefuls. Victims are left with few choices: Put up with abuse if they want to follow their dreams, or walk away.
Who knows how many brilliant people have walked away? Who were denied funding, blacklisted, and more because they didn’t want to play along. Who lost years of creativity and productivity due to depression, drugs, PTSD and other long-term effects of being a victim of abuse. That sort of loss is immeasurable.
Move beyond Hollywood to Silicon Valley, which is considered the epicentre of technological genius and advancement of the modern age. For many women it’s absolute hell due to the extremely well-documented harassment and abuse. These women are just as smart, capable, and “genius” as their male colleagues. Yet many ultimately tap out, and find work elsewhere because how horrific it is to continually work in those conditions. Once again, an immeasurable loss.
Most of us aren’t in Hollywood or Silicon Valley. But there’s so-called “geniuses” in everyday life.
The smiley top salesperson who brings in clients, the middle manager who charms upper management, the list goes on. Who cares if they’re a little hands-on with a female co-worker. If they sometimes blurt out inappropriate things. That’s just how Bill, Jim, John, George, whoever, is. And look at the numbers they’re bringing in. Look at the great program they’ve come up with. Look at their new idea that sets us apart! Nevermind the toxic workplace, constant turnover and under performances by co-workers it causes.
Idealizing someone as a genius also undersells what really goes into success.
Take the case of disgraced former CBC star Jian Ghomeshi. When abuse allegations against him first made headlines, people were aghast that such a man whose “genius” skyrocketed CBC’s Q to international fame had done such a thing. Q was done for. Yet in picking apart what happened behind the scenes — and seeing Ghomeshi’s post-CBC projects — it’s become clear that much of the “genius” attributed to Ghomeshi had more to do with the tireless behindthe-scenes work of writers, producers and other staff. Q lives on. So will we. In a world of more than seven billion people, it’s ludicrous to assume that a select few ghoulish people have unrivaled proprietorship over humanity’s great works.