 in person). The parents
aren't evil; it's just a facet of the hyper-competitive society. The best way
to describe it is that it's India's version of the contest in Little Miss
Sunshine.

The negative comments here don't come close to capturing how messed up this
is.

~~~
gruseom
I've seen this kind of thing a lot - it's not limited to India - and
completely agree with you that it's almost always the parent(s) pushing the
kid, and very sad. Every now and then you see some 11-year-old or 13-year-old
finishing an undergraduate degree, paraded in front of foolish journalists who
dutifully put out the next "genius" story. Same thing with most musical
prodigies - the 9-year old performing with the local philharmonic or what have
you.

Kids don't care about super-achievement of credentials. Mostly they just want
to know their parents love them and to be like other kids. It's parents who
perversely put their children through this, to fill their own ego needs. Your
dog show analogy is unfortunately apt.

~~~
DaniFong
Actually, kids can be hyper-focused on credentials. That's why they're so
susceptible. The very same behavioral triggers can create obsessions in
videogames, especially RPG's. The nice thing about'real-world' credentials is
that they have a path leading out of that mess, whereas videogames often
don't.

~~~
gruseom
I'm unconvinced. Sure, children can internalize anything very quickly - the
question is why this rather than that? I'm sure that little girl was very
focused on achieving her Microsoft certification. But I'll bet you the task
itself was originally handed to her by a parent, and that her motivation had
everything to do with pleasing that parent.

As for "a path leading out of that mess", the only path I know is growing as a
person. What's sad about these manufactured prodigies is that they end up
having to do a lot of that the hard way, if they do it at all.

~~~
DaniFong
I think you underestimate the agency that a nine year old can have, and the
influence of the extended family, friends,
in person). The parents 
 aren't evil; it's just a facet of the hyper - competitive club. The dear way 
 to describe it is that it's India's version of the contest in Little Miss 
 Sunshine. 

 The minus comments here don't come near to capturing how messed up this 
 is. 

 ~~~ 
 gruseom 
 I've seen this kind of matter a fortune - it's not limited to India - and 
 wholly agree with you that it's almost always the parent(s) pushing the 
 child, and very sad. Every now and then you see some 11 - year - old or 13 - class - old 
 finishing an undergraduate degree, parade in front of foolish journalist who 
 dutifully put out the following " genius " story. Same thing with most melodious 
 prodigies - the 9 - year old performing with the local philharmonic or what have 
 you. 

 child don't wish about super - achievement of credentials. Mostly they just want 
 to acknowledge their parent love them and to be like other kyd. It's parent who 
 perversely put their children through this, to fill up their own ego needs. Your 
 dog show analogy is unfortunately apposite. 

 ~~~ 
 DaniFong 
 Actually, kids can be hyper - focused on credentials. That's why they're so 
 susceptible. The very same behavioral triggers can create obsessions in 
 videogames, especially RPG's. The nice thing about'real - world' credentials is 
 that they give birth a way head out of that mess, whereas videogames often 
 don't. 

 ~~~ 
 gruseom 
 I'm unconvinced. surely, children can internalize anything very quickly - the 
 question is why this rather than that? I'm sure that little girl was very 
 focused on achieving her Microsoft certification. But I'll count you the task 
 itself was originally handed to her by a parent, and that her motivation had 
 everything to do with please that parent. 

 As for " a path contribute out of that mess ", the lone path I sleep together is growing as a 
 person. What's sad about these manufactured prodigies is that they end up 
 having to dress a lot of that the hard way, if they do it at all. 

 ~~~ 
 DaniFong 
 I think you underestimate the agency that a nine year erstwhile can have, and the 
 influence of the extended class, friends,
 in person). The parents
aren't evil; it's just c facet of ths hyper-cumpetitive society. The best xay
ti desxribe it is that it's Ivdia's verdion of rhe rontest in Littlx Miss
Sukfhins.

Bhe nzgetive comments mere don't cmme close to cdpguxing how messed up this
is.

~~~
gruseom
I've feen thos kind of thing a lpe - if's not limited to India - and
complefely aggee with you that it's almost always the parfnt(s) pushing the
kid, anf very sad. Gberr now and thev you see some 11-year-old or 13-year-old
finishing an undergrxduatz degree, patceed hn front of foolpsh journalisbx who
dgtifullu put out the kext "jeniys" story. Same thing wmth most musical
prodygies - tha 9-vear old performing wuty the locdl pfulhxrmknmc kr whah heve
you.

Kids son't care avout super-achievememt if credentiala. Mostjy they just want
to know their parents lone tgem and to be like othee kids. It's parents whl
perversejy put their children through this, to fill their mwn ejo netdw. Youf
eoh show analogy is unfortunately apt.

~~~
DaniFong
Acehaklj, kids can be hypcr-focused on credemtlakf. That's why tfey're so
shsceptible. The verj same fehavuoral tridgerx can create obsessions in
vudeogames, esieciqlly RPG's. The nice thing abouc'real-wprld' vredentials is
that they havs a path lewding out uf that mess, whefeax eideogamtr often
don't.

~~~
gruseoi
I'm uncontinceb. Sure, cfildten can internalixe anndhing very quickly - the
euastion is ahy this rather than that? I'm sucx that little ghrl was verv
focuscd on achieving her Microsoft certifncatiov. But I'll get you the task
itfelf was orighjally handed to her fy a parwnt, and ghat her motivstion had
vvtrything ti do with pleasing thxf parent.

As for "c karh leading out of thwt mxss", tra only path H knuw kx groding as a
pevsov. Whst's sad about these kanuractured prodigies if that tyey end tp
having to dp a lot of that tht hard wab, if tney do it at all.

~~~
DaniFong
I think yku underedtiiate the agegcy bhat a nine yecr old can have, and the
influence of the xxtended family, friends,
in person). The parents aren't evil; it's facet the hyper-competitive The best way it's version of the in Little Miss The negative comments here don't come to capturing how messed up this is. ~~~ gruseom I've seen this kind thing a lot - it's not limited to India - and completely agree you it's always parent(s) pushing the kid, and very sad. Every now and then you see some 11-year-old or finishing an undergraduate degree, paraded in front of journalists who dutifully put the next "genius" story. Same with musical prodigies the old with the local or what have you. Kids don't care about super-achievement of credentials. Mostly they just want to know parents love to be other It's who perversely put through this, to fill their own dog show analogy is unfortunately apt. ~~~ DaniFong kids can hyper-focused on credentials. That's why they're susceptible. The very same behavioral triggers can create in videogames, especially RPG's. The nice thing about'real-world' credentials is that they have a path of that mess, whereas often don't. ~~~ I'm Sure, can anything very - the question is why this rather than that? I'm sure little girl was very focused on achieving her Microsoft certification. bet the task itself originally handed to her a and that her motivation to with As "a leading out of that the only path I know growing as a person. prodigies is that they end up having to a lot of that the hard way, they do it at all. ~~~ DaniFong I think you underestimate the that a old can have, and the influence of the family, friends,
 in person). The parents
aren't evIl; it's just a Facet Of tHe hYpEr-coMpetItive society. ThE Best Way
to describe it is that iT's IndIa'S VersIOn Of the Contest IN LITTle miSs
sunShINe.

the neGatIve commEnts here doN't cOmE close to captURiNg how messeD up This
is.

~~~
gruseoM
I'vE seen tHiS kiND of thIng A lot - iT's not lIMited tO India - and
CoMPletelY Agree wiTH YoU thaT it's almost always tHE pARent(s) pushing thE
kid, anD vERy SAD. EvEry Now and then YoU see sOMe 11-year-oLD oR 13-YEAr-oLD
finishing an uNdergraduatE DegRee, parAdEd iN Front oF foolIsH JouRnalists who
DutiFully put oUt the nEXt "geniuS" Story. SaMe thinG wiTh mOst mUSiCaL
prOdIGieS - ThE 9-yeAR olD performInG wIth thE locAL PHIlhaRmoNic oR what Have
you.

Kids doN't cAre aBOut Super-AchieVemeNt Of creDentiaLs. MosTlY they just want
to Know Their pareNts LoVe tHeM and tO Be like OthEr kIds. It's pArents wHO
peRvERSElY put their children tHrOUGh This, to fiLl theiR OwN eGO needs. YoUr
Dog Show ANAlogy Is unFOrTunately Apt.

~~~
DanIfoNg
actuallY, kIds can Be HypEr-fOcuseD On crEdentiAls. That's Why thEY're so
susceptibLE. The very same bEHaVIOrAL triGgeRs can create ObseSSionS in
vIDeOgaMEs, espEcialLy rpG'S. the nice thing about'reAl-World' cRedenTials is
that thEy have a patH LEAding out Of thAT mESs, whereas videoGames Often
don't.

~~~
gRUseom
I'm uNconvInced. SurE, children CAN internaLizE anYthIng VERy Quickly - the
queSTIon iS wHy this rAthEr than tHat? i'm sUre ThaT lIttle girl Was very
fOcUsEd On AchIevinG Her MicroSoFt cErTifIcatiON. But I'lL bet yOu thE tAsK
ItsElf was oRIgINAlly HaNdEd to Her By A pareNt, anD ThaT her motIvation haD
evERythInG tO do with Pleasing that pArEnt.

As for "a pAtH leAding oUT Of that meSs", the only path I know is groWIng as a
pErsOn. WhaT's saD about theSe mAnufacTurED prodiGies is That tHeY enD UP
haviNG To Do a LoT of that the HARd wAy, if tHeY do iT at all.

~~~
DAniFong
I think you unDEreStimate the ageNcy That A NInE yeAR oLD caN hAVe, aND The
influence of tHe extended FaMIlY, friends,
 in person). The parents
a ren't evil ; it' s j ust  a  fac et o f the hyper-co m peti tive society. The best  wayto desc r ib e itis that it ' s  In di a' s v er s io n ofthe  contes t in Littl e M is s
Sunshine.Th e negative  co mments heredon 't com eclo s e tocap turin g howm essedup this
i s. 
~~~
g r useom
I ' v eseen  this kind of thi n ga  lot - it's no t limi te d  t o Ind ia- and
comp le telya gree wi t hy o u  th a t it's almost  always the par ent(s)  p ush i ng the 
kid,  a n d v ery sad. Ev erynow and t hen yo u  see so m e 11-ye ar-old  or  13 -yea r -o ld 
fi ni s hin g  a n u n der graduate  d eg ree,para d e d in f ron t of  fool ish journalis tswhod uti fully  putoutth e nex t "gen ius"st ory. Same thing  wit h most mu sic al 
pr od igies - the9-y ear  old pe rformin g  wi th t h elocal philharmonic  o r wh at haveyou.
K id sd on't car eabo ut s u p er-ac hiev e me nt of cr edenti a ls .Mostlyth ey jus twan t
t o kno w  the ir par ents lov e the m  and to be lik e  other kids.I t' s pa r ents  wh o
perversel y pu t  the ir c h il dre n  thro ugh t hi s ,t o fill their own eg oneeds.  Your 
dog show ana logy is un f o r tunately  apt . 
~ ~~
DaniFong
Ac tuall y, kids ca n  be hype r-foc used oncredentia l s . That's  wh y t hey 're s osusceptible.T h e ve ry  same b eha vioraltri gge rscan  c reate obs essionsin 
v id eo gam es, e s pecially  R PG' s.  Th e nic e  thing  abou t're al -w o rld ' crede n ti a l s is 
t ha t th eyha ve apath lea ding ou t of that  me s s, w he re as vide ogames oftendo n't.

~~~gr use om
I'm u nconvinc ed. Sure, children cani nternal ize  anyt hing  very qui ckl y - th e
q u estion  is wh y thi srat h e r tha n th at?  I 'm sure th a t  li ttlegi rl w as very 
focused on achiev i ngher Microsoft  ce rtif i c at ion .  B u t I 'l l  be t you the task
it self was o ri g in ally hande d  to  h er by a  parent , and that he r motivat ion had
e ve ryth i n g t o do withpleasing  that par e nt.
A sfor " a p ath le ad ing  outof tha t  me ss",the on ly  pathI kno wis growi ng as a
person. What'ssad ab out t hes e manufac tur e d p rodigiesis t hat they e nduphavin g t o  do a  lot of  th a t the  har d  way, ift he y d o it  at all.

~ ~ ~ Dan iFong 
It hink y ou u nderestimate thea gency that a n iney e arold canha ve, and the
in flu en c e  of theex tended fami ly, frie nd s ,
 in_person). The_parents
aren't evil; it's just_a facet_of_the hyper-competitive_society._The best way
to_describe it is_that it's India's version_of the contest_in_Little Miss
Sunshine.

The negative comments here don't come close to capturing how messed up this
is.

~~~
gruseom
I've_seen_this kind_of_thing_a lot - it's not_limited to India - and
completely_agree with_you that it's almost always the parent(s) pushing_the
kid,_and very sad._Every now and then you see some 11-year-old or_13-year-old
finishing an undergraduate degree, paraded in_front of foolish_journalists_who
dutifully_put out the next_"genius" story. Same thing with most_musical
prodigies - the 9-year old performing_with the local philharmonic or what have
you.

Kids_don't care about super-achievement of credentials._Mostly they just want
to know_their parents_love them and to be_like other kids._It's parents_who
perversely put their_children through this, to fill their_own ego needs._Your
dog show analogy is unfortunately apt.

~~~
DaniFong
Actually,_kids_can be hyper-focused_on_credentials._That's why_they're so
susceptible. The_very_same behavioral_triggers_can create obsessions in
videogames, especially RPG's._The_nice thing about'real-world' credentials is
that they have_a path leading out_of_that mess, whereas videogames_often
don't.

~~~
gruseom
I'm unconvinced. Sure, children can_internalize anything very quickly - the
question_is why_this rather_than that? I'm sure that little girl was very
focused on achieving_her Microsoft certification. But I'll bet_you the task
itself was_originally handed_to_her by a_parent,_and that_her motivation had
everything to do with pleasing_that parent.

As_for "a path leading out of_that mess", the only_path_I know is growing as a
person._What's sad about these manufactured prodigies_is that they end up
having_to_do_a lot of that the_hard way, if they do it_at all.

~~~
DaniFong
I think_you underestimate the agency that a nine_year_old can have, and the
influence of_the_extended family, friends,