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<p>“ick” factor???!!! Sorry, but if “ick” and “creey” are normal reactions, perhaps the “problem” lies not with the individual but the very narrow minds of the rest of society that is unable to accept any definition of “normal” beyond their very limited view? Perhaps before labeling others, we should sit back and, as an earlier poster said, treat our own “disorders.”</p>
<p>The parents may not be aware of how the web site comes across, and the “CC denizens” comment cements that. OK, if you were the parent in this situation and for whatever reason you felt you wanted / needed a website, what would you put on it that you think <em>would</em> signal that the family dynamics were reasonably normal and that the child was happy and not being programmed? How would you talk about your child’s achievements in a way that didn’t raise the ick factor? If the parent is indeed lurking here, that may provide useful information.</p>
<p>ick" factor???!!! Sorry, but if “ick” and “creey” are normal reactions, perhaps the “problem” lies not with the individual but the very narrow minds of the rest of society that is unable to accept any definition of “normal” beyond their very limited view?"</p>
<p>I think it’s great that the child is so talented in music and math. The ick factor comes not in the child’s accomplishments, but in the perceived boastfulness of the website. The article may indeed have misrepresented them and Ms. Schorn may have done them a disservice (I don’t know); the website is under their own control.</p>
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<p>I was referring to the website not the child. I can’t imagine you would perceive otherwise. Quite shocking, really.</p>
<p>Here’s another example of the ick factor that came from the interview. The parents named their child Magnus, magnus being related to “great” in Latin. Now, they are entitled to call their child whatever they want and to have any reason for the name, or none at all. But I don’t think most people would actually brag that they named their child the word for “great.” And I think the kind of people who do may not be fully aware of how that comes across to others.</p>
<p>For those wondering if Magnus’ parents are reading this thread, his website now has a comment directed to “CC denizens.”</p>
<p>marite, that article, oh! Out-of-work copy editors everywhere are probably laughing and crying at the same time!</p>
<p>wjb, already noted. Gotta wonder if that’s the best use of the advertising space.</p>
<p>I guess I am just from the school that tries to use positive/constructive criticism and it has never occurred to me to use “ick” or other derogatory forms of criticisms that might cause others to become more defensive rather than receptive to suggested change. Just imagine if teachers started grading schoolwork based on the “ick” factor!</p>
<p>Re post 225: Oh, come on! Magnus is a perfectly acceptable name in the UK and ion Scandinavian countries. Now, in France, someone called Alexandre (a very common name in the UK and US) would bring snide comments about delusions of grandeur (it happened to one of my classmates).</p>
<p>And in some countries, it is perfectly normal to name your child Jesus or Mohammed. Let’s not carried away with dissecting names.</p>
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<p>You may have noticed that this isn’t school? It’s specifically a forum for the exchange of information among individuals. You don’t have to like my choice of word, that’s just fine. I stand by it. I think the website, as it stood yesterday, was full of the “ick factor.”</p>
<p>I’m not dissecting the name. They have every right to call their son whatever they want. I don’t care; it has nothing to do with anything. What I <em>am</em> saying is that it’s an odd choice to <em>tell</em> people that you’re naming your son after the word “great” in Latin. It comes across odd and they may not be aware of how odd it comes across. That’s all.</p>
<p>I’ve had two interns at my firms over the years named Magnus. Both from Norway. I think it’s a great name.</p>
<p>I also know a man named Magnus :)</p>
<p>Still though, I am having problems with self advertising in a style that is done on this boy’s page.</p>
<p>Does anyone have a problem with the not teaching of english, history or science? What could possibly be the justification for that, besides, “he isn’t interested” And yet they expect him to go to college, what, without science, math or history? I think the problem with the name is that it, ALONG with the marketing of the little boy, is “Icking”</p>
<p>Its like calling your child Jesus, then saying he is indeed the second coming.</p>
<p>I wonder what Magnus’ parents will think and take away from this thread, if anything. No doubt they regularly google his name and they will see this thread.<br>
Welcome to College Confidential Drs. LaDue!</p>
<p>^^ I would hope that they take away the fact that their intentions might not be completely realized with the website, and that viewers might be seeing it in a negative light.</p>
<p>That AP story was a joke by Google! Here is a link to the original article, where you can see, it is all spelled correctly. It seemed to be a hack job when I saw it…
<a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080717/ap_on_go_ot/gore_electricity_16[/url]”>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080717/ap_on_go_ot/gore_electricity_16</a></p>
<p>Probably the most frightening website I’ve seen in a while. But I’m convinced the problems of the world will not be solved by soloists but by teams. These kid’s parents may create a great mathematician but will he be able to work collaboratively?
Will he solve any greater problems in his life than a child with a little less skill in math but was in a different social environment? I think a kid with a large group of friends of all types, who played team sports, interacts with many adults and mentors younger kids will be better at solving problems in today’s world because they learned to work in a team environment.</p>
<p>^^This is way overblown…The problems of the world are solved by teams of people that solved problems by themselves when they were in school. Team sports are great and I participated in them, but their importance is overblown. If a kid is just not interested in them, then they’re not interested. </p>
<p>Another point: it’s completely inappropriate to diagnose a kid based on a television interview. A lot of 8-year-olds would be freaked out by a television interview and likely would not know how to engage in smalltalk. Some kids just blurt out inappropriate things anyway, but a lot of smart kids can be quiet, particularly when they around people they don’t know.</p>
<p>Also, newspapers often don’t care about getting quotes right. I was interviewed about some club I was in when I was a kid. I talked to the reporter for a half an hour, and they gave me a single quote in the article, “This club is neat.” I never said that. In fact, I don’t think I ever used the word “neat” in my life. I was pretty angry LOL, but I guess I learned something about the accuracy of newspapers…</p>