So the problem is: if we add that boundary back, and are able to say that our success and failures are – in part – out of our hands, will be able to justify the wealth we hope to gain from our creations?

@Meryn Stol: I think that history shows that it rewards people who have ideas and courage pursue them, regardless of their income. My concern in your statement regarding personal freedom and not having to work 9-5 is that this leave innovation and genius to those with money and time: the upper and middle upper classes of society.

Those with really, truly good ideas/talents tend to rise to the surface. Those of us with time/money, we just get a chance to play in a league we don’t always deserve to be in. (I count myself in this pool and don’t mean to speak for anyone else in this conversation.) I find this to be true of the west any way.

Curious to hear what people think about all of this from the Global South and East.

I really don’t believe there’s a big “genetic” factor in genius. It’s situational.

Also, not only connections matter, but also personal freedom. If you have to work for money 9-5, you have less chance to follow your dreams. So people who are free to pursue their interests will have much bigger chance to develop a kind of genius.

I think I’m part of that lucky group who has stumbled on the right connections and also has had (and have) lots of free time. I feel as if it has been all an accident for me.

I got to subscribe to Ethan Zuckerman again too I think.