[Monk of Funk]

Originally Posted by JonPR

That's what it comes down to, yes.
I mean, obviously that's extremely appealing, not quite enough: there were way too many obstacles in the way - internal as well as external. I wasn't ready to give up what I had (safe job, girlfriends, etc) in order to pursue a dream that I might fail at.

obviously you would not fail. All you need is the drive.

Originally Posted by Monk of Funk

It is a shame that you will never appreciate musical greatness the way I am able to.

For you, musical greatness will always just be a regular person that practiced a lot from a young age, and was brought up in the right environment.

For me, it is far more special. Those may be some rare odds. But it is much more rare to have suitable enough conditions, and also be born with some special talent.

So, you will not appreciate the greatness at the same magnitude I do. It is more of a simple and common place, matter of fact thing for you. Like "oh, ya, that guy practiced a lot and started young."

To me, it is like "wow, that person is something special, and they put all of their special abilities that they have into mastering guitar, and now look at them."

History supports that view. Since you and I can name the individuals responsible for our technological leaps, and our new found knowledge. The key players in music even, but those are a bit more common place. We can name them. But we cannot name their children. Though their children were directly trained by the greatest masters at the youngest age.

These individuals come years apart. If it was just environment, there would be more of them, and we'd be farther ahead.

You know? it is very special, musical greatness. But I don't think you can fully appreciate it, not appreciate it the way I do.

To me, there is something magical about it. It is not just study and books, and practice, and an early start.

It is the rare combination of someone with inherent and rare skill sets, and the dedication and influence, and string of events, that combined together make a fresh and beautiful result.

I understand that you might not see it that way. But from my perspective. You will not be able to appreciate it as much as I do. It is a much more common thing to you than it is to me. Something we can all do, but have not. To me, it is a level few of us can even reach, and those that do, have their own unique colour from the path they took that shaped them.

You might love the music as the music is, as much as I do, and perhaps more even. But I don't think you can appreciate the musician nearly as much.

No matter how special you might think they are, that is multiplied by a large factor for me, because a whole extra dynamic of rarity has been added from my perspective.

That is what I meant.