# When Did You Finally realize (and Accept) That You Are MEDIOCRE? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2002, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936 "2002-08-28T14:11:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/1 "2002-08-28T14:11:33Z")
## Surely, the saddest day in anyone’ s life, is the day that he/she realizes that he is never going to win the Nobel prize, or head a major corporation, or will the Davis Cup. We who are condemned to a life of obscurity, know in our hearts that we are just “average”. In my case, my life has been marked by unremitting failure… I wanted to be a mathematician, but as an undergrad, I soon learned that I had no ability to be one. I then changed careers, and became a moderately successful engineer. Now, as I turn 40, I am beset with the knowledge that : -I will never be rich -I will never be a CEO -my lawn has crabgrass How did YOU cope with the realization of your own mediocrity?☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/2 "2002-08-28T14:15:12Z")
I have not realised it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/3 "2002-08-28T14:18:07Z")
I always plagerize (sp?) that life is what you make of it. I do not believe any of us are truly mediocre. We are all different and have the ability to change the future. If we do nothing in life, that doesn’t mean we are important; the lives we touch are changed forever when we touch them. Also if you have children, you can be safe in the knowledge that you are passing on your genes toward a new evolution of Humans. You can always do something to stand out from the crowd, whether it is changing one person’s life, or mowing down a group of people in the mall…Lives are altered and you have had an effect. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/4 "2002-08-28T14:20:51Z")
I will only realize my mediocrity when the award comes in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![bifar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bifar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bifar)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/5 "2002-08-28T14:22:17Z")
No matter how good you are at anything, there’s always someone who’s better than you. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/6 "2002-08-28T14:40:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bifar \* > \*\*No matter how good you are at anything, there’s always someone who’s better than you. Sigh. \*\* That can’t be true for everyone. There’s got to be somebody who nobody is better than at something. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/7 "2002-08-28T14:43:10Z")
I read a lot and I, as the words to the song go, “Know a little bit about a lot of things” and have an EE degree with about two additional years of advanced schooling plus 35 years of experience in the field. When I read posts on this board by those who are real experts in a subject I realize that I’m just a dilettante about most things and even about some aspects of electrical engineering. Doesn’t bother me a bit because learning has always been fun for me. ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/8 "2002-08-28T15:04:08Z")
Never underestimate the power of being “ordinary”. Life is much simpler for us average folks than for the CEO of a major (or even minor) corporation. I was probably in my 40’s when that finally dawned on me. Like everyone, I do some things very well, and others not so well; and some things I just can’t do at all. It’s called being human. Like **David** I think that learning new stuff is fun - even if I’ll never be an expert at it. Revel in the things you enjoy doing, and lack of talent in other areas will lose significance. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/9 "2002-08-28T15:20:07Z")
Being successful is not mediocre. If someone achieves something desired, planned or attempted, he is successful, not mediocre. Perhaps a person is happy being a worker, or a supervisor. If he plans this, he is certainly not mediocre. He has achieved his goal and is content with that. ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/10 "2002-08-28T15:31:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*I have not realised it yet. \*\* Me neither, although Mrs. Lucwarm tries to convince me on a regular basis 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bindlestiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bindlestiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bindlestiff)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/11 "2002-08-28T15:35:11Z")
I’ve suspected it for some time now but it’s gonna be a while before I actually admit it to myself - then another while before I admit it to others. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/12 "2002-08-28T15:35:21Z")
Maybe you are mediocre, but not everyone is. But whatever standard you’re using, there’s got to be a few above and below, and one each on top and bottom. On the other hand, remember this and remember it well: **You are unique — and so is everyone else.** ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/13 "2002-08-28T15:55:20Z")
I am going to be one of the biggest rock stars of my generation. No joke. So, no, I haven’t accepted mediocrity yet, and don’t think I ever will (even if for some reason my bid for stardom doesn’t pan out. Think though, you knew me when). ---
**Author:** ![DonJorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/47e85d/32.png) [@DonJorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonJorge)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/14 "2002-08-28T15:59:26Z")
I would say that you become mediocre when you think that you are. As it has been said here, being ordinary is not being mediocre. Now, if what you mean is that you will not be remembered a 100 years from now as someone who did some significant achievement that changed humanity (for the good, I hope), then I would say that you become mediocre when you stop hoping… I still hope that a few months from now, or a few years from now I will write “THE” book, or have “THE” philosophical insight, or think of “THE” scientific breakthrough, or become the oldest one to win “THE” sporting event… ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/15 "2002-08-28T16:06:57Z")
Eh… Get back to me when I’m 30, I figure by then I will’ve found my rut. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/16 "2002-08-28T16:12:25Z")
Another factor - no matter how great your native talent at something, there are other people out there who are about your equal. And you are eventually going to be up against some obsessed SOB who not only has your talent, but is willing to devote every waking minute of their existence to using it on a very narrow field of endeavor. Thus, the corporate CEO who hits the office at 7:00 AM, and is still scanning paperwork and tearing his hair out at midnight. You could take up macrame, and I’m sure you would find some nut job out there who does nothing but knot wall hangings and reads nothing but macrame magazines, in order to become the best. You are not going to beat these people at their chosen game. They’ve not only not stopped to smell the roses, they’ve long forgotten that rosebeds exist. Hell, they’ve forgotten that most of the world exists. Their office suite, athletic field or studio has become their entire universe. And they’re usually crazier than outhouse rats. Most people who have reached the top ranks of visible accomplishment have paid an awful price for it in forgoing amost everything else. In many cases, you needn’t envy them. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/17 "2002-08-28T16:25:13Z")
I realized I was mediocre when I moved my thousand-and-first thread to IMHO. Off to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/18 "2002-08-28T16:36:05Z")
> [@](#): > > ## \*Originally posted by ralph124c \* \*\*Surely, the saddest day in anyone’ s life, is the day that he/she realizes that he is never going to win the Nobel prize, or head a major corporation, or will the Davis Cup. We who are condemned to a life of obscurity, know in our hearts that we are just “average”. In my case, my life has been marked by unremitting failure… I wanted to be a mathematician, but as an undergrad, I soon learned that I had no ability to be one. I then changed careers, and became a moderately successful engineer. Now, as I turn 40, I am beset with the knowledge that : -I will never be rich -I will never be a CEO -my lawn has crabgrass > > How did YOU cope with the realization of your own mediocrity?☹ \*\* Mediocrity is a relative thing, you’re lucky to have a lawn which implies you have a house, some people are homeless and live out of a plastic bag. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/19 "2002-08-28T16:50:25Z")
As someone who recently upgraded myself from “hideously ugly” to “just ordinary looking”, I am still working on raising myself from “an abject failure/nobody” to “mediocre.” IOW, not yet. ---
**Author:** ![cthulhuCultist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cthulhuCultist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cthulhuCultist)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936/20 "2002-08-28T17:10:32Z")
Agin, my answer is “not yet”. I know I’m not “the best”; I’ll settle for “significantly above average”. Three standard deviations above the norm sounds about right. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-finally-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-mediocre/125936.md?page=2)