A Thought Of Genius

"She often exhausted me in that ‘After party slump’ way of interesting overstimulation. She was like a kindergarten Kierkegaard-- Plato and playdough, rolled into one.  She was always bouncing from task to project, delighted in fireflies and sparkly shiny things. Terrified of wasps but careless with snakes. She was oblivious regarding the expected mores and habits of a woman her age, though she did try--I saw her paint her nails with the meticulous, tongue-out precision of a child, then immediately smudge them on the cat. She spoke fast and laughed with her head back in unashamed display. 

Then, suddenly, she would pause, perfectly still. Some faint siren from a distant deeper universe would captivate her and she would drink deeply of it. "Do you believe in entelechy?" she would say at last with a thoughtful voice. "Do you think that is a mandate from God? Is the purpose OF life to determine our purpose IN life or is that just a construct of ambitious people?" I say nothing as a moment of general relativity would pass--a few seconds for me, but miles of deep contemplation for her, as if she walked down a well and back out in the same time in which I took my next two steps. I had learned to measure my drinking in of her as her life flowed and crashed against mine.

"Our math is wrong" she would sigh. "It is limited in dimension. It is just the representation of a thing. And we act as if it is the thing, is fundamental, accurate enough to base our understanding of God and the universe in. We are fools trying to eat a painting of an apple." and the weariness of it would weigh her shoulders down. I would nod in generous encouragement at her statement, wondering if she was more mad than genius. She was a mobius strip made of mirror and you never knew if she was climbing to a moment of excellence or was sliding back, weeping and weak, to the bottom of the glass.  Her thoughts and life reflected on itself in infinite loops that went miles but nowhere, but the speed at which it moved often generated a warm energy that we could harness for our own uses.

Every experience was weighted in time and meaning, and instinct was more profane to her than any language of a sailor. Actions taken without consideration were an abomination, and she often tilted at the windmills of those who worked solely from brutish desire.

Once a man said "She handled crisis better than she handles her daily life" and he was spot on. 'Woman, thy name is Dichotomy' I chastised her lightly: the patterns she saw and the disorder she lived in, the silliness of a child and the thoughts of a sage, the taste of the heroic but the life of the mundane. A loving wife and a horrible housekeeper. Broken but unbreakable.  Saint and sinner.  Flashes of brilliance in a mediocre sky. She eyed the tornado calmly as a worthy adversary, but broke down if she couldn't find a shoe. The sight of a crushed butterfly dimmed the sun in her bizarre little world, but she had no fear of death--to her it was a shrugging off of an old shirt.

She was all potential energy and frustrated action until she walked, which she did with such quickness of stride that even her teenage son had trouble keeping up with her. She was always trying to fit into the world in some way, through some work or job or habit, but I wondered if maybe she belonged to that vast inner dimension that sang to her--the only place that would make her still and calm and be.

I felt sorry for her.  In the end she was just a book—ragged and stained and crumpled and holding a story within her that she never was.

Much Too Much

You know that feeling when you are really nauseated--perhaps carsick or from a stomach bug?  You are just barely hanging on, trying to stay quiet and still so you don't throw up?

Or perhaps you have a migraine or are hungover and are just barely hanging on to your lunch and your sanity?

You know how every scent, sound, sight, touch is overwhelming and you just want to go somewhere cool and quiet and dark and still?

That is what it is like for an Outlier with OE's or an introvert who has been overstimulated, minus (sometimes) the nausea and pain.

Now imagine someone saying "Dude, stop being a baby.  You aren't that sick.  Just grab your bucket and come to the club!".  Besides wanting to punch them square in the nose, you also are determined to not deal with people.  You just want to recover in peace.

"Much Too Much"
Outliers are Outliers because their entire nervous system, from brain to tiny nerve in a toe, is attune to input and sensory data and works constantly, like a revving engine, to make and break and remake unique connections.  This means that it is easy, particularly if tired or ill or run down, to overwhelm the nervous system.  Just as how it is a lot more problem throwing a wrench into a gear that is going at 200rpm vs one going at 2rpm, one little "too much" (sight, sound, thought, movement, interaction) can send the Outlier into that "nauseated but not" feeling.

When the nervous system is overloaded, you just feel the need to escape, to go somewhere cool and quiet or warm and dark or whatever is most settling.  It is like how scents don't cause stomach flu, but when you have it, a single whiff can put you over the edge from in control to hugging the bowl.

This is not just an emotional need to escape, it is actually a physical need as well to settle and reorganize the neurons and sensations.   When your Outlier is overwhelmed or has been going all day and comes home and just needs a few minutes of quiet and alone, let him be.  Suggest music, a book, a walk outside, a hug--something that will allow them to regroup.    If your wife is an Outlier and has spent all day with children, she might need you suck up an hour with the kids (and chores--don't just plop in front of the tv and consider the fact that nothing was set on fire a win.  Put the dishes in the dishwasher or take 10 min to sweep the floor.  It is amazing how she will react to that to your favor) so she can get some quiet.

When the Outlier is an introvert, interactions with people, even via internet, will add to the burden on the nervous system.  Many extrovert Outliers do not seem to experience as much overload as introverts, but it still happens.

Some hints that your Outlier's nervous system is overwhelmed:
-Lashing out unreasonably
-Unexpected emotional outbursts
-General grouchiness
-Headaches
-Stomachaches
-A desire not to do pleasurable things (not meaning long term denial of pleasure)
-Communication changes (for example, a normal chatty Outlier suddenly talks in monosyllables)
-More time spent with headphones on or playing video games or in a book.
-Speaking more quietly (or loudly) than normal
-Off appetite or craving comfort foods.
-More obsessive or compulsive than normal for them.

Now, this does not excuse bad behaviour on anyone's part.  The Outlier has to be taught to manage their own overstimulation, just as anyone else has to.  Being overstimulated is not an excuse for an Outlier adult or child to be a jerk to others.  It is just as easy to say "I need a moment" as it is to have a tantrum.

However, young Outliers might not understand what is going on and parents can help them learn to recognize "too much".  Parents can also help Outliers learn how to stretch their tolerance:  overstimulation is not deadly or injurious, just uncomfortable.  Sometimes you just can't leave a situation because you want to.  Sometimes you just have to use internal calming techniques to manage.

The recharge period varies.  It could just be the length of time it takes to use the restroom to an entire day of rest.  We at TCG encourage one rest day (deliberate rest, no work, no catch up).  This day is used to physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually recharge.  The key is deliberate rest, not just "procrastinating".  Declaring a day and a plan for that day helps frame the rest without guilt.  It also provides a framework for being able to actually rest, much like how a vacation day is more restful than a day when someone is on call but is not called in.

It is like a boxer catching his breath in the corner between rounds--a little time now will keep him going further later.

Stuck In The Middle With You....Part Two

We discussed the event that IS the Ambivert* here.

However, some consideration, a little going deeper, might be in order.

What if being an ambivert is that someone is extroverted and introverted, but rather is an introvert with Outlier overexcitabilities?

Thoughts?

*Note, we are using the most basic "definition" of extrovert and introvert for expediency and discussion.  Extroversion/introversion are not necessarily behavior patterns but the way the brain processes and a deeper understanding of Jungian definition of each can be found here.  However, for our purposes, the layman understanding will work fine here.

The Real Deus Ex Machina...Examples From The Video Game Destiny

We are pretty hardcore gamers at The Capable Genius, the two favorites being Destiny and Halo (all the Halo franchise, but don't get us started on the lack of splitscreen in Halo 5).

Merits, or lack thereof, of gaming in a spiritual life aside, there are some great analogies in Destiny for the Godly Geek, especially regarding the Cryptarch.

For those who don't play, in Destiny players go do missions, raids, patrols, then bring what they have found to the Cryptarch (there are two, actually, but our fav is Master Rahool at the Tower).

He decrypts all the "engrams", or little shiny baubles, that you get while you fight the bad guys.  You never know exactly what you will get, which could be weapons or armor.  He also gives rewards for doing a good job. 

Consider:

1) There is Always a Crowd but He Always Has Time for Each Player.   Just like with the Cryptarch, I don't have to wait for others, perhaps "more holy" folk, to clear out of the way so I can see God.  I am not last, I am not first, I am not 3rd from the bottom or 4th from the top.  My access to God is immediate as soon as I come close to Him.  I might see a lot of folk, but really it is just down to Him and me.  (Kierkegaard has some cool stuff to say about this)

2)  I Can't Compare Myself to Other Players.   I can see their gear and their armor and might be tempted to compare myself ("Why haven't I gotten The Last Word?"), but that would be foolish.  I have different skills and armor and weapons and different classes.  The Titan can't do what I do, and I can't do what he does.  The point is to be the best Hunter I can be, not look at any other player.

Even among Hunters, there is difference.  Skyridersam is also a Hunter who has been playing longer and is a "run and gun" type player.  I am the team sniper and think my way through maps.  So while his style of play is good, so is mine, and both of us together make an excellent team. 

Also, mine is the only controller on our team that is Inverted Southpaw.  That is what works best for the way my brain is wired.  That does mean the other players can't do my work for my character.  I have my own work to do my own way.  When there is a hard part, I have to get through it, not let other people do the work for me.  Just like IRL, each person has their own job to do with the way they are made.  No one else can live their life and do their work, each has his own.

We each are given a set of skills, in real life, to do the work the Lord has for us. The goals are the same in each life:  love God, love others, do the best with the talents you have in the situation you are in, but each person has different skills to do those.  No one (should) look down on the lowly level 8, carrying his two green engrams--he did the best with what he had and that was enough, just like the servant who doubled his 2 talents was just as highly praised as the servant who doubled his 5. (Matt 25:14-30)

3)  There Is Plenty For All--the Cryptarch has plenty of help decoding engrams, plenty of rewards.  You are rewarded for what you have done, and he won't run out of anything.  The Lord, too, never runs out of blessings for us.  He could choose to give every one of His children a million dollars and the ability to fly and it would not be the least bit stretch for Him, and it would be done in an instant.

4)  He Is Glad To See You-- no matter if you are a level 40 needing a bunch of legendary engrams decoded, or a newbie level 7 who has his first green (lower level) engram.  The Lord, too, does not discriminate against persons--if you come to Him, He welcomes you, no matter how bad you were playing the life game til you came to Him.  He helps you with your level and is there for you at all times.  Even if you failed a "mission" 7 times, He does not kick you out of His fold.



A few more analogies:

You will run into false Guardians--those who seek only for themselves and would probably be on the evil team if they could.  Now, we could say they are just playing, that is not the person, but a person practices what they desire. 

I ran into a couple of Kinderguardians (new players) who were eager and rambunctious, but harmless (and kind of fun to have hanging around).  I also ran into a creeper who was exhibiting very disturbing behaviors through his character.  Even though he wore the clothes of a Guardian and had the moves of a Guardian, he was not one in his heart.  Not every one who has the appearance of goodness is good.

Personality vs Overexcitabilities

An interesting observation about personality traits and overexcitabilities, which are often present in Outliers:  Overexcitabilities can often, we think, mask as personality traits.

I always presumed I was an ambivert--gathering energy from people until I didn't, then gathering energy from solitude. 

However, as I discussed with a fellow Outlier, I realized that I always gain energy from solitude, and people and events can excite me, but often leave me drained, even if I gained energy in the short term.  Since that is not the definition of extrovert, there must be another explanation and we believe it might be that I am an introvert with overexcitabilities when it comes to the input of people and new things.

Something to consider when analyzing one's personality either for personal knowledge or professional choices.

The Long Dark Teatime Of The Soul

We want to tread carefully here.  Understand that this is one perspective from someone who is not a licensed psychologist but who has experienced existential depression, as most, if not all, Outliers have. 

If you are depressed for whatever reason, please seek help.  It is not in my power to evaluate you.



Douglas Adams pegged, if unintentionally, the feeling of existential depression with the title of his book "The Long, Dark Teatime Of The Soul".  Unlike demoralization from a traumatic event ("No, really, that sucks.") or regular, anger turned inward depression ("There is nothing really wrong with my life.....I just don't feel happy and everything aches"), existential depression is more like understanding the enormity of existence and what falls short in it and not working toward a goal.  It is like a mid life crisis that can hit as early as age 4 and sometimes every. freaking. year.  after that.

But the good thing is that, unlike a death in the family, which you cannot change, or depression that has no apparent cause, existential depression has both cause and cure.  But we have to work for it.

Consider the Star Trek Voyager episode Latent Image.  The Doctor had to choose which life of two critically injured crewmen he would save.  Both had the same chance of living if he tried to save them, both were certainly going to die if he did not attend them.  When he made a choice, he knew it was choosing to let the other crewmate die.

This created a feedback loop between his cognitive and ethical subroutines. He spun himself into the ground.  Twice Janeway ordered his memory erased but then realized that perhaps he needed to walk through this process.

The thing about Outliers is that we see so much.  We understand much.  Our brains can hold much.  We often can see how things can be better, but we also often can see the failures in ourselves and in the world.  When our "cognitive subroutine" ('We/people/the world can do so much better') meets our "ethical subroutine" ('We need to do something, but what?  How can we fix everything that is wrong?  Where do we start?  What do I choose as a career?  Am I making a difference?  Why won't people just stop being jerks to their dogs?', etc)  we end up in a tailspin of stress and drama.

Here are a few tips for getting out of existential depression:
1)  Realize the world is not going to be perfect, but a lot of it is good, beautiful, even excellent.  It is right to focus on the good, the beautiful, the honorable, the excellent...it's even in the Bible.  It literally adjusts the chemicals in your brain so that you have gumption and clear thinking to fix the rest.  You know how it is:  if you are in a good mood, you will try and work.  When you are in a bad mood, you just want to veg and eat.  Keep yourself in a good mental place so that you can work the problem.

2)  Realize that your perfectionism is trying to force a round peg in a million square holes.  You do not have to fix everything.  You are not even supposed to.  No, really.  You are not supposed to fix everything.  It is illogical to even consider that, but it is hard when we see suffering not to want to go be everybody's everything.  But that is a job reserved only for God. 

Now that we don't have to be perfect, we can be good.

3)  Realize that difficulties often make people stronger.  You are stronger for the trials you have had, not because you had everything perfectly.  What this means is that if something cannot be fixed right then, let the Lord do the work and just be a good support buddy.

4)  Realize that the Lord knows what is going on and has everything under control.

5)  Realize that you have a sphere of influence and it is not the size of the Earth.  Or even a county.  Or even a city block.  You do not have to fix everything, and especially not today.  Your purpose is to love God and love people.  Every task, hobby, goal, thought, supper, etc should be focused on those two purposes with thankfulness, trust, rational thought, and love.

6)  Don't dismiss the Butterfly Effect:  you have more influence than you know.  I know a woman who bakes and took a loaf of bread to a friend, just because.  Many years later, that friend mentioned that that small gesture inspired her to bake bread and take it to a new neighbor.  Now, I don't know if that new neighbor carried on the tradition or not.  What I know is that one woman's offhand deed, not meant to be "SPECIAL" or "EPIC" or "ASTOUNDING" rippled through at least two families.  If you have any interest in theoretical physics of time and action within time, just stop for a moment and imagine the pattern of acts of love and goodness and kindness rippling through the universe.

7) Realize that you are not the only thread in the cloth, the only ant in the hill, the only star in the constellation.  You are one of a group of humanity--do what you can and encourage others to do what they can and that will be good work.

8)  "To See The Need Is To Hear The Call"--but only if you have the ability to do so.  I would love to, for example:  stop sex trafficking, eliminate cheating in the NFL, keep my neighbors from scrapping, feed the hungry in my community, and assist all Outliers everywhere. 

Now, in each of those, I have varying levels of influence.  I pray for my neighbors and if I can catch him sometime when things are cool, I can strike up a conversation.  I can learn about sex trafficking, but since I don't travel or are places where I would be on the scene where I could rescue anyone, I can donate to those who are working the problem.  I can't do much about the NFL cheating except not support those teams.  For the hungry, I can join the Society of St Andrew, which gleans fields for food for the hungry, and I can donate at the store when asked.   I can write this blog and hope Outliers are led here and are assisted. 

So make a list of the most important problems to solve and decide what you can do.  Assign your work a number value.  For example, I can only give about a 0.3 to the NFL thing.  But I can give a good, solid 5 to the hungry and an 8 or more to helping other Outliers.  This will help you see that your work matters.

9)  See if your problem is more centered on self--not as far in your career, not as famous, not as rich or whatever.  In that case, it really helps to look at the big picture of what your purpose on earth is.  Is it actually to "be famous"?  Or is it to do good work?  Who are you trying to impress, and is it the right person?


If you are overwhelmed with the enormity of everything on earth that is wrong, you of course will get depressed.  Only the most clueless or heartless wouldn't.  The thing is to use that long, dark, teatime to think, to pray, then to DO.

What Is It Like To Be An Outler (Genius)?

First of all, a review of how we here at The Capable Genius define like terms.  This is not particularly scientific but rather gleaned from our observations and, frankly, our opinions.

Talent--an exceptional ability (for example, the ability to run fast, to play the piano excellently, write poetry with technical skill and beauty, etc).  One does not have to be a genius to be talented.  They SHOW genius, but it is within the band of their talent.

Bright--extra intellectual ability (straight A's, good student, may be in gifted programs due to teacher recommendation but IQ tests would show "bright" not "gifted")

Genius--exceptional intellectual ability.  They may or may not be good students, but their ability to think is profound.  Their entire nervous system is more attune to stimuli than the norm.  This contributes to "overexcitabilities".  It also accounts for the ability to synthesize information and create new from it.

Outliers--aka genius, "gifted".  We find this term the most accurate description of high IQ people as it a)reflects a position on a bell curve, is not loaded sentiment of  inherent worth or favor (as the term "gifted" tends to be) b)encompasses the entirety of the nervous system experiences and activity instead of merely focusing on intellect (which "genius" tends to do).  We do, though, use "genius" and "Outlier" interchangeably on The Capable Genius.


So what is it like to be an Outlier?  How does the experience differ from the norm?  It depends on the Outlier.  Each experience is incredibly different depending on the parts of the brain that are more active.  This is part of the struggle of being an Outlier--not only are you different from the norm, but you are also different from other Outliers.  However, like athletes of different sports, Outliers can find some common ground:

-Intensity.  This is probably the hallmark of the genius.  Whatever sense or experience stimulates the brain, stimulates it to a greater degree in the Outlier.  This can cause problems with overexcitabilities (essentially the incredibly intense excitation of the neurons) in which the genius seems to either overreact, shun, or crave more whatever stimulus has excited the brain.

-Atypical sensations, emotions, understandings.  Imagine being the only person who can see in a world filled with the blind.  On one hand, it is incredibly beautiful to see sunsets and machines.  On the other hand, trying to explain what you see is nigh unto impossible. It can be isolating, but also provides the food that our brains need to make new discoveries and connections.

-A rich, valid inner world.  The world inside the head of a genius is just as vast as the world outside.  Imagine being able to go anywhere in the universe with a thought.  What would you see, experience, explore?  Now imagine being able to have a fully functional “universe” between your ears.  Libraries and laboratories and songs and poems and inventions all dancing around the inside of your head.  This is most likely where the “absent-minded professor” meme comes from.  The truth is that that professor is not absent minded, he is absent bodied—he is living quite well in his inner universe, but the problems might arise in his outer universe with the people and situations who require his attention.

I would like to offer this:  while it might be tempting to call the outer universe the “real world”, it is no more or less real than the inner world of the genius mind.  The songs that we sing in the outer world started in an inner world.  The paintings, medicine, cars, gardens, books, all started in the rich inner world of a mind.  The difference between the inner universe and the outer universe is pretty much one of location.

*This brings up an extremely important note that plays into existential depression and other experiences of the genius:  great angst can arise in the genius when sliding between the inner and outer universe.  What seems perfectly reasonable in terms of “what should” happen (for example, if the genius has a strict moral code that sees what people should do to be happy or to help others), is often not observed in the outer world.  A genius child knows that people should be nice to animals.  In his inner universe, that is an accepted fact, like gravity.  However, in the outer universe, many people abuse animals on purpose, and it is much like suddenly having gravity reverse or being thrust from one country to another where the mores and traditions and experiences have all changed.  

As one might imagine, this can cause incredible frustration, turmoil, and anxiety.  To know what people can do to reduce suffering, to know how the world should be, and to see people choosing intentionally not to live how the world should be, can be extraordinarily draining.  We will cover this more when we address existential depression, but we wanted to bring this to your attention now as a further explanation of how the conflict between two real worlds can cause troubles.

Now, the inner universe has fewer constraints than the outer universe does.  Gravity, time, uninvented words, new images and colors, all can be played with and explored.  However, the imagination, the second part of genius, can go awry into maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and experiences.  Anxiety, typical depression, mischief, superiority complexes, all can be fully developed in an inner universe that is just as rich and real as the outer one.  

Think about the movie the Matrix.  While the body was reclined in a chair, the mind was so thoroughly immersed in the inner world of the computer, that if the person “died” in the Matrix, the body, which was far removed from any danger, died as well.  The mind was powerful enough to create a new reality for the person.

When this involves creations of books, art, science, etc, then this is a wonderful bonus not just to the genius, but to those who will reap the benefit of the creations of his inner world.  

However, when the emotions are uncontrolled, like an unmanned fire hose, they will pull the genius into whatever sort of madness the emotional state (which stirs the imagination, feeding off of its "what if") is indulging in.  This is when neuroses begin to show—again the inner universe of the genius often spills out into the outer universe.  Obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, mood dysregulation, chicanery, etc will fill up the inner, and the outer, world of the genius.

-Fluidity, complexity, and speed of thought.  Because an Outlier brain goes so fast, it can seem a little random or unhinged to those listening.  The Outlier might tend to finish other people's sandwiches sentences because the conversation is being played more quickly in the mind of the Outlier.  Situations often have layers or depths that the Outlier sees which the neurotypical does not--things begin to take on symbolic or multiple meanings and/or the Outlier can see further down the road.  For example, the Outlier might be able to perceive that action "a" which leads to result "b" will eventually lead to consequence "m".

-Asynchrony.  The young Outlier probably developed oddly, for example, having the ability to follow and contribute to a conversation about physics, but throwing a tantrum when the crust was not cut off the bread.  While asychrony eventually evens out for the most part, it can be a very...interesting, and often bewildering, experience to raise a Capable Genius.

-Polymath Abilities. The Outlier almost always has more than one extremely high capability, for example, the ability to dance and be an engineer.  Think of DaVinci, who was a scientist as well as an artist and inventor.  If there is only one high ability, that might be considered talent more than genius. 

-Difficulty relating.  This depends on how far the Outlier is from the apex of the bell curve.  There is a sweet spot, an "Optimal Intelligence" in which the brain is just more adept enough to allow the Outlier to shine among people while also being able to relate to the neurotypical and be relatable to them.  Once you are past this, though, even speech patterns can seem odd to the neurotypical.  We often can get an inkling (though it is not perfect) of the intellectual ability of someone by the way they move and speak or the facial expressions they use.

-Existential Angst.  It can be overwhelming for an Outlier to know they can do much but have no idea what to do.  Add in emotional overexcitabilities which urge the Outlier to "go fix the world!", the fact that one might have the ability to be an excellent doctor and an excellent lawyer, but not both at the same time ("Which one of my natural abilities do I ignore?  Is that the right decision?  What if I was really meant to be a doctor but I chose lawyer?"), and the fact that very few people understand what it is like to be you and therefore cannot adequately give counsel, and there often occurs bouts of existential angst or depression (not to be confused with "regular" depression....this is more of a demoralization as opposed to "I have no idea why I am depressed").

-Metacognition.  "Thinking about Thinking".  A semi-constant systems check of how we are thinking, what we are thinking about, if our thinking is sound, what might distract us from our thinking (which can be ironic as the mere thinking about distractions can be a huge distraction).  Metacognition is one of the most useful skill of an Outlier.


These are just a few traits to consider, there are many more.  Notice we did not include "early reading" (as that is not actually proven to mean anything at all), nor voracious reader (lots of people like to read lots of books), and other sort of "identifiers".  Those are more.....effects than causes.  Early reading can happen because a child is an Outlier, or can occur in a bright child with an attentive parent, or may be due a talent for language vs having a high IQ.  We know of one Capable Genius who learned how to turn off her mobile at 10 weeks, but did not read until she was 8.

We also would like to point out that none of these by themselves are "differentials".  A person may have trouble relating because they are an Outlier OR because they are just a narcissist.  A person might be experiencing existential angst because they just turned 45 (existential angst in Outliers often starts much earlier...sometimes even in 4 year olds).  If you suspect you or someone else is an Outlier, a full evaluation (not just an IQ test) given by a psychologist who specializes in "gifted" people is a must.  Let us emphasize:  it must be a FULL evaluation, not just an IQ test and it must be with a specialist, not just any psychologist, just like if you had a torn ACL, you want to go to a sports medicine doc, not just a family practitioner.  Yes, both can run the same tests, but the sports med guy knows a lot more than the fam prac.

This should give you a glimpse into the mind of the Outlier.  Feel free to suggest points we might have missed, this is hardly an exhaustive list.