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The Pathologising of Passion: Why Deep Interest Trumps The Culture of Resentment

If you have ever lost hours diving into the meticulous history of ancient coinage, the complex mechanics of quantum computing, or the precise taxonomy of deep-sea fungi, congratulations. By the standards of modern psychological classification, you display qualities that may be classified as, "divergent". Your deep, focused pursuit of expertise—your, "special interest"—is often viewed through a diagnostic lens, typically associated with the autistic experience. But let us pause and consider the absurdity of this cultural framing. When did the passionate pursuit of knowledge, the deep dive into complexity, become something that required a clinical explanation? The truth is, if checking things out and learning about things is deemed so divergent, it is at least demonstrably better than its opposite: the deep, corrosive resentment aimed at things that are intelligently established. The Divergent Engine of Expertise A special interest is not merely a hobby; it is ...
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Tracing My Ancestry: Descending from Massachusetts

It is true that Vikings were some of the first from Europe to reach the Americas within the last 1000 years. As the editor of The Valiant, allow me to share an example of DNA testing that finds a match with ancestors in Greenland about a thousand years ago and ancestors in North America several hundred years ago.
We can see in the following map, my ancestors from the time of Arthur Miller's story, The Crucible, and also it is the location near to New England around Massachusetts, and not very far from Virginia.




Ancestry is a fascinating tapestry woven from countless threads of history, culture, and migration. As I delve into my own family tree, I uncover a rich narrative that spans continents and centuries. Each discovery adds a new layer to my heritage. Join me as I explore my diverse ancestry, highlighting the significance of DNA testing and the historical connections that shape our identities today.

As an editor of The Valiant, I find it intriguing that my lineage traces back to this era, particularly near the historical backdrop of Arthur Miller’s story, The Crucible, set in Massachusetts. This region is not just a geographical location for me; it embodies the struggles and triumphs of those who came before. 

While my American ancestry is a significant part of my identity, my family history extends beyond North America. It encompasses roots in Asia, specifically Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. This connection includes a Buddhist monastery, emphasising the spiritual and cultural diversity that characterises my lineage. Each of these regions has contributed to my understanding of the world and the shared human experience.


The Ukraine makes up a large proportion of my ancient ancestry, and it occurs to me that this could be widely shared and commonplace. The migration patterns and historical interactions between regions have resulted in a complex web of connections that bind us all. As I reflect on my Ukrainian heritage, I am reminded of the resilience and creativity of the people from this region, qualities that resonate with my own journey.


My maternal heritage contains large amounts of Hungarian Conqueror, and there are many, many maps to show from My True Ancestry. Maybe another time I could share helpful antidotes about Frankish and Gallic ancestry, as I believe a great many of us have these as part of us from between 1000 and 2000 years ago, or much more broadly for some folk.


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