We can ask James Watson about that, he may have a little bit of insight. For him it was more of a mixed blessing. Still he was held accountable in ways that most people do not have to deal with.
Hi,
I rather liked just being wacky. In being wacky no one says anything because one they don't understand how your mind works, and two they don't really know how to talk to you, but they know that when you say yes, it is is yes, and when you say no it is no, even if they oppose you.
I was always glad no one told me at the time, how effective I was in some places, and just as well as some CEO's and I have clashed. If anyone had ever told me I wouldn't and didn't believe them anyway. And, what people think of me, is not important. What is important at work, is, Am I right, or Am I wrong, can I prove what I say, Does the proof stand up, under testing or scrutiny.
Actually my personality did not count and does not count in research. What is tough though is defending work, when you don't know it is being attacked. I never did, but with the data to prove what I said, attacks I didn't notice.
At times, just like with my dad when he was right, individuals would come up to me and apologize for theier previous positions, as most of the time they were vocal about it, and emotional, and it was about not liking me, rather than the work. However, they did not like me , because of my work, not my ways.
The confusion with me, is why attack me, over my work. After a while, I just got tired of hearing apologies. It got to the point, that I thought if I heard one more apology, that I would become angry. It didn't happen though. People have got the right, to be heard, especially when they need to get something like error off their minds.
Being wacky or unique, is a defense, not a planned defense, an accidental defense. I never tried to be wacky or unique, it was just how I was built, and graced by whay Christians call, my Creator.
LOVE,