When genius and insanity hold hands | Ondi Timoner | TEDxKC

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. The internet is a horror film starring all of us - will we step out of line and create something different? Ondi Timoner (two-time Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner) explores what happens when genius and insanity hold hands to create the impossible. In the future, 40% of jobs may be eliminated by technology - but were you working on your dream anyway?
Ondi Timoner has the rare distinction of winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival twice, for “Dig!” (2004) and “We Live in Public” (2009). She currently produces and hosts the only documentary talk show in the world, BYOD (Bring Your Own Doc), which has more than 150 episodes, and has created an online network for entrepreneurs, innovators and artists documenting the top thought-leaders and doers who use technology to disrupt old paradigms, called A Total Disruption.

Timoner has also directed numerous commercials for such clients as Ford, State Farm, the Clinton Foundation and many music videos for artists including Lucinda Williams, The Jonas Brothers, The Vines, OK Go and Fastball, which garnered her a Grammy nomination in 1998. She is a fellow of the Sundance Institute and the Tribeca All-Access Program, and has been a member of the Director’s Guild of America since 2006.

Website: www.interloperfilms.com
Twitter: @onditimoner
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@jimdep7994]

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T. S. Eliot

[@naomid7706]

nice quote

[@aeralv8649]

Jim DEP Moana

[@mike4ty4]

And you also have to be able to have the humility to accept the consequences _when_ you finally _do_ go _too_ far.

[@heavenfxeyesforsale]

But dang it's difficult cleaning up

[@DavidR]

It often feels like I'm the only one who realizes how much the internet destroys and enslaves us. But then things like this come along and restore my faith in humanity.

[@meshakvb6431]

David MC Ruiter The internet is a tool. Like all tools, it can be used to our detriment, or to our success! :)

[@DavidR]

And the vast majority of humanity has used it to their detriment, without even realizing it.

[@rob-profoundlydapper1619]

yes, I believe that is somewhat helping us and somewhat destroying us. how long you spend and what you do on the internet, determines if you are trapping yourslef.

[@rob-profoundlydapper1619]

+RobSpace Duck yourself *

[@CarsonCrestwood]

David M.C. Ryder you special snowflake

[@DonnyMoss]

Inspiring talk. We do accomplish the greatest things when we exit our comfort zones. I need to watch this once a year to keep myself in line. Thank you.

[@eggheadeinstein]

Donny Moss To get out of your comfort zone, watch it more often because I'm going to guess once a year is your comfort zone! Hahahahaa, sorry i had to.

[@Olivia-W]

Donny Moss Oh, sure, except at some point living outside of your comfort zone turns into something pretty painful and depressive. Then again, doing anothing worthwile includes suffering, so yay...

[@madisonreuter4422]

Time to watch it again!

[@catherineblair5648]

Food for great thoughts, and the ego, Ondi. I have lived in a family, who were geniuses, and insanity holds hands. The "price" can be so distructive to us the children. Is it all worth it? Yes! they are BORN to it, even if it kills them. Thank you for this talk, excellent.

[@mike4ty4]

So if you're not "BORN" to it, time to GIVE UP, right?

[@skyeblue5134]

It's a strange world when now people ask me for my snapchat and I have to admit I'm not into social media just youtube and texting....and they think I'm weird

[@AlexnaderSupertramp]

I completely understand. I only text, Google and KZbin. recently had a job interview and on the day of the I interview the gave me sheet asking for my Social Media usage and information. KZbin was not on the list neither was Google. I simply wrote my name at the top. Handed the slip to my interviewer and with much confusion they asked why. I attempted to articulate my reasons. With the interviewer as I explained more and more confusion came across their face. To say the least I was not offered a job.

[@ulalaFrugilega]

Encryption 1.0 sorry to hear that. But they'll understand one day. Or perish. Or both. What kind of job were you applying for?

[@ulalaFrugilega]

Skye blue16 you are. The good kind, though.

[@xDTHx]

I use messenger for messaging but everything else is for my music.

[@obakengsmasekos5382]

I'm exactly the same ​@@ulalaFrugilega

[@AdamShaiken]

So true! From within our personal cages we should seek for as much positivity as you can muster and follow your passion, dreams and intuition. All while attempting to avoid or ignore those with no dreams or vision of their own, those who only seek to derail your dreams and the chaff.

[@TannahMerah]

[@4444Jules]

I'm writing this down. You are now in my "awesome quotes to remember " exercise book :D

[@gloriahallelujah111]

Perhaps they are wanting you to go first and they will have courage from your actions🌼🐝

[@jasonspades5628]

Adam Shaiken You know what we call that kind of taking? It's called, "Sounding profound for the sake of Sounding profound".

[@hehehe1991able]

" if someone says your idea is crazy, its probably worth doing."

[@ditty88]

Hajer Hamed parachutes for cats with disabilities.

[@ditty88]

Hajer Hamed parachutes for cats with disabilities.

[@CommandoJenkins]

@@ditty88 Shoes for footless amputees.

[@davereyes3032]

Flying niggas

[@zTokey]

"every director makes the same film again an again" so true only if your smart enough to see it

[@jonathanbush6197]

I have absolutely nothing new nor intelligent to say.

[@youlostabetwithsatanandnow8592]

Jonathan, the honest human.

[@ulalaFrugilega]

That might not be new, but it certainly is intelligent.

[@TROMBELE]

Thx

[@patriciaoffer9585]

Your caregivers abused you and I'm not trolling.

[@fluffyclouds4303]

Fear is sometimes such a great motivator. let the negative thoughts and memories and fear motivate you to challange those believes. it's all impossible until it is do e!

[@noirblues1]

Ondi Timoner, filmmaker, visionary, a independent force and fearless artist, thanks for sharing.

[@amandapalmer]

wonderful, Ondi.

[@maxiguess2291]

This is brilliant. I perked up when she mentioned your name, and I thought, "I wonder if Amanda knows about this..."

[@infantraj9951]

Why does this Gem of a video have only 158k views? more minds need access to these ideas. And why did it take me 3 years to see this? Argghhhhhh!!?

[@y788lhjk1]

Why does this woman look like the wife of the evil villain in the video game who you know from the start will plot twist to betray her husband and turn to the good side ending up supporting you to eliminate the dark master lord and win over the castle of holystonebricks.

[@alpha4600]

Awesome comment I totally get what you mean

[@classicrocklover5615]

Spot on!

[@GOLDWING-x1b]

r/oddlyspecific

[@samuellp1146]

hahahaha

[@TheJavaMonkey]

Madness does not necessarily indicate genius, but genius most certainly indicates madness. I don’t think genius is attainable to people of perfectly sound mind.

[@Sig.Angelina9765]

Perhaps the 'normal' or 'sound mind' is the general madness.

[@longschlong846]

Define genius

[@michaeldavis9422]

High intelligence is linked to a certain Darpp32 gene. This gene is also linked to schizophrenia. However, most people do have the favorable variant linked to better intelligence, so it is not very exclusive.

[@charlesfraunhofer7893]

If people are crazy I refuse to understand, chronic and neurological psychiatric disorders, come on, the person deserves to be given a hard time, he deserves your infuriation at every idiotic act he has, for he's a danger to you and others, and is most likely a psychopath. Geniuses, not crazy people, are running the world, even building the hospitals. If the doctor is convinced you're schizophrenic they're at the ready to continue medicating you. Doctors are insane. Happiness in this world comes when you have more money and possessions, but a talk on genius isn't going to pay the bills, nor does perfectionism give the the perfect opportunity to save up for paying the bills.

[@wesphillips8058]

@@charlesfraunhofer7893 what

[@shotakonkin2047]

@@charlesfraunhofer7893 I don't think you studied into mental health topics close enough, schizophrenia and anti-social personality disorder (previously known as psychopathy) aren't the same disorder, there both neurodivergency but not a closely linked disorder.

[@shanebairstow5926]

I predicted the inevitable creation of itunes and hand held computers internet connected in 1974 , problems is that vision and the ability to predict the future is NOT a sign if genius. I am 57 years of age today and am really really struggling to be able to FIT in the 21st Century. I cant get a job of any description because I cant understand what a 12 year old can do online.

[@nonnon1746]

Go back to college. It's how everyone learns to do the things they do in life. If you really have an interest in computers - start taking community college courses.

[@mike4ty4]

Yeah, another big part is the _execution_ .

[@TheTruthatallcost]

i am 71 and am living a paradisical LIFE on the NET.Age was never the problem for genius. THINK POSITIVE AND SEE THE MIRACULOUS HAPPEN.All the best.

[@underlyingmotivations313]

Probably the most absurd answer I've ever heard in a while. People learn by doing,not by sitting in a classroom listening to an instructor pass out outdated theoretical knowledge.

[@chrissy0surname]

Yep, it just can't be done any other way...allowing the natural flow of it...harnessing it to its destiny

[@AminaKandel]

Actually, the lion was never the king of the jungle. Think about it...

[@Ondine107]

was it Baloo?

[@Ondine107]

my mistake, it was king Louie

[@MatthewHolevinski]

+Amina Kandel Africa used to be a Jungle...

[@MatthewHolevinski]

My entire life has hinged upon that fact, without that knowledge... Life just wouldn't be worth living.

[@elijahbailey7808]

Amina Kandel lol true

[@jayrich6532]

she looks great in those jeans!

[@MarsiasThisseas]

She looks wow!

[@darrimonta3282]

for your words here I am utterly grateful

[@thomassalvia2892]

Best talk I've seen so far... never fear to be u and to do wat u feel right

[@chaosopher23]

I have been known to leave my mobile at home more often than not, even though I should carry it for a safety device, as I still play like I'm 19 but I'm >50. 10 mile bike rides are best done without the added weight of a mobile to slow me down.

[@carolina_grace5721]

Freedom

[@corinnemuir1542]

For rekindling my hope in humanity, Thanks.

[@Articulatedcopy]

I think I'm in love. What a fantastic message.

[@JusNuncle]

Awesome speech. Great topic!

[@rubennyom1247]

loved it!!

[@sandman3600]

Real talk. Real. Talk.

[@smashingbanana8437]

Power corrupts any one who doesn't think good.

[@MarkMagill]

Her Outfit Is Genius!

[@SH-vm1rz]

she is very very good

[@deepspace28]

Very very nice !

[@jackcross8807]

Love it, thanks Ondi!

[@SuneRicardo]

Honestly to hear this ted talk … i need to only hear it and not see it… you the speaker are to distractedly gorgeous to watch while hearing my god you have the brain and the looks, inside and outside 😍

[@thesimulacre]

The only problem with this talk is the unbelievable absence of rousing ovation interrupting every other sentence.

[@minimaxhall]

Inspiring, thanks for the share gurl

[@danielrangel7130]

thank you

[@xFREERAVENx]

just remember there are a vast number of us out here that never bought into the social media bullshit. "If you use a product you have not paid for, you are the product!"

[@miryanateneva5848]

That was fucking awesome!

[@hadassahbranch7529]

The disproportion between normal people and these impossible visionaries are what sustain their importance. If a majority of people became impossible, then the system would morph to being impossible as well. On the other hand, if this disproportion exists, only then can we recognize these geniuses as thus.

[@jerryjamify]

Outside the line, fear of the of the unknown.

[@relentlessmadman]

life is imposible but here we are! If you try to learn it all to fast all you hear is noise, worse than noise is no noise for to long. I am great company, you could ask me but you would be interupting my conversation!

[@negative_mario5790]

every comment here is so pretentious XD

[@HARDEEPSINGH-de1jf]

YES,WE ARE GETTING PRONE TO CHEMICALS IN VARIOUS COSMETIC PRODUCTS AND ITS DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF IT ....

[@stevenholmes4628]

Life is set out by the rules imposed by our governments. This we allow so we can have shelter and food etc..going against this will lead us down a dark path, online is controlled by companies like Google, facebook. Which in turn are controlled by numerous outside factors.

[@jesus4602]

I wouldn't mind if my insanity held hands with your genius.

[@nonnon1746]

I find it interesting that I've seen this vid all around the internet and there are only 145,276 views.

[@apindia]

Ondi, you are a genius yourself. Thanks for provoking our thoughts too.

[@petergoettler6874]

Interesting...

[@gwenboss2532]

This aged well.

[@VestinVestin]

Funny, I've learnt nothing new about geniuses from this, but it gave me insight into how comfy, social conformists perceive the world. Such pathetic creatures...

[@PurelocalAustralia]

this woman is wise , ondi timoner !

[@shmeebegek1]

What is this talk about? It seems all over the place with no through line.

[@jerryjamify]

Pay attention.

[@lyronconnor7713]

True this is what happens when you lose your soul & focus only on Worldly desires

[@taylorjohnson4943]

I wonder if isolation torture and loss of family would make somebody unstable.

[@jamesgrey13]

I looked in my pocket! Nothing there! :D

[@Babar4Ever]

Being bipolar & having aspergers i can relate to this.

[@beanman1760]

I don't understand. I've watched this whole thing, but dude, I'm freaking out dude. This frickingggg thing is so confusing and the frigging lady is using some freaking insane words I'm fricking going crazy over here what the frickkckkkmmm

[@MichaelKush420]

Humans......constantly needing the ego feed. No wonder the matrix went over so smooth.

[@AusticHardOfHearingSinger]

Tell me how to make MY Technological inventions that will help humanity happen when I have too little of income to do do. It seems crasy of idea, but can help disabled.

[@danielkomitski3923]

YOOO lets hope that technology does that, imagine giving people a break from their controlled lives and watching them realise they must control their own life,

[@IIIIIawesIIIII]

Do you realize that she has just turned "disruptiveness" into a product?

[@Maxekarn17]

Visionnary of impossible, if that ain't an honorable title, what is it?

[@HazerNovich]

WTF how have I never found this before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Ondine107]

I came across this chick as she calls herself Ondi. I thought she'd shortened my name but she made it up :/

[@princejamesorionsiriusstar7596]

Imma mad genius. And lonely

[@excon224]

Natalie Dorner?

[@almightymachine9930]

“MY” 15 minutes!? You the one on KZbin….

[@voiceofreason1663]

sigh. I can think soon that when money is obsolete. There will always be a new form of something to consume. I hate the feeling that you feel self worth with the number of likes you have. That idea is so disgusting for me. What she said on the ending. If your idea is crazy chances are that is a good idea. Sounds good. But not unless you're Hitler.

[@eggheadeinstein]

Skull pop Think of it this way.. those people who get a high from likes are also very likely to like your crazy idea as well. They are so crazy, you've proven your market! Hitler's idea wasn't crazy, it was stupid. He was trying to eliminate the most intellectual people, along with anyone who was different, which would have left him with a homogeneous population that would have severely reduced variety, weakening evolution and the species as a whole. His pure Germanic civilization could have easily be wiped out with a single virus. His idea wasn't crazy, it was retarded.

[@krisrhood2127]

The reason why the voices don't talk to some people is because they don't like them Roki Kyte

[@mjlight]

Need that jacket in my life

[@robinbreeds9217]

every director makes the same film again and again

[@thelight888]

this is aging like the best wines......

[@troygardner1610]

all progress depends on the unreasonable man/women

[@dennisr.levesque2320]

Everything was fine until your last sentence. Good intro, good build-up, good lay-out, good points, bad conclusion. Let me give you an insight to true motivation. I never was one who lived to eat, worked for the sake working, made money just to hoard it, Sought attention just to be famous, or pursued/achieved something just to prove someone wrong. Everything I wanted to do was because I had a genuine value for it (independent of other's values). Whether others liked it or not was irrelevant to whether I liked it or not. My motivation was internal, not external. If someone called my idea crazy or not was irrelevant to how I valued it. If your value of your own idea is dependent on other's opinions, then you will lose your motivation pretty easily. I'd change your last sentence to, "If someone calls your idea crazy, then maybe there's an obstacle that you haven't thought of yet. Maybe you should investigate that a bit before you decide to really do something crazy. If after proper investigation and evaluation (reality check), you still value the project, then proceed properly without doubt." Doing something just to spite someone, is one of the worst reasons to do anything. Then, you'll probably prove THEM right, after all.

[@remisearby122]

Too much for me !!

[@Rasheens-Story]

Guess I’m crazy 😆

[@nikiahota]

Her voice reminds me of Natasha Lyonne's...

[@renehenriksen1735]

Dackson Flux>>>> It´s attitude like yours and God´s(The creator) that has made the world what it is. Let me ask you a question: " - What thing in the world is truly objective or unsubjective if you like that word better?" Is it because you regard objective as absolute truth and subjective as relative truth (lie)? What has objective come from? A lot of individuals who has agreed on something to be true (democracy)? But does that mean that that is always and forever true? No! Because then we wouldn´t evolve and get wiser. EVERYTHING my friend is relative truth. Someday not even death may be an absolute truth as the only objective thing we can rely/count on in life. By the way the world in general doesn´t appreciate it´s geniuses contributions to make the world better and that´s what´s wrong with the world. Nothing is changing as Sylvester Stallone/John Rambo would say. And you know what? That´s not even a lie. People´s narrow visions, superficiality and ability to forget far to easily is the world´s biggest problem....

[@Olivia-W]

René Henriksen Death might be possible to overcome, but things like the laws of physics aren't. There are limits, unfortunately. Limits are frustrating. Our human limitations are frustrating.

[@relentlessmadman]

yes yes we should trump the fear, rather than fearing The Trump, wait does he still have the nuclear codes???

[@almightymachine9930]

Some dude who “invented wave energy”…? Like Newton invented gravity right?

[@pillowbugg]

Digital consciousness merging with biological suits = only way to effectively travel the stars.

[@AssasinZer00]

pshh, i have never used internet.

[@richardlong3956]

?????? WHAT?

[@giskard80]

Im sorry but Micheal Jacksons pants just don't fit. You will have to just settle for his eyebrows and hair.

[@rrorden]

[@cambolten8787]

9/11 and the Patriot Act ring a bell anyone?

[@higgpigg4326]

This woman just promoted chemtrails (geoengineering)

[@danielnavarodrigues9175]

How come we always have to watch the same people giving TED talks? Few interesting speakers around?

[@jamesbilous]

They have to choose the ones that are good 'behavior modelers' This was more of a social conditioning event supporting capitalism and tech, the status quo. Mussolini learned these techniques as far back as 1908 when Montessori first appeared, he then later taught them to Hitler. Read Organism Theory here: groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/WWTAACSMS/files

[@danielnavarodrigues9175]

Thanks James!

[@MikeLundgren]

This is Ondi's first TED or TEDx talk...

[@danielnavarodrigues9175]

It is not.

[@petersmith9740]

Daniel Nava Rodrigues Yes. It is.

[@juanpablosanchezaveleyra6454]

Damn, that woman is hot

[@mrtwister9002]

Women love validation.

[@AndyH2O]

The less said about Russell Brand the better...

[@jennyharris5109]

might be interesting but she talks too fast and too under pronounced to catch what she says. She would benefit from speech training ..

[@surfsupmama3763]

12:23 -- they're all men. Where are the women?

[@elijahbailey7808]

Jess Yelof why do you care? Was that the only thing you were paying attention to?!😑

[@surfsupmama3763]

I don't need to justify anything to some online troll.

[@SolaticSyot]

Entrepreneurs are more often men, and even more so in the technological space which has traditionally been more in the male interest. This mostly has to do with a few biological and mental differences between the sexes. Though, I would question why this really matters, being male is the least interesting or important thing about these people, and that wouldn't change if they were female.

[@Olivia-W]

Solatic Syot I guess I am blessed to know many amazing, strong, revolutionary women. They are not well known, but they don't want to be known. So many country-wide things, and their names aren't even mentioned anywhere. I truly admire all that they've done, though.

[@SolaticSyot]

I never said there weren't "amazing, strong, revolutionary women". I said entrepreneurs are more often men in explanation to the original comment's question, so I'm not sure what you're trying to say. Elaborate?

[@bollymamacooks]

Sesame Street

[@barryseaworth]

Gilf

[@jloren5662]

If "YOU" can track this behavior... Doesn't that tell you the way things work already? Communism worked about the same way.

[@drubie9553]

This barbir is delusional

[@drubie9553]

Barbie

[@markrpope3]

This woman is the ultimate in self promotion. She sure misspeaks a lot. Is she on something? Why is this categorized under non profit? She is for profit.

[@airriflemaniac]

Mark Pope just because people aim for profits in some areas doesn't mean all areas are for profit