Definitely both, and often it's difficult to determine the difference.

And furthermore, neither one guarantees success, nor is either necessarily required for it.

Talent does exist. But you can also reach the same levels if you put enough time and effort.

Is a contortionist better at their craft if they born with hypermobility? The answer is yes and that is because some people are genetically born with bodies better to one thing or another. Same with the brain. Some people's brains just function different. Stephan Hawking was born with a brain that could do math that very few else could do. So yes talent does exist, but talent is nothing without practice.

Talent is based on DNA, if you ask me.. But then again, we do barely know enough about the genetics, so even that is a whole unknown category.

A talented person who tries just as hard as the person who lacks the talent will always get things done more easily; That however doesn't guarantee getting farther, as the dedication, motivation, and other factors do play a role there.
We do all know that the person who's very passionate about something absorbs nearly everything about the topic, whereas the person who doesn't care will have a hard time remembering it all.

It's always more than the eye can see.. At least for now, and that is if we ever get that far in the future to have us predict our own paths, which is doubtful on its own.

Originally posted by Scooby Person (she/her):

Do you believe talent is real, and people can be naturally good at certain things? Or do you think you can only excel at something if you put in the effort?

I think some people had incompetent parents and grew up lazy and dumb. The rest are what you call "talented".

It's real. Especially in sports.
Hardwork can help you reach high place, but the best seat is reserve for talent people.

Originally posted by Scooby Person (she/her):

naturally good at certain things

such as?

Definitely, one of the first natural talents I became aware of is typing, and it's been that way since primary school, which was always fun to show off.

Originally posted by Midori:

Definitely, one of the first natural talents I became aware of is typing, and it's been that way since primary school, which was always fun to show off.

Typing is a talent?
Haha, please.. You're actually serious, though, right?
Despite that, I'm having a really hard time accepting that. My mind is all dead set against that being a talent.

Originally posted by Shiro♌:

Originally posted by Midori:

Definitely, one of the first natural talents I became aware of is typing, and it's been that way since primary school, which was always fun to show off.

Typing is a talent?
Haha, please.. You're actually serious, though, right?
Despite that, I'm having a really hard time accepting that. My mind is all dead set against that being a talent.

Considering that I've been fast at it (160~WPM) from the very beginning, without it developing as a long term skill or anything, I'm pretty insistent on calling it a "talent" in that context, yeah.

Awful talent to have now AI can output faster than anyone can type but eh.

Originally posted by Shiro♌:

Originally posted by Midori:

Definitely, one of the first natural talents I became aware of is typing, and it's been that way since primary school, which was always fun to show off.

Typing is a talent?
Haha, please.. You're actually serious, though, right?
Despite that, I'm having a really hard time accepting that. My mind is all dead set against that being a talent.

Of course it is.

Typing with the speed and accuracy of a court stenographer, for instance, requires a finer command of motor control than any professional sport. Wild, innit?

You don't need talent anymore now you can just have AI do the thing for you.

Originally posted by allegedly:

Originally posted by Scooby Person (she/her):

naturally good at certain things

such as?

things you could judge?
art, writing, sports, most activities

Originally posted by Shiro♌:

Originally posted by Midori:

Definitely, one of the first natural talents I became aware of is typing, and it's been that way since primary school, which was always fun to show off.

Typing is a talent?
Haha, please.. You're actually serious, though, right?
Despite that, I'm having a really hard time accepting that. My mind is all dead set against that being a talent.

Court stenographers type at high rates capturing the entirety of all convos that happen in the court room. It isn't an easy job or something that just anyone can do. It is a talent in of itself. Try typing every word of a conversation with 100% accuracy and speed. I doubt you'd be able to do it. I sure know I wouldn't be able to.

Originally posted by OoOoOoooOOoOoorgle:

Originally posted by Shiro♌:

Typing is a talent?
Haha, please.. You're actually serious, though, right?
Despite that, I'm having a really hard time accepting that. My mind is all dead set against that being a talent.

Of course it is.

Typing with the speed and accuracy of a court stenographer, for instance, requires a finer command of motor control than any professional sport. Wild, innit?

Beat me to it.