#classic genius society 'curiosity without regard for consequences'

[overdressedcarp]

Op this is excellent!!! Ratio's character stories are everything to me and it's wonderful to see such a thoughtful breakdown.

One thing I noticed recently that I'd missed upon earlier readings: Rond identifies himself as "Professor Emeritus" in the recommendation letter, which means that he was already retired by the point Ratio was gearing up to properly start university.

Rond does refer to his role as a teacher for Ratio in the past tense ("While he was under my tutelage," "during the time we spent together"), so it's possible that Ratio took some university mathematics classes for dual credit before Rond retired, but given how young Ratio is suggested to be at the time, it's possible that the "tutelage" Rond describes was more of a personal mentorship dynamic between a retired university professor and a brilliant young teenager. (In short: the found family potential is massive, especially in light of all the other factors you pointed out.)

I also think it's significant that the two personal relationships documented in the character stories are couched squarely in the academic sphere: a former teacher and a former colleague/assistant. Not just that, but they're relationships with built-in reasons for existing outside of companionship. (This isn't necessarily a bad thing! As an autistic person with a similar—if less dramatic—experience of skipping grades and starting university early, I find it incredibly relatable that Ratio would gravitate toward structured relationships in an environment where he knows himself to thrive.)

It's also poignant to me that we see those structures mirrored in the two major interpersonal relationships he's shown to have in the present day, albeit in a new setting and with the roles flipped.

Ratio is ostensibly on Penacony as Aventurine's colleague and "technical consultant," filling a supporting role in his web of schemes. But 2.1 makes it extremely clear that Ratio cares about him on a personal level as well, while also feeling compelled to downplay that care, similar to how Margaret asks the biographer to strike her more emotional sentiments from the record. (Side note: kind of a dick move on the biographer's part to not only include the bit she asked them to remove, but to also include the bit where she asks them to remove it.)

And of course, Ratio's other notable personal relationship we get to see—his relationship with us, the Trailblazer—is heavily mentor-coded. He provides his own flavor of support and guidance in both halves of 1.6. He encourages us to broaden our educational horizons in the texts he sends us. He even offers to write us a letter of recommendation to the University of Veritas Prime, just like Rond did for him.

He's doing what he knows. He's trying, if imperfectly, to support the people he cares about, in the same way that others supported him. And I think that says a lot about the kind of person he is.

giving my thoughts and ideas on Ratio's character stories

I wouldn't call this much of an analysis but we'll see how it goes

Starting out with his first character story, most of it is Professor Rond's recommendation letter.

I'd like to start by sharing my thoughts about Ratio and Rond first before actually getting into dissecting the letter itself.

So, firstly, I'd like to mention that (to my knowledge) we have never heard of or from Ratio's parents. I find that ironic considering what a big shot he is, I doubt that his parents would ever willingly shut up about their son.

Reading that Rond had a 'significant influence on Ratio's upbringing' particularly stands out to me because, at least at the time of the original letter being written, Ratio was in secondary school (Grade 9-12, though some of the wording in the letter lead me to believe he was likely on the lower end of that range).

Now, a high school teacher having a 'significant influence' on someone's upbringing isn't necessarily uncommon, nor are old teachers proud of their past students becoming extremely successful. However these points, alongside the fact that Ratio's parents are nowhere to be seen in canon, lead me to believe that there was some sort of familial relationship between them, especially seeing Rond's reaction to being asked about Ratio as well as how he had kept the original letter.

Moving on to the actual letter.

Grade skipping is a pretty common practice where I'm from, as it allows learning at the appropriate/needed level (ignoring the fact that the school system is in shambles).

However, the way this is phrased is as if Rond were trying to convince him to be able to skip grades. If he were in grade 11 or 12 I feel like it would not have been phrased this way, which is what leads me to believe he was likely younger, possibly fresh out of middle school.

The highlight on creativity is just because it makes me smile honestly, also it ties into one of my earlier posts about how I think Ratio would adore the subject of art.

I would like to return to my point of Rond being a potential parental figure to Ratio, seeing as he seems to know his daily routine well enough to confidently write about it in his letter of recommendation.

On to his second character story, which is mostly online posts in a thread-like format.

It wasn't until his eighth doctoral degree that he was awarded with First Class Honors, also since he is the first person to receive such in two amber eras it means he was likely the only one on stage at that time.

It also states that at the time he was already a prominent figure in society, which doesn't surprise me given the accomplishments listed by Rond in the letter despite him being in high school at the time it was written. However, he would most likely be an adult by the time he finished his eighth doctorate.

No real comment on this I found it funny that they put etc instead of continuing to list fields.

I also just find these funny and wanted to share them, but the disagreement on the last comment shows how much people admire him. I feel like that's a topic that's rather watered down in the fandom, but people genuinely admire Ratio a lot and there's plenty of reason for them to.

full-time university teachers tend to teach about 5 courses per academic year, meaning Ratio has been teaching for about 10 years.

Moving onto the third story, which is a statement from a former assistant of his about his desire to join the genius society.

I find this to be an interesting point, it seems like joining the Genius Society would be an obvious next step for a man with so many accomplishments but it's stated not once, but twice that he has never spoken about the subject (to the public at least).

I am a believer in the theory that Ratio hasn't been allowed into the Genius Society due to his humanity/compassion and his desire to spread knowledge to everyone, and I feel like this specification that he's never spoken about the topic could add to this theory.

This paragraph never fails to break my heart, but I do want to talk about the mention of an anti-planetary weapon. I feel like this Anti-planetary weapon that he spent years perfecting was a final attempt at proving to Nous that he wasn't too compassionate or too humane to receive their gaze. I remember reading about this idea more in detail elsewhere and if I can find the analyzation then I'll link it here.

Also, I feel like deep down he always knew that he wouldn't be accepted into the Genius Society, but this day, as Margaret states, was the day he finally realized it, or, fully swallowed that pill.

I find these comments to be interesting as well since they specify the narrow-mindedness of the society however, there is this comment from the Data Bank;

This comment I admittedly stumbled across when looking for something else, but I feel like it perfectly encapsulates Ratio's entire dilemma with the Genius Society, maybe not to Ratio himself but it certainly applies to everyone who comments on his achievements being worthy of Nous' approval.

I am also quite curious about who exactly wrote the 'Decoding Dr. Ratio' that we have read from in all of his character stories. They seem to have a lot of connections for someone who would typically be seen as just another paparazzi or media interviewer, I'm surprised the people listed in his stories would agree to an interview.

Onto his final story, which is about his personality and methods of sharing knowledge.

I mentioned this comment in my character notes post but I find it extremely charming that Ratio remains the same and refuses to change himself or his personality to satisfy those around him.

It is also commented in his second character story by a previous professor of his that his honesty and straightforwardness were a 'Breath of fresh air' at the University.

I love the implication that either; nobody in the entire room had any questions (unlikely), or that they were simply too scared to ask them.

I also find the comment that 'Whenever someone agrees with me, I feel like I must be wrong.' Perhaps he's gotten used to being the only one thinking the way he is or the possibility that people only agree with him so they sound intelligent themselves and weren't truly listening or understanding.

I find these comments interesting as well, a majority of the fandom mischaracterizes Ratio as mean or rude although he literally explains his viewpoints where anyone can access it (which does honestly prove his point about how knowledge is not for everyone.)