I'm not quite sure what point this is making. No one should feel any inadequacy compared to von Neumann - his intellectual gifts were handed down at birth, they were a fluke of genetics, a statistical outlier. Comparing your intellectual achievements to his is like comparing your wealth to that of David Tisch or Larry Ellison's kids.
The author of the piece, however, is pretty clearly comparing herself to peers - "kids that have had a computer since 1987". This is a valid mode of self-criticism; you can legitimately glean some insights from comparing yourself and your actions to those of people in similar circumstances. If this results in feelings of inadequacy, well, just waving it away is a disservice to yourself.
The author of the piece, however, is pretty clearly comparing herself to peers - "kids that have had a computer since 1987". This is a valid mode of self-criticism; you can legitimately glean some insights from comparing yourself and your actions to those of people in similar circumstances. If this results in feelings of inadequacy, well, just waving it away is a disservice to yourself.