Comments | kidnamedgoat: (без темы)

kidnamedgoat

(Untitled)

Jul 05, 2008 03:41

I'm almost through with Barzun's The House of Intellect, in which he says a lot about the effects our national policy/philosophy on education has on the state of intellect. What I'm thinking is this: cut-throat capitalism with only a limited and bloated welfare system leaves it to well meaning but uninformed and thus apologetically confused ( Read more... )

Comments 5

dark_heartless July 6 2008, 01:43:36 UTC

Thats like saying none of the population is worthy to talk to you. You say you've been immersed in this ever since you left college? So, does that mean I (or anyone else you talk to regularly) am stupid or can't hold a conversation compared to you?

That whole spiel sounds completely arrogant. Like the human beings around you are just worthless fluttering moths.

Bleh, whatever.

kidnamedgoat July 6 2008, 04:35:31 UTC

There is, clearly, a difference between being stupid and being able to hold a conversation on a certain level. There's a particular sort of company I hold when I'm at school that I don't, for the most part, when I'm home. I miss that company, a lot. That isn't to say that I don't like hanging out with you.

I'm not trying to be arrogant: I know my place. There are obviously a considerable number of people who are much, much smarter than I will ever be, and I have a lot of respect, admiration, etc for those people. But there are also a lot of people whom I've got beat, largely for no other reason than that I put in the time and passion that they deem unnecessary, and that's incredibly frustrating to me.

... mayday_parker July 6 2008, 12:09:34 UTC

I COMPLETELY agree with you. This is why I <3 you. You articulate what's buried deep in my brain and I don't even realize I should be trying harder to get out in to the world. You make my life so much easier. :-D ( ... )

Re: ... mayday_parker July 6 2008, 12:12:00 UTC

P.S. I don't think you're arrogant, but you're so sure of your ideas and yourself that you can appear that way. But more often than not you should be sure of yourself and your ideas because they/you are awesome.

Re: ... kidnamedgoat July 6 2008, 16:46:56 UTC

I think this is another problem we have, one which is especially noticable in schools. We tend to equate a high opionion of oneself with arrogance, and no one wants to be perceived as arrogant: this has led to a sort of culture of self-deprication. In class, people tend to say "I'm not sure if this is right" or "I'm probably totally off track here" before they make their comment or ask their question when such prefaces are completely unnecessary. It's a class: we are there to learn, to make mistakes, to say dumb and embarassing things. If someone shoots a hole in my theory, I'm disappointed because I thought my theory was a good one, that the situation I was trying to come to terms with was a bit closer to being understandable. I'm not angry or embarassed that someone has shot me down; I don't take it personally or as a sign of my self worth. When I assert an idea without devaluing comments, it isn't because I think I'm better than everyone else or that I think it's impossible for me to be wrong on the point; it's because such ( ... )