Random Thoughts Thread

[BogusMeatFactory]

I remember in my youth, in my advanced american literature class, we had to make up a motto for the meaning of life, excluding Carpe Diem. Everyone's response was, "Carpe Diem," missing the point entirely. My response was, "The meaning to life is that you have a meaning to life. It doesn't matter what you do or how you do it, just that you do it." People can have a simple life and be simple people and still have a fulfilling life. Isn't that what is really important? That you feel fulfilled.

[J T]

My last post was more as a point of clarification aimed at the general discussion that followed your earlier comment, as I took your post as you intended...it was stated well.

Good, because I actually stand behind the sentiment JT and yourself were expressing. I simply wanted to make notes in the margins.

I get that you get what I'm saying, but I want to add some more anyway and respond to one specific thing you said:

"If I can reach that top cabinet, there is no reason you cannot." Says the 6' tall man to the small person. Meanwhile neglecting the obvious answer was to give him a hand up.

Just saying.

I intend my complaints to be more from the perspective of a man of average height complaining about a world designed for hobbits. That is to say, I think that the average person is much smarter than they are generally given credit for. I'm not even talking about intellectual giants. Your average Joe Shmoe is smarter than his culture treats him. I find this infuriating to no end because it is degrading and ultimately, it is self-limiting. If we always treat people like they couldn't possibly understand, then they get shut out and their brains consequently shut down. People can get used to the hand holding. They can think that they won't understand the complicated, so why try. And then the bar for everyone collectively lowers because there is an assumption built into almost all marketing that you need to aim for a spot just marginally above the lowest common denominator. Then this is just kind of how we treat each other.

This also leads to arrogance. There are psychological studies that show that most people think that they are intelligent and moral, but that they need to worry about other people not being the same. Also, the majority of people think they are of above average intelligence (which is obviously statistically impossible). If the self-limiting belief in stupidity hasn't seeped into your own self-concept yet, you probably just still think others are fools and you are just the exception. Elitism from the self-perceived elite.

What I am saying, is that we should assume intelligence rather than assume stupidity. I'm intelligent, you're intelligent. We should treat each other with that respect. I believe that if we did, we'd all become a lot smarter.

[jp1]

My last post was more as a point of clarification aimed at the general discussion that followed your earlier comment, as I took your post as you intended...it was stated well.

Good, because I actually stand behind the sentiment JT and yourself were expressing. I simply wanted to make notes in the margins.

I get that you get what I'm saying, but I want to add some more anyway and respond to one specific thing you said:

"If I can reach that top cabinet, there is no reason you cannot." Says the 6' tall man to the small person. Meanwhile neglecting the obvious answer was to give him a hand up.

Just saying.

I intend my complaints to be more from the perspective of a man of average height complaining about a world designed for hobbits. That is to say, I think that the average person is much smarter than they are generally given credit for. I'm not even talking about intellectual giants. Your average Joe Shmoe is smarter than his culture treats him. I find this infuriating to no end because it is degrading and ultimately, it is self-limiting. If we always treat people like they couldn't possibly understand, then they get shut out and their brains consequently shut down. People can get used to the hand holding. They can think that they won't understand the complicated, so why try. And then the bar for everyone collectively lowers because there is an assumption built into almost all marketing that you need to aim for a spot just marginally above the lowest common denominator. Then this is just kind of how we treat each other.

This also leads to arrogance. There are psychological studies that show that most people think that they are intelligent and moral, but that they need to worry about other people not being the same. Also, the majority of people think they are of above average intelligence (which is obviously statistically impossible). If the self-limiting belief in stupidity hasn't seeped into your own self-concept yet, you probably just still think others are fools and you are just the exception. Elitism from the self-perceived elite.

What I am saying, is that we should assume intelligence rather than assume stupidity. I'm intelligent, you're intelligent. We should treat each other with that respect. I believe that if we did, we'd all become a lot smarter.

I still stand behind that one hundred percent. I think at times I may come off as argumentative when I don't intend to be. My problem here is that I assume some of the same comments are going to be brought up in these conversations rather than simply responding to the comments that are made. I want to add my two cents, but I form it in such a manner that it appears to be a response, rather than a well formed opinion that can stand alongside your thought, instead of head to head with it. That, and like I said, lots of cold medicine.

"Here's my ten cents, my two cents is free."

To quote Eminem. I'm exercising my freedom of speech to give a big helping of my unsolicited opinion.

[BogusMeatFactory]

I agree JT. A lot of people make judgements on others based on how they look or how they act and treat them based on those judgements. They assume a person is dumb, is a criminal, or is a despicable person before even attempting to engage them. I think just talking to people and showing honest interest in their lives shows just how smart people really are.

Like I said before, we can't go into a person's thoughts so how in the world can we make those judgements on a person. Even if we could, how fair is that to the person?

[MrPopo]

I agree JT. A lot of people make judgements on others based on how they look or how they act and treat them based on those judgements. They assume a person is dumb, is a criminal, or is a despicable person before even attempting to engage them. I think just talking to people and showing honest interest in their lives shows just how smart people really are.

Like I said before, we can't go into a person's thoughts so how in the world can we make those judgements on a person. Even if we could, how fair is that to the person?

That comes from millions of years of evolution in learning to quickly evaluate if something is a potential threat or not. So when you see someone dressed like a gang banger you assume they're a gang banger, rather than some kid who's emulating a celebrity and is completely harmless.

What you project to the world is important. I'll agree with not rushing judgment on people with physical abnormalities, but anything controllable is a different matter.

[Forlorn Drifter]

I was top ten percent. It means nothing. It proves nothing.

Don't sell yourself short, FD. Your posts indicate that you are a drastically better writer than most people your age.

Also, being a successful farmer or rancher requires a fair bit of education and intelligence. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. As AQ put it, define your life on your own terms.

See, I don't like being told things like this. Being a good writer proves nothing, as many people can write well without thinking about it, especially in a casual manner like on a forum.

Farming and ranching can take intelligence, but it very rarely requires it. Its gambling on a grand scale, all the payoff for your work is based on luck of rain and the grace of God. You plant your seeds, and hope or pray it rains. You put your animals out on the field, and hope or pray it rains. That's pretty much it. You can do all the learning in the world to get around it and do better than the rest, but it is very basic overall. Still a lot of people that can't do it properly, but that's just ignorance or the belief it is below them.

[jp1]

I was top ten percent. It means nothing. It proves nothing.

Don't sell yourself short, FD. Your posts indicate that you are a drastically better writer than most people your age.

Also, being a successful farmer or rancher requires a fair bit of education and intelligence. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. As AQ put it, define your life on your own terms.

See, I don't like being told things like this. Being a good writer proves nothing, as many people can write well without thinking about it, especially in a casual manner like on a forum.

Farming and ranching can take intelligence, but it very rarely requires it. Its gambling on a grand scale, all the payoff for your work is based on luck of rain and the grace of God. You plant your seeds, and hope or pray it rains. You put your animals out on the field, and hope or pray it rains. That's pretty much it. You can do all the learning in the world to get around it and do better than the rest, but it is very basic overall. Still a lot of people that can't do it properly, but that's just ignorance or the belief it is below them.

So, you are actively against receiving credit for your intellect? And, you prefer your future profession be looked at in terms of dumb luck?

You also want trashy women. Do you enjoy being kicked in the balls too?

[Forlorn Drifter]

I don't mean that I want my future profession looked at as dumb luck, I just mean its something anyone can do- it isn't that complicated, unless you start playing with genetics, AI, embryo transfer, GMOs or crap like that its really simple stuff. Its just ignorance of the work, and that isn't going to change.

Receiving credit for my intellect is worthless. I don't work for it, I just happen to be better than some at it, and have little else to worry about besides schoolwork. If I had been into sports or girls or anything that would have distracted me, it might be a completely different story. I went to a tiny school in the middle of nowhere in Texas. That really sounds good for education.

And yeah I like "trashy" girls. So what? At least they are interesting, and fun. The goody two shoes girls I'm around at college are so damn boring. Get a little shitty drama and some bad times in and I'll probably be happier. Its something different, something opposite of what I'm used. There was always a pretty thin line that kept me from being "trash", and I would have crossed it if my mom hadn't made sure it wasn't going to happen.

And nobody likes being kicked in the balls.

[Opa Opa]

Its gambling on a grand scale, all the payoff for your work is based on luck of rain and the grace of God.

And the quality of your crop insurance policy.

[jp1]

I don't mean that I want my future profession looked at as dumb luck, I just mean its something anyone can do- it isn't that complicated, unless you start playing with genetics, AI, embryo transfer, GMOs or crap like that its really simple stuff. Its just ignorance of the work, and that isn't going to change.

Receiving credit for my intellect is worthless. I don't work for it, I just happen to be better than some at it, and have little else to worry about besides schoolwork. If I had been into sports or girls or anything that would have distracted me, it might be a completely different story. I went to a tiny school in the middle of nowhere in Texas. That really sounds good for education.

And yeah I like "trashy" girls. So what? At least they are interesting, and fun. The goody two shoes girls I'm around at college are so damn boring. Get a little shitty drama and some bad times in and I'll probably be happier. Its something different, something opposite of what I'm used. There was always a pretty thin line that kept me from being "trash", and I would have crossed it if my mom hadn't made sure it wasn't going to happen.

And nobody likes being kicked in the balls.

You have to admit it was a strange response to someone paying you a compliment. I've got nothing against you liking trashy girls, they need love too, better you than me.

I just get a somewhat masochistic vibe from you, so I was joking about it.