Oldies,Do you remember your very first post?

Tina, [ahem] I did not quote Asimov. I quoted Salvor Hardin. The better to make my point with, my dear.

I actually considered creating a spoof user account called "The Mule," to debate with Thaddeus T Hogg. The thing that decided me against it was the thought of having to decline the dozens of proposals or marriage from certain of the Scottish and Japanese contingents. The beginnings of wisdumb.


Paul

Hi Paul,

Ahhh....I agree, but would also add -

Those who practice continually can (once at a high level of proficiency) easily lose track of their progressive refinement and improvement - particularly if they mix with those who are at a lower level because then there is no easy yardstick to provide evidence of this improvement. For example, the ability to 'render' that you refer to above.

Unless I'm mistaken, the skill of Confucius lay mainly in his ability to render his clear thinking in a format that was concise and that others could share. But I'm sure that the difference between him and everyone else was more than just the fact that he bothered to write it down and display his ability.

Even though clear thinking (for example) would appear on the surface to be something where the person trying to achieve it can easily jump from 'not clear' to 'much more clear' just by being aware of it and trying, clear thinking actually has a lifetime's worth (or more) of advanced levels to be discovered.

Plus if I were to exchange the word profound (as you have shown that it wasn't the right choice) with something like (I don't know the word for this, or can't remember it) - 'hidden by it's obviousness', then perhaps that would explain why I think it's so valuable? It's hidden from the majority, but nonetheless important.

If someone can 'hit the nail on the head' continually, on the one hand they are 'doing nothing special' by doing so. They are just being accurate, an ability which the majority are designed perfectly to do. But in a world where the majority are more likely to hit the thumb supporting the nail, because they allow themselves to be distracted, lazy and oafish, the person who can hit the nail 24/7, at a moment's notice, every time of asking - IE - they are trained to be 'permanently hammer/nail ready and proficient' - that is something special.

hahaha... I forgot about those days

My first post was back under a pseudonym, "Olga". hahaha.. I didn't want to use my real name because everyone seemed so mean on the forum. I didn't want to look stupid for asking questions.

Obviously, I eventually changed over.