[OT] Nerds

Loser · #1 January 5th, 2004, 10:09 PM

I really dug that article.

Thanks.

[ January 05, 2004, 20:09: Message edited by: Loser ]

Wardad · #2 January 5th, 2004, 11:03 PM

Very good article.

TerranC · #3 January 6th, 2004, 12:47 AM

Interesting. Thanks for the link.

Taera · #4 January 6th, 2004, 01:20 AM

i've read the article before, and i tell you, its true. i experienced (and still relatively am) what is described there, and lived thru it. call me a nerd, i no longer care, for im happy the way i am ^_^ and i realized that unpopularity originates in thoughts of unpopularity. wont go into details.

Puke · #5 January 6th, 2004, 02:15 AM

most of his stuff is total unadulterated crap, with the singular purpose of eliciting emotional response without any kind of solid premise or point, but Jon Katz ran a good serise of articles on Slashdot shortly after the Columbine shootings. Basically a collection of letters from students about problems and persecution they faced in school.

http://features.slashdot.org/article...thread&tid=146

It turned into a ten part series, the first of which is linked above. I think they were all together in some easy to browse format somewhere, but all I can find now are the original slash articles.

http://features.slashdot.org/article...thread&tid=146

http://features.slashdot.org/article...thread&tid=146

http://features.slashdot.org/article...thread&tid=146

http://features.slashdot.org/article...thread&tid=146

http://features.slashdot.org/article...thread&tid=146

http://features.slashdot.org/article...thread&tid=146

http://features.slashdot.org/article...thread&tid=146

http://features.slashdot.org/article...thread&tid=146

http://features.slashdot.org/article...thread&tid=146

Narratio · #6 January 6th, 2004, 03:34 PM

Don't know about unadulterated crap Puke. I agree some of the 20/20 rear view vision stuff sounded false, but overall the premise strikes me as true.

I was a nerd 30 plus years back and it still seems to describe me and my friends.

Liked the slashdot articles as well. Useful Posts.

Loser · #7 January 7th, 2004, 02:21 AM

I don't' think Puke was referring to the essay that started the thread, but rather to the author of the materiel that Puke linked.

I did say I like this essay, and I do, but I have found a contradiction.

The author says that kids are put in school because they are useless to the modern world. This is believable, in fact I like it.

He says they are useless to the modern world because the specialized modern world requires years more of training before its workers are of any use. Sounds nice.

But then he also says, many times, that there is no point to schooling, and that it accomplishes nothing. I am somewhat inclined to agree with this but...

This would seem to indicate that kids are being kept out of the workforce so that they can receive training that they are not receiving. While this may be the case, it is a contradiction of reason that the author does not bring to light. I am mildly disappointed.

But I do find great 'personal truth' in the essay nonetheless.

I would also like to point out that I am a great supporter of public school for a number of reasons. One worth mentioning is that I have met many, many products of the homeschool system, but I have yet to meet one that qualifies as 'adjusted'. The best I found was one who seemed okay for about a week. And he beat out the runner-up but about thirteen days, eighteen hours. He also turned out to be incapable of real communication (though he was a damn good mimic, best job I've seen done by a man).

If you're homeschooled and you think you're adjusted, don't take this personally. It doesn't apply to you, I have met you. Relax.