Anyhow I can tell you that by her own confession HP doesn't have that ability any more than I do! So you're not being condescending by talking on someone's level cuz you already know their level!

Thanks for noticing. I'm close enough, most of the time. I am sad this ability doesn't come naturally to everybody. You two certainly have the intellect, but apparently not the knack. Oh well. Everybody is equipped with their own talents, and their own lack of some talents. Nothing to be done about that. Answering in a strictly formal way sometimes works, and sometimes doesn't. Watch how often a T.S. replies to the "formal" response. That gives a clue as to whether communication has been established. I often forsake a T.S. when they reply to OP (other people) and not to me, because that indicates I failed to make contact. At least I don't offend them on a regular basis.

she's a lot less formal when speaking casually than she is at speaking events or writing

That's what I was hoping for.

Since you insist on seeing veiled insults in my responses I can oblige?

You imagine that I find veiled insults and offer to respond to your own imagination? Please don't. If I feel insulted, I will be very clear about it. I think I have established communication well enough to be frank with you (two). The only problem I have with a perceived slight is being verbose. I tend to blather on and then censor my reply heavily before posting. On the subject of me being condescending, I did not feel insulted because I simply did not believe you. I think you used a global way to present your idea and offered you opportunities to correct yourself by pointing out your folly.

 

#12 you said

I try to adjust my presentation to address the listener. I guess that means I'm condescending most of the time.

#12 then when I implied that was reaction to IMAGINARY insult you said

You imagine that I find veiled insults and offer to respond to your own imagination?

Now I say it didn't take any imagination on my part to see YOU reacting to imaginary insult!

Please don't.

#12 you can bet that if you don't I won't!

On the subject of me being condescending, I did not feel insulted because I simply did not believe you. I think you used a global way to present your idea and offered you opportunities to correct yourself by pointing out your folly.

#12 I totally believe you but to plagiarize HP's fave mantra _my crystal ball is in the shop_! So I couldn't know all that when I read ur post

Oh well. Everybody is equipped with their own talents, and their own lack of some talents.

#12 It's how I say you have _teacher gene_ and HP and I just don't

Nothing to be done about that.

#12 cuz it's not really a gene or physical limitation like that I say it's possible but prolly totally impractical to overcome lifelong habits So I say it's best for everyone to just play their strong suit! So that's why community like AAC forums with diverse range of skills and experiance is perfect for education!

Watch how often a T.S. replies to the "formal" response. That gives a clue as to whether communication has been established.

#12 On inquiry threads I've participated on TS usually responds to everyone maybe just cuz of courtesy? So what I watch for is if their responses to my posts reflect comprehension cuz if not I try different approach. So I'm not formal like HP but I follow _anti-dumbdown rule_ by assuming scientific prowess (but not necessarily technical expertise) on TS's part!

 

So getting her to have a silly one sided conversation with a cat that meows back when talked to is not likely going to happen very often?

Tcmtech Prolly not cats but she talks to her pet birds in aviary and in case of the ducks (which aren't _talking birds_) I'm not sure it's one sided! So she just talks in English and birds just talk in natural bird sounds and both sides seem to understand each other! It's true that only time I've ever seen HP like _warm_ and _sentimental_ is on subject of birds But she doesn't talk to them like they're kids (which is how most ppl talk to pets) but more like peers!

PS HP Sry cuz of TMI but I say it's your fault for taking off and putting me in position of commenting 4u

 

Tcmtech Prolly not cats but she talks to her pet birds in aviary and in case of the ducks (which aren't _talking birds_) I'm not sure it's one sided! So she just talks in English and birds just talk in natural bird sounds and both sides seem to understand each other! It's true that only time I've ever seen HP like _warm_ and _sentimental_ is on subject of birds But she doesn't talk to them like they're kids (which is how most ppl talk to pets) but more like peers!

Yes indeed! Birds are very special creatures! -- They are the true 'Great Old Ones' Dontcha know! -- And far kinder than those described by Mr. Lovecraft, I might add -- Still... We had better clean up our act as regards our species shameful treatment of said class -- Lest Great Toutatis The Duck God (pictured below) comes home to roost Whence 'The Colonel' and his vile devotees shall receive a long overdue dose of their own medicine!




TTFN
HP

 

Yes indeed! Birds are very special creatures! -- They are the true 'Great Old Ones' Dontcha know! -- And far kinder than those described by Mr. Lovecraft, I might add -- Still... We had better clean up our act as regards our species shameful treatment of said class -- Lest Great Toutatis The Duck God (pictured below) comes home to roost Whence 'The Colonel' and his vile devotees shall receive a long overdue dose of their own medicine!

ROFL! The mental picture of Colonel Sanders in a pressure cooker!
You must have had quite an adventure last week to resume with such unaccustomed hilarity!

 

Lest Great Toutatis The Duck God (pictured below) comes home to roost Whence 'The Colonel' and his vile devotees shall receive a long overdue dose of their own medicine!

Your idea inspired me. I bought fried chicken tonight.

 

HP I say it's totally hilarious how you post screen shot of JPL ephemeris page for Toutatis but cuz of truncation to make it fit nobody will understand that doesn't already understand! So most ppl who read post prolly think Toutatis is statue and ephemeris page has something to do with auction value or something

 

ROFL! The mental picture of Colonel Sanders in a pressure cooker!

@#12 LOL! Now I'm picturing Burl Ives fanning himself with his hat and complaining abt hot weather!

 

So most ppl who read post prolly think Toutatis is statue

Oh... Well... Close enough!

@#12 LOL! Now I'm picturing Burl Ives fanning himself with his hat and complaining abt hot weather!

You and I both! I cannot pass a KFC restaurant sans echoes of 'Grandad Doubleday' lamenting something to the effect of: 'Oh my! I reckon Sonny will be right provoked that you didn't stop in...' -- in that 'smolderingly maniacal' 'faux whipped pup' drawl!

TTFN
HP

PS -- For the benefit of the 'uninitiated' the above refers to a Night Gallery episode featuring Burl Ives and Ross Martin

 

Here's a very interesting article, relevant to this thread:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/...oducing-a-society-of-ldquo-smart-fools-rdquo/

 

Here's a very interesting article, relevant to this thread:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/...oducing-a-society-of-ldquo-smart-fools-rdquo/

The article struck me as being driven by a "social justice" agenda.

 

The article struck me as being driven by a "social justice" agenda.

That occurred to me when I encountered the interviewee's rather novel definition of wisdom. Then I stopped reading.

 

This is what I found attractive about the article, regardless of what others may perceive as "socialist leaning":

Our overemphasis on narrow academic skills—the kinds that get you high grades in school—can be a bad thing for several reasons. You end up with people who are good at taking tests and fiddling with phones and computers, and those are good skills, but they are not tantamount to the skills we need to make the world a better place.

I think the iterviewee has a valid point worth considering.

 

This is what I found attractive about the article, regardless of what others may perceive as "socialist leaning":

Our overemphasis on narrow academic skills—the kinds that get you high grades in school—can be a bad thing for several reasons. You end up with people who are good at taking tests and fiddling with phones and computers, and those are good skills, but they are not tantamount to the skills we need to make the world a better place.

I think the iterviewee has a valid point worth considering.

While I don't have any huge problem with the claim as far as it goes, I got the strong impression that it was little more than a disjoint platitude thrown out to then push his agenda.

The very phrase, "but they are not tantamount to the skills we need to make the world a better place," is largely without meaning. You could easily tack that claim blindly onto the end of nearly any discussion about many things and come across as raising a valid point worth considering.

 

That occurred to me when I encountered the interviewee's rather novel definition of wisdom. Then I stopped reading.

And yes, I don't feel the word wisdom should've been used in that context. I think it's misleading.

 

The very phrase, "but they are not tantamount to the skills we need to make the world a better place," is largely without meaning. You could easily tack that claim blindly onto the end of nearly any discussion about many things and come across as raising a valid point worth considering.

I agree. The expression is (maybe deliberately) too vague.
We're all looking to improve the quality of our lives. The trick will be for all of us to agree on what the word quality means.

 

quoted : ... but they are not tantamount to the skills we need to make the world a better place.

Therein lies the problem. The world must make a political decision based on someone's definition of a better place. The problem comes when their definition is not your definition. Once the answers start to fly ... they will be an over emphasis on a narrow solutions, thereby stretching the definition outside the bounds of normalcy. But, then again, I doubt the world can decide on what's normal. Some will decry, we must do something. When something doesn't work, they wont want to change something, but add additional somethings. In essence, throw money at it in the hopes something might stick.

It's at this point where I would love to throw feces at those folks; I give feces a better chance to stick then some ideas.

 

This is beyond sad, this is pathetic:

"If you feel unduly stressed by a grade for any assessable material or the overall course, you can email the instructor indicating what grade you think is appropriate and it will be so changed,"

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/08/health/students-choose-grades-stress-reduction-trnd/index.html

 

This is beyond sad, this is pathetic:

"If you feel unduly stressed by a grade for any assessable material or the overall course, you can email the instructor indicating what grade you think is appropriate and it will be so changed,"

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/08/health/students-choose-grades-stress-reduction-trnd/index.html

At least the Dean nixed it -- for now.

 

Here is a local story that relates to a lot that has been said:
http://www.westword.com/news/commun...ore-students-but-did-it-fail-teachers-9317325

(I am sure that @WBahn has experience with this -- maybe personally).