Litiquette VI

[Pervy_Sage]

I'm never really back, or front. Somewhere in between is more like it.

It’s been years since I’ve seen you. Good to see your nebulous form.

 

[LegendaryALT]

I struggle with this way of thinking.

There's tenacity and grit that help us achieve a lot, but anything we put our minds to? I guess I don't buy that.

As a physicist, I'm intrigued with potential, but I know better than to measure it. And I certainly know better than to try to measure up to it.

It's not entirely literal

Of course we can't move the sun, with just a thought, but we are capable of incredible things

Our minds have to be conditioned, I know a retired Marine who have survived under the harshest conditions. Most would see those conditions impossible to survive in

I've had family survive many years of cancer, after being told she wouldn't make it a month. The doctors were shocked and thought it to be impossible, before they saw it

No one has to think, as I do
You and everyone is entitled to their own train of thought, but I do believe we can do anything ( not 100% literal, but I think you get my drift )

 

[Pervy_Sage]

You may be a physicist, but it'll definitely take you a hell of a lot more effort to achieve that than I need to expend.

And if that's your life dream, go ahead! But as you say, you're not wired that way.

I encourage people to learn their gifts and lean into them. Why work harder when you can work smarter?

I do the same thing. Encouraging is my gift.....and writing inappropriate prose.

 

[Guyblue82]

Passes you some green, this will make it easier. Pinky swear.

But then, I'm not going to have the chance to care about this topic

*inhales*

 

[blade_rocknut]

I struggle with this way of thinking.

There's tenacity and grit that help us achieve a lot, but anything we put our minds to? I guess I don't buy that.

As a physicist, I'm intrigued with potential, but I know better than to measure it. And I certainly know better than to try to measure up to it.

I likewise agree. To assert that one can do anything if only they put their mind to it is demonstrably false, and in my view is an arrogant humblebrag.
Recognizing one's strengths and weaknesses is key in becoming confident. Pretending they don't exist is arrogant.

As Eastwood famously uttered; " A man's got to know his limitations". That's not to say one can't improve their stead; rather a guidepost by which one should prioritize their energies.

 

[parker77]

“Waking up to who you are requires letting go of who you imagine yourself to be.”
One of my fav quotes by Alan Watts.

even at my advanced age, i can see a personal need to practice this wisdom.

thanks!

 

[blade_rocknut]

You rang?

Pffft... What hath empathy to do with you?

 

[Corbal]

Pffft... What hath empathy to do with you?

Honestly?

Not a fuckin' thing.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

It's not entirely literal

Of course we can't move the sun, with just a thought, but we are capable of incredible things

Our minds have to be conditioned, I know a retired Marine who have survived under the harshest conditions. Most would see those conditions impossible to survive in

I've had family survive many years of cancer, after being told she wouldn't make it a month. The doctors were shocked and thought it to be impossible, before they saw it

No one has to think, as I do
You and everyone is entitled to their own train of thought, but I do believe we can do anything ( not 100% literal, but I think you get my drift )

Yeah, but what you're describing is survival.

I'm talking about actually living.

We are all capable of surviving things we never dreamt we'd have to face. But we also don't grow up wanting that for ourselves. (Ok, maybe some of us do)

 

[Pervy_Sage]

even at my advanced age, i can see a personal need to practice this wisdom.

thanks!

Advanced age. *snort*

 

[Pervy_Sage]

Yeah, but what you're describing is survival.

I'm talking about actually living.

We are all capable of surviving things we never dreamt we'd have to face. But we also don't grow up wanting that for ourselves. (Ok, maybe some of us do)

As a teacher, this year I’ve seen more students with that mindset than ever. These kids face so much crap and just dream of surviving it. That’s it. No more, no less.

 

[parker77]

I'm never really back, or front. Somewhere in between is more like it.

more like it? i guess it depends on who you are in between.

 

[SassySheDevil]

Honestly?

Not a fuckin' thing.

That is a pretty picture Corbal. Lovely smile.

 

[Lord Pmann]

Only limitations we have, are the ones we put on yourselves. If we don't believe we can achieve, don't consistently put in the hard work, put endless hours towards their goals, then they put limitations on themselves.

If we didn't put in the more time, we don't sacrifice more, haven't trained with more intensity, didn't use the right form, don't believe in ourselves, then we can't do what another did.


There's a man with a missing hand in the NFL

There's a man with no legs, who won a race against other professional sprinters


Most people don't live up to their potential, even if they're successful, there's always a higher plateau we can reach. I am proud how I turned out, surprised a lot of people, but know I've wasted a lot of my potential.

Again, I agree to an extent. But there are certain things that are hard, physical limitations. A midget is never going to dunk a basketball. Someone with limited mental capacity is never going to be a physicist. A blind person is never going to play tennis.

I agree that there are certain phenoms who can do amazing things in spite of huge hurdles. Spud Webb was 5’7” and could dunk. Jim Abbot had one hand and pitched in the majors. But these people had phenomenal abilities inherent in their genetics, PLUS the tremendous amount of hard work and dedication they put on top of that.

I’m just not a believer that anyone can do anything. This does, however, seem like a good topic for tomorrow.

 

[Lord Pmann]

Corbal’s back.

Her back is hairier than mine.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

Her back is hairier than mine.

Only because you wax yours

 

[hotwords229_A]

“Waking up to who you are requires letting go of who you imagine yourself to be.”
One of my fav quotes by Alan Watts.

This is a great quote and I agree.

I imagine myself to be standing heroically on a mountain with a ripped shirt, exploding biceps, hair blowing in the wind while shooting Zombies in the face with a sawed-off shotgun and a naked girl clinging to my leg.

But in reality, I don’t own a gun.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

As a teacher, this year I’ve seen more students with that mindset than ever. These kids face so much crap and just dream of surviving it. That’s it. No more, no less.

It's everywhere.

Most people don't recognize their privilege.

 

[Pervy_Sage]

It's everywhere.

Most people don't recognize their privilege.

Truth.

 

[LegendaryALT]

Again, I agree to an extent. But there are certain things that are hard, physical limitations. A midget is never going to dunk a basketball. Someone with limited mental capacity is never going to be a physicist. A blind person is never going to play tennis.

I agree that there are certain phenoms who can do amazing things in spite of huge hurdles. Spud Webb was 5’7” and could dunk. Jim Abbot had one hand and pitched in the majors. But these people had phenomenal abilities inherent in their genetics, PLUS the tremendous amount of hard work and dedication they put on top of that.

I’m just not a believer that anyone can do anything. This does, however, seem like a good topic for tomorrow.

A midget can dunk a basketball, on a much shorter hoop.

It's not meant to be entirely literal, when you say " you can do anything "

 

[aussiegeekygal]

A midget can dunk a basketball, on a much shorter hoop.

It's not meant to be entirely literal, when you say " you can do anything "

Then what's the point of saying it?

Hyperbole like this has been rammed down kids throats for years and it's disingenuous. I'm all for setting people up for ultimate success and mindset definitely plays a role, but it's a bit obtuse to not recognise that it's often blind luck.

Again, that's where humility comes into play. Sure I worked hard to get where I am, but did I really work harder than a kid pushing out Brooks Brothers pants in a sweatshop? I'd be arrogant to say that I'm where I am based solely on my drive. That's patently false.

 

[Pervy_Sage]

Then what's the point of saying it?

Hyperbole like this has been rammed down kids throats for years and it's disingenuous. I'm all for setting people up for ultimate success and mindset definitely plays a role, but it's a bit obtuse to not recognise that it's often blind luck.

Again, that's where humility comes into play. Sure I worked hard to get where I am, but did I really work harder than a kid pushing out Brooks Brothers pants in a sweatshop? I'd be arrogant to say that I'm where I am based solely on my drive. That's patently false.

There’s truth on both sides. I just think the better way is to help people find where their intelligence and passion lies, and then, as you said Aussie, help them lean into those things that will truly benefit them and help them be a benefit to others. Too much time is wasted otherwise.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

There’s truth on both sides. I just think the better way is to help people find where their intelligence and passion lies, and then, as you said Aussie, help them lean into those things that will truly benefit them and help them be a benefit to others. Too much time is wasted otherwise.

I agree.

I'm guilty of being way too literal most of the time. It's a gift in the right circumstances and a hindrance in others.

 

[hotwords229_A]

I think we tell kids “you can be anything you want to be when you grow up” as an inspirational idea to motivate them. In reality, we’re actually thinking “you’re going to need to blow a lot of people to get a part-time job as a night watchmen guarding an empty lot next to the dildo factory”. But they need to at least think anything is possible and then, as they mature, become a little more reality-based.

What we (society) has done lately is tell kids that they are awesome because they exist, that the world is theirs and they’re all winners just for having tried. We should teach them that there is honor in trying and losing, but you still lost. Try not to lose next time by putting in more effort.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

I think we tell kids “you can be anything you want to be when you grow up” as an inspirational idea to motivate them. In reality, we’re actually thinking “you’re going to need to blow a lot of people to get a part-time job as a night watchmen guarding an empty lot next to the dildo factory”. But they need to at least think anything is possible and then, as they mature, become a little more reality-based.

What we (society) has done lately is tell kids that they are awesome because they exist, that the world is theirs and they’re all winners just for having tried. We should teach them that there is honor in trying and losing, but you still lost. Try not to lose next time by putting in more effort.

I also think there's value in frank conversations about realities and explaining that sometimes we have to work twice as hard to have half as less by virtue of societal constraints. It's not that you can't, but you're going to have to work bloody hard to get there.