Quote of the Day, and a sore tooth

"If more folks had a fear of idiocy, illiteracy wouldn't be a problem" [user=Jayne]

I wish I'd said that. It's so true. Fear of idiocy, by the way, is the prime motivating factor throughout my life. I hate proving how ignorant, foolish and downright stupid I am.

It's not that i don't know that I am, I do, but I hate showing it to the world. Sometimes, it's nice for people to actually see me in a positive light.

In other news: My tooth is killing me! my wife, Anstey Ellen, is being nice enough about it, but I feel bad. I'm a burden. I'm whiny, annoying and lazy. I just sit around and say, "waaaaaah, my toofus hirts"

If I were her - i'd kick my ass and tell me to suck it up.

Love,

stephan

1- Tracey on June 1 2007

An idiot you are not. A whiny weenie, mmm, maybe.

The quote is great. I know I hate looking stupid. Feeling embarassed. And yet I've also learned that it's impossible to grow without first not knowing something. Without showing my greenery, my wetness behind my ears, my soft poop.

Weenie or not, I always see you in a positive light.

Love,

Tracey

2- Jayne on June 1 2007

using fear as motive, as opposed to justifying paralysis, doesn't sound very idiotic to me. nope, not buying it

3- Jayne on June 1 2007

now i'm thinking of how good the poetry was when poets engaged in battles of wit, where the stakes were raised by that fear of appearing ignorant to their opponents, to compete or survive in battle, they had to know what was going on all fronts, I mean, things like irony started appearing, I'm thinking of Socratic irony and the way to survive it for or against it, that or any literary agent, requires that motive you mention. Yum

4- Anstey on June 1 2007

I think it's bigger than that. Melden Fred really was touching on this when he wrote about the state of education in his blog (Bad Education0. It isn't merely the competition amongst poets (or any writers for that matter) it's the lack of competition right now amongst all of our children (perhaps everyone in general) to be less ignorant. If my grades, if my pay, if my personal well being depend on a lack of ignorance (or even a lack of perceived ignorance) then I'm going to try my damnedest to not be ignorant, but right now, through the education system all the way into every day life where's the impetus to learn?

Certainly that impetus isn't a degree. Degrees at this point are so completely devalued as to be nearly irrelevant. They are career oriented - but that can't be the meaning. Who we are should not be defined by our career, that is not enough.

That quest to understand, to learn, to grow, to give meaning to the lives of others, and to receive it - these are the things that should matter. But right now, what do we teach our children?

Money matters. Security matters. Entertainment matters.

But what of greatness? What of bringing joy to the world? What of knowledge?

The sort of arrogant ignorance that leads men to neglect those soul-feeding endeavors numbs our present and leads to a gangreenous future devoid of hope and love. I am afraid of ignorance and idiocy, most of all my own, because it does not just kill me - it kills my children.

Ignorance, idiocy, apathy towards growing -- these are not defeated with passion alone, but passion for knowledge, perhaps that might do the job.

stephan

5- Laurie on June 1 2007

I have a framed copy of this on my Office wall..

"STUPIDITY SHOULD BE PAINFUL"

How is that for motivation?

6- Jayne on June 1 2007

yes, and illiteracy is bigger than its mediums of transport, by degree and not, and routing through any medium reveals by overlap its mass, (I'm pretty sure anyway.) Its so big, that it seems reasonable that new mediums or strategy would be popping up all over the place, but ideas seem to have a tendency to either lay in a dormant state unapplied to...what? language? expression? voice? action. or escape to a place farfar away and safe from any relevance where what actually matters is too hot to touch. the intentions are always good, but essentially serve the better half of the vested interest in dead. p.s. you inspire me

7- Jayne on June 1 2007

ooops, I wish I had edited what I just said

8- Anstey on June 1 2007

;) what, are you afraid it made you seem ignorant!?!?!?!?

-----

stephan

9- Jayne on June 1 2007

all my wisdom teeth were removed at the same time

10- Anstey on June 1 2007

Well, i'm only having 3 done Monday... So, I won't be able to say the same.

I wonder if societies removal of wisdom teeth in the modern age is to blame for the decrease is available wisdom throughout society?

-----

stephan

11- Leanne on June 1 2007

The sole deciding factor in me not pursuing more than three weeks of an education degree was the constant repetition of:

"Children do not thrive on competition"

Which made me think, well, I should have failed everything then. Not for me, thank you.

12- White_Feather on June 2 2007

Stephen,

I adore your comments on the need of soulful endeavors for our children, and the meaning of advanced degrees. Absolutely yes to both. The self-esteem movement has been mind numbing for children, and, frankly, misses the point. Self-esteem comes from being able to do things well.

On the other hand, I don't mind looking ignorant in the context of learning and asking questions. I will gladly humble myself over and over in the context of learning and growing and being reshaped. I hope I can do that my whole life. Where I don't want to look ignorant is in spouting things off like I'm an expert, and being completely wrong. Although, I'm pretty sure I've been there a few times too.