Gary Whitta’s supreme knowledge of pornography comes to mind as an example of what Ben is talking about. I’m just sayin’.[/quote]
As useless, or as something that we could spend more time learning about instead of taking art history? I, for one, think I could learn a lot from Mastur Gary.
I’m already on it, Mr. Sharp. That cumfiesta.com site is half researched, but I have another 50 movies to… umm… study.
I agree, but I’d like to add something here.
Its not a matter of “as much as you can”. Its a matter of distinguishing between elements of knowledge. No truth is equal to another, and no human has time enough to “learn everything”, even if time was the only limiting factor.
Also, as you learn, what you previously knew changes, either being forgotten or being transformed. The idea of knowledge as separate entities accumulated in some kind of “brain collection” is nonsense. Knowledge isn’t a set of figurines placed on shelves, with the key being to “collect 'em all!”… its a set of warring and allied agents, ultimately either controlling or being rejected by the house (the identity that houses them).
To one man, the war of 1812 is mere trivia. An irrelevancy, forgotten or remembered, with no difference. To another, the war of 1812 is eminently important. Every detail, critical. Deep analysis, determined.
I can say “Why don’t you know that?” and you might say “Its better that I don’t!” Much of what passes for knowledge is a waste of time to the majority of humans.
While knowledge itself can help humans judge the value of future potential knowledge, wisdom is far more valuable for that, which is a topic much more complicated than knowledge.
Studying philosophy.
What does it really mean?
Is it a bit like going to a fancy restaurant and studying the menu - in french. Wondering what is what - maybe you think you recognice a bit here and there. You make a choice - get something - interesting? good? Yes, of cource it must be - it’s in french and everybody says that’s good.
You just need to learn to understand what it is, knowing how to consume it.
Don’t you? Yes. Consume. Learn. Know. Understand. Wise?
That’s the ticket!
And come back soon, ye hear!
(Inspired by Epicurus - fullfill your needs, like eating - restudy guidlines as well as finding new - fullfill by minimizing needs!!!)
The only thing this poll shows me is that 16-33% of young people don’t care for strangers asking them questions about boring Brittish history. Isn’t there a real “screw around” factor in tests like these? This kind of stupid survey naturaly assumes that kids want to take your boring ass non-graded test and do well at it. If someone did a phone survey about the American Revolution or had me take a test on the street I’d probably just make shit up and then the results would say “33% of american adults think that Eminem was the first president of the united states.”
People aren’t as stupid as these polls say they are and even assuming that they are why would knowing who the general in some battle 2000 years ago make you a better citizen. Aren’t there more important issues to be basing your vote on?
If I remember my history right the Britts were a bunch of Imperialistic Assholes and involved in everything evil from slave trading to conquering countries and treating the people living there like garbage. India, South Africa, America which was populated with Brittish citizens? WTF is there to be proud of in english history up until WWII when the stood up to the Nazis. Oh wait they didn’t, they were too busy terrorizing Indians and only got involved when it was completely clear that Hitler was gonna kick their ass.
Some history. I can see why kids don’t want to waste their time answering questions about a sad nation that is a shadow of itself because the people that ran the country couldn’t treat people like human beings.
I seem to recall most of Britain’s darker history mirrored by the United States.
Slave Trade? Check. Oppressing different cultures, and stealing their land? Check. Colonization? Check. Avoiding conflict with the Nazis? Check The US has been involved in all these things.
So, in your own words, WTF is there to be proud of in US history?
And it’s not just Britain and the US. Nation states do what they do for power, moral concerns are secondary at best.
WTF is there to be proud of in english history up until WWII when the stood up to the Nazis.
They were one of the first European nations to outlaw slavery in all their dominions. They did it about 100 years before the US did.
When they took over South Africa, they were a progressive and modernizing influence on that country, and they were generally much nicer to the blacks than the Afrikaaners were, albeit in a paternalistic way.
They were pivotal in defeating Napoleon and preventing French domination across Europe. (Obviously, this isn’t such a great thing from the French perspective)
The British involvement in India was much less straightforward than “they treated them like garbage”. You might want to pick up a book and actually learn the facts before you spout garbage yourself.
They’ve produced John Locke, Johnathan Swift, Alexander Pope, David Hume, Francis Bacon, Lord Byron, and Sir Isaac Newton. Just to name a few.
I could go on and on, but I think my point is made. You have no idea what you’re talking about, and are spewing crap about a country that you have an irrational dislike about. I have no idea where you got your opinion of Britain from, but it sure as hell wasn’t from historical facts.
Perhaps there’s something to the study I originally cited about how ignorant the comman man is.
WTF history book have you been reading, slavery was allowed in the empire until 1833. If my American history books are correct that’s less than 40 years before it was abolished in the US. Don’t forget that the USA didn’t have slavery in half of it’s territory long before the English even thought of it as immoral. One of the big arguments when the constitution was drawn up was over slavery. Check your dates here:
http://radar.ngcsu.edu/~mgilbert/indiasyl.htm
Umm so Brits treated South Africans better than the Afrikaaners did. Do you beat your wife a little less than her ex did? Doesn’t sound like bragging rights to me.
Um whatever. Napoleon was probably one of the USAs biggest allies against the wicked British. Too bad he didn’t win. I am glad that your pressing him hard gave us cool parts of the country like Minnesota and New Orleans. After we ethnicaly cleansed the original inhabitants of course.
I suppose I should read an English book on this subject?
http://radar.ngcsu.edu/~mgilbert/indiasyl.htm
Here’s a sylabus from one just one college course. Funny how everything that isn’t taught in an English university explains how poorly the Indians were treated. Yeah you built them some railroads and so generously handed them over when it was clear that you weren’t in control in the country anymore.
Yes some of your guys wrote some pretty decent adventure books and some guy “discovered” some scientific laws that the Arabs rightfully claim they knew years before Newton was born. Don’t forget you had Shakespeare too. Yes you’re the only society that can claim to have a few thinkers and artists. Boy I wish Americans had some of those. By the way with Locke writing so much about Rights and Tolerance how come those were so absent in the british empire until all your colonials bitch slapped you out of their countries? I guess Natural Rights and tolerance only applies to your own.
Name any evil in the world from 1600-1900 and the English had their grubby little hands in it.
… and the French…and the Dutch…and the Spaniards…and just about any country powerful enough to project itself on a worldwide scene. Hell, even Sweden was part of the slave trade, for instance. And after the 18th century, that also included the USA.
The British were no more, nor any less, wicked than any other country at the time, including your own. Arguing anything else just shows a profound ignorance of history.
I like how Anax suddenly became the Brit of the forum :D
I’m not sure if anyone’s answered this yet, but is that Alexander Pope?
-Kitsune