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coberst
Skeptic Friend
182 Posts |
 Posted - 07/21/2004 : 12:25:05
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Becoming Me
The first eighteen years of our life is spent developing under our parents wing in our parents home in our parents town guided by our parents values and intuition. The day we graduate from high school is the last day we spend in a world that is our parent's world. It is the last day that our chums come from the world un-filtered by our individuality.
The next decade we accelerate our development as individuals. We are on the cusp of what we were and what we are becoming. This decade is still more or less dominated by the past. Intellectually we are guided much by our past but our knowledge base and some assertiveness combined with social involvement, totally under our own management. Our social development is influenced dramatically by interpersonal relations.
Our third decade we have become the parents and we are in control. We are beginning to shape our children and are very busy with family and career.
By our forth decade most of us have reached a fork in the road: the time for a potentially significant change. We finally have a point in life where we can become that unique person. As an alternative to creating to the fullest our unique personality we can drift into the standard life style of golf, bridge, volunteer work, fishing, gardening or hobbies that allow us to coast into the future. This drift with developing age into copies of our early years inhibits us from developing what may be hidden potential.
I suggest this is the time to really discover myself. This is an opportunity to discover who I am and why I am as such. A time, for the very first time, to investigate the intuition (I use this word ‘intuition' to represent the intellectual me, it contains my value system, myths, prejudices, biases, the ideology my parents have passed to me, the ideology I have constructed, my beliefs etc.), a time to make conscious what and why I am as I am. This is a time to take inventory, visit the attic of the past for the purpose of understanding me as I am at present.
This is the time to become a self-learner. This can be a time to make conscious myself and all that is around me. This is a time to begin that process of becoming a sophisticated intellect. The self-learning process represents an opportunity to follow ones curiosity and answer whatever questions develop. This is a time to read history or biography or music or science or philosophy or mathematics or art or literature searching out those hidden potentials that one must dig to discover.
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Ricky
SFN Die Hard
USA
4907 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2004 : 12:49:46 [Permalink]
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Well, I'm going to try one more time and then I give up:
"The first eighteen years of our life is spent developing under our parents wing in our parents home in our parents town guided by our parents values and intuition. The day we graduate from high school is the last day we spend in a world that is our parent's world."
This is an assertion. I certianly do not think I live in my parents world (I just turned 18 about a month ago). In fact, I am pretty much on the opposite side of the religious and political spectrum as my mother, my father never really voices his opinions so I'm not sure about him. I mostly do not rely on my parents, almost everything I need I do for myself. I do not agree with your assertion.
"The next decade [18 and on] we accelerate our development as individuals."
Are you saying I'm "just another brick in the wall" (love Pink Floyd)? Are you saying I'm not an individual? Are you saying that I don't have to ability to make my own judgements and decide on things for myself? This is just plain flat out wrong.
"Intellectually we are guided much by our past but our knowledge base and some assertiveness combined with social involvement, totally under our own management."
When are we not guided by our past knowlege? Knowlege comes in steps, each step takes you up the ladder, but you would be no where without the step before it.
"Our third decade we have become the parents and we are in control. We are beginning to shape our children and are very busy with family and career."
Another assumption that everyone has kids, and another assumption that is not always true. And I really hope that if/when I have kids, I do not shape their opinions, but let them create them for themselves.
"By our forth decade most of us have reached a fork in the road: the time for a potentially significant change. We finally have a point in life where we can become that unique person."
I disagree, I think this happens a lot earlier in life. Probably somewhere around the teens, but its a broad range and everyone is different.
"As an alternative to creating to the fullest our unique personality we can drift into the standard life style of golf, bridge, volunteer work, fishing, gardening or hobbies that allow us to coast into the future."
Besides the obvious False Dilemma, I don't think any person can be described accurately by the activites they pursue, which is what I feel you are trying to do here. Hobbies are used to gain intellect or physical strength, and by no means worthless activities. Golf is both, intellectual and physical, bridge is based on logic, volunteer work is not only good for the community but also physical, fishing is both, gardening is physical. All of these things are intended for self improvement.
"This is an opportunity to discover who I am and why I am as such."
I feel as if one never really stops doing this. You may know more about yourself later, but your discovering all the time. Kinda like science.
"A time, for the very first time, to investigate the intuition (I use this word ‘intuition' to represent the intellectual me, it contains my value system, myths, prejudices, biases, the ideology my parents have passed to me, the ideology I have constructed, my beliefs etc.)"
While the things that you mentioned can be ignited by intuition, they can also very well be backed by reason.
"This is the time to become a self-learner."
No, every single momment of your life is time to becomea self-learner.
"This is a time to begin that process of becoming a sophisticated intellect."
I can't remember the exact numbers, but I think its something like 90% of all scientific breakthoughs are made by people under the age of 30. In short, I disagree with the above statment.
"This is a time to read history or biography or music or science or philosophy or mathematics or art or literature searching out those hidden potentials that one must dig to discover."
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Why continue? Because we must. Because we have the call. Because it is nobler to fight for rationality without winning than to give up in the face of continued defeats. Because whatever true progress humanity makes is through the rationality of the occasional individual and because any one individual we may win for the cause may do more for humanity than a hundred thousand who hug their superstitions to their breast.
- Isaac Asimov |
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Dude
SFN Die Hard
USA
6891 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2004 : 13:08:16 [Permalink]
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we, we, we, we..... wtf?
Speak for yourself man. Nothing in your post even comes close to describing me or events in my life at a given age.
And, until you start to defend your assertions from previous posting that have had well supported evidence to the contrary posted in them... I'm going to have to treat your rantings the same as verlch. Not worth responding to unless you care to defend your statements in a rational manner with supporting evidence or sound argument. |
Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong.
-- Thomas Jefferson
"god :: the last refuge of a man with no answers and no argument." - G. Carlin
Hope, n.
The handmaiden of desperation; the opiate of despair; the illegible signpost on the road to perdition. ~~ da filth |
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tomk80
SFN Regular
Netherlands
1278 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2004 : 13:25:23 [Permalink]
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I would say that the generalisations you make are a little bit of, Coberst. Also, from my own experience people are constantly busy in truly discovering themselves. As far as I'm concerned (I'm 24 now), I have been busy discovering myself since I was capable of some kind of conscious thought (and I would argue that even the developement of conscious thought is a way of discovering yourself). I am very consciously doing this since I my 12 or 13th, and I think most people already start discovering themselves by them.
Basically, I think you're wrong with thinking that schooling, building up a career and having kids is not 'discovering yourself'. I would argue that building up a career and having kids are very importent in discovering yourself and developing critical thinking skills. |
Tom
`Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, `if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'
-Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll- |
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coberst
Skeptic Friend
182 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2004 : 14:31:45 [Permalink]
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| All of you point to the fact that not everybody does exactly the same things. Some people mature earlier than others. Some are orphans some leave home at age fifteen. The world is full of individuals. It is however to observe general behavour. |
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tomk80
SFN Regular
Netherlands
1278 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2004 : 15:12:23 [Permalink]
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Let me rephrase myself.
You seem to state that that schooling, building up a career and having kids is not 'discovering yourself'. I would argue that building up a career and having kids are very important in discovering yourself and developing critical thinking skills. |
Tom
`Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, `if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'
-Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll- |
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Ricky
SFN Die Hard
USA
4907 Posts |
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Leon
New Member
2 Posts |
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Dude
SFN Die Hard
USA
6891 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2004 : 17:37:27 [Permalink]
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coberst, come on man.
Do us a favor and drop all the posturing and "sophisticated intellect" mumbo-jumbo.
You over 40 and want to develope into something new? Go back to school. Find a topic that interests you deeply and jump in.
LEARN how to support and defend an idea once you drop it into a public arena, rather than ignore the opposition like you do now.
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Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong.
-- Thomas Jefferson
"god :: the last refuge of a man with no answers and no argument." - G. Carlin
Hope, n.
The handmaiden of desperation; the opiate of despair; the illegible signpost on the road to perdition. ~~ da filth |
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Ricky
SFN Die Hard
USA
4907 Posts |
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Chippewa
SFN Regular
USA
1496 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2004 : 18:21:56 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by coberst
Becoming Me ... By our forth decade ... a time to begin that process of becoming a sophisticated intellect... a time to read history or biography or music or science or philosophy or mathematics or art or literature searching out those hidden potentials that one must dig to discover.
You waited till the fourth decade? Well better late than never. Me? As a little kid, my family started me on the road to "sophisticated intellect" - (not that I've fully achieved it yet,) in the first decade. By 10 years old I was familiar with Mark Twain and Jules Verne. Composed for orchestra by age 13, designed and built flying models, made movies (with plots) by age 14. Assumed other kids were doing different and other things with brilliance. "Hidden potentials" is a continuous process throughout life - or should be. But, everybody is different. Everybody is a slow starter in some field!
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Diversity, independence, innovation and imagination are progressive concepts ultimately alien to the conservative mind.
"TAX AND SPEND" IS GOOD! (TAX: Wealthy corporations who won't go poor even after taxes. SPEND: On public works programs, education, the environment, improvements.) |
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coberst
Skeptic Friend
182 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 02:18:49 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by tomk80
Let me rephrase myself.
You seem to state that that schooling, building up a career and having kids is not 'discovering yourself'. I would argue that building up a career and having kids are very important in discovering yourself and developing critical thinking skills.
I did not wish to imply that such matters were not part of discovering oneself. |
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coberst
Skeptic Friend
182 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 02:20:52 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Ricky
"All of you point to the fact that not everybody does exactly the same things. Some people mature earlier than others. Some are orphans some leave home at age fifteen. The world is full of individuals. It is however to observe general behavour."
The problem is Cobrest, its very difficult if not impossible to generalize indiviuals. And where did you get that this is general? Where are the statistics showing this is the average life? Until you back it up, I am also, along with other members here, convinced that this style of posting is not different then Verlch's, except bigger words.
I do not know Verlch. |
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coberst
Skeptic Friend
182 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 02:23:08 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Chippewa
quote:
Originally posted by coberst
Becoming Me ... By our forth decade ... a time to begin that process of becoming a sophisticated intellect... a time to read history or biography or music or science or philosophy or mathematics or art or literature searching out those hidden potentials that one must dig to discover.
You waited till the fourth decade? Well better late than never. Me? As a little kid, my family started me on the road to "sophisticated intellect" - (not that I've fully achieved it yet,) in the first decade. By 10 years old I was familiar with Mark Twain and Jules Verne. Composed for orchestra by age 13, designed and built flying models, made movies (with plots) by age 14. Assumed other kids were doing different and other things with brilliance. "Hidden potentials" is a continuous process throughout life - or should be. But, everybody is different. Everybody is a slow starter in some field!
Well put chippew. |
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Ricky
SFN Die Hard
USA
4907 Posts |
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