Comments | hutta: Unremarkable, Comforted and Melancholy

hutta

Unremarkable, Comforted and Melancholy

Mar 09, 2005 23:40

The people around me at work are to a large degree the embodiment of what I've always assumed I wanted to be. They're mostly hard-working, self-improving, intelligent, achievers. In this group, I have absolutely no skills or characteristics that distinguish me in any way. The disturbing part is that I find myself increasingly comfortable with my ( Read more... )

Comments 12

paula_abroad March 10 2005, 10:20:20 UTC

but you have a kid - right? so who you are, what you know, being a person who wants to learn - you influence her. and the on and so on and so on.
i can perfectly comprehend what you´re saying. think i´m in this place most of the time too. but i don´t think it´s okay to be 'okay with it'.

the want for knowledge is one of THE appealing characteristics in people. i always find someone who considers learning things ONLY cos they´re useful for him/her at that time of life rather dull actually. it´s this quest for *efficiency* that annoys me.
and even if you don´t ACHIEVE things. open mindedness and curiousity are achievements of their own. it´s the general attitude.

obviously that´s my ideal. in reality i´m one of the resigned, dull persons. :/

leavesofgrass March 10 2005, 20:23:53 UTC

There is a difference between A: being knowledgable for the sake of being able to be the guy with cocktail knowledge, the smart guy in the group, or at work, impressive and seemlingly better than others purely because they seem to know more, and B: being knowledgable to make educated decisions about your life, voting, the influence you have on others including your children, etc.

To me, it is more important to be a good person, working towards the improvement or aid of society however small the effort or outcome, and making the best decisions I can with my own life to avoid hurting the other beings around me. To do this, I must try to be aware...awareness comes from knowledge. Maybe that doesn't mean I am the most knowledgable person, but I hope I am not ignorant, and I hope that doesn't make me any less of a person in the eyes of others.

lubricioustouch March 10 2005, 23:18:44 UTC

I would agree with the last comment. Additionally, what makes you say that you will not be an expert on something? That seems to be your own decision rather than a foregone conclusion. There are instances of people who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of excellency in a specific area at a later stage in life and become experts because they choose to be. And I would also say that knowledge is always useful, even if its use is not apparent, because it provides a certain degree of flexibility or adaptability or choice. While welding might not be immediately useful, some knowledge of welding might come in handy at some later point in time, whether its the skill itself or the ability to relate to someone who dedicates his or her time to it or the ability to make an educated consumer choice.

On a separate note, I have always wanted to take welding courses to make my own furniture, so I have a soft spot for the subject. I just haven't found the class offered for the right price or at the right time...

Like Cathcing Lightning In A Jar faithalone March 11 2005, 04:13:19 UTC

You mention that the knowledge that you have accumulated will die with you in a few decades. How do you know that? We are in our twenties. We have not yet begun to experience the world and what it has to offer. The jobs that we have had and the experiences that have shaped us to this point really are just a stepping stone to the great things that are to come. You are right. ICG was never going to put you in a position to change the world. The opportunities were not there. You are now working in a much larger company with more opportunities and more possibilities. Do you think Bill Gates and Paul Allen knew that within a few decades that they would be billionaires and their creation would dominate the computer market? Not at all ( ... )