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12-01-2010, 06:02 PM
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#61
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
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Whatever you think of Stein, that text that MasterBlaster posted is a great motivator, and I'll bet it convinced at least one young person to change his/her ways.
__________________
Al
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12-01-2010, 06:11 PM
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#62
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
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I saw Ben Stein on TV ads a few times, but that was it. I do not watch much TV, hence did not know he was that well-known and such a controversial figure. I guess ignorance is bliss, when it comes to this stuff.
About calling someone an idiot, I have refrained from that as I get older. Most often, it is simple ignorance, and who among us knows everything?
Bigotry is really something else though. But even then, good grief! I would have to call anyone who disagrees with me on anything an idiot. There are just too many of them out there.
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"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
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12-01-2010, 06:23 PM
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#63
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Denver, Colorado
Posts: 6,256
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NW-Bound
[Idiots] There are just too many of them out there.
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Well... Yeah.
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"It's tough to make predictions, especially when it involves the future." ~Attributed to many
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is." ~(perhaps by) Yogi Berra
"Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge."~ Lau tzu
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12-01-2010, 09:33 PM
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#64
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,360
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
For example, well regarded college professors that have a weird blind spot and speak with authority on something they know nothing about
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When I was teaching law part-time, I was included in the university's list of "experts", which was made available to the media. Although my areas of (supposed) expertise were clearly indicated, I received numerous calls from reporters who wanted me to comment on other topics of which I had no knowledge. What was bizarre was that they were in no way discouraged when I pointed this out. It was apparent that they simply wanted to fill air time or column inches, and the quality of the content was essentially irrelevant.
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"To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive". Robert Louis Stevenson, An Inland Voyage (1878)
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12-01-2010, 09:54 PM
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#65
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gone traveling
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,864
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
There are idiots everywhere. I know first hand idiot lawyers and idiot doctors. I am sure that there are idiot engineers. I know professionals that have severe mental health issues which impaired their work.
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One name immediately comes to mind....
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12-02-2010, 04:09 AM
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#66
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,072
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Milton
...
I've been in private practice for a fair number of years now, and I disagree. Most lawyers are reasonably intelligent, but there are certainly some dimwits out there.
....
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Most people that move into graduate level education are generally intelligent.
There is probably a normal curve... likely skewed in the professions... such that they are above the norm compared to the general population because of education level.
However, it all depends on the subject matter! A smart lawyer can be an idiot in other areas... even in their own life decisions.
What makes one appear smart to those that are not in a profession is ignorance of the important details!
I know plenty of half competent technical and engineering people, I have no doubt that the same patter prevails in other professions.
This comment is not targeted at you... in every job, profession, whatever... the truly capable people can spot a mediocre peer quickly. If one believes most in their peer group is "really good"... chances are they are dead square in the middle of of being mediocre themselves... unfortunately they are in denial or worse... don't know the difference.
IMO - it often does not come down to brilliance, but one's drive and enthusiasm for their job or profession. Most mediocre people are that way because they spend more time trying to avoid something rather than embrace the challenge! Often the root cause is laziness or a profession mismatch.
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12-02-2010, 04:27 AM
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#67
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 388
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NW-Bound
About calling someone an idiot, I have refrained from that as I get older. Most often, it is simple ignorance, and who among us knows everything?
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I would love to add this to my wise quotes collection, if you don't mind being quoted once in a while.
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12-02-2010, 07:30 AM
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#68
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Pacific latitude 20/49
Posts: 7,677
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Milton
What was bizarre was that they were in no way discouraged when I pointed this out. It was apparent that they simply wanted to fill air time or column inches, and the quality of the content was essentially irrelevant.
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That is what gets Ben Stein in trouble. He comments on things for which he has no training. And people quote it as if he is insightful. Just because he achieved some fame in some past life.
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For the fun of it...Keith
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12-02-2010, 08:56 AM
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#69
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,934
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kcowan
He comments on things for which he has no training. And people quote it as if he is insightful. Just because he achieved some fame in some past life.
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Hang on. He has an economics degree from Columbia and was valedictorian at Yale Law School. He's got plenty of credentials to tackle economic and personal-finance issues.
He's made some goofy commercials, but I think he's just a good capitalist. Go Ben!
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And if I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know.
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12-02-2010, 09:03 AM
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#70
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chinaco
Most people that move into graduate level education are generally intelligent.
There is probably a normal curve... likely skewed in the professions... such that they are above the norm compared to the general population because of education level.
However, it all depends on the subject matter! A smart lawyer can be an idiot in other areas... even in their own life decisions.
What makes one appear smart to those that are not in a profession is ignorance of the important details!
I know plenty of half competent technical and engineering people, I have no doubt that the same patter prevails in other professions.
This comment is not targeted at you... in every job, profession, whatever... the truly capable people can spot a mediocre peer quickly. If one believes most in their peer group is "really good"... chances are they are dead square in the middle of of being mediocre themselves... unfortunately they are in denial or worse... don't know the difference.
IMO - it often does not come down to brilliance, but one's drive and enthusiasm for their job or profession. Most mediocre people are that way because they spend more time trying to avoid something rather than embrace the challenge! Often the root cause is laziness or a profession mismatch.
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I cannot agree with this more!
Regarding the statement that "the truly capable people can spot a mediocre peer quickly", my experience is that even lousy engineers can spot a good engineer. Heck, that's how some lousy engineers can become good bosses! Of course I don't know about other professions.
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
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12-02-2010, 03:21 PM
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#71
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,924
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Ben Stein is a YEC.
__________________
"Knowin' no one nowhere's gonna miss us when we're gone..."
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12-02-2010, 04:00 PM
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#72
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Pacific latitude 20/49
Posts: 7,677
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Onward
Hang on. He has an economics degree from Columbia and was valedictorian at Yale Law School. He's got plenty of credentials to tackle economic and personal-finance issues.
He's made some goofy commercials, but I think he's just a good capitalist. Go Ben!
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Have you any track record recently that would justify that comment? I don't care what he got his degree in. What has he done that would justify a claim that he is a good capitalist? This is the problem!
__________________
For the fun of it...Keith
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12-02-2010, 06:20 PM
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#73
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
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Boy! There are a lot of weird things about these celebrities. But again, it's a good thing I do not follow to know much about them. I guess I just do not care. Any celebrity can only cast one vote, same as you and I.
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
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12-02-2010, 11:03 PM
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#74
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,934
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kcowan
What has he done that would justify a claim that he is a good capitalist?
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I was talking about the money that he made from his commercials.
__________________
And if I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know.
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12-03-2010, 10:37 AM
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#75
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Pacific latitude 20/49
Posts: 7,677
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Sometimes referred to as becoming a shill for money...he can be rented.
__________________
For the fun of it...Keith
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12-03-2010, 10:48 AM
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#76
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,125
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Milton
When I was teaching law part-time, I was included in the university's list of "experts", which was made available to the media. Although my areas of (supposed) expertise were clearly indicated, I received numerous calls from reporters who wanted me to comment on other topics of which I had no knowledge. What was bizarre was that they were in no way discouraged when I pointed this out. It was apparent that they simply wanted to fill air time or column inches, and the quality of the content was essentially irrelevant.
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Well, part of it is the Halo effect. You must be smart in one area so you should have figured out all areas. I also think that most people don't have the time to understand specializations so if they see that so and so from Harvard said x, then it must be true. It doesn't matter if the person got a history degree and is discussing chemistry it was Harvard.
__________________
Angels danced on the day that you were born.
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12-03-2010, 04:21 PM
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#77
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
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Quote:
Any celebrity can only cast one vote, same as you and I.
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OTOH, they can often influence a lot of other voters.
__________________
Al
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12-03-2010, 04:31 PM
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#78
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Moscow
Posts: 1,569
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ANd sometimes they use their name recognition to become Presidents and Governors, etc.
__________________
You can't enlighten the unconscious.
But you can hit'em upside the head a few times to make sure they are really out...
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12-03-2010, 05:48 PM
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#79
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TromboneAl
OTOH, they can often influence a lot of other voters.
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But thank goodness, in politics, there is a parallel to Newton's Third Law of Motion "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction", which I shall state as follows.
"For every idiot, there is an equal and opposite idiot making a counter statement". -- NW-Bound
Oh, no! I just use that word *d**t! But what I mean is that each side of a debate is called *d**t by the other side's backers.
And if you watch enough of these, you often find a case where you would want to call both sides *d**ts.
I prefer to tune my TV to the Food Channel or the Travel Channel. I have not been watching either one much lately.
Oh, I also like to catch a bit of CNBC in the morning to see Melissa Francis. Her smile and her big eyes never fail to make me feel happy, no matter what she says, and I even tell my wife that. Please, nobody shall call her any name!
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
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12-03-2010, 06:04 PM
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#80
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,934
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NW-Bound
Oh, I also like to catch a bit of MSNBC in the morning to see Melissa Francis. Her smile and her big eyes never fail to make me feel happy
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She is indeed attractive, but let's talk about real beauty.
__________________
And if I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know.
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