Comments on: On being uncultured http://www.darcynorman.net/2005/11/30/on-being-uncultured/ apparently much happier in person Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:03:04 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Brian http://www.darcynorman.net/2005/11/30/on-being-uncultured/#comment-80685 Brian Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 1272821715#comment-80685 I know it wasn't intelligence you were getting at. But even cultural knowledge is a complex thing. Nobody can seem on top of a wide variety of cultural signposts. And half of a liberal arts education is learning how to bluff convincingly. We used to play "literary bullshit" over drinks back in grad school -- the idea of the game was to figure out when someone was only pretending to know stuff. It was a real eye-opener. I know it wasn’t intelligence you were getting at. But even cultural knowledge is a complex thing. Nobody can seem on top of a wide variety of cultural signposts.

And half of a liberal arts education is learning how to bluff convincingly. We used to play “literary bullshit” over drinks back in grad school — the idea of the game was to figure out when someone was only pretending to know stuff. It was a real eye-opener.

]]> By: D'Arcy http://www.darcynorman.net/2005/11/30/on-being-uncultured/#comment-80686 D'Arcy Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 1272821715#comment-80686 Thanks, B. It's not an intelligence thing, though. I think I'm intelligent - not genius, but not clueless - but the feeling I was trying to capture was a distinct lack of backing knowledge or experience. Like the others in the group are able to tap into a rich store of knowledge that I just lack. Compounded with the realization that their knowledge is about stuff that is decades or centuries old, whereas mine is entirely ephemeral - knowlege and experience that is largely tied into software development, and which will be obsolete in months/years... Thanks, B. It’s not an intelligence thing, though. I think I’m intelligent – not genius, but not clueless – but the feeling I was trying to capture was a distinct lack of backing knowledge or experience. Like the others in the group are able to tap into a rich store of knowledge that I just lack. Compounded with the realization that their knowledge is about stuff that is decades or centuries old, whereas mine is entirely ephemeral – knowlege and experience that is largely tied into software development, and which will be obsolete in months/years…

]]> By: Brian http://www.darcynorman.net/2005/11/30/on-being-uncultured/#comment-80687 Brian Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 1272821715#comment-80687 Man, even looking at that artbar photo makes me feel like a goon. I can't imagine any clothes I own that I wouldn't feel self-conscious wearing in there. I'd be sucking back the white wine spritzers, I'm certain... Sleep-deprived, over-worked, always moving, always taking stuff in, never getting time to think, trying to do the right thing at home and at the office, there are lots of moments when the nervous system just ain't firing. Rest assured, amigo, that people who know you think that you're a terrifying supergenius. I'm so grateful you use your powers for good. Man, even looking at that artbar photo makes me feel like a goon. I can’t imagine any clothes I own that I wouldn’t feel self-conscious wearing in there. I’d be sucking back the white wine spritzers, I’m certain…

Sleep-deprived, over-worked, always moving, always taking stuff in, never getting time to think, trying to do the right thing at home and at the office, there are lots of moments when the nervous system just ain’t firing.

Rest assured, amigo, that people who know you think that you’re a terrifying supergenius. I’m so grateful you use your powers for good.

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