Your Friday Thought Exercise
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Let's say you're in a room with a 100 people, and you're stuck in that room, but you can make other people leave. So, at first, getting rid of the people that are idiots or don't agree with you or have other value systems is easy, because the diversity factor is high. So, you get rid of the extremists and you're left with a more moderate bunch of people. Everything is fine... ...for a while. And then what happens? Well, some of those people that were moderate originally are now the extreme within an even smaller circle of more moderate, more vanilla people. Out they go! And the circle gets smaller and smaller, until one day, you realize you're the only one left in the room, and you can't get out. What would you do differently, if you could go back in time? Marc
I'd try to keep the less moderate people around by accepting that we disagree and on whatever it is and find more interesting things to keep us busy. It gets dull discussing, even in a civil manner, the same old points. That or I'd break wind and know that those still around at least have a sense of humor.
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long
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Let's say you're in a room with a 100 people, and you're stuck in that room, but you can make other people leave. So, at first, getting rid of the people that are idiots or don't agree with you or have other value systems is easy, because the diversity factor is high. So, you get rid of the extremists and you're left with a more moderate bunch of people. Everything is fine... ...for a while. And then what happens? Well, some of those people that were moderate originally are now the extreme within an even smaller circle of more moderate, more vanilla people. Out they go! And the circle gets smaller and smaller, until one day, you realize you're the only one left in the room, and you can't get out. What would you do differently, if you could go back in time? Marc
Marc Clifton wrote:
And the circle gets smaller and smaller, until one day, you realize you're the only one left in the room, and you can't get out.
Dividing Words.... (March 2001) When I was young and full of life My family showed me a city full And forests filled with life too The world was a very large place With so very many people in it And I cheered for the knowledge. But when I entered school Through the jeers and names and snide comments on my size I heard near every day... I learned that I was different And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At sixteen years of life grown While visiting one of my friends His sister brought a boy home One that was unacceptable For he was more like me than them On that day I learned my friend was black And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At nineteen at a university I heard a speech of fire and brimstone The words stung full of pain Calling married people sinners Without noticing the rings. Until the words turned on me For "socializing" with "others" I was damned for all time.... The words he called my friends. They stung like undying wasps And the pain did not end When the words were done. Until that day I never noticed The slant of an eye or What a turban meant. And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At twenty I tried to describe a sound The echo of a helicopter in flight So majestic, so calm, so even The gentle "Thwop" of the blades As they cut the air to defy gravity But my teacher, whom I admired, Heard another word.... He was second generation American But born of Italian blood. I had not even known of that... "Word"... until that day. And the word hurt me Because he thought I said it. And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. ...
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The question I've got though is "Should I stay or should I go?"
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
"Should I stay or should I go?"
Nooooooooooooo! You are SO evil! Marc
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Marc Clifton wrote:
And the circle gets smaller and smaller, until one day, you realize you're the only one left in the room, and you can't get out.
Dividing Words.... (March 2001) When I was young and full of life My family showed me a city full And forests filled with life too The world was a very large place With so very many people in it And I cheered for the knowledge. But when I entered school Through the jeers and names and snide comments on my size I heard near every day... I learned that I was different And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At sixteen years of life grown While visiting one of my friends His sister brought a boy home One that was unacceptable For he was more like me than them On that day I learned my friend was black And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At nineteen at a university I heard a speech of fire and brimstone The words stung full of pain Calling married people sinners Without noticing the rings. Until the words turned on me For "socializing" with "others" I was damned for all time.... The words he called my friends. They stung like undying wasps And the pain did not end When the words were done. Until that day I never noticed The slant of an eye or What a turban meant. And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At twenty I tried to describe a sound The echo of a helicopter in flight So majestic, so calm, so even The gentle "Thwop" of the blades As they cut the air to defy gravity But my teacher, whom I admired, Heard another word.... He was second generation American But born of Italian blood. I had not even known of that... "Word"... until that day. And the word hurt me Because he thought I said it. And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. ...
Thanks for posting that. I will share it with some people I know. :rose: Marc
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Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
"Should I stay or should I go?"
Nooooooooooooo! You are SO evil! Marc
I had that bloody song running through my head all day - it's only fair that I spread the pain. ;)
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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I'd try to keep the less moderate people around by accepting that we disagree and on whatever it is and find more interesting things to keep us busy. It gets dull discussing, even in a civil manner, the same old points. That or I'd break wind and know that those still around at least have a sense of humor.
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long
Chris Austin wrote:
I'd try to keep the less moderate people around by accepting that we disagree and on whatever it is and find more interesting things to keep us busy.
Well put! Marc
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I had that bloody song running through my head all day - it's only fair that I spread the pain. ;)
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Speaking of pain, Kung Foo Fighting. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra] Donate to help Conquer Cancer[^]
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Marc Clifton wrote:
And the circle gets smaller and smaller, until one day, you realize you're the only one left in the room, and you can't get out.
Dividing Words.... (March 2001) When I was young and full of life My family showed me a city full And forests filled with life too The world was a very large place With so very many people in it And I cheered for the knowledge. But when I entered school Through the jeers and names and snide comments on my size I heard near every day... I learned that I was different And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At sixteen years of life grown While visiting one of my friends His sister brought a boy home One that was unacceptable For he was more like me than them On that day I learned my friend was black And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At nineteen at a university I heard a speech of fire and brimstone The words stung full of pain Calling married people sinners Without noticing the rings. Until the words turned on me For "socializing" with "others" I was damned for all time.... The words he called my friends. They stung like undying wasps And the pain did not end When the words were done. Until that day I never noticed The slant of an eye or What a turban meant. And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At twenty I tried to describe a sound The echo of a helicopter in flight So majestic, so calm, so even The gentle "Thwop" of the blades As they cut the air to defy gravity But my teacher, whom I admired, Heard another word.... He was second generation American But born of Italian blood. I had not even known of that... "Word"... until that day. And the word hurt me Because he thought I said it. And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. ...
Very nice. Very nice indeed.:cool:
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Marc Clifton wrote:
And the circle gets smaller and smaller, until one day, you realize you're the only one left in the room, and you can't get out.
Dividing Words.... (March 2001) When I was young and full of life My family showed me a city full And forests filled with life too The world was a very large place With so very many people in it And I cheered for the knowledge. But when I entered school Through the jeers and names and snide comments on my size I heard near every day... I learned that I was different And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At sixteen years of life grown While visiting one of my friends His sister brought a boy home One that was unacceptable For he was more like me than them On that day I learned my friend was black And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At nineteen at a university I heard a speech of fire and brimstone The words stung full of pain Calling married people sinners Without noticing the rings. Until the words turned on me For "socializing" with "others" I was damned for all time.... The words he called my friends. They stung like undying wasps And the pain did not end When the words were done. Until that day I never noticed The slant of an eye or What a turban meant. And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At twenty I tried to describe a sound The echo of a helicopter in flight So majestic, so calm, so even The gentle "Thwop" of the blades As they cut the air to defy gravity But my teacher, whom I admired, Heard another word.... He was second generation American But born of Italian blood. I had not even known of that... "Word"... until that day. And the word hurt me Because he thought I said it. And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. ...
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Thanks for posting that. I will share it with some people I know. :rose: Marc
Marc Clifton wrote:
I will share it with some people I know.
oh great! Now I just created more spam! just don't put on it: please send to everyone you know! ;)
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Speaking of pain, Kung Foo Fighting. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra] Donate to help Conquer Cancer[^]
Chris Meech wrote:
Speaking of pain, Kung Foo Fighting
Nooooooo - you b4st4rd. :laugh: I can only reply: Y M C AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Marc Clifton wrote:
I will share it with some people I know.
oh great! Now I just created more spam! just don't put on it: please send to everyone you know! ;)
El Corazon wrote:
oh great! Now I just created more spam!
Nah, I meant, I'm going to kill a tree and print it out and share it with a couple people that actually don't even use computers. I actually don't send things of that nature by email, oddly enough. It goes against the grain. :) Marc
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El Corazon wrote:
oh great! Now I just created more spam!
Nah, I meant, I'm going to kill a tree and print it out and share it with a couple people that actually don't even use computers. I actually don't send things of that nature by email, oddly enough. It goes against the grain. :) Marc
Marc Clifton wrote:
I actually don't send things of that nature by email, oddly enough.
What - you don't actually mean you know people in a real community? Dear god - that's unnatural. Next you'll be telling us you have a life.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Marc Clifton wrote:
I actually don't send things of that nature by email, oddly enough.
What - you don't actually mean you know people in a real community? Dear god - that's unnatural. Next you'll be telling us you have a life.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
you don't actually mean you know people in a real community?
When one has a child, one is occasionally forced to interact (you know, I can't type that word with a 't' at the end anymore) with people in the flesh. ;P Marc
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Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
you don't actually mean you know people in a real community?
When one has a child, one is occasionally forced to interact (you know, I can't type that word with a 't' at the end anymore) with people in the flesh. ;P Marc
Marc Clifton wrote:
When one has a child, one is occasionally forced to interact (you know, I can't type that word with a 't' at the end anymore) with people in the flesh.
I have two. I find that a surly demeanour and occassionally biting the head off one of the other parents helps me to maintain my reputation of approachable friendliness. Hey - I'm just as nice in real life as I am here.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Chris Meech wrote:
Speaking of pain, Kung Foo Fighting
Nooooooo - you b4st4rd. :laugh: I can only reply: Y M C AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
okay, that does it... I'm breaking up this fight... me and my pet dragon... His name is Puff and he lives by the sea... you may have heard of him? Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
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Marc Clifton wrote:
And the circle gets smaller and smaller, until one day, you realize you're the only one left in the room, and you can't get out.
Dividing Words.... (March 2001) When I was young and full of life My family showed me a city full And forests filled with life too The world was a very large place With so very many people in it And I cheered for the knowledge. But when I entered school Through the jeers and names and snide comments on my size I heard near every day... I learned that I was different And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At sixteen years of life grown While visiting one of my friends His sister brought a boy home One that was unacceptable For he was more like me than them On that day I learned my friend was black And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At nineteen at a university I heard a speech of fire and brimstone The words stung full of pain Calling married people sinners Without noticing the rings. Until the words turned on me For "socializing" with "others" I was damned for all time.... The words he called my friends. They stung like undying wasps And the pain did not end When the words were done. Until that day I never noticed The slant of an eye or What a turban meant. And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. At twenty I tried to describe a sound The echo of a helicopter in flight So majestic, so calm, so even The gentle "Thwop" of the blades As they cut the air to defy gravity But my teacher, whom I admired, Heard another word.... He was second generation American But born of Italian blood. I had not even known of that... "Word"... until that day. And the word hurt me Because he thought I said it. And the world grew smaller And I cried for the knowledge. ...
Wow, very nice. I've always admired people who can capture their emotions and thoughts in an eloquent manner.
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long
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okay, that does it... I'm breaking up this fight... me and my pet dragon... His name is Puff and he lives by the sea... you may have heard of him? Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
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Marc Clifton wrote:
When one has a child, one is occasionally forced to interact (you know, I can't type that word with a 't' at the end anymore) with people in the flesh.
I have two. I find that a surly demeanour and occassionally biting the head off one of the other parents helps me to maintain my reputation of approachable friendliness. Hey - I'm just as nice in real life as I am here.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
Hey - I'm just as nice in real life as I am here.
I am nicer. Though my team would disagree. To them I am an aging sour puss with a personal grudge against mutexes. :laugh:
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(because I have to make everything worse): Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna turn around And hurt you ;P Feel free to hate me now :)
Have faith in yourself; amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic.
t7bros wrote:
Feel free to hate me now
naw, we're all "Dust in the wind" you know. ;P