tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post7666772443946864780..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: The War to end all Wars!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-52431791837487817252010-10-24T23:42:29.622-04:002010-10-24T23:42:29.622-04:00> Anyway, I know, Froderick, you feel that this...> Anyway, I know, Froderick, you feel that this is all a "tastes great, less filling" <br />> argument, but there is an entire constellation of academic disciplines that works <br />> on these problems. And they actually do matter to those of us who are engaged in <br />> working on them.<br /><br />And they do matter, and my blessing for the serious intellectuals who do Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-79392480104332777922010-10-22T23:58:28.202-04:002010-10-22T23:58:28.202-04:00Jim, I'm sorry to see you go.
Farewell.Jim, I'm sorry to see you go. <br /><br />Farewell.Alan From Apexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01366176105581248496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-58062874995420334912010-10-22T14:52:17.580-04:002010-10-22T14:52:17.580-04:00There's also a different way to respond to you...There's also a different way to respond to your statement about who contributes to what. That is, that it depends on what you mean by "contributes," but humanists have contributed mightily to science over the last six decades or so.<br /><br /> Of course if what you mean is have humanists contributed to The Beaker's research on the structure of alkalids, or whatever, through Archiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015065747868297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-68540024870298560332010-10-22T14:44:59.069-04:002010-10-22T14:44:59.069-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Archiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015065747868297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-26829019562020849562010-10-22T13:36:34.869-04:002010-10-22T13:36:34.869-04:00Sure, and I made your third point for you. I even ...Sure, and I made your third point for you. I even pointed out that there is a history that helps explain the style in which the sciences are written. Part of it is about communicating clearly, part of it has to do with the importance of Germans in the development of the modern scientific idiom. There are other proximate causes as well.<br /><br />But you didn't limit yourself to objecting Archiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015065747868297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-38637880298339677442010-10-22T13:19:13.598-04:002010-10-22T13:19:13.598-04:00@ Archie -
1. I believe that Heinlein spent some ...@ Archie -<br /><br />1. I believe that Heinlein spent some time at the US Naval Observatory, doing applied mathematics, before he got pneumonia.<br /><br />2. I am nowhere arguing that serious literary or historical criticism is not important, although I have read a great deal in professional journals which is tripe. It's much worse in Education.<br /><br />3. I was responding to the Paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07952088638231881617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-8780453754842362010-10-22T11:44:58.764-04:002010-10-22T11:44:58.764-04:00alas, goodbye
I send an email to Fab, perhaps he ...alas, goodbye<br /><br />I send an email to Fab, perhaps he did not get it, but he was forced to shutdown the comments on the page discussing the new rules of behavior due to a stream of insults (at me, boy, do they teach the meaning of irony anymore?). I will not be responsible for shutting down this site.<br /><br />I apologize to Fab, clearly I have no place in this clubhouse. You all preachabysshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07262945566870649768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-51926657964784050502010-10-22T10:49:30.077-04:002010-10-22T10:49:30.077-04:00Paddy,
You are comparing apples and pencils here....Paddy,<br /><br />You are comparing apples and pencils here. There is a big difference between writing a novel and making a contribution in the humanities. I like Asimov, read all his books. I even have a copy of his "Guide to Shakespeare" somewhere on my shelf. It is a cute book, very entertaining and glib in that way he had, but no one would mistake it for a serious work of literary Archiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015065747868297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-7303927147793417492010-10-22T09:51:43.124-04:002010-10-22T09:51:43.124-04:00@No Cookies - "Science is fascinating (usuall...@No Cookies - "Science is fascinating (usually) and useful, but not as useful as being able to express yourself and generally communicate."<br /><br />Why is there this assumption that those in science can't write? Consider the many cases of scientists who wrote successfully: C.P.Snow, R.H.Heinlein, A.C.Clarke, Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, Martin Gardner, David Watson and more. How Paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07952088638231881617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-16218065492383822362010-10-22T05:39:09.992-04:002010-10-22T05:39:09.992-04:00I agree with Babbling Brook. Kids, don't you ...I agree with Babbling Brook. Kids, don't you think this is a "tastes great"/"less filling" activity?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-23546388088919400012010-10-22T05:36:09.286-04:002010-10-22T05:36:09.286-04:00Tim (Not Jim) said...
> My eight year old coul...Tim (Not Jim) said...<br /><br />> My eight year old could get a BA in English, and I'm not joking.<br /><br />I dare you to enroll her in a BA program in English, then, and test this claim.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-43261669467305549012010-10-22T04:04:31.645-04:002010-10-22T04:04:31.645-04:00Since in many ways reading is the foundation of mo...Since in many ways reading is the foundation of most learning, and writing and spoken language are how we COMMUNICATE, I'd say that English is pretty damn important in this country. Science is fascinating (usually) and useful, but not as useful as being able to express yourself and generally communicate.No Cookieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17722547269501795463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-61636147935280696832010-10-22T02:59:12.741-04:002010-10-22T02:59:12.741-04:00Each would die without the other.
Right now, it s...Each would die without the other.<br /><br />Right now, it seems the sciences need a healthy burst of ethical exploration that many humanists can provide (especially re: plagiarism and its avoidance).<br /><br />And, well, the humanities could definitely benefit from understanding the numerical and logical research that the sciences have expertise in.<br /><br />Then again, as suggested above, I&Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-16283358748209529612010-10-22T01:08:32.129-04:002010-10-22T01:08:32.129-04:00Not to fear. I'm only reloading.Not to fear. I'm only reloading.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-41423740544723321372010-10-22T01:04:09.985-04:002010-10-22T01:04:09.985-04:00Fab: I apologize for thinking it may have been yo...Fab: I apologize for thinking it may have been you. I had noticed all of his other comments read "deleted", and I was unaware a comment could be completely erased by the poster. Perhaps I should pay closer attention.<br /><br />Rick: Please note the "if" that preceded the "disappointed".<br /><br />I am disappointed that Jim left. I think the community here Alan From Apexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01366176105581248496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-82673569901540281262010-10-21T23:13:15.498-04:002010-10-21T23:13:15.498-04:00I am amazed at how things have gone down here, the...I am amazed at how things have gone down here, the kind of expectations many people on the blog have for the people who run it. <br /><br />Alan, you're "disappointed" in what's happened, although you're not even sure it did?<br /><br />And for the past 2 days the various remarks of, "I wouldn't stay if this happened," or "My rights are, blah blah blah.&Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-50807058131430994492010-10-21T23:01:52.854-04:002010-10-21T23:01:52.854-04:00Alan,
If you'll check other threads where Jim...Alan,<br /><br />If you'll check other threads where Jim took part, you will see all of his comments say: "This post has been removed by the author.<br />October 20, 2010 7:40 PM," etc.<br /><br />I believe there are two ways to delete comments, and authors can delete them or remove them. One of them leaves the "This post has been removed," and the other just disappears College Miseryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01371354682300032653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-8162059377483063102010-10-21T21:52:15.810-04:002010-10-21T21:52:15.810-04:00Whiskey tango foxtrot? I am massively confused abo...Whiskey tango foxtrot? I am massively confused about where posts went. <br /><br />Jim, if you did that, I am sad to see you go.<br /><br />Fab, if you did that, I am disappointed.Alan From Apexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01366176105581248496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-15022469373922613512010-10-21T20:43:41.985-04:002010-10-21T20:43:41.985-04:00Holy delete button Batman! looks like I missed out...Holy delete button Batman! looks like I missed out another Jimbo meltdown. What happened? I thought he was doing well with me. I was waiting for his next response. I'm guessing from Merely's text that he pulled the scientists "know more about more" card. There are some good standard responses for that one too.<br /><br />In fact, Merely, while I'm blushing a little at the Archiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015065747868297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-88824515315371928972010-10-21T17:32:02.743-04:002010-10-21T17:32:02.743-04:00re: d), of course that's also true in non-math...re: d), of course that's also true in non-math-intensive fields. But let us not go there. Or at least, not here and not now.Merely Academichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00452389428113097744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-24265386018753387292010-10-21T17:31:22.730-04:002010-10-21T17:31:22.730-04:00re: a), c), d), certainly accords with my personal...re: a), c), d), certainly accords with my personal observations. re: b), that's the part that recent (published 2010) research has usefully updated, because the SAT/GRE scores are predominantly North American. Doing a sort by nation and gender parity in the national culture gives different results.Merely Academichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00452389428113097744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-61809021407952399282010-10-21T17:05:40.941-04:002010-10-21T17:05:40.941-04:00Merely Academic,
If science students seem more di...Merely Academic,<br /><br />If science students seem more disciplined than humanities students, it may be due to the reputations of each field and the type of students that each field attracts. People think science is dispassionate, precision and accuracy, three laws of thermodynamics and all that stuff. The media presents the humanities as being full of touchy-feely, no correct answer, oh Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-61750378236243296852010-10-21T16:46:31.794-04:002010-10-21T16:46:31.794-04:00Blackdog - "I happen to get off on answering ...Blackdog - "I happen to get off on answering the questions my discipline asks". That's it exactly. I could have been doing other stuff but this is the stuff I really LIKE to be doing. Which is why I'm good at it, but it's also why I feel very lucky to have this job -when not inundated by snowflakes and admin of course.<br /><br />Angry Archie - thank you for your Merely Academichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00452389428113097744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-40382124048474370242010-10-21T15:44:55.898-04:002010-10-21T15:44:55.898-04:00Jim wrote: "There are some who believe that t...Jim wrote: "There are some who believe that to an advanced level (the level needed to be good a deep science), no amount of hard work can overcome a lack of talent (genetic?) in the area." In other words, if I want to be good at deep math, my proficiency needs to be about some innate quality.<br /><br />Okay, well, it turned out I was poor at deep science. As I said, that woodpecker cmthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814447289455034068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-33568035973956555142010-10-21T14:42:25.166-04:002010-10-21T14:42:25.166-04:00Ooops, I just read Jim's last. You can disagre...Ooops, I just read Jim's last. You can disagree all you want, but that is a feeling, not a fact. Science as we understand it is less than four-hundred years old. And science's preoccupation with producing technological artifacts is even more recent. You are making the elementary error of thinking that just because today's science tilts towards the applied side of things that it has Archiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015065747868297noreply@blogger.com