The World is Crazy.....

There are a series of excellent discussions at "To The Best of Our Knowledge" titled "Stories of You."  They explore the notion that "If we are only a collection of stories about ourselves... what's the truth of who "we" are? "  The discussions are both surprising and enlightening.

http://ttbook.org/book/story-you

The interview with neuroscientist and researcher Julian Keenan,  "You & Your Brain"  raises two interesting points for me.

1.  @ 9:12   "We use to think that people with clinical depression didn't see the world realistically they saw it in an overly negative light. Well, it turns out that they're seeing it quite realistically" and it is others that are seeing it in an overly rosy light.  Others are the ones not in reality

2.  @ 9:33  "So the purpose of therapy is to learn to be better at lying" (to ones self, for the purpose of fitting in)? The response by Keenan is " Absolutely!"

Before this point in the interview Keenan says we are always "molding reality not so that it is real, but it is palatable".  This is what everyone does in a self deceptive way.
Jonathan Alder, in his part of the discussion says, this is changing the narrative about the way we view the events.
Keenan then adds a twist, this is not just about how we see the story, but it is also about how we think others think about our story.  By adding the Theory of Mind to the mix we end up thinking about what your thinking about my thinking about your thinking. (@ 6:11)  And we somehow do all of this thinking while avoiding knowing that others are seeing events in a less than realistic way.
The implication is that social psychology, and the influence of a social network, has a larger influence on our individual psychology than our therapist would have us believe. But then the therapist is not devoid of  this rosier than reality thinking either.

It is as if we are being told,  "The world is crazy-deal with it"
Now that's depressing.

Enough Love

Here's an original poem for Valentine's Day:


Enough Love

I'd like to have enough love
To save some for a rainy day
I'd have some to share in this moment
And still have some to give away

But I'm a fool who suffers
Where wiseman fear to tread
Rushing in with heart in hand
instead of using both heart and head

So is there any love in knowing
Ourselves in such a way?
Can we be in need of love
And still have some to give away?

How I Write: “I Still Do Not Write”

This is a comment I wrote as part of an online college course on "Connectivism."  (#CCK11 #ELTchat)
I originally  posted it at the blog: "profesorbaker.wordpress.com"   But I also ran across it again at a web page called, "The Yoon Soo Lin Daily." 


 Theodore A, Hoppe says:
February 4, 2011 at 8:42 pm

I have to admit that I still do not write.

If it were not for the computer, I would not create written text. I compose in words, a challenging concept to describe: type sentences, shift them around, reread, cut and paste, re-read, add sentences, spelling check, dictionary lookup, and so forth. Typos are always there, still. So I'm constantly re-reading to re-edit is needed, always. And still they slip in, cemented forever on the wed (haha-”web”)

Many, millions, perhaps even most, are not oriented to the written word. Even though we read, it is not the same as the challenge of writing.

This is the source of much shame, when it is actually a process deficiency of an intelligence type. Learning assumes a singularity of process, when language is but one of many processes.

Here I will reference Howard Gardner: Linguistic intelligence involves sensitivity to spoken and written language, the ability to learn languages, and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals.

This intelligence includes the ability to effectively use language to express oneself rhetorically or poetically; and language as a means to remember information. Writers, poets, lawyers and speakers are among those that Howard Gardner sees as having high linguistic intelligence.

Regarding the reply:  Professor Baker aka "Thomas" was very very kind in his comments, and it is with this encouragement that I continue in my attempts to combined words in a way the create meaning.

profesorbaker says:
February 5, 2011 at 5:21 am

Hi Theodore,

Thank you for this incredible story that you share with me here. You began, in medias res, with a powerful, attention grabbing statement: (quote) “I have to admit that I still do not write”. (end of quote)

I read this, started to answer, and then left it, wanting to reflect, deeply, before answering. I will quote a second statement, if you will be patient with me: (quote) “This is the source of much shame.”

And now I quote myself: (quote) “Writing is a skill that requires a lot of practice to do well. It’s not easy.”

Here is a final quote from you: “If it were not for the computer, I would not create written text. I compose in words, a challenging concept to describe: type sentences, shift them around, re-read, cut and paste, re-read, add sentences spelling check, dictionary lookup, and so forth. Typos are always there, still, so constant re-reading to re-edit is needed, always. And still they slip in, cemented forever…”

Theodore, to sum up, you have my deepest admiration for your writing ability. You admit it’s difficult for you, painstaking, time-consuming. This causes you personal discomfort. For others, blessed with the linguistic intelligence described by Gardner, it is a matter of applying their linguistic gift to the writing task.

I would like to point out that you describe perfectly, in a comprehensive manner, the writing process. If my students would apply themselves to their writing, as diligently, and as purposefully as you do when you write, I would be a highly contented teacher of English.

Finally, I’d like to leave you with the words of Dr. Peter Elbow, regarding spelling and grammar: (quote) “Many, many good writers are not good with spelling, not good with grammar, but they know how to get the help they need.”

My friend, as defined by Dr. Peter Elbow, you are a good writer. Your words impacted me today, and will influence the way I go about teaching writing to my students, who have the disadvantage of writing in English as a foreign language.

The writing process, as you describe it here, going forward, then backward, editing, re-editing, re-ordering, cut and paste, and finally, when all is said and done in this process, the final product is ready.

In my book, that’s good writing, any day, rain or shine. That’s all it is, good writing…

Thank you for your valuable interaction here with me. I owe you a debt of gratitude for what I learned today.

Best regards,
Thomas

Theodore A, Hoppe says:

February 5, 2011 at 7:01 am

Encouragement!
Thank you Thomas. It is always welcomed. In the need to express ourselves, we overcome much.
Here is a link to some of my well edited written thoughts.
http://www.ted.com/profiles/comments/id/242907

But I will also share with you this.

We live in turblent times-
How well do you tread water in an ocean of negative emotion
Shame is a storm, welling up and approaching
Backstroke kick kick, look up at the clouds,
the elephants with angel wings and the funny faces smiling back
Up and down the waves churning with no shore in sight.
No compassion in sight….
No one to toss us a peppermint lifesaver.

Best,

Theodore

profesorbaker says:

February 6, 2011 at 4:59 pm

Hi Theodore,

I found this to be powerful, which you have written on your “TED, Ideas Worth Spreading”, main page:

Here I quote you: (Quote) “The future of education has been the focus of the discussions I have been having with others. I love this quote and it seems to capture the essence of what TED is about: “Continual learning is the only skill that enables people to meet the challenge of expanding complexity wrought by expanding technology. Learning is a mental process that integrates intelligence and communication in the architecture of human thought . As the 21st century unfolds, technology must aim to avoid continual bumbling by strengthening literacy through continual learning using a process of intelligence that enables proactive concurrent discovery, rather than allow the future to merely arrive with increasingly disastrous consequences. ” Rod Welch. I am also very interested in the concept of eGovernance and how social networking analysis might lead to public-networking.” (end of quote)
…

It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Theodore.

Kind regards,
Thomas

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