i was reflecting on the fact that i wish i knew more about european history. like many americans, my knowledge is probably pretty darned cursory and i hate this. it's why when in a museum, i make a habit of reading every word on the signs for the items on exhibit--i want to know this stuff. besides, it would come in handy in my writing. and even though i was an english major once upon a time, there are some extraordinary gaps in my knowledge of lit--i've never read moby dick, one of the great classics of american lit.
as i reflected on these things, my thoughts turned (inexorably) to a poll question.
what type of specialized knowledge (e.g., history, literature, something else) do you most wish you possessed?
ed
silverwhisper posted on Aug 27, 2007
| views: 379
Comments
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exhibit_c said on Aug 27, 2007....
Lots and lots of stuff.
I was once one of the leading authorities on an idea classified SECRET by the Navy. (It turned out to have no military vaue.) It required math only at the undergraduate level, and I was the expert, not because I was anyone special, but because I was assigned to work on it.
Which illustrates a point: the modern economy has so many niches for which expertise is required, almost everyone has some particular knowledge.
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lyssa said on Aug 27, 2007....
For me, I would like it to be either literature (preferably English instead of Malay) or architecture. I wish I had the ability to come up with really amazing drawings of buildings! I just love it... I should have studied it! Oh well, I love what I am currently studying anyhow but again, would love to have knowledge in architecture. -
bloc said on Aug 27, 2007....
I wish my skills in discrete mathematics were better than they are. I studies it in school, but haven't used it much since then :/ -
uniquely-ironic said on Aug 27, 2007....
I wish I had more skill with math and numbers in general. I feel like a monkey with a chinese finger puzzle everytime I get near a math book or try to crunch numbers. -
beyondtheveil said on Aug 27, 2007....
My strongest point is European history, but the one I crave to learn much more of is literature. -
the_infernal_optimist said on Aug 27, 2007....
I suppose "everything" is a little dodgy...and really, math can go hang itself.
I'll go with linguistics here, though I'm tempted to go with something computer-related atm, for obvious reasons. >_<
~Infernal
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bloc said on Aug 27, 2007....
hm, an interest in computers, but not math ... travesty ;) I love linguistics as well, and have a book on my shelf that i'm dying to read.What type of computer knowledge would you be interested in? -
the_infernal_optimist said on Aug 27, 2007....
bloc: Well, right now I'd love data retrieval/recovery skills, but in general, I'm more interested in computer theory-type stuff, as in "Where will we go from here?"...new data storage methods, shifting bottlenecks on data transfer, etc.
That book looks intriguing, as do several of the suggested ones below it.
~Infernal
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silverwhisper said on Aug 27, 2007....
exhibit c: that's a superb point--there's a great deal of specialized knowledge out there.
lyssa: what about architecture interests you so? and are you malaysian? i always had a sense that you're asian.
bloc: leave it to you to find a branch of mathematics w/ which i have zero familiarity... :> and fascinating book!
u-i: i know what you mean about crunching numbers--a few years back, i had to have a friend help me with a report i was writing!
beyond: really, you're strong on european history? did you study in formally or are you self-taught?
infernal: mm, i agree re: linguistics...and yeah, the comp sci bit goes w/out saying i suppose... :>
ed -
lyssa said on Aug 27, 2007....
It's the art and science of it.. the structures. The design - how one comes up with it. I don't think it's an easy job at all!
I am Malaysian, yes! So what gave out that I am Asian? lol
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silverwhisper said on Aug 27, 2007....
i honestly don't know--more a sense, i think, than anything else. :> i don't know much about architecture myself but am curious to know a bit more about that discipline.
ed -
lyssa said on Aug 27, 2007....
Lol - okay. Yup me too... I would love to learn more on it but psychology is taking up too much of my time at the moment! Most of the time I read on architecture when I visit my SIL's brother. He used to work in Scotland and work on a lot of buildings there and with some other countries. I think it was him that influenced me in a way - always talking about buildings and such. He's obsessed with airports too! Lol. -
silverwhisper said on Aug 27, 2007....
i had a friend whose big brother was also into architecture and for his senior project designed an airport. maybe it's something that architects like thinking about? :>
ed -
silverwhisper said on Aug 27, 2007....
i've just realized i didn't answer my own question!
me, i think i'd most like a true knowledge of wines, to be honest.
ed -
lyssa said on Aug 27, 2007....
Wine, hey? I know nothing wine (could be because I don't drink!)... but maybe just a bit from watching on Travel and Living!
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dailyachesandpains said on Aug 27, 2007....
I wish I had better knowledge of screenplay writing, my life is a studio executives dream...you know, with the in-laws, LD's surgery and stuff.I wish I never went to school for technical writing because it's screwed with my everyday writing and I used to be an ace at grammar. GRR! But I can write a user manual...lot of good that does me.I wish I had better understanding, even a general understanding, about politics. I'm so happy that Bloc, LJ, you and others are willing to help me try to understand without beating me through the monitor. I wonder if I can sue the school system for screwing me with such a freak teacher.Daily -
Suddenrain said on Aug 28, 2007....
Medical Science. -
mom said on Aug 28, 2007....
I would love to levitate things and be able to turn invisible. Does that count or do you want something real? If you do then I would have to say I would love to be able to paint scenery and naked men. :) Ok just the scenery will do. -
lyssa said on Aug 28, 2007....
LOL -
redrocks said on Aug 28, 2007....
I have a regret: I was not able to go to university and become a nurse.
I think I could have been good at it.
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travelr712 said on Aug 28, 2007....
i'm with lucy. i want to know as much as i can about everything. except possibly politics. that's a waste of time :-) -
ZsuzsiO said on Aug 28, 2007....
computers. I wish I'd know all about them, everything and anything there is to know. -
bloc said on Aug 28, 2007....
speaking of math and computers, here is a cool site I found recently. -
moonriver said on Aug 30, 2007....
i have an extraordinary grasp of recent chinese history (from 1911 up to the present), but i'd like to deepen my knowledge of ancient chinese history.
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silverwhisper said on Aug 30, 2007....
most extraordinary, folks! :>
ed -
beyondtheveil said on Sep 04, 2007....
Ed- No formal training. I fell in love with European history in high school and have yet to stop reading it. Over half of my library has something to do with it. -
silverwhisper said on Sep 07, 2007....
i had a feeling, beyond. :>
ed
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