Sep 8 2012: Love the idea, I would just be worried about some deranged teenager putting rat poisen on the food or something. Seems you just can't trust people as much nowadays and that is sad. Of course if you look at my profile you'll see that I live in Aurora, CO. I only live 15 minutes from that theater.
Sep 8 2012: Thanks for your question Anil. I often think about this subject and how it is speeding up my own perception of time. I do have a frame of reference to compare. When I was a boy, I spent a lot of time in a rural farming community where my father and grandfather grew crops. I recall my grandfather and I visiting a great aunt. She didn't have a lot of material possessions, a quaint one bedroom home, no car, no television. I always remember a calming peace in her presence. She wore a simple dress, an apron, and house slippers. She always made fresh cookies, lemonade and tea. We sat in the living room and my grandfather talked with her about simple things, the weather, crops, times long past, etc. The only sound you could hear was a clock "ticking" on the wall. I think that due to our fast-paced lifestyles that our lives will have a perception of being shorter lived.
I also feel that I am a slave to my lifestyle. We as a society want more and more. We want bigger, better, faster, flashier, more expensive. We desire those status symbols to validate who we are and to garner respect. We live beyond our means and justify it because everyone else is doing it. I'm sick of it really. I would love to regress back to a simpler life. I think something about it appeals to our basic human instincts.
Sep 8 2012: I think you're spot on with your assumptions Esra. I'm not a conspiracy nut but I also believe that the Bilderbergs are indeed a real legitimate organization that meet annually to discuss and enforce policies that suite their own personal agendas. BTW, you live in a beautiful country my friend. As well as English and most likely German, you probably speak a bit of French and Italian as well, which is three more languages than most Americans speak. :-) I''m envious you're so close to the LHC! You should take a tour of the facility. Take care.
Aug 31 2012: Here are probably the most controversial; cloning humans and extinct animals, developing a sentient artificial intelligence, and creating drugs to effictively "stop" the aging process.
Aug 31 2012: Hahahahahaha! That song is awesome! I think she covered everything! See now I wish I could find those types, i.e. funny, cool, nerds. Lol. It's the C to the E to the R to the N...coming straight outta Geneva (in the Stephen Hawking voice) Lol Classic.
Aug 31 2012: I can often be unknowingly quite brash Don. It's a personal flaw. You'll see it in my replies and comments. I have good intentions I just can be a bit too straight forward at times. Best wishes.
Aug 30 2012: I'd like to say something here. I'm not saying I'm better than anyone. I'm a sensitive guy myself. I better have my box of Kleenex if I watch the movie E.T. :-) My question simply asked, "Do you find it difficult to engage in intellectual conversation?" Many have understood my point indeed. Others have called me arrogant for saying such a thing and that I needed to step off my high horse and learn some respect and humility.
Dare we ask any questions out of fear to be ridiculed and chastised for implying concepts and ideas that do not fit the social collective norm? They may have not liked when I said that most people around me seemed to be "intellectually challenged". It's an observation I made about the intellectual regression of America, that's all, and I think a lot would agree with me. I never said I didn't like them for it, nor did I imply it. How should I say it? Is it really a matter of proper phrasing or rather, "How dare he imply he is smarter than some other people! Who does he think he is? The arrogance! Preposterous!" I'm not saying that anyone on this post has gotten that upset, but it tends to be true more oftern that not. People who become defensive and emotional over a comment that insinuates that some may be smarter than others have underlying psychological issues stemming from insecurities. They often try to camouflage their anger and contempt by masking it in polite verbal etiquette, but the true emotion always bleeds through.
The fact remains that indeed some people are able to grasp complex concepts, and others cannot. Some people are stimulated by knowledge and perpetual learning, others are not. Some people use logic, reason, and understanding to learn from mistakes in order to advance themselves mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually, others do not. How would you define these two groups? Which is the norm and which is the exception? Those who are the exception will have felt at some point in their life that they were "different".
Aug 30 2012: Yes Stevan trust me, I always try to find common points of interest and that's why I posed the question. I can discuss a wide range of topics with people in general, just not what I consider intellectual conversation. There is an intellectual regression in this country. If anyone on this forum is not aware of it, then they are fortunate enough to have grown up in an environment that fostered learning or have the opportunity to surround themselves with like-minded individuals. Just watch an episode of Jersey Shore. Not a lot of intellectual conversation taking place between Snooki and Paulie D. The majority of 20 and 30 somethings care more about keeping tabs on exciting gossip on their Facebook and Myspace pages, adding to their fabulous wardrobe collections, loading their iPods with the hippest music, etc. Nothing wrong with that in particular, I do a bit of that as well. It's just when that is all you know or care about knowing. I've been told by so many people things like, "It's to much work to think about things that hard. I'm trying to have fun not go back to school again. Who cares about that stuff anyway. BORING! (giggle, giggle)" You can't expand and open someone's mind that is not willing to do so.
Having conversation is commonplace. Having stimulating, meaningful, rich and diverse communication for those outside Cambridge and Oxford is a rarity and a treat! At least for me, others may be lucky enough to enjoy it.
Aug 30 2012: You seem to be a good-hearted and genuine man Don. Much is lost in communication without our intonations and inflections. No hard feelings here. Take care buddy.
Aug 30 2012: You obviously have no idea how sportsman contribute financially to the Department of Fish and Game and how that is directly responsible for increased wildlife populations. Most fisherman utilize a catch and release policy anyway. If there was any danger to a species, the ability to hunt or fish it would be regulated and enforced. Even though thousands of deer are hunted every year, there is an overwhelming number that exist, which is why many states have authorized hunters to take two or even three. And the food is consumed, deer sausage is amazing. I'm sure your ancestors hunted and fished for sustenance.
TEDCred score: +8.40 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.
A comment on Conversation: Where could I start implementing this edible landscape idea in my town?
A comment on Conversation: Should we limit our use of cellphones, internet and TV to get back our mental peace?
I also feel that I am a slave to my lifestyle. We as a society want more and more. We want bigger, better, faster, flashier, more expensive. We desire those status symbols to validate who we are and to garner respect. We live beyond our means and justify it because everyone else is doing it. I'm sick of it really. I would love to regress back to a simpler life. I think something about it appeals to our basic human instincts.
A reply on Conversation: Do you find it difficult to engage in intellectual conversations with people in general?
A comment on Conversation: Should humans ever limit the development of a technology?
A reply on Conversation: Do you find it difficult to engage in intellectual conversations with people in general?
Check this out, even uses a TED talk (Brian Cox):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZGINaRUEkU
A reply on Conversation: Do you find it difficult to engage in intellectual conversations with people in general?
A comment on Conversation: Do you find it difficult to engage in intellectual conversations with people in general?
Dare we ask any questions out of fear to be ridiculed and chastised for implying concepts and ideas that do not fit the social collective norm? They may have not liked when I said that most people around me seemed to be "intellectually challenged". It's an observation I made about the intellectual regression of America, that's all, and I think a lot would agree with me. I never said I didn't like them for it, nor did I imply it. How should I say it? Is it really a matter of proper phrasing or rather, "How dare he imply he is smarter than some other people! Who does he think he is? The arrogance! Preposterous!" I'm not saying that anyone on this post has gotten that upset, but it tends to be true more oftern that not. People who become defensive and emotional over a comment that insinuates that some may be smarter than others have underlying psychological issues stemming from insecurities. They often try to camouflage their anger and contempt by masking it in polite verbal etiquette, but the true emotion always bleeds through.
The fact remains that indeed some people are able to grasp complex concepts, and others cannot. Some people are stimulated by knowledge and perpetual learning, others are not. Some people use logic, reason, and understanding to learn from mistakes in order to advance themselves mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually, others do not. How would you define these two groups? Which is the norm and which is the exception? Those who are the exception will have felt at some point in their life that they were "different".
A reply on Conversation: Do you find it difficult to engage in intellectual conversations with people in general?
Having conversation is commonplace. Having stimulating, meaningful, rich and diverse communication for those outside Cambridge and Oxford is a rarity and a treat! At least for me, others may be lucky enough to enjoy it.
A reply on Conversation: Do you find it difficult to engage in intellectual conversations with people in general?
A reply on Conversation: How can we sustain infinite growth on a finite planet?