Absolutely thought provoking chat. Really enjoyed all the insights into life at Cambridge. I remember too the days when a university degree had value. And I have no idea why there would have been any shame in going to a polytechnic. I think many young people would benefit from vocational training these days. We´ve gone the route of the United States where so many degrees are just worthless pieces of paper and where "uni" has become nothing more than a rite of passage, as Alex said.
My strong advice to anyone leaving school today is to learn some practical skills, work for at least 5 years and then maybe go to university but only once you've really identified the need and what you intend to get out of it. Most degrees are completely pointless.
Hi Ben, brilliant as always... I messaged you yestrerday on Signal, (in a horribly scrappy way... sorry... but, somewhat synchronistically), about the tyrannies imposed on school kids these days... which are attempts to remove, not only the ability to think for themselves, but actually demonise natural thinking, and prevent normal, natural relational development, thereby crippling school kids emotionally... thus, ultimately undermining their ability to learn on any level... so, whilst I completely see why you say that the introduction of AI, and other technologies in schools is so corrosive where potential intelligence is concerned, I don't feel that it's ultimately "the most destructive move that's ever happened, removing the ability to think..." Kids are being prevented from complementing each other in state schools these days, for example... and so, this will ultimately lock each individual pupil / student in a mental prison... further compounding the psychological harms done by the isolation of the last few years... there will be no need to ever lock us down again if everyone is in prison in their own minds.
My Mum's teachers all told her that she was thick/stupid and incapable of anything else but factory production lines. She did TWO FULL TIME JOBS NOT INCLUDING GETTING UP BEFORE THE WHOLE HOUSE AND HAVING ALL MEALS READY FOR DAD AND US KIDS. MUM WORKED IN SCHOOL KITCHENS UNTIL WE GOT HOME AND THEN MUM FED US ALL AND THEN WENT TO WORK ON THE EVER READY BATTERY LINE UNTIL 11pm AND CAME HOME BLACK FROM CARBON. NOW IN HER LATE 80'S MUM STILL SAYS ABOUT HERSELF THAT SHE IS STUPID !! MUM IS WISE AND HAS MANY SKILLS BECAUSE CHILDREN DON'T ALWAYS DEVELOP IN THE SAME SUBJECTS SIMOULTANEOUSLY.
Alex talked about the balance of intellect and intuition. He mentioned brain and gut but it can also be thought of in terms of right brain and left brain. There is a TED talk by a woman called Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroscientist who had a stroke. She describes what happened when her left brain shut down- I won't spoil it by paraphrasing her words. But if you’re interested in ‘magical reality' I'd say her experience fits the bill.
Taylor's TED talk made me even more suspicious of the current UK curriculum and it’s massive focus on left brain development and learning (Michael Gove's ‘knowledge rich' curriculum) and the downgrading of subjects that develop right brain insights (music, art, drama). It’s a system, (whether by design or not) completely out of balance, that will limit a student's access to and understanding of intuitive knowledge.
If you listen to a popular song on the radio think about the words.. death, sex, poverty, alcohol being pushed, take the Disney films training children to expect parental death...
When I was a small child over sixty years ago, I asked my Mother what the big building was across the road, and she replied "it's a technical college", to which I questioned "what's that?" She replied that it was where people who weren't that clever went to learn a trade.
Yes that's my physical geography for You dearest Alex..... Cappadocia..along with Derenkuyou....mmmm ..especially rugged not smooth and definitely no lube required as mental stimulation is a given and served up in the hunger, yea even famine felt as a brain drain during Your absence ALEX... Can You please send me some links ...anyone...ALEX...IT WOULD BE GREAT CHATTING AWAY WITH YOUR GOOD SELF EVEN STONED WHICH IS TOO RARE FOR ME NOWADAYS. SO MUCH CAN BE IMPARTED WHILST APPARENTLY HAVING NOTHING TYPED INTO THE GPS.
I was told by many that I was a natural teacher as students found my love of imparting knowledge and the potential application of the myriad of such skillsets to be quite addictive and inspired hunger for more permutations of skillsets which encouraged more people who enjoyed their own Iives with variety and considered that they possessed uniquely endowed intelligentsia which could be admired but often were far too led by their egos which made them less admirable by the more balanced souls.
So sorry for Your loss Alex, I have only managed to give my Mum a hug once in the last FIVE YEARS SINCE MY DAD PASSED AWAY AND I AM DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET HOME TO WOLVERHAMPTON TOMORROW ON MONDAY BUT UNLESS I CAN GET THE REST OF MY SAVINGS TOGETHER TOMORROW I'LL LOSE MY £800 DEPOSIT ON MY FIRST CHANCE OF MY OWN TRANSPORT SINCE NHS CANCER MALTREATMENT FORCED THE SALE OF MY BELOVED MOTORBIKE AND ANYTHING ELSE OF VALUE. I'M 61 NOW AND EXCUSE MY CRYING BUT MUM AND I REALLY NEED TO MEET WHILST WE ARE STILL ALIVE.
PLEASE EXCUSE ME BUT MY BEST FRIEND IS IN THE RESPIRATORY WARD AT SWINDON HOSPITAL AND I AM MISSING HER AND MY MUM AND I HAVE MEDICATION FOR THEM BOTH 🙏 LOVE ❤️ EVERYONE
My condolences, Alex. I am sorry to hear about the loss of your mother.
Absolutely thought provoking chat. Really enjoyed all the insights into life at Cambridge. I remember too the days when a university degree had value. And I have no idea why there would have been any shame in going to a polytechnic. I think many young people would benefit from vocational training these days. We´ve gone the route of the United States where so many degrees are just worthless pieces of paper and where "uni" has become nothing more than a rite of passage, as Alex said.
My strong advice to anyone leaving school today is to learn some practical skills, work for at least 5 years and then maybe go to university but only once you've really identified the need and what you intend to get out of it. Most degrees are completely pointless.
Sad to hear of your mother, Alex. Best thoughts.
Hi Ben, brilliant as always... I messaged you yestrerday on Signal, (in a horribly scrappy way... sorry... but, somewhat synchronistically), about the tyrannies imposed on school kids these days... which are attempts to remove, not only the ability to think for themselves, but actually demonise natural thinking, and prevent normal, natural relational development, thereby crippling school kids emotionally... thus, ultimately undermining their ability to learn on any level... so, whilst I completely see why you say that the introduction of AI, and other technologies in schools is so corrosive where potential intelligence is concerned, I don't feel that it's ultimately "the most destructive move that's ever happened, removing the ability to think..." Kids are being prevented from complementing each other in state schools these days, for example... and so, this will ultimately lock each individual pupil / student in a mental prison... further compounding the psychological harms done by the isolation of the last few years... there will be no need to ever lock us down again if everyone is in prison in their own minds.
Stone Walls do not a Prison make,
Nor Iron bars a Cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an Hermitage.
If I have freedom in my Love,
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone that soar above,
Enjoy such Liberty.
Excerpt from this poem...
To Althea, from Prison
By Richard Lovelace
When Love with unconfinèd wings
Hovers within my Gates,
And my divine Althea brings
To whisper at the Grates;
When I lie tangled in her hair,
And fettered to her eye,
The Gods that wanton in the Air,
Know no such Liberty.
When flowing Cups run swiftly round
With no allaying Thames,
Our careless heads with Roses bound,
Our hearts with Loyal Flames;
When thirsty grief in Wine we steep,
When Healths and draughts go free,
Fishes that tipple in the Deep
Know no such Liberty.
When (like committed linnets) I
With shriller throat shall sing
The sweetness, Mercy, Majesty,
And glories of my King;
When I shall voice aloud how good
He is, how Great should be,
Enlargèd Winds, that curl the Flood,
Know no such Liberty.
Stone Walls do not a Prison make,
Nor Iron bars a Cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an Hermitage.
If I have freedom in my Love,
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone that soar above,
Enjoy such Liberty.
My Mum's teachers all told her that she was thick/stupid and incapable of anything else but factory production lines. She did TWO FULL TIME JOBS NOT INCLUDING GETTING UP BEFORE THE WHOLE HOUSE AND HAVING ALL MEALS READY FOR DAD AND US KIDS. MUM WORKED IN SCHOOL KITCHENS UNTIL WE GOT HOME AND THEN MUM FED US ALL AND THEN WENT TO WORK ON THE EVER READY BATTERY LINE UNTIL 11pm AND CAME HOME BLACK FROM CARBON. NOW IN HER LATE 80'S MUM STILL SAYS ABOUT HERSELF THAT SHE IS STUPID !! MUM IS WISE AND HAS MANY SKILLS BECAUSE CHILDREN DON'T ALWAYS DEVELOP IN THE SAME SUBJECTS SIMOULTANEOUSLY.
So interesting, thank you both.
Alex talked about the balance of intellect and intuition. He mentioned brain and gut but it can also be thought of in terms of right brain and left brain. There is a TED talk by a woman called Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroscientist who had a stroke. She describes what happened when her left brain shut down- I won't spoil it by paraphrasing her words. But if you’re interested in ‘magical reality' I'd say her experience fits the bill.
Taylor's TED talk made me even more suspicious of the current UK curriculum and it’s massive focus on left brain development and learning (Michael Gove's ‘knowledge rich' curriculum) and the downgrading of subjects that develop right brain insights (music, art, drama). It’s a system, (whether by design or not) completely out of balance, that will limit a student's access to and understanding of intuitive knowledge.
How the music industry was co-opted...
https://centerforaninformedamerica.com/inside-the-lc-the-strange-but-mostly-true-story-of-laurel-canyon-and-the-birth-of-the-hippie-generation-part-i/
If you listen to a popular song on the radio think about the words.. death, sex, poverty, alcohol being pushed, take the Disney films training children to expect parental death...
Jason Christoff on repetative content and mind control https://rumble.com/v6qkoxi-how-hollywood-is-programming-you-to-stay-poor-jason-christoff.html
When I was a small child over sixty years ago, I asked my Mother what the big building was across the road, and she replied "it's a technical college", to which I questioned "what's that?" She replied that it was where people who weren't that clever went to learn a trade.
Yes that's my physical geography for You dearest Alex..... Cappadocia..along with Derenkuyou....mmmm ..especially rugged not smooth and definitely no lube required as mental stimulation is a given and served up in the hunger, yea even famine felt as a brain drain during Your absence ALEX... Can You please send me some links ...anyone...ALEX...IT WOULD BE GREAT CHATTING AWAY WITH YOUR GOOD SELF EVEN STONED WHICH IS TOO RARE FOR ME NOWADAYS. SO MUCH CAN BE IMPARTED WHILST APPARENTLY HAVING NOTHING TYPED INTO THE GPS.
I was told by many that I was a natural teacher as students found my love of imparting knowledge and the potential application of the myriad of such skillsets to be quite addictive and inspired hunger for more permutations of skillsets which encouraged more people who enjoyed their own Iives with variety and considered that they possessed uniquely endowed intelligentsia which could be admired but often were far too led by their egos which made them less admirable by the more balanced souls.
If anyone wants to reach out.. my name is Paul Keeling and email is
keelingpaul52@gmail.com
So sorry for Your loss Alex, I have only managed to give my Mum a hug once in the last FIVE YEARS SINCE MY DAD PASSED AWAY AND I AM DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET HOME TO WOLVERHAMPTON TOMORROW ON MONDAY BUT UNLESS I CAN GET THE REST OF MY SAVINGS TOGETHER TOMORROW I'LL LOSE MY £800 DEPOSIT ON MY FIRST CHANCE OF MY OWN TRANSPORT SINCE NHS CANCER MALTREATMENT FORCED THE SALE OF MY BELOVED MOTORBIKE AND ANYTHING ELSE OF VALUE. I'M 61 NOW AND EXCUSE MY CRYING BUT MUM AND I REALLY NEED TO MEET WHILST WE ARE STILL ALIVE.
PLEASE EXCUSE ME BUT MY BEST FRIEND IS IN THE RESPIRATORY WARD AT SWINDON HOSPITAL AND I AM MISSING HER AND MY MUM AND I HAVE MEDICATION FOR THEM BOTH 🙏 LOVE ❤️ EVERYONE
So sorry to hear about the death of your mother Alex. Wishing you and your family gentle days ahead.
Very interesting. In particular... I've read that much of human history was inherited through stories.