Assess thyself

[CindyinSD]

What I'm saying, Carp, is: Go for it! You can't hit the target until you loose the arrow. Stop worrying that you're not good enough and let it fly.

 

[CarpCharacin]

So Carp, are you talking about people simply having different skill sets, different talents and inclinations?

As in: Some people like mechanical things--because their minds easily comprehend them and they instinctively work out what's going on and how to alter the machine to do something else... Other people understand animals. They easily see what needs to be done to train a dog or work cattle or make friends with a duck. There are those who pick up a guitar and just start playing and after that almost magically get better and better. The rest of us mortals have to work harder to learn these skills, but we can learn them. Ideally though, you would find that thing to which you are ideally suited--and then never *work* again--only enjoy doing the thing you were made to do.

Is that what you're trying to say? Not everyone can (or even ought to try to) become a nuclear physicist? If so, I agree. We're all different.

Somewhat. While all cognitive abilities are positively correlated, the correlations aren't perfect, so discrepant individuals do exist. But if you generate a composite score from several tasks which the variance among performance is mostly accounted for by the general factor which overlies all of those positive correlations, that composite score will be quite predictive of someone's performance across most complex tasks.

 

[CindyinSD]

Somewhat. While all cognitive abilities are positively correlated, the correlation isn't perfect, so discrepant individuals do exist. But if you generate a composite score from several tasks which the variance among performance is mostly accounted for by the general factor which overlies all of those positive correlations, that composite score will be quite predictive of someone's performance across most complex tasks.

Until they learn how to do them. After that everything skews and you have to start the calculation over. A generation ago the daily skills needed were far different from today. People who haven't learned these things are at a disadvantage--until they learn the skills.

You're not a cripple just because you don't know how to perform certain math skills. All you need is more education. I'm not sure molecular biology requires great feats in mathematics the way quantum physics does. If it does, you will either learn them or you'll move on to something you'll enjoy more.

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

I think what he is saying is he thinks he is dumb or low g level or retarded or that c word.

... "C word?" Do you mean "cretin?"
I know that the word "cretin" is often used as just a simple (though harsh) insult, especially for stupid people, but cretinism is also an actual ailment caused by a severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy, and it results in permanent mental and physical retardation of the baby.
Heh, there I go again -- taking a word literally and then giving the actual meaning of said word....
While I strongly doubt that he has cretinism, if Carp isn't eating enough then that could be causing vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which would just make pretty much everything harder for him....

 

[CarpCharacin]

Until they learn how to do them. After that everything skews and you have to start the calculation over. A generation ago the daily skills needed were far different from today. People who haven't learned these things are at a disadvantage--until they learn the skills.

By complex tasks, I mean tasks where the cognitive demands are constantly shifting, like research, engineering, etc.

 

[CarpCharacin]

... "C word?" Do you mean "cretin?"
I know that the word "cretin" is often used as just a simple (though harsh) insult, especially for stupid people, but cretinism is also an actual ailment caused by a severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy, and it results in permanent mental and physical retardation of the baby.
Heh, there I go again -- taking a word literally and then giving the actual meaning of said word....
While I strongly doubt that he has cretinism, if Carp isn't eating enough then that could be causing vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which would just make pretty much everything harder for him....

I think she was referring to my use of the word "crippled", LOL. I probably don't eat enough either, but I have been trying to eat more.

 

[Kiki]

... "C word?" Do you mean "cretin?"
I know that the word "cretin" is often used as just a simple (though harsh) insult, especially for stupid people, but cretinism is also an actual ailment caused by a severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy, and it results in permanent mental and physical retardation of the baby.
Heh, there I go again -- taking a word literally and then giving the actual meaning of said word....
While I strongly doubt that he has cretinism, if Carp isn't eating enough then that could be causing vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which would just make pretty much everything harder for him....

crippledom

 

[Kiki]

... "C word?" Do you mean "cretin?"
I know that the word "cretin" is often used as just a simple (though harsh) insult, especially for stupid people, but cretinism is also an actual ailment caused by a severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy, and it results in permanent mental and physical retardation of the baby.
Heh, there I go again -- taking a word literally and then giving the actual meaning of said word....
While I strongly doubt that he has cretinism, if Carp isn't eating enough then that could be causing vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which would just make pretty much everything harder for him....

Tell him Saph how important food is.

 

[CindyinSD]

The more experience you gain doing the small things, the easier it will be to turn smoothly from one mode to another. One cannot learn these cognitive shifts without practicing the individual and cumulative tasks. Once you have become proficient, you will turn skillfully from one mode to another like an adventure hero skipping from one boulder to another as he navigates a moving landslide.

What once seemed impossible will become merely challenging and finally almost simple to you. You can't have, or even know that you CAN have these mad skills until you've done the work to develop them.

 

[Kiki]

Cindy needs a prize.
A prize for being so damn good.

Do you need quail eggs?