4 ms·

Are you kidding? What does a family line which has had uninterrupted, exclusive access to a personal library know? I mean think about it--what is that family

Are you kidding? What does a family line which has had uninterrupted, exclusive access to a personal library know? I mean think about it--what is that family like? That family which has held on to the same chunk of physical space, with books and notebooks, for several generations. "Equal footing in terms of ability to gain information", my ass! My own toddler gets confused when he tries to describe his home--probably because he's moved three times in as many years. I remember the encyclopedias I read as a child. But, I don't have them. I can't review them. I can't consult my notes, nor smell them and get connected to the concrete memory of the day I learned about phases of matter or dry cell batteries. Those things are important. They change the slope of the playing field.

withdavidli 11y ago
i don't understand the argument you are trying to make. you cut off the the "more" to make it sound like my statement meant we are equal instead of relatively better than we once were in comparison to the upper class. then proceeded to provide examples of your toddler being able to retain information and yourself retaining information. both are about memory and ability to recall those memories with accuracy.
- daveloyall 11y ago
  I had to go looking for that 'more'. I guess I cut it off (didn't notice it to begin with) because it's a meaningless modifier when attached to an absolute-sounding phrase like "equal footing". I don't know the name of this writing style pitfall, but here is another example: "The boot hardly annihilated the flower." ...That's a terrible example? Oh, in the first post, my examples are about "ability to gain information [learn]" but you were talking about "ability to gain information [access]". Okay, yes the internet and the public library system are truly wonderful. I do presume that the ruling class (and/or the rich) have some information that is not publicly available, and it's probably very important information, but yes, a poor man can walk into a library today and find treasure laying around. That has improved our footing. :)

withdavidli 11y ago

i don't understand the argument you are trying to make. you cut off the the "more" to make it sound like my statement meant we are equal instead of relatively better than we once were in comparison to the upper class. then proceeded to provide examples of your toddler being able to retain information and yourself retaining information. both are about memory and ability to recall those memories with accuracy.

daveloyall 11y ago
I had to go looking for that 'more'. I guess I cut it off (didn't notice it to begin with) because it's a meaningless modifier when attached to an absolute-sounding phrase like "equal footing". I don't know the name of this writing style pitfall, but here is another example: "The boot hardly annihilated the flower." ...That's a terrible example? Oh, in the first post, my examples are about "ability to gain information [learn]" but you were talking about "ability to gain information [access]". Okay, yes the internet and the public library system are truly wonderful. I do presume that the ruling class (and/or the rich) have some information that is not publicly available, and it's probably very important information, but yes, a poor man can walk into a library today and find treasure laying around. That has improved our footing. :)