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I've definitely seen older folks who are so convinced that their specific experiences are the only valid ones that they are unwilling to entertain alternative (
by craftyguy 8y ago
I've definitely seen older folks who are so convinced that their specific experiences are the only valid ones that they are unwilling to entertain alternative (and sometimes better) experiences. I think experience is important, but knowing when/where to apply it, and being willing to admit that your experience may not be the best, is required.
- bobthepanda 8y agoAgreed. This also cuts both ways; usually if something exists or is believed, it came about to be that way for a reason that is not always 'just because' or malicious. Which is why I get a little skeptical when some startups promise a world of disruption and end up, say, reinventing the bus: https://www.pedestrian.tv/tech/very-innovative-silicon-valley-tech-company-accidentally-invents-the-bus/ https://www.pedestrian.tv/tech/very-innovative-silicon-valle...
- betenoire 8y agoReminds me of Chesterton's Fence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Chesterton%27s_fence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Chesterton%27s_fence
- beefsack 8y agoAnd I've definitely seen young people so convinced older people have it wrong without understanding the nuance of situations. It's easy to give a simple solution when you over-simplify the problem. People need to be open minded to other people's experience and ideas. People need to be mindful that the best course of action rarely lies at extremes and having a broad understanding of a problem helps you arrive at a balanced solution.
- heavenlyblue 8y agoThe problem is that the majority of elderly are as average as the majority of youngsters. So finding ways to know which old people to listen to and which ones have just had their 50 years of horseshit training and confidence conditioning is hard. It’s a lesson in itself imo.
- dasil003 8y agoThe point is no one is average by definition. If you acknowledge the contextuality of wisdom then you’ll find a lot more of it out there than if you assume only a few elite outliers have useful knowledge and perspective.
- heavenlyblue 8y agoI acknowledge the contextuality of wisdom but I also acknowledge that making the same mistake 20 years in a row doesn't make you any wiser - it just makes you find new ways to justify making them over and over again. You don't seem to come from a poor background if you think that wisdom always bring good. Negative experiences spanning decades of your life will make you contempt with the false truths. And you will never agree it's not the case because it's so hard to believe all of your suffering was for nothing.
- TheOtherHobbes 8y agoMost people are average, by definition. While many people may have mature domain-specific skills in a niche or two, broad-spectrum contextual wisdom is much rarer.
- apatters 8y agoListening to their experiences is a pretty easy way. If they have a bunch of experiences you don't have they're likely to have a perspective worth reflecting on. As a bonus, listening to people makes them like you, too.
- Benjammer 8y agoListening and respecting someone's opinion doesn't have to equate to treating that person as an authority. Shouldn't we still listen by default?
- heavenlyblue 8y agoWell - if you have time for that.
- craftyguy 8y agoYes, I completely agree. It goes both ways.
- luckydata 8y agoThose people are just aged idiots. They were like that when they were young and have learned nothing along the way.
- hef19898 8y agoThe last sentence goes a long way to describe what wisdom is, at least part of as dar as I'm concerned.