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The 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 h
by heavenlyblue 8y ago
The 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.