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It's not about being "fed information". It's the reality that being around a motivated group of peers confers real advantage. I look at the history of art (e.g

It's not about being "fed information". It's the reality that being around a motivated group of peers confers real advantage. I look at the history of art (e.g. Impressionists), YC, winning athletics programs, Silicon Valley, or just about any well-regarded academic department as evidence. These places don't do well just because they select the best, they also MAKE the best by creating an environment that fosters it.

mindcrime 8y ago
Maybe your reality. Anecdotally, my peers never did anything of note to help me learn anything in any math classes. These days I am working on relearning the math I've forgotten, and going beyond where I stopped in college. I have found that a combination of books, YouTube videos of lectures, Kahn Academy, Math Overflow / math.se, and subreddits like /r/learnmath, etc. have been sufficient.
crawfordcomeaux 8y ago
"The best" is purely subjective. I look at indigenous cultures who were able to resolve conflicts and share resources without hierarchical governments. They developed approaches to doing things western culture is only now relearning. Also, your "best people" developed systems to addict us with little concern for their systemic impacts. If that's your version of best, I want better.
- eldavido 8y ago
  > "The best" is purely subjective Bullshit. Find me one "indigenous culture" as advanced as a modern developed western country (or China) and I'll believe you. I don't care whether your metric is life expectancy, scientific progress, quantity and quality of art produced, fairness of our legal system, political/religious freedom, lack of food scarcity, or corruption. You pick. We in the West have it as good as anyone ever did in the history of the world. Tell me one thing "western culture is only new relearning", I'd be interested to hear?
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - crawfordcomeaux 8y ago
    We don't have a fair legal system, so I'd say that's a place where we could learn from them. Also, being connected to the land. Consent practices, as well. How to learn principles of life from observing nature. Oh, and we totally have food scarcity, too. There's stuff there to learn, if you're willing to accept the idea that perhaps your culture has room to grow.

mindcrime 8y ago

Maybe your reality. Anecdotally, my peers never did anything of note to help me learn anything in any math classes. These days I am working on relearning the math I've forgotten, and going beyond where I stopped in college. I have found that a combination of books, YouTube videos of lectures, Kahn Academy, Math Overflow / math.se, and subreddits like /r/learnmath, etc. have been sufficient.

crawfordcomeaux 8y ago

"The best" is purely subjective. I look at indigenous cultures who were able to resolve conflicts and share resources without hierarchical governments. They developed approaches to doing things western culture is only now relearning. Also, your "best people" developed systems to addict us with little concern for their systemic impacts. If that's your version of best, I want better.

eldavido 8y ago
> "The best" is purely subjective Bullshit. Find me one "indigenous culture" as advanced as a modern developed western country (or China) and I'll believe you. I don't care whether your metric is life expectancy, scientific progress, quantity and quality of art produced, fairness of our legal system, political/religious freedom, lack of food scarcity, or corruption. You pick. We in the West have it as good as anyone ever did in the history of the world. Tell me one thing "western culture is only new relearning", I'd be interested to hear?
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- crawfordcomeaux 8y ago
  We don't have a fair legal system, so I'd say that's a place where we could learn from them. Also, being connected to the land. Consent practices, as well. How to learn principles of life from observing nature. Oh, and we totally have food scarcity, too. There's stuff there to learn, if you're willing to accept the idea that perhaps your culture has room to grow.