The Ignorance of Commoners Reaches New Heights

[Lucius Voltaic]

I thought #32 was either "Pics or it didn't happen" or "Lurk more, it's never enough"

[Doctor Trakov]

Upon reading the opening post, my head rapidly accelerated downwards, quickly meeting my desk with a sharp bang.

[Flynn MacCallister]

I thought #32 was either "Pics or it didn't happen" or "Lurk more, it's never enough"

Naah, these are the Universal Laws, not the Rules of the Internet. >_o

Incidentally, Godwin's Law has moved from a Rule of the Internet to a Universal Law. Someone compared someone to Hilter, and some other politician invoked Godwin's Law. In real life.

[Lucius Voltaic]

Incidentally, Godwin's Law has moved from a Rule of the Internet to a Universal Law. Someone compared someone to Hilter, and some other politician invoked Godwin's Law. In real life.

Whoa, seriously? Link, please!

Also, lol@Hilter. Freudian Monty Python slip!

[Flynn MacCallister]

Incidentally, Godwin's Law has moved from a Rule of the Internet to a Universal Law. Someone compared someone to Hilter, and some other politician invoked Godwin's Law. In real life.

Whoa, seriously? Link, please!

Also, lol@Hilter. Freudian Monty Python slip!

I don't even remember who it was, who was being compared to Hitler, or by whom. It just appeared -- without any particular excitement -- on the news the other night. He used the words "Godwin's Law", I'm certain of that.

Also, oops.

[Maj. Clive Hathaway]

Ahhh norms... (thats what my friends and i call normals, duh) They never fail to bore me. I live in Washington DC, and we are lucky enough to have a sideshow- themed bar (the Palace of Wonders) which hosts burlesque and sideshow acts at least twice a month. Last month my friends and i went, and we like to go all vickied out in our best. (This goes over quite well with all the performers and the staff, we don't even pay cover anymore!) I was standing by the stage swilling scotch in my waistcoat and derby when a girl came up and said how she admired my outfit. Thanks, i said. Then she asked "Are you going for a clockwork- orange thing?" This threw me off for a minute, because when i hear the word "clockwork" now, the Kubrick film isnt the 1st thing i think of. It took me a minute to realize she was refering to my hat and cane. "Nooo" i told her. "Not exactly". I can only assume that the tightness of my inseam simulated the codpieces worn by the toughs in the film, and this coupled with my abnormally long eyelashes, hat and cane must have caused her to picture the only other place she had scene someone wearing a derby in a modern setting.
Later the same night my companion was heckled for his tails and topper. "Where's the choclate factory, Charlie?" called the ruffian. We called back to him that he was mistaken, and that in point of fact, it was Willy Wonka who was the proprietor of the chocolate manufactory, and not Charlie. All too funny. My friend "Willy Wonka" ended up going back to the hotel with a lovely tattooed sword-swallowing lady. What transpired there?? Well, a Gentleman never tells....

[Special_kaye]

Clearly, I am a better person than most of the posters on this thread, as I don't feel I am superior in any way to anyone else.

As I read through this long thread, I had thoughts of places to reply yet never did because there was always a little more to read. I could have mentioned correcting my science teacher many times. Or, remembering phone numbers for all my work divisions, and all offices and individuals that worked there, both on and off the ship, just because I thought it took to long (read: lazy) to look them up when I needed them. Or having to drop out of high school because I needed to suddenly earn money and head a household when my divorced mom broke her back. I could have even mentioned being able to remember all the military marks and mods of the thousands of weapons I dealt with everyday in my military career, and still remember, 20 some years ago. But, I didn't.

I could have mentioned that with all the information packed in my head, I can't remember dates for the life of me. But, I didn't.

I had thoughts of mentioning what I consider is truly lost but not mentioned once in this long thread: Common Sense. But I didn't.

I could have mentioned what my brother and I call, "the white elephant," referring to the need to learn new things constantly. But, I didn't.

Then I hit this quoted line above. And love it. And think it pretty well sums things up.

I will mention though, I don't necessarily feel superior. But, I'm sure I feel "different."

I feel different in that I have to have the answer to a question, soon after it arises. I have to learn more. And more. I have often read encyclopedias just to see what's on the next page. Or, if I look up something on Wikipedia, I will often get sidetracked and just keep reading. But, this happens on YouTube also, so might not mean anything.

I think most people on this forum fall into the same category: Interested in knowing more. That's all. The masses are content to sit idle in front of American Idol. Most people here would want to take apart the microphones and see what makes them tick. Then, add some gears, a cool paint job, and move on to the next project.

And, that's me. Answer this question, move on. Learn that, move on. I MUST find something else to learn. But, that also has its downfall. For, I am not content to stay doing the same thing over and over. Therefore, it's tough for me to remain happy in a job. Or, a location. for long. I am always asking, "What is over that next hill? What is around that bend?"

I'm the guy that read school books at the start of the year and never opened them again. I used to pick one question on tests to miss just so classmates wouldn't label me as the class nerd. Yet, I was constantly in trouble because I was bored out of my scull. I already knew what was being "taught" and needed something beyond that to engage me. And didn't find it sitting in a classroom. But, I'm different.

The day I started railroading, the person that hired me said, "and in 30 years you can retire with full benefits." My mouth hung open and I was inwardly appalled: 30 years? I knew the day I started that I would not be there in 30 years. I had other things I would need to do. I have now been a railroader for over 13 years. But not all of it was there. I am now at my second railroad and ready to move to a new location. If I railroad again, fine. If not, fine. I know I'll be okay either way. And that's one of the things that makes me different.

Let me apologize for the long post. I never had the chance to take typing in school but taught myself just a few years ago. But then, there had to be a better way. So, I learned about Dvorak. (any Windows computer can do it) Retrained myself. And pretty much doubled my typing speed in a matter of two weeks. On a really good day, I now hit about 80 words a minute easily. But, some days are not so good. I'm more dyslexic than my friend who really is dyslexic. I have been known to type words exactly backwards. Usually, a long missive like this only takes a few minutes to type, reread, correct, and send. But then, I'm different.

And, I would bet that most people on this forum are the same as me: different.

[Capt. Dirigible]

standing by the stage swilling scotch in my waistcoat and derby

Does this club not supply you with  glasses, then?

[Arvis]

standing by the stage swilling scotch in my waistcoat and derby

Does this club not supply you with  glasses, then?

 Now that's funny.

[Mechanic]

... I think most people on this forum fall into the same category: Interested in knowing more. That's all. ...

... And, I would bet that most people on this forum are the same as me: different.

Dare I say that some/most/all people interested in steampunk suffer from a knowledge addiction?

[Doctor Trakov]

I'd say it was likely. I read anything, I can't help it.

[Mechanic]

I'd say it was likely. I read anything, I can't help it.

Me as well.

Good day to you all, My name is Pat and I am a Steampunk^*.
The last time I used information was about 10 seconds ago on the Brassgoggles forums...


^*said with the greatest respect for all addicts.

[Ezra Hogbin]

... I think most people on this forum fall into the same category: Interested in knowing more. That's all. ...

... And, I would bet that most people on this forum are the same as me: different.

Dare I say that some/most/all people interested in steampunk suffer from a knowledge addiction?

From what I've read on here and looking at myself, I'd say that was a very accurate description.

[Lucius Voltaic]

standing by the stage swilling scotch in my waistcoat and derby

Does this club not supply you with  glasses, then?

 Now that's funny.

Yes. Yes, it is.

Dare I say that some/most/all people interested in steampunk suffer from a knowledge addiction?

From what I've read on here and looking at myself, I'd say that was a very accurate description.

*raises hand*

Knowledge addict reporting in.

[Ezra Hogbin]

*raises hand*

Knowledge addict reporting in.

I have to admit to this particular addiction. However, in my defense, if I'm to have an addiction, I'm happy to have this one.

[Flynn MacCallister]

... I think most people on this forum fall into the same category: Interested in knowing more. That's all. ...

... And, I would bet that most people on this forum are the same as me: different.

Dare I say that some/most/all people interested in steampunk suffer from a knowledge addiction?

It seems very likely from my experience.

[Flynn MacCallister]

Clearly, I am a better person than most of the posters on this thread, as I don't feel I am superior in any way to anyone else.

Spoiler: Long post (click to show/hide)

As I read through this long thread, I had thoughts of places to reply yet never did because there was always a little more to read. I could have mentioned correcting my science teacher many times. Or, remembering phone numbers for all my work divisions, and all offices and individuals that worked there, both on and off the ship, just because I thought it took to long (read: lazy) to look them up when I needed them. Or having to drop out of high school because I needed to suddenly earn money and head a household when my divorced mom broke her back. I could have even mentioned being able to remember all the military marks and mods of the thousands of weapons I dealt with everyday in my military career, and still remember, 20 some years ago. But, I didn't.

I could have mentioned that with all the information packed in my head, I can't remember dates for the life of me. But, I didn't.

I had thoughts of mentioning what I consider is truly lost but not mentioned once in this long thread: Common Sense. But I didn't.

I could have mentioned what my brother and I call, "the white elephant," referring to the need to learn new things constantly. But, I didn't.

Then I hit this quoted line above. And love it. And think it pretty well sums things up.

I will mention though, I don't necessarily feel superior. But, I'm sure I feel "different."

I feel different in that I have to have the answer to a question, soon after it arises. I have to learn more. And more. I have often read encyclopedias just to see what's on the next page. Or, if I look up something on Wikipedia, I will often get sidetracked and just keep reading. But, this happens on YouTube also, so might not mean anything.

I think most people on this forum fall into the same category: Interested in knowing more. That's all. The masses are content to sit idle in front of American Idol. Most people here would want to take apart the microphones and see what makes them tick. Then, add some gears, a cool paint job, and move on to the next project.

And, that's me. Answer this question, move on. Learn that, move on. I MUST find something else to learn. But, that also has its downfall. For, I am not content to stay doing the same thing over and over. Therefore, it's tough for me to remain happy in a job. Or, a location. for long. I am always asking, "What is over that next hill? What is around that bend?"

I'm the guy that read school books at the start of the year and never opened them again. I used to pick one question on tests to miss just so classmates wouldn't label me as the class nerd. Yet, I was constantly in trouble because I was bored out of my scull. I already knew what was being "taught" and needed something beyond that to engage me. And didn't find it sitting in a classroom. But, I'm different.

The day I started railroading, the person that hired me said, "and in 30 years you can retire with full benefits." My mouth hung open and I was inwardly appalled: 30 years? I knew the day I started that I would not be there in 30 years. I had other things I would need to do. I have now been a railroader for over 13 years. But not all of it was there. I am now at my second railroad and ready to move to a new location. If I railroad again, fine. If not, fine. I know I'll be okay either way. And that's one of the things that makes me different.

Let me apologize for the long post. I never had the chance to take typing in school but taught myself just a few years ago. But then, there had to be a better way. So, I learned about Dvorak. (any Windows computer can do it) Retrained myself. And pretty much doubled my typing speed in a matter of two weeks. On a really good day, I now hit about 80 words a minute easily. But, some days are not so good. I'm more dyslexic than my friend who really is dyslexic. I have been known to type words exactly backwards. Usually, a long missive like this only takes a few minutes to type, reread, correct, and send. But then, I'm different.

And, I would bet that most people on this forum are the same as me: different.

Nicely said.

First up, though: common sense. It's a misnomer. It isn't, and has never been, common. >_o I really don't think it has been lost. I think it has always been as rare as it seems to be today.

You mention that you can't remember dates. Just out of curiosity, do you mean historical dates, or dates like someone's birthday? Or both? There is just something about dates that somehow completely prevents them from sticking in my brain. It's quite bizarre.

Hahaha, I know exactly what you mean about being bored out of your skull in classes... I didn't neccessarily read the text beforehand, but in Science classes in particular, it was all so obvious. It was always like "get on with it and tell me something I don't know, or hadn't figured out myself!"

As for typing, there are a multitude of better ways than QWERTY. (Or QWERTZ, if you're in a German-speaking county). It's designed to slow you down. >_o

[Vienna Fahrmann]

     Knowledge Addict, that's a good term.  I'm probably one also.  I confuse some of my family members because I haven't read the latest things on the bestseller list, or gone to the new trendy places; but can come up with fairly accurate commentary on a variety of obscure subjects, as well as knowing a lot of places to go that are great, but never "trendy".

     Vienna

    PS-I hate the caps key being next to the A, I keep hitting it without realizing it.

[Special_kaye]

Clearly, I am a better person than most of the posters on this thread, as I don't feel I am superior in any way to anyone else.

Spoiler: Long post (click to show/hide)

As I read through this long thread, I had thoughts of places to reply yet never did because there was always a little more to read. I could have mentioned correcting my science teacher many times. Or, remembering phone numbers for all my work divisions, and all offices and individuals that worked there, both on and off the ship, just because I thought it took to long (read: lazy) to look them up when I needed them. Or having to drop out of high school because I needed to suddenly earn money and head a household when my divorced mom broke her back. I could have even mentioned being able to remember all the military marks and mods of the thousands of weapons I dealt with everyday in my military career, and still remember, 20 some years ago. But, I didn't.

I could have mentioned that with all the information packed in my head, I can't remember dates for the life of me. But, I didn't.

I had thoughts of mentioning what I consider is truly lost but not mentioned once in this long thread: Common Sense. But I didn't.

I could have mentioned what my brother and I call, "the white elephant," referring to the need to learn new things constantly. But, I didn't.

Then I hit this quoted line above. And love it. And think it pretty well sums things up.

I will mention though, I don't necessarily feel superior. But, I'm sure I feel "different."

I feel different in that I have to have the answer to a question, soon after it arises. I have to learn more. And more. I have often read encyclopedias just to see what's on the next page. Or, if I look up something on Wikipedia, I will often get sidetracked and just keep reading. But, this happens on YouTube also, so might not mean anything.

I think most people on this forum fall into the same category: Interested in knowing more. That's all. The masses are content to sit idle in front of American Idol. Most people here would want to take apart the microphones and see what makes them tick. Then, add some gears, a cool paint job, and move on to the next project.

And, that's me. Answer this question, move on. Learn that, move on. I MUST find something else to learn. But, that also has its downfall. For, I am not content to stay doing the same thing over and over. Therefore, it's tough for me to remain happy in a job. Or, a location. for long. I am always asking, "What is over that next hill? What is around that bend?"

I'm the guy that read school books at the start of the year and never opened them again. I used to pick one question on tests to miss just so classmates wouldn't label me as the class nerd. Yet, I was constantly in trouble because I was bored out of my scull. I already knew what was being "taught" and needed something beyond that to engage me. And didn't find it sitting in a classroom. But, I'm different.

The day I started railroading, the person that hired me said, "and in 30 years you can retire with full benefits." My mouth hung open and I was inwardly appalled: 30 years? I knew the day I started that I would not be there in 30 years. I had other things I would need to do. I have now been a railroader for over 13 years. But not all of it was there. I am now at my second railroad and ready to move to a new location. If I railroad again, fine. If not, fine. I know I'll be okay either way. And that's one of the things that makes me different.

Let me apologize for the long post. I never had the chance to take typing in school but taught myself just a few years ago. But then, there had to be a better way. So, I learned about Dvorak. (any Windows computer can do it) Retrained myself. And pretty much doubled my typing speed in a matter of two weeks. On a really good day, I now hit about 80 words a minute easily. But, some days are not so good. I'm more dyslexic than my friend who really is dyslexic. I have been known to type words exactly backwards. Usually, a long missive like this only takes a few minutes to type, reread, correct, and send. But then, I'm different.

And, I would bet that most people on this forum are the same as me: different.

Nicely said.

First up, though: common sense. It's a misnomer. It isn't, and has never been, common. >_o I really don't think it has been lost. I think it has always been as rare as it seems to be today.

You mention that you can't remember dates. Just out of curiosity, do you mean historical dates, or dates like someone's birthday? Or both? There is just something about dates that somehow completely prevents them from sticking in my brain. It's quite bizarre.

Hahaha, I know exactly what you mean about being bored out of your skull in classes... I didn't neccessarily read the text beforehand, but in Science classes in particular, it was all so obvious. It was always like "get on with it and tell me something I don't know, or hadn't figured out myself!"

As for typing, there are a multitude of better ways than QWERTY. (Or QWERTZ, if you're in a German-speaking county). It's designed to slow you down. >_o

Thank you.
Probably completely true on the common sense. Though, I will say that some seem to lack it more than others. And some, I would swear, have none.

About the dates: I use Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucus' memory methods (that I found when I was about 10 or 12 - http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Lorayne/e/B001H9Q098/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 ) to remember things. Because I use association, I have to actually care about something to remember it. Most of the time, I don't care enough about a date to do an association to remember it easily. I'll remember someone's birthday but the actual year they were born just goes over my head. Mainly because it doesn't really matter in the long run and I could always look it up in my Outlook Contacts if it does matter.

In reality, my memory is excellent most of the time. But when you have a well oiled machine, any small ticks catch your attention. I suppose I could learn to care about the dates. But I just don't. Yes, I can give you the dates for the Magna Carta and all kinds of things but ask me what year my Mom or Dad was born, I'd have to look it up. Most of the time, I remember the years for my kids. Only occasionally do I have to figure it out- joined the Navy this year, married this year, first kid was the next year, #2 was two years later....

Just as a side note, I was honor student for my military A school and many other classes. After I taught both my boys about the association memory tricks, they both also made honor student. And one even got a promotion a couple weeks ago just for being the top of the class. Can't beat that.

Personally, I think our schools are so dumbed down that now many more students are bored and that's why we have so many problems. But, that's my opinion, take it with salt. I don't agree with the "leave no student behind" policy. That's MY opinion. No need to flame me for that.

And yes, totally agree. QWERTY keyboards were designed to slow people down. Plus, check out the one word you can spell on one row of keys on a QWERTY. Then compare that to how many words you can type on the HOME row of a Dvorak board. If anyone needs me to give them a hint on the one word, just remember QWERTY keyboards were designed to help sell typewriters.

But, that adds another dimension to just how different I am. I'm a hunt and peck on a QWERTY. But, when I change to a Dvorak, watch out, I'm total speed. So, when I test a computer for a client, I usually have them type. I've actually had to explain and show what Dvorak was and how it worked because one client didn't believe me. BTW, I didn't keep them as a client. I "proved" myself then told them that I wouldn't accept them as a client. You'll trust me to make and host your website, you'll trust me to have total access to your computer and actually set up all your passwords and financial programs, but you won't trust me when I tell you I use a different keyboard for more speed and relief from Carpel Tunnel Syndrome? Come on, that is bringing ignorance to a new height. Which, is really what this whole thread is about.

[The Nomad]

What follows is a disturbing and beautiful account of one particular experience I had with the mundanes. I apologize in advance for the length of this post.

It was late Summer. I was very nearly broke, as was my girlfriend at the time. We were also bored senseless. Ultimately we decided to get all dolled up in Neo-Victorian Gothic splendor and go the a local amusement park along the coast, simply to be seen. I was in a frilled poet shirt, opera coat, top hat, goggles, slacks, spats, gloves, and carrying a lovely skull-headed cane. My lady was adorned in a long, corseted black sleeveless dress, opera gloves, pointed boots, and a parasol. We both wore the compulsory make-up. We looked good.

The reactions we got at the aforementioned amusement park were mostly of disgust. You would think that we were parading around naked by the way people pointed, stared, whispered, occasionally laughed, or simply pretended not to see us. We were also accosted by a Christian street preacher who was quite convinced that we were going straight to hell, a conclusion he came to simply based on our appearance. Of the parents with children we passed along our way, the reaction was almost always to move the little ones to the opposite side, making the parents a human shield, just in case we felt inclined to grab the little brats and suck out their little brains. (I had never considered eating a child before, but that day I almost wanted to, just out of spite.) All told, even though all but my face was covered, and my companion exposed only her head and shoulders, the general reaction was that of disgust and repulsion, with one very notable and completely unforgettable exception.

A little girl, no older than six years of age, walked hand in hand with her mother. They approached us on the same path, walking in the opposite direction. From the moment we were visible, the mother made it a point to look at anything but us. The little girl, however, stared in awe and couldn't look away. Our paths crossed. Not two steps passed us, we heard the little girl say, "Mommy, look! Angels!"

Every time someone heckles me about my appearance, I think back on that little girl, and it gives me the strength to keep going.

[Lucius Voltaic]

Plus, check out the one word you can spell on one row of keys on a QWERTY.

Not to defend the QWERTY arrangement unduly, but: it we or to rip top wry wet tow row you toy rep yew tot pot pow quit twit tire tyre tier tyer type wiry tote rout tour pour pout weir wire writ write typee wetter quitter potpourri pepperroot proprietor repertoire pepperwort perpetuity teeter-totter...and, of course, typewriter...

[Flynn MacCallister]

Plus, check out the one word you can spell on one row of keys on a QWERTY.

Not to defend the QWERTY arrangement unduly, but: it we or to rip top wry wet tow row you toy rep yew tot pot pow quit twit tire tyre tier tyer type wiry tote rout tour pour pout weir wire writ write typee wetter quitter potpourri pepperroot proprietor repertoire pepperwort perpetuity teeter-totter...and, of course, typewriter...

Beat me to it. You have a couple there I hadn't thought of. Incidentally, you appear to have missed good ol' "ere", "yet" and "were" in our short words. Did you remember "power"? Not to mention the dozens I can make for you from the second line...

The "typewriter" idea also goes no way at all toward explaining what's going on with QWERTZ keyboards.

[Special_kaye]

Plus, check out the one word you can spell on one row of keys on a QWERTY.

Not to defend the QWERTY arrangement unduly, but: it we or to rip top wry wet tow row you toy rep yew tot pot pow quit twit tire tyre tier tyer type wiry tote rout tour pour pout weir wire writ write typee wetter quitter potpourri pepperroot proprietor repertoire pepperwort perpetuity teeter-totter...and, of course, typewriter...

LOL! Okay, okay. But really, the optimum word was HOME row....
Can't say I use those words all the time but:
You twit, wet pepperwort in perpetuity? Yew tree in tyre, we type or write. "Wetter we quitter," proprietor ripped.
(just having fun, no offense intended at all. Just my twisted sense of humor.)

BTW, my spell checker choked on pepperwort. Obviously, the "good" people at Microsoft have never heard of tumbleweeds.

Be that as it may:

 Home Row

As you can see in the picture of the layout to the right, it is arranged so that vowels and most common consonants are in the home row, thus minimizing the time your fingers spend away from home.

Some simple statistics will demonstrate this part of the superiority of Dvorak over QWERTY. Let us look at a nice and long English word list (YAWL) of about 264,000 words:

wc -l documents/word.list
264061 documents/word.list

How many of these words can be typed exclusively on the home row? For QWERTY, we have:

egrep -ci ^[asdfghjkl\;\']+$ documents/word.list
256

And for Dvorak we have

egrep -ci ^[aoeuidhtns-]+$ documents/word.list
4520

Just about 17.65 times as many words can be typed in Dvorak as can be typed in QWERTY, without ever leaving the home row!

Stolen, with no explanation, from: http://wiki.df.dreamhosters.com/wiki/DvorakHowTo#Home_Row
About half-way down the page.
Also, under the REASONS FOR SWITCHING list, numbers 3 and 6 are spot on. Plus, to me anyway, number 3 adds just a bit more security to my computer. I can tell you what my passwords are, even write them down for you, but you'll NEVER be able to enter them unless you also know Dvorak by touch. There are no labels on my keys or a diagram pasted to my monitor. I've been way beyond that, including coding HTML, for a LONG time. .

[RoseOak]

What follows is a disturbing and beautiful account of one particular experience I had with the mundanes. I apologize in advance for the length of this post.


A little girl, no older than six years of age, walked hand in hand with her mother. They approached us on the same path, walking in the opposite direction. From the moment we were visible, the mother made it a point to look at anything but us. The little girl, however, stared in awe and couldn't look away. Our paths crossed. Not two steps passed us, we heard the little girl say, "Mommy, look! Angels!"

Every time someone heckles me about my appearance, I think back on that little girl, and it gives me the strength to keep going.

Don't apologise, I've never had that bad but I can believe it.
I can imagine that little girl being unforgettable, she sounds like she was so full of promise. You may think back on her  for strength but she will carry around the memory of you and your girlfiend and the way you looked for the rest of her life and you never know, you might have inspired her for when she starts to look for who she really is

[Special_kaye]

we heard the little girl say, "Mommy, look! Angels!"

Out of the mouth of babes, comes truth.