Random Thoughts IV: the Abyss Gazes Back

[Timsup2nothin]

I've been told that my singing sounds like a dying cow. They needn't insult the poor cows.

Well, as long as they were dying anyway it isn't like they could really take the insult to heart.

 

[Ryika]

I admire people who gather knowledge for the sake of having that knowledge.

When I learn something new, I often imagine myself in a situation where I can present that knowledge to the world and brag with the things I know, or imagine a situation where I can make use of that knowledge to win an argument. That's pretty pathetic.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I admire people who gather knowledge for the sake of having that knowledge.

When I learn something new, I often imagine myself in a situation where I can present that knowledge to the world and brag with the things I know, or imagine a situation where I can make use of that knowledge to win an argument. That's pretty pathetic.

I would call that "pretty self aware."

 

[Ryika]

I would call that "pretty self aware."

Why didn't you answer my phone call?

 

[Gori the Grey]

When I learn something new, I often imagine myself in a situation where I can present that knowledge to the world

Become a teacher?

 

[Takhisis]

Do you seriously want Ryika instructing the masses, Gori?

 

[Birdjaguar]

I think this isn't true. There's always a negotiation possible, but that frequently doesn't involve a compromise.

You and your wife want to get a car. She likes the blue one, you like the red one. There is literally no middle ground where you both can get what you want in part by conceding what the other one wants in part. One or the other are going to get their way, and the other isn't.

The negotiation that is available is a tit for tat, wherein whoever concedes to the other on this will be given their way on some other point, likely a point that is equally beyond any compromise solution.

I don't agree with the definition, and I will offer an example to illustrate why. If your wife was raised on "the man must be given his way" she may very well accept that letting you have the red car and forgoing the blue car she wants is "just how it goes." That solution accepted by both parties is certainly no "compromise."

Choosing green might be a compromise. If she wants blue and literally cannot abide the thought of red, and you have the same basic perspective but reversed, and both of you like the green, maybe her not quite as much as she likes the blue and you not quite as much as you like the red, that's not only a compromise but probably a really good choice.

If she gets her blue car and you get a new phone that's the kind of 'tit for tat negotiation' I was referring to earlier. It's a very valid form of negotiation that can resolve the conflict, but it isn't a compromise. The weakness that is inherent in such a negotiation is that you are incentivized to really hate the car you are obliged to accept, because the more you hate it the more phone you will be rewarded with.

In the beginning there is a disagreement. It is a point in time that can exist over time. Somewhere in the future either the disagreement will still exist or there will a solution. A solution is another point in time that may extend over time. One path between a disagreement and a solution is negotiation. It is not the only path. Negotiation can veer off and become something else. A compromise is one endpoint within the solution set. We can argue about which solutions can be called a compromise. Negotiation is not a solution; it is a path to finding a solution. And just like the variety of solutions within the solution set node, there are multiple negotiation pathways (strategies) that connect to different solutions, some of which might be compromises.

Disagreement O---------------------------------------------------O Solutions including compromises
............................................Negotiations --->

 

[Ryika]

Become a teacher?

A friend of mine once asked me to give him a few drawing lessons, and when I did I quickly realized how uncomfortable it felt to teach something that I'm not an expert on myself. I think I have this expectation on myself that to be able to teach something properly, I need to be able to answer with authority any question that could arise, and that any advise I give must be drawn directly from the very foundation of the matter. For that, I would need to really understand the topic, the things that surround that topic, and everything that interacts with the topic.

That is, of course, a completely irrational standard, because being an expert on one topic is already difficult, knowing "everything there is to know" about a semi-complex topic is pretty much impossible, and being on that level on more than just one topic, that's a standard no teacher could ever fulfill.

As a result, I think I could not become a teacher and maintain a clear conscience.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Why didn't you answer my phone call?

You dialed the wrong number?

If you mean the PM, I just got back from dinner and I'm getting to it shortly.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Of course. Just as you have your own preferred list of people whose emails you enjoy reading, your dog has his own preferred list of dogs whose "p-mail" he enjoys reading.

My cat used to follow along in the bushes when I took the dog for a walk, (many years ago) and she would get more irritated if I changed the route than the dog did.

Yeah it must be the higher dog traffic on one leg of my route that attracts him down that path. The other way (that I prefer) doesn't get nearly as many dogs.

 

[Traitorfish]

There is always a compromise possible; it's usually the willingness that is lacking.

I guess we need definitions. Compromise: finding a solution acceptable by the parties involved.

I don't think these two claims are compatible. If compromise is always possible, then it must follow that there is always a solution which is acceptable to all parties, but that is not a tenable assumption. It's not sufficient to explain that a lack of political will, because that introduces qualifications into the original definition after the fact.

Also, nitpicking the definition itself, an outcome which is acceptable to all parties doesn't necessarily represent a compromise. If the husband prefers a red care, and the wife prefers a blue car but could accept a red car, then buying a red car is not a compromise, as the husband has still achieved his maximal demands. "Compromise" must indicate that all parties are achieving their minimal demands, without achieving their maximal demands.

 

[Takhisis]

As a result, I think I could not become a teacher and maintain a clear conscience.

Is this why you're leaving the task of teaching me German profanities to metatron?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

There was a windstorm here last night and it knocked out the power immediately after I'd fixed the clock for the end of Daylight Savings Time.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Not sure if I want to rant or rave, so this will have to do.

My sister sent me an e-mail because my insurance company needs the current mileage on my truck.

That's not a rant, or a rave, or even a thought. That's just context.

When I open this I see her message and what she is asking, and gmail offers up three one click responses; "will do," "will do, thanks," and "I don't have that yet."

Again, that's more context.

Now, here's the ravey part. I think this is just fabulously cool. Modern technology is amazing! Even though, obviously, I personally waste-type almost endlessly so the idea that I need assistance getting around the inconvenience of typing out a seven keystroke response is pretty laughable, it's still hella cool.

The ranty part is that google obviously is machine reading my e-mail. I mean, every bit of my e-mail. With a machine that has some pretty advanced comprehension algorithms.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Not sure if I want to rant or rave, so this will have to do.

Now, here's the ravey part. I think this is just fabulously cool. Modern technology is amazing! Even though, obviously, I personally waste-type almost endlessly so the idea that I need assistance getting around the inconvenience of typing out a seven keystroke response is pretty laughable, it's still hella cool.

The ranty part is that google obviously is machine reading my e-mail. I mean, every bit of my e-mail. With a machine that has some pretty advanced comprehension algorithms.

It is only going to get better/worse. Winter AI is coming!

 

[cardgame]

My phone's been doing that for texts since a few updates ago. It's about 85% awesome, 15% creepy af because basically every suggestion they have would be perfect.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

My phone's been doing that for texts since a few updates ago. It's about 85% awesome, 15% creepy af because basically every suggestion they have would be perfect.

That was an awesome summary!

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I had a weird dream last night where I was trying to fill a prescription but instead somehow accidentally ran against Donald Trump for the President of the United States and won...despite being Canadian. And not having a passport.

 

[MaryKB]

I'll vote for you!

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Heck, I'd campaign for you.