The source of your expertise

[Takhisis]

Curiosity helps a lot. That means I can actually get interested in things.

 

[Live trash can]

I believe what you really learn from is being with people and talking with them. Although - I have difficulty finding the word - not so much with banter?
And the printing technology is absolutely awesome.

So, many intelligent people here... Is there some sort of connection between intelligence and Civ?

 

[Birdjaguar]

So, many intelligent people here... Is there some sort of connection between intelligence and Civ?

Playing civ makes you smarter?

 

[rah]

I would bet that the average CIV player has a higher IQ than that of an average Mario Carts player.
Disclaimer (only CIV I-IV, not V or VI)

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night

 

[Birdjaguar]

I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night

That's good enough for me!

 

[Patine]

I am routinely impressed by the general level of knowledge from posters here, and granted being a Civ forum it was bound to attract a certain subset with particular interests more towards things like History and Politics, but it still amazes me the level of detail and insight you guys have on particular topics or subjects.

Whether recalling the various nuances and dates of the Napoleonic wars or the pecularities of the electoral system, the history of socialism, or debating the merits of Capitalism, even the more contentious topics involving Racism, Religion, there usually is some basis of knowledge the poster is drawing upon that rises above the standard reddit thread or comment section.

I am curious to know what you guys feel has been the greatest source of your personal knowledge? Your University education? Any specific texts that were especially eye-opening? Documentaries? Travelling? Life experince? (Some of you seem to have had quite the storied lives!)

It's very inspiring stuff, do share!

"I am the Owl Man! I know all and I see all, and I know why you have come!"

 

[Hrothbern]

the curiosity in everything
the hunger to understand
the joy of imagination

 

[dusters]

Apart from studying both maths/physics and linguistics, I have meditated for like 10 years now. It, no pun intended, empties your mind and makes you re-evaluate everything very often.

 

[Samez]

Curiosity helps a lot. That means I can actually get interested in things.

Curiosity is probably the biggest driver for me.
I want to know why the world around me is the way it is.
Currently one of the most important sources for information is public radio broadcasts. (Deutschlandfunk) I am spending quite some time in the car and they have a lot of high quality interview partners and real experts. IMHO there is quite often a big difference if you hear someone talking who is directly involved compared to reading about statements by them. Ofc more information can be found in books, but as my time is limited it is always good to have some profound overview of a topic before delving deeper.

 

[Hrothbern]

Curiosity is something wonderfull
sitting with your feet in the cool water of a small stream,
looking at the small eddies, turbulences of the water around the stones in the water, the hump of the water when passing a stone underwater, the seemingly endless variation and yet similarities
just looking... trying to see... to see truly what is there, what is happening

 

[Samez]

Or some other questions like where does the water come from and where will it go
I once had a discussion with a friend if there are still scientists around researching the nature of water - and the short answer is yes there a plenty

 

[Patine]

Or some other questions like where does the water come from and where will it go
I once had a discussion with a friend if there are still scientists around researching the nature of water - and the short answer is yes there a plenty

Yes, there is. But clean (or easily made potable water) is another issue. I mean Mars, Europa, the Gas Giant rings, some Asteroids, some outer planets and objects beyond the Kuiper Belt, and such have tonnes of ice. But how SAFE is it really for us to use for consumption?

 

[Hrothbern]

Or some other questions like where does the water come from and where will it go
I once had a discussion with a friend if there are still scientists around researching the nature of water - and the short answer is yes there a plenty

You are right

I had BTW in my second year chemistry study some practica and colleges in an old building in Amsterdam where a Pofessor in Physical Chemistry was doing a study on the true nature of water.
Pure water.
No contamination from ions of dissolved contaminations.
You would say that is easy. Just distill some water. But no. You need some retort, some flask for that water and probes to stick in to measure all kinds of properties of "pure water". And they are contaminated.... they dissolve....
And because every single ion collects, because of the huge bipolar character of water, a whole herd of water molecules around him, directing the orientation of the water molecules around him, with all kinds of semi-binding because of the hydrogen bridges............ your measurement are completely screwed when too many ions..... and the number of Avogrado is big !
This dry, boring looking, all the time computing, Professor, on an IBM 370 (it was 1975), in Fortran (beuhhhh), had in the cellar the holy place where the whole set up was washing contaminants away. A holy flame kept him going.

When I was there the set up was already 12 years or so being improved, getting evermore pure water. A whole row of students had done their PhD on that same amount of water.

 

[tetley]

Playing civ makes you smarter?

Playing Civ reduces one's biological sensitivity to circadian rhythms, and reduces the mentally deleterious effects caused by sleep deprivation.

(and I just wrote this post on utterly no sleep. See how amazing I am, thanks to Civ?)

 

[Azem.Ocram]

All subjects I know have benefited from the Internet as a source for self-guided learning. I have 2-year degrees in Chemistry and Biology (took me 5 years for 2 AS’s and 1 AA) and I’m working on a Bachelor’s of Science in Material Engineering. I use math everyday but the classes with knowledge I use most for discussions online are general education (economics, political science, English/Writing, humanities). I also know a lot of useless info, better suited for Jeopardy than anything else.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I'm not as smart as a lot of people here, but I read a lot and keep notes on things too.

 

[Patine]

All subjects I know have benefited from the Internet as a source for self-guided learning. I have 2-year degrees in Chemistry and Biology (took me 5 years for 2 AS’s and 1 AA) and I’m working on a Bachelor’s of Science in Material Engineering. I use math everyday but the classes with knowledge I use most for discussions online are general education (economics, political science, English/Writing, humanities). I also know a lot of useless info, better suited for Jeopardy than anything else.

Very well. The litmus test. Can you translate some Harappian script for me, to the nearest literal, or at least paraphrased, translation possible, being excused strictly idiomatic context, using the Internet?

 

[yung.carl.jung]

Curiosity is probably the biggest driver for me.
I want to know why the world around me is the way it is.
Currently one of the most important sources for information is public radio broadcasts. (Deutschlandfunk) I am spending quite some time in the car and they have a lot of high quality interview partners and real experts. IMHO there is quite often a big difference if you hear someone talking who is directly involved compared to reading about statements by them. Ofc more information can be found in books, but as my time is limited it is always good to have some profound overview of a topic before delving deeper.

my man. there's nothing better than deutschlandfunk. except maybe ZÜNDFUNK and Jazz und Politik at Bayern 2. Or IQ - Wissenschaft und Forschung and Radiowissen. SWR also has a nice Radiowissen segment. My favorite dlf "podcasts" (I tend to download, only rly use the radio when I eat breakfast) are Campus & Karriere, Corso, Essay und Diskurs, Feature and Kontrovers. German radio is a blessing

 

[Hrothbern]

I'm not as smart as a lot of people here, but I read a lot and keep notes on things too.

I have many books were there are notes everywhere. Started with that habit at secondary school in the books there needed.
The act of doing it benefit 1
The easy to find back in context benefit 2

Even the mental effort of making a mental note as summary on something, I found helpful.