Is life for knowing? Or learning?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (218927)
Walnut Creek, California
December 15, 2018 2:28pm CST
I got a call from a friend the other night, asking me if I could drive him to the fix-it place to pick up his car. I told him "yes," but that it was going to cost him.
He said he'd take me out to dinner, but I said, "no," I want more than that. I said I wanted him to thank me for teaching him that Orion and Scorpius are approximately 180 degrees opposed in the sky, and that Orion is a Winter constellation, while Scorpius is a Summer constellation.
He balked, but said he'd try. He and I had argued about this a year-and-a-half ago, and I had won the argument. But he had a hard time accepting that I was right and he was wrong.
Do you have a hard time accepting when you are wrong? Or do you enjoy learning new things, even when your working hypothesis is proven incorrect?
I have some core beliefs (e.g., Bach is more complex than rap music; the early years of our lives are formative), but I'm willing to learn, and accept when I'm wrong. I think life is for learning, not "knowing."
11 people like this
15 responses
@akalinus (43209)
• United States
15 Dec 18
@andriaperry Some people only accept their version of right.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
15 Dec 18
I like to think that I'm willing to learn new things. On the other side of that coin I'm not always open to change.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
15 Dec 18
@TheHorse I think it might be my OCD, but I'm not ready to embrace online shopping. But I've done it on a limited basis. Learning to online bank has been a steep learning curve.
I'd rather pay cash than debit....
Sometimes my mentality is...if it's not broke...don't fix it.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
15 Dec 18
@Morleyhunt I used to be this way, then I got trapped at the hospital with no car and no one to sit with Tony, I learned to pay all my bills online then or pay late fees, worst some get turned off. This year I began shopping online.
@crossbones27 (49460)
• Mojave, California
15 Dec 18
Indeed, one of the best speeches or stories I ever heard was in the Marines. My company Master Sgt who was black and bring that up because while was stationed in Japan, there was a bunch of southern redneck leaders under him and even they loved that speech or story. It was a bit of both I suppose. He goes look I do not know everything and if I do or a day comes where I get to that point then I should immediately retire from the Marines. It is serving me no more purpose and can't exactly teach you guys if I am not learning from you at the same time. Yep, that is right, you guys may be lower in rank and think you are nothing in the Marine Corp, but not to me. You teach me something everyday.
I imagine life is the same way and if one does come to know everything, might as well die in the scheme of things because really no more purpose. One would be bored and become dull as nothing shocks them anymore, nothing to be inspired by.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49460)
• Mojave, California
15 Dec 18
@TheHorse He was and a bit eccentric which is why the company meeting was called because we just arrived and the feeling was in the air we were walking all over the leaders and not giving them the respect they deserved and they put an end to that real quick. I may do things different, but its for you guys because I do not want my Marine Corps to be like the way it was when I first got in. That does not mean you get to walk all over me though. As the year went by he lit a many of fool up.
Thankfully I was never one of them.
Why I find it funny with the question I get from time to time how can one be punk rock in the Marine Corps? Because there is neat leaders who are pretty punk rock themselves even if they do not know it. Why I see whats going on today and go that is just not how I was taught and would have a hard time respecting a lot of these leaders today.
Thankfully I was never one of them.
Why I find it funny with the question I get from time to time how can one be punk rock in the Marine Corps? Because there is neat leaders who are pretty punk rock themselves even if they do not know it. Why I see whats going on today and go that is just not how I was taught and would have a hard time respecting a lot of these leaders today.1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218927)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Dec 18
@crossbones27 I don't care about others' lives unless they affect the job we have to do. When I'm "working," I'm working.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (44250)
• Wapello, Iowa
15 Dec 18
Do you have a hard time accepting when you are wrong? ----I think I'll be fine with it, if it ever happens. Mathematicians and statisticians tell me that the Law Of Averages says it has to happen sooner or later but I'm starting to get the idea that it won't happen in my lifetime.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (44250)
• Wapello, Iowa
15 Dec 18
@TheHorse That was a close call. It's a good thing that close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218927)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Dec 18
@xander6464 And small atomic bombs.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106397)
• Marion, Ohio
15 Dec 18
Well since I am never wrong
I enjoy learning something new
I enjoy learning something new1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218927)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Dec 18
@wolfgirl569 I'm a edumacator, you know. I knows a lot.
@celticeagle (167015)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Dec 18
Enjoy learning new things. Life is a learning experience.
1 person likes this
. One can know things, but there's always room to learn!@TheHorse (218927)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Dec 18
If one is rigt, then one can display evidence to show one is right. It was weird when my friend wouldn't respond to astronomy charts, and even ancient Greek myths about WHY Scorpius and Orion were on opposite sides of the sky.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
15 Dec 18
I love to learn! But I am not always wrong either.
What I really hate is when I teach someone something and then they talk to others, right in front of me, like they told ME how to do things.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
20 Dec 18
@TheHorse
I did not quite get that. Are you for or against Trump? I am very much for Trump like so many here in Israel and Jews around the world. He has done us justice. We appreciate what he has done for us and he treats our Prime Minister with respect which he did not get under Obama.
@TheHorse (218927)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Dec 18
@Nickzter1331 But then the question arises: What is worth learning? Are some things a waste of time?
1 person likes this
@Nickzter1331 (4229)
• Philippines
16 Dec 18
@TheHorse because our main purpose is to learn something.. hehehe,.
1 person likes this
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
29 Dec 18
I agree with you. Life is for learning, not matter how hard it is to learn new things. Who says that while learning your not knowing as well, right? But to me comes frist learning than knowing :) Nice article.
