Re: >H Hayflick on death and immortality

Michael Lorrey (retroman@together.net)
Sat, 30 May 1998 19:21:55 -0400


Ralph Lewis wrote:

> Cori, obviously you don't teach undergraduates in California. 20% of my
> college juniors and seniors in a junior level class are academically functioning
> at or below middle school level.
> That is todays norm!
>
> Best Wishes, Ralph Lewis
>
> At 04:14 PM 5/30/98 EDT, you wrote:
> >i realise that my posts tend to sound a little disparaging of the mental
> >abilities of most people, but the evidence is all 'round me, in the papers, on
> >tv, even just walking down the block. i am often astounded at the sheer
> >ignorance, stupidity, and obliviousness i witness.
> >i'd be interested to know how the list feels about this. do you feel that
> >people in general are smarter than they are given credit for?..does it only
> >seem as if the general level of knowledge, understanding, and intelligence is
> >slipping?..or is this a legitimate concern?
> >i dislike to be so negative, but at least once a day i find myself frustrated
> >or inconvenienced by someone's boneheadedness
> >i'd appreciate some feedback from the list.. thanks.Cori

Lately, the song lyrics that stick in my head at work are from Elvis Costello:

"Everybody knows, that the world is full of stupid people....."

I sing it when some customer has sent me absolute garbage data and expects me to
wean gold from it....without telling me what format it is in, ascii or ebcdic,
record length, block size, or data density......arrrggghhhh..... I guess they must
think I'm a real wizard to be able to figure this all out ........So I look at it
this way: That I am so smart is what allows me to have such a fun job with no
physical strain or stress..... and make decent money. If everyone were as smart as
me I'd probably have to work hard at a real job..... I'd rather be a big fish over
being an average sized or small fish any day of the week....

--
TANSTAAFL!!!
   Michael Lorrey
------------------------------------------------------------
mailto:retroman@together.net Inventor of the Lorrey Drive
MikeySoft: Graphic Design/Animation/Publishing/Engineering
------------------------------------------------------------
How many fnords did you see before breakfast today?