On Wed, 25 Aug 1999, Spike Jones wrote:
> > k_aegis@mindspring.com writes:
> >
> > > On the other hand, if we wallow in this antisocial geek status,
> > > then, well, it's only going to bring up images of Columbine and
> > > other sociopathic acts. High school is over with, get on with
> > > life and have fun!
I believe Kathryn, if you go back and look at the thread, you may find that I posed the question in the interest of determining *why* most of us are "free thinkers", which could contribute to the extensive discussion regarding good educational stratagies [Make them all outcasts if you want to free the world...!?!]
"Antisocial geek status" doesn't bring my mind to Columbine [I suspect it only does if you have had your nose glued to TV or Newspaper processing the pablum for the masses -- jab, jab :-)]
... Minds are terribly programmable things ...
Q: "How do you spell relief?"
[Warning: may not work for the people not raised on U.S. advertising...]
As far as I myself go (you note that I carefully asked the question before declaring my loyalties...), I was a lower grade misfit because of where my family lived and my interests (science over sports). I turned that around in junior high and high school and managed to get accepted by both the sports crowd and the academics. I didn't get elected to class treasurer, but did get voted most likely to succeed. And certainly went back to my 20th class reunion as just that.
I've been there, done that and am now onto better things. It doesn't stop me from wondering from time to time whether adversity is good for developing in children a strong will to never give up in the face of adversity.
>
> Yes thank god high school is over. I imagine many of the more
> positive notes on this thread will be posted by the younger set.
> Seems like being smart is much more hip now than it was in the
> 70s, the most anti-intellectual decade I know of.
With the geeks rolling in money, its hard for it to be un-hip. We would have to go back to the 60's love-generation to get that mindset.
> This is evidenced
> profusely by the polyester clothing, the beagle-ear hairstyles, the
> shoes, the music... {8^D spike
Watch it buddy, if you aren't careful, I'll "fix" it so the Extro5 conference "party" has a band that only plays *disco* music.
Robert