Thoughts on people's self-perceptions

[azekeil]

Recently kissycat1000 has realised she can now do things like book a bike course.

Then on Friday at work, someone who works in a department on the other side of the building to where I sit came over for something else, and noticed the web page on my second monitor displaying the new program I'd written. It allows the people in the call centre to see how many lines there are free on the bridges and how many are in the enter queue (where you go if you need operator assistance). She commented that it was very clever and very complicated. I explained that no it wasn't - I used the same method that the people in reservations use to connect to the bridges and I run just one command to get the numbers. The rest was formatting on a web page and retrieving the numbers every 5 seconds.

She sounded a bit surprised and said that I was clever for putting it all together.

I shrugged it off but it got me thinking. I do things because others can do it, so why can't I? I don't understand the mentality that people can't do things, or shoudn't attempt things. It just 'keeps people in their place'.

Now admittedly, there are things I wouldn't want to try because I'm just not interested in or I'd find the experience unpleasent. But seriously people - humans invented technology - so why are people afraid to use their noggins to figure it out?

Comments

[gashinryu.livejournal.com]

But seriously people - humans invented technology - so why are people afraid to use their noggins to figure it out?

Cus u shudnt mess with majic. That wud be bad an rong. Leeve it too them ther boffins. Its not fer us ordinry fowk.

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

??

[racinghippo.livejournal.com]

Got it in one!

[purrthecat.livejournal.com]

*laughs out loud*

[ev1ldonut.livejournal.com]

Peoples brains just work differently, simple as.

Some people are brilliant at the visoin, can come up with wonderful ideas and concepts, but ask them to actually build it, and they wouldn't have a hope.

Some people are superb artists, most of us are not...

You are good at what you do, this is part of why you enjoy it and find it interesting, but then the fact that you are good at it and find it interesting helps you be good at it. It's a circular, self perpetuating kinda thing.

You say there are some things that you wouldn't attempt because they don't interest you or wouldn't enjoy them. Ever thought why they don't interest you? Unless you actually do try them, how do you know if you would be able to do it as well as someone else? or even at all?

Some people can do things that others can't. There is always someone who can't do something that you can, and always someone who can do something you can't. It's all a part of evolution, and why as species we are so dominat. We are so very varied that the species can adapt to pretty much anything.

Just my thoughts on it anyway... ;)

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

Hrm. In the context of what I was talking about I think I was imagining that what I did was only an extension of what others are already engaged in. Why does no one else in my department think along my lines?

[ev1ldonut.livejournal.com]

Because, put quite simply, they just aren't-as-clever-as-you!

No matter which side of the brain a person favours, some people are just cleverer than others. And you, whatever you may think of yourself, are a gifted individual in your chosen field.

Yes, human's invented technology...
But it was only a select few that did so, while the rest were scrathing their arses and fighting over whose bit of meat that was...

[racinghippo.livejournal.com]

Just as gashinryu put so eloquently: It's "technical stuff" and for roughly half the population that might just as well be magic.
As I'm sure you know, we tend to favour either the left- or right-half of our brains; left-siders are more analytical, logical thinkers and get on with "teknikle fings" like the proverbial burning building[1], whilst right-brainers are the holistic, arty types.
(Every now and then you find someone who favours neither side. That's me. That's why I've made my living out of making computers usable by all those right-brained (l)users :) )

So, in fact, that kind of deduction that you made in order to create that natty web utility is impressive to a RBer - they would never have thought of it because their brains simply aren't equipped to do so. So it's indistinguishable from magic to them

Not realising you can book a bike course is, I feel, more of a case of a lack of confidence :)

[1] It is no coincidence, I feel, that those with a particular predisposition for logical thinking often find themselves on the autistic spectrum. And vice versa.

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

Well that's just what I mean. A lack of confidence to take their ideas one further. People in the call centre are forever coming up with ideas to improve their efficiency but don't take it that step further, shying away because it sounds 'complicated' or such. That's what I'm getting at.

[racinghippo.livejournal.com]

People in the call centre are forever coming up with ideas to improve their efficiency but don't take it that step further

...thereby leaving the path clear for you to take it that one step further and actually implement it. (Of course, you have to watch for the slimy ones that then take all the glory for your work :s)
Maybe they lack the depth of thought required to do it. Or maybe it is just confidence. Or maybe both.

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

Aha! Alright, I'm willing to concede that intelligence (and perhaps some interest) may have something to do with it. But just imagine it's to do with confidence - why would you let [a lack of] confidence be the noose around your achievements?

[racinghippo.livejournal.com]

Idunno *shrugs*
Ask someone with no confidence!

[stuartl.livejournal.com]

First things first: You're unusual. This is not a bad thing but something you should accept :)

Most people are not interested in things they don't understand. Most people are scared by them. Part of this is probably fear of failure, part of it will be fear of the unknown. Most people fear change and prefer to stick with the world they know rather than attempt to change it.

The expression "Better the devil you know" comes to mind.

I don't think it's entirely to do with intelligence but I do think they're related. An intelligent person such as yourself is intrigued by a limitation of his knowledge or experience and strives to find new things to keep his mind busy. Those content with the world around them don't have this same desire.

Of course with this intelligence comes the problem you've just hit. Those able to understand logical topics by their own nature find it very hard to understand people who can't learn at the same rate they can. They find it very difficult to deal with people moving slower than they are and often alienate people as a result.

JMHO, YMMV etc :)

[purrthecat.livejournal.com]

Two reasons:

1 - Some people are just intimidated by anything they don't understand. This could be computers, mechanics, and can be even creativity or talent-driven things. I've heard quite a few people say they'd love to learn to belly dance, but they 'can't dance', 'are the wrong shape', or 'are just scared'!

2 - Conditioning. If you're told you're a toad since birth, you will THINK you're a toad. Doesn't matter what others tell you - you will have that little voice in your head saying 'but I'm a toad'. That voice can be difficult to get past for some people. Conditioning can come from parents, teachers, peers, partners, friends, society... the list goes on. A person can even condition themselves into such thoughts.

It's good to have a fresh perspective of yourself on occassion. I think everyone should try and see themselves from outside every so often. It keeps us grounded in reality rather than in our own heads.

[beeby.livejournal.com]

May I agree with purrthecat (is this something to do with our both being female?) If as a child trying new things is encouraged and failure isn't looked on as defeat then, of course, people see no reason not to try something new - either thought or action. And vice versa.