Comments on: Birthdays, 10,000 Hours, and the Myth of the Ding http://foohack.com/2008/07/birthdays-10000-hours-and-the-myth-of-the-ding/ Isaac Schlueter on Web Development Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:48:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Isaac http://foohack.com/2008/07/birthdays-10000-hours-and-the-myth-of-the-ding/#comment-703 Isaac Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:16:45 +0000 http://foohack.com/?p=72#comment-703 Sadly, there was no computer science in my high school. My HS wasn't a *complete* waste of time, I mean, I did study latin, philosophy, calculus, physics, etc., and I had friends and a girlfriend and learned to juggle and play the guitar and had fun for the most part. But it was *mostly* a waste of time. If I'd started that timer at 9 instead of 19, I'd be 10 years ahead today, no doubt about it. And at 9, I would have killed for exposure to the material I got in college. School is a prison designed to keep kids from hurting themselves until they're old enough to go to work without getting in the way. There are some very good teachers and some better than average schools, but the system is deeply flawed. The stated goal of preparing kids to be functioning productive adults is 100% bullshit. 10,000 hours of practicing philosophy is a worthwhile and highly attainable goal. That's only 1000 hours per year, a little less than 20 hours per week. But again, it's not just doing something, it's practice, which often is very different from normal doing. For example, a musician practicing doesn't just play songs, he plays things that are specifically designed to push his limits. I'm not sure what it would look like to practice philosophy, but I'm guessing just being a knowitall is not enough. ;) Sadly, there was no computer science in my high school. My HS wasn’t a *complete* waste of time, I mean, I did study latin, philosophy, calculus, physics, etc., and I had friends and a girlfriend and learned to juggle and play the guitar and had fun for the most part. But it was *mostly* a waste of time. If I’d started that timer at 9 instead of 19, I’d be 10 years ahead today, no doubt about it. And at 9, I would have killed for exposure to the material I got in college.

School is a prison designed to keep kids from hurting themselves until they’re old enough to go to work without getting in the way. There are some very good teachers and some better than average schools, but the system is deeply flawed. The stated goal of preparing kids to be functioning productive adults is 100% bullshit.

10,000 hours of practicing philosophy is a worthwhile and highly attainable goal. That’s only 1000 hours per year, a little less than 20 hours per week. But again, it’s not just doing something, it’s practice, which often is very different from normal doing. For example, a musician practicing doesn’t just play songs, he plays things that are specifically designed to push his limits. I’m not sure what it would look like to practice philosophy, but I’m guessing just being a knowitall is not enough. ;)

]]> By: Thom Blake http://foohack.com/2008/07/birthdays-10000-hours-and-the-myth-of-the-ding/#comment-701 Thom Blake Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:01:01 +0000 http://foohack.com/?p=72#comment-701 Happy Birthday! You didn't do big o notation, recursion, data structures, etc. in high school? No wonder I kept feeling like college was a waste of time when I was a CS major. I don't think I'll ever have the patience or drive to become an expert at anything. Well, I've probably put in the requisite hours for D&D, but (as in the case of Sickboy) that's hardly a substitute. But I guess that's why I'm in philosophy. Being a generalist (know-it-all) is something I've spent virtually my entire life practicing. Happy Birthday!

You didn’t do big o notation, recursion, data structures, etc. in high school? No wonder I kept feeling like college was a waste of time when I was a CS major.

I don’t think I’ll ever have the patience or drive to become an expert at anything. Well, I’ve probably put in the requisite hours for D&D, but (as in the case of Sickboy) that’s hardly a substitute. But I guess that’s why I’m in philosophy. Being a generalist (know-it-all) is something I’ve spent virtually my entire life practicing.

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