I am an elitist.

[Caldus]

I drink some liquor once in a while. But I usually make that a monthly thing or sometimes I will make exceptions. Not a big beer drinker. Or alchohol drinker for that matter.

[tylercdurden2004]

I drink some liquor once in a while. But I usually make that a monthly thing or sometimes I will make exceptions. Not a big beer drinker. Or alchohol drinker for that matter.

 

The point is that all the things you listed are how shall we say...black and white, objestive things. You mention photo shop but not photography. it seems you are just unable to enjoy the thought that there may not be an answer and that interpretation based on feeling might be inportant. You see in my sig I have a quote about Balance. Thats what I call my "bus stop" philosophy: its something that I thought about and came up with at the bus stop. I think balance is very very necessary to achive happiness. but sadly I have no proof of that for you. Only my gut feeling.

[Caldus]

it seems you are just unable to enjoy the thought that there may not be an answer

 

Yeah, always an issue for me, lol.

[tylercdurden2004]

Yeah, always an issue for me, lol.

 

Well then as long as you're ok laughing about it then dont worry about it. End of story.

[AwdreeHpburn]

Caldus I applaud your confidence. Many people lack it.

 

However I would like to assert that you may just need a good ol' fashioned dose of humilty to get you over that hump of ego that's blocking your path way to a better social life.

 

There's nothing wrong with being better than people and there's not a lot wrong with acknowledging it. But treating people inferior is a big faux paus and will hinder most social relationships.

 

I suggest you put yourself out there as often as possible and get some "real-life" experiences under your belt. You'll be fine.

[novaseeker]

I wasn't intending to suggest that only a certain type of person is "intellectual". As I said, this is all a very YMMV area, and different people will have differerent perceptions of reality relating to these things, all of which are relatively valid.

 

However, I do think it's perfectly fine to be an intellectual who does not enjoy smalltalk. I know many who are like that, including myself, my ex-wife and numerous colleagues. That doesn't mean that we aren't capable of doing it ... what it means is that we prefer deeper talk most of the time. Does that hold true for all intellectual people (regardless of formal education, which is in my book never an indicator of that anyway)? Who knows. I certainly wasn't suggesting that it does. What I intended to say, however, is that OP's perspective is completely valid and there isn't anything wrong with it at all ... there are many out there who have that same perspective. I am one of them.

 

I don't think it's appropriate to criticise someone who has a more narrow field of interests as being "bored with the world". That's more or less a pejorative thing to say, and it's neither accurate nor appropriate. Some people are indeed highly specialised in their interests and are nevertheless highly content with that. Some people just have very focused and intense interests. Again, there is nothing inherently wrong with that. Different people are different.

 

And so I continue to maintain that the OP simply needs to find a social circle that matches his interests more closely, and suggest that if graduate school is in the offing, perhaps, that would be a more likely place to meet them. There's a world of difference between PhD graduate students and undergraduate students in this specific area.

[Jorus Cbaoth]

There is nothing wrong with you, my friend. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a little arrogance in your abilities. Don't be arrogant to the point of getting a superiority complex over other people, because someday someone more talented than you will humble you. Actually, either way you will be humbled, but never let people tell you to act or behave a certain way. The people in life can either accept me for who I am, or they can get out of my way. That's my philosophy anyway.

[DN]

It is an interesting fact that many people go through life without thinking about philosophy. They live their lives, earn a living, marry, support and bring up their children and are mostly happy and fulfilled as a result.

 

What do they do? - well they reap and sow, plant and gather, build and make, maintain and clean, repair and rebuild. They are the people without whom the human world as we know it would not exist. If they were to suddenly disappear, philosophers would have to learn to do these things in order to live. But if philosophers were to disappear would anyone have to learn philosophy in order for the human race to survive?

[tylercdurden2004]

It is an interesting fact that many people go through life without thinking about philosophy. They live their lives, earn a living, marry, support and bring up their children and are mostly happy and fulfilled as a result.

 

What do they do? - well they reap and sow, plant and gather, build and make, maintain and clean, repair and rebuild. They are the people without whom the human world as we know it would not exist. If they were to suddenly disappear, philosophers would have to learn to do these things in order to live. But if philosophers were to disappear would anyone have to learn philosophy in order for the human race to survive?

 

Or get out of their white tower.

[Caldus]

True DN. One could wade through life without ever really thinking. Happens all the time. And they can definitely survive this way and can definitely be happy this way. Of course there are some people who have been exposed to the bigger questions of life for longer than a few minutes in their lives but have decided to steer away from it all as it seems pointless to them. Again, if that's what makes them happy, all the more power for them. I have a feeling that I won't ever stray away from it though. At least not completely away from philosophical discourse.

[Jaela]

So many interesting and provoking replies thus far. I took a particular delight in reading through this entire thread. My own personal philosophy stems from two words; transcendence and enlightenment.

 

Caldus, I agree it can be frusterating to see others interacting on a level you're unfamiliar with, and which, quite frankly, may bore you. However, have you ever considered reaching out to some of these seemingly 'ordinary' people and tactfully trying to stimulate them into your own sphere of thinking through gently challenging conversation? You may be putting too much emphasis on what you feel others have to offer you and thereforeeee finding that pursuit empty. By making an effort to reach out to others with compassion and humility, perhaps you can plant a seed with someone that will incorporate your own philosophical passion.

 

It is only with great humbleness and careful observation do we truly become aware of the wonderful blessings each person brings into our lives. Don't become so self-involved that you overlook the seemingly simplicities of human interaction. We all have something of unique intrinsic value to offer and learn from one another.

[tylercdurden2004]

Maybe chaos theory can help bring together both worlds.

[DN]

True DN. One could wade through life without ever really thinking. Happens all the time. And they can definitely survive this way and can definitely be happy this way. Of course there are some people who have been exposed to the bigger questions of life for longer than a few minutes in their lives but have decided to steer away from it all as it seems pointless to them. Again, if that's what makes them happy, all the more power for them. I have a feeling that I won't ever stray away from it though. At least not completely away from philosophical discourse.

 

There is a difference between not thinking and not thinking about the things you think about. What may seem mundane and ordinary to you may be exciting and stimulating to them. What may seem the bigger questions of life to you may seem pretentious and ultimately irrelevant matters to them.

 

Philosophers may discourse about such things as how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, or if a tree falling in a deserted forest makes a noise - but other people use the pin to help create clothes that people wear, or take the fallen tree and make a table from it. Those activities also require thought and imagination, as well as skill and intelligence.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

 

William Shakespeare - Hamlet

[Caldus]

We all have something of unique intrinsic value to offer and learn from one another.

 

Again, what exactly is it that they can offer me?

 

There is a difference between not thinking and not thinking about the things you think about. What may seem mundane and ordinary to you may be exciting and stimulating to them. What may seem the bigger questions of life to you may seem pretentious and ultimately irrelevant matters to them.

 

Sure, it can be irrelevant in their head. I guess the more fundamental issue is a conflict of interests. Most people would not be interested in what I am interested in. thereforeeee, I just don't see myself ever having that many friends. Of course, I do have a lot of acquaintances who are nothing like me.

 

Philosophers may discourse about such things as how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, or if a tree falling in a deserted forest makes a noise - but other people use the pin to help create clothes that people wear, or take the fallen tree and make a table from it. Those activities also require thought and imagination, as well as skill and intelligence.

 

Well, if it helps my case any, I actually do a lot of things in this world too and not just sit around and think. That is why I can never actually pursue a career in philosophy. I feel like I need to actually do stuff in this world as well. thereforeeee, computers being another big interest of mine, that is my major. And I will be doing stuff in this world relating to computers for other people.

 

By the way, I like your last quote in the signature.

[KweenofDenyl]

Again, what exactly is it that they can offer me?

 

Sometimes the things one learns and the wisdom one gains from others cannot be described or measured. The discovery is the reward.

 

Why must others have something to offer you?

[Caldus]

Well it's more like an issue of motivation (and thus a lack of fulfillment of any kind in social situations), as I described earlier. I feel like I have always been missing something. And then I also said earlier that I was thinking maybe it has to do with selfishness. Not entirely sure how to describe my feeling accurately.

[KweenofDenyl]

Perhaps your problem lies in how you view yourself.

 

Elitist:

1. The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources.

 

2. The sense of entitlement enjoyed by such a group or class.

Control, rule, or domination by such a group or class.

 

That is why I can never actually pursue a career in philosophy

Lol, I didn't know one could pursue a "career" in philosophy. Does such a thing really exist?

[Caldus]

Yes it does exist. You could be a philosophy professor for example.

[KweenofDenyl]

Does such a thing really exist?

 

It was a joke...I thought you of all people would get it.

[tylercdurden2004]

It was a joke...I thought you of all people would get it.

 

Cunning wit, or cutting wit?

[Jaela]

Again, what exactly is it that they can offer me?

 

Perhaps your question should be, what exactly is it I can offer others?

[novaseeker]

Perhaps your question should be, what exactly is it I can offer others?

 

That depends on who the "others" are, it seems to me, as will inevitably always be the case.

[Derek]

Thinking back to practicalities,

 

The Art of Smalltalk, the art of conversation are lost skills these days.

it is a useful skill that can be learned.

 

Learning to start conversations with innocuous topics and easing into deeper conversations by deftly dodging defensive wall after defensive wall into an intimate conversation about Truth is a skill. People need to be lulled into deeper conversation. People are scared of truth with a capital T. Scared of offending. Scared of reacting. Scared of thinking deeply even. People are scared of their own thoughts in silence sometimes.

 

Walking up to someone on the street and saying "What do you think about the true nature of Ultimate Reality and Absolute Truth" just isn't gonna work well except for a few people.

 

It's like going up and asking a girl "do you wanna have sex", sure some might, but most need to have a few dates, some light conversation to gauge your intentions and motivations and then get into the deeper stuff.

 

Conversation is much the same.

 

Start with the Weather. (universal innocuous topic) "Nice day eh?"

"..."

Then with what's in front of you. "Oh so you are a runner?"

"..."

More specifically, "What do you think of those kinds of shoes for running."

"..."

Personally, "I think being healthy is important too"

"..."

Deeply, "I want to live forever"

"..."

Curious, "What do you think about heaven"

 

 

Each time the person does a "handshake" (like how a computer modem communicates) and responds back with greater intimate answers/questions, then you can up the bandwidth (baud rate) to reach the next level.

 

 

Get it?

 

 

 

 

I'm an engineer too. Who took linguistics and cognitive science on the side.

 

 

 

P.S. Usually you have to be vulnerable yourself first, to get the handshake reply from the other side. So if you are honest and open with people and they don't think you don't have an agenda to belittle them, then they might engage.

[tylercdurden2004]

Your talking about the art but ultimately referring to the science of communicating which is the very crux of this issue.

[Derek]

The art is in applying the science,

just like music.