We are a Peculiar People

[sanch]

ORIGINAL: mullk

I had a similar experience except for me it was almost all my male relatives had served in the pacific. I had an uncle on the Essex and another on a sub but I don't know the name. My dad was a Paratrooper. In the community I grew up in we had several WW2 vets of multiple fronts. My high school principle was a Bataan death march survivor. The owner of the local beer garden was a low ranking German Infantryman. He was in Greece when the war ended and as he put it he had to walk to Germany as all of Europe was to pissed at him to give him a ride. A business man in the next town over was a U-boat Skipper but I don't know his name. Having grown up in such a setting I really wish I had developed my love of learned of the past when I was much younger to have really talked to these folks rather than just the youngster "that's cool"

When growing up, almost all my friends' fathers had served in the war. My father - AV support on Tinian. A friend's father - North Atlantic ASW on SC's. Another friend's father - ASW blimp driver in Key West. And on it went. My wife's uncle - injured in the Hurtgen Forest.

And I ran into a character from Germany who was drafted via the Hitler Youth, captured on the Eastern Front, spent 10 years as prisoner in the USSR, emigrated, and was managing a grocery store. He certainly believed in living for the moment.

[offenseman]

The TV show "Deadliest Catch"... I've never watched it but every time I see a commercial for it where the boat is getting pounded by nasty Bering Sea waves, I wonder how much system damage they are accruing. [X(]

[rsallen64]

I was always fascinated by history, particularly WWII. My next door neighbor served in Italy, went ashore at Omaha beach, and fought in the Bulge. He didn't talk about it much, but I managed to get him to come to a high school history class one day and talk about it. He was nervous as hell. His wife said he only did it because he liked me so much. He was a civil engineer, and used to teach me how to operate a transit, and would take me with me to work when he was doing jobs after he retired. I was in my early teens. He passed away several years ago.[:(]

In history class in high school, I remember the teacher always getting things wrong about the war. I sat up front, and used to correct him! No, the Japanese didn't lose three carriers at Midway, they lost four... You get the point. It didn't take long before he gave me looks that told me it was better to keep my mouth shut.[:-] I began to lose respect fast when I realized I knew more than he did and he was teaching everyone else. That's why it's always important, in my book, to self educate and be a critical thinker and listener.

[jeffk3510]

ORIGINAL: rsallen64

I was always fascinated by history, particularly WWII. My next door neighbor served in Italy, went ashore at Omaha beach, and fought in the Bulge. He didn't talk about it much, but I managed to get him to come to a high school history class one day and talk about it. He was nervous as hell. His wife said he only did it because he liked me so much. He was a civil engineer, and used to teach me how to operate a transit, and would take me with me to work when he was doing jobs after he retired. I was in my early teens. He passed away several years ago.[:(]

In history class in high school, I remember the teacher always getting things wrong about the war. I sat up front, and used to correct him! No, the Japanese didn't lose three carriers at Midway, they lost four... You get the point. It didn't take long before he gave me looks that told me it was better to keep my mouth shut.[:-] I began to lose respect fast when I realized I knew more than he did and he was teaching everyone else. That's why it's always important, in my book, to self educate and be a critical thinker and listener.

Well said. Thanks for sharing.

[Ketza]

Recently for work I had to spend 6 weeks in Hawaii. Although I had never stepped foot on the Island I was able to take my boss on a tour of all the places that were attacked on December 7th.

As part of an interview for a job in the past I had to do a presentation on a subject of my choice in front of a panel of 5 people. I knew that 2 of the guys were Naval Academy grads so I decided to pick a presentation based on how the Japanese mismanaged the lead up to the battle which helped the battle develop into a much more evenly matched affair then perhaps it should have been. I didn't get the job but did get very positive feedback on my knowledge of a very niche subject!

[jcjordan]

Well we've some Oracle programmers from India & I was talking to one & subject came up where we're from & he said Hyderabad. I sheepishly/stupidly put foot in mouth & asked the one by Madras or Karachi knowing full well the past problems between the 2 counties they're now but not thinking about it when I asked

[Feltan]

I take exception to the premise and content of this entire thread.

I am normal.

People who drift through life: enjoying the strains of Justin Beiber; enthralled by the latest excesses of Lindsey Lohan; follow human freak shows as they visit North Korea; think they can corral and pacify the entire world's problems; attempt to tell us the best way to govern ourselves is by spending money we don't have (i.e., all politicians); can't hold a conversation and are connected 24/7 to an electronic device for "information"; can't grasp the fact that climate change is both cyclic and normal; will pay a king's ransom for a vehicle, or for cosmetic surgery they don't need; voluntarily choose to live in California, NYC or New Jersey --- THESE are peculiar people! Peculiar people can't find Hawaii on a globe!

So there.

Regards,
Feltan

[wdolson]

Everybody is someone else's weirdo and "normal" is a pretty slippery term when you try and nail it down.

Bill

[Canoerebel]

I reject Feltan's premise of the OP premise.  "Peculiar", in it's true meaning, is not a word carrying a negative connotation.*  It just means - different/unusual/rare.  The AE afficionado falls into that definition.

There's no doubt I fall into that camp.  In addition to my years of AE play, I don't own a cell phone, don't have any kind of portable electronic device, and don't watch television.  That gives me much more time for reading, writing, and hiking. 

*If memory serves, scripture calls Christians "a peculiar people," meaning "set apart" and "not following the norm."

[Schanilec]

Here, here. [&o][&o]

[pws1225]

I don't own a cell phone, don't have any kind of portable electronic device, and don't watch television.

Sounds like a recipe for sanity to me.

[catwhoorg]

"Irregular verbs:
I have an independent mind
You are an eccentric
He is round the twist"

Yes Minister (or was it Yes Prime Minister, I forget)

[Feltan]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I reject Feltan's premise of the OP premise.  "Peculiar", in it's true meaning, is not a word carrying a negative connotation.*  It just means - different/unusual/rare.  The AE afficionado falls into that definition.

I reject your rejection of my premise of the OP premise.

Peculiar means strange or odd. AE aficionados are neither strange nor odd -- they are normal. It is the rest of society that is strange and odd.

Regards,
Feltan

[Canoerebel]

"Peculiar:  uncommon; unusual: the peculiar hobby of stuffing and mounting bats."
 
That suits us to a T, doesn't it?

[Schanilec]

ORIGINAL: catwhoorg

"Irregular verbs:
I have an independent mind
You are an eccentric
He is round the twist"

Yes Minister (or was it Yes Prime Minister, I forget)

Both

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: rsallen64

I was always fascinated by history, particularly WWII. My next door neighbor served in Italy, went ashore at Omaha beach, and fought in the Bulge. He didn't talk about it much, but I managed to get him to come to a high school history class one day and talk about it. He was nervous as hell. His wife said he only did it because he liked me so much. He was a civil engineer, and used to teach me how to operate a transit, and would take me with me to work when he was doing jobs after he retired. I was in my early teens. He passed away several years ago.[:(]

In history class in high school, I remember the teacher always getting things wrong about the war. I sat up front, and used to correct him! No, the Japanese didn't lose three carriers at Midway, they lost four... You get the point. It didn't take long before he gave me looks that told me it was better to keep my mouth shut.[:-] I began to lose respect fast when I realized I knew more than he did and he was teaching everyone else. That's why it's always important, in my book, to self educate and be a critical thinker and listener.

I was one of those High School students that everyone hated. Sat front, middle in all my Social Studies classes. Like wdolson was heavily into 1/700 waterline models as a kidlet. (Now my boys, wife, and I are building them)

While in College, I was a Junior and I corrected my COLLEGE PROFESSOR--in class--that he was getting the battle of Midway wrong. It...did...not...go...over...well..until my advisor told him he should let a Military Historian teach Military History. Dr. Edgerton then asked if Dr. Powers meant he would come in and guest lecture? No. Let John do it! That did not go over well either. Dr. Edgerton and I still joke about it when we pass each in the halls of UNC going to and from classes.

[rsallen64]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: rsallen64

I was always fascinated by history, particularly WWII. My next door neighbor served in Italy, went ashore at Omaha beach, and fought in the Bulge. He didn't talk about it much, but I managed to get him to come to a high school history class one day and talk about it. He was nervous as hell. His wife said he only did it because he liked me so much. He was a civil engineer, and used to teach me how to operate a transit, and would take me with me to work when he was doing jobs after he retired. I was in my early teens. He passed away several years ago.[:(]

In history class in high school, I remember the teacher always getting things wrong about the war. I sat up front, and used to correct him! No, the Japanese didn't lose three carriers at Midway, they lost four... You get the point. It didn't take long before he gave me looks that told me it was better to keep my mouth shut.[:-] I began to lose respect fast when I realized I knew more than he did and he was teaching everyone else. That's why it's always important, in my book, to self educate and be a critical thinker and listener.

I was one of those High School students that everyone hated. Sat front, middle in all my Social Studies classes. Like wdolson was heavily into 1/700 waterline models as a kidlet. (Now my boys, wife, and I are building them)

While in College, I was a Junior and I corrected my COLLEGE PROFESSOR--in class--that he was getting the battle of Midway wrong. It...did...not...go...over...well..until my advisor told him he should let a Military Historian teach Military History. Dr. Edgerton then asked if Dr. Powers meant he would come in and guest lecture? No. Let John do it! That did not go over well either. Dr. Edgerton and I still joke about it when we pass each in the halls of UNC going to and from classes.

Yes, that is the problem, isn't it? They bring people in to teach that really don't know the subject properly, and of course the vast majority of the students assume the professor knows what he or she is talking about, so the misinformation spreads. I thought higher education was supposed to teach us critical thinking, which to me means don't assume that the professor is right all the time either. Think for yourself, research yourself through multiple sources, form your own opinions. It's served me well through all levels of higher education and in life. Sadly, most people just accept what they're told.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: Feltan

I take exception to the premise and content of this entire thread.

I am normal.

People who drift through life: enjoying the strains of Justin Beiber; enthralled by the latest excesses of Lindsey Lohan; follow human freak shows as they visit North Korea; think they can corral and pacify the entire world's problems; attempt to tell us the best way to govern ourselves is by spending money we don't have (i.e., all politicians); can't hold a conversation and are connected 24/7 to an electronic device for "information"; can't grasp the fact that climate change is both cyclic and normal; will pay a king's ransom for a vehicle, or for cosmetic surgery they don't need; voluntarily choose to live in California, NYC or New Jersey --- THESE are peculiar people! Peculiar people can't find Hawaii on a globe!

So there.

Regards,
Feltan

My dictionary says peculiar: A person who rents his home, rents his car and pays for everything with cash.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: rsallen64

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: rsallen64

I was always fascinated by history, particularly WWII. My next door neighbor served in Italy, went ashore at Omaha beach, and fought in the Bulge. He didn't talk about it much, but I managed to get him to come to a high school history class one day and talk about it. He was nervous as hell. His wife said he only did it because he liked me so much. He was a civil engineer, and used to teach me how to operate a transit, and would take me with me to work when he was doing jobs after he retired. I was in my early teens. He passed away several years ago.[:(]

In history class in high school, I remember the teacher always getting things wrong about the war. I sat up front, and used to correct him! No, the Japanese didn't lose three carriers at Midway, they lost four... You get the point. It didn't take long before he gave me looks that told me it was better to keep my mouth shut.[:-] I began to lose respect fast when I realized I knew more than he did and he was teaching everyone else. That's why it's always important, in my book, to self educate and be a critical thinker and listener.

I was one of those High School students that everyone hated. Sat front, middle in all my Social Studies classes. Like wdolson was heavily into 1/700 waterline models as a kidlet. (Now my boys, wife, and I are building them)

While in College, I was a Junior and I corrected my COLLEGE PROFESSOR--in class--that he was getting the battle of Midway wrong. It...did...not...go...over...well..until my advisor told him he should let a Military Historian teach Military History. Dr. Edgerton then asked if Dr. Powers meant he would come in and guest lecture? No. Let John do it! That did not go over well either. Dr. Edgerton and I still joke about it when we pass each in the halls of UNC going to and from classes.

Yes, that is the problem, isn't it? They bring people in to teach that really don't know the subject properly, and of course the vast majority of the students assume the professor knows what he or she is talking about, so the misinformation spreads. I thought higher education was supposed to teach us critical thinking, which to me means don't assume that the professor is right all the time either. Think for yourself, research yourself through multiple sources, form your own opinions. It's served me well through all levels of higher education and in life. Sadly, most people just accept what they're told.

It has been my experience as a student and Adjunct Professor of History that the most CLOSED minds in the world can be in the Ivory Tower. No offense but that is my experience over 15 years of collegiate teaching.

[moore4807]

There was a class on psychiatric emergencies in the field that I attended years ago - relating to peculiar, it was a "danger" word not to be used in front of patients... There were three of us that detoured the instructor for 1/2 hour trying to pin down why she would pick out words instead of tone and appeasement in an unstable enviornment... Eventually she snapped and said "because I'm a Doctor of Psychiatry and I say so!" I WILL NEVER FORGET the reply from the back of the room....

"Should we tell THAT to our unstable pt?"

The room broke up laughing and she fled the room just about in tears, turns out she had NEVER seen or treated a patient "in the field" and was violating just about everything we had ever been taught prior, and with our collective experiences. Several people demanded money back from the hospital based service that was doing the training...

Ergo - Critical thinking is imperative and not doing it might just get you killed... And Normal INCLUDES crazy as part of the complete psychological spectrum. <grin>