Matrix Games Forums

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"

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

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.

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)

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.

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.

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

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.