Comments on: How do people know about stuff? http://elainermeyer.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/ a blog by Elaine Meyer Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:37:21 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: elainemeyer http://elainermeyer.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-2073 elainemeyer Thu, 04 Oct 2007 21:37:15 +0000 http://elainemeyer.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-2073 you be workin the system, jon you be workin the system, jon

]]> By: Jon http://elainermeyer.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1999 Jon Fri, 28 Sep 2007 03:14:17 +0000 http://elainemeyer.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1999 Elaine, The reason I may fit in that category is that I figured out the best method to become the modern renaissance man you speak of. 1. Get a government job; internet access required. 2. Spot gaping holes in the supervising system at said job 3. Use these holes to stay up late at night watching TV, and to spend your time at work on various popular culture hubs. 4. Don't read political blogs. Read the news and make up your own opinions. This way you will have plenty of time to learn about music, sports, historical trivia, art, film, gossip, etc. 5. Disco sucks (therefore, listen to cool new music) Elaine,

The reason I may fit in that category is that I figured out the best method to become the modern renaissance man you speak of.

1. Get a government job; internet access required.
2. Spot gaping holes in the supervising system at said job
3. Use these holes to stay up late at night watching TV, and to spend your time at work on various popular culture hubs.
4. Don’t read political blogs. Read the news and make up your own opinions. This way you will have plenty of time to learn about music, sports, historical trivia, art, film, gossip, etc.
5. Disco sucks (therefore, listen to cool new music)

]]> By: elainemeyer http://elainermeyer.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1984 elainemeyer Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:34:08 +0000 http://elainemeyer.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1984 Andy, here's a tutorial for you MG sweats: http://www.seenon.com/search/splendid/all/product/product/greys-anatomy-meredith-grey-splendid-sweatpants Balenciaga bags: http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/product/5315/Handbag/Balenciaga/Balenciaga%20'City'%20Bag MJ wellies (which are supposedly a great deal, tho there's no reason for this type of shoe to be expensive): http://www.shoewawa.com/2007/06/3_marc_jacobs_w.html Andy, here’s a tutorial for you
MG sweats: http://www.seenon.com/search/splendid/all/product/product/greys-anatomy-meredith-grey-splendid-sweatpants
Balenciaga bags: http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/product/5315/Handbag/Balenciaga/Balenciaga%20‘City’%20Bag
MJ wellies (which are supposedly a great deal, tho there’s no reason for this type of shoe to be expensive): http://www.shoewawa.com/2007/06/3_marc_jacobs_w.html

]]> By: hoot http://elainermeyer.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1962 hoot Mon, 24 Sep 2007 23:32:27 +0000 http://elainemeyer.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1962 you READ. you READ.

]]> By: Andy http://elainermeyer.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1956 Andy Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:10:37 +0000 http://elainemeyer.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1956 Regarding your post on 9/17/07, what the hell are "Meredith Grey's sweatpants, Balenciaga city bags, Marc Jacobs wellies," etc and how does one learn about them? Regarding your post on 9/17/07, what the hell are “Meredith Grey’s sweatpants, Balenciaga city bags, Marc Jacobs wellies,” etc and how does one learn about them?

]]> By: elainemeyer http://elainermeyer.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1952 elainemeyer Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:28:33 +0000 http://elainemeyer.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1952 I think you may misunderstand me a little, DCer. I'm not against knowledge, but I find pedantry a little irritating, especially when it expressed condescendingly, as if I am less of a person for failing to know about a luxury good. I think you may misunderstand me a little, DCer. I’m not against knowledge, but I find pedantry a little irritating, especially when it expressed condescendingly, as if I am less of a person for failing to know about a luxury good.

]]> By: DCer http://elainermeyer.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1951 DCer Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:21:16 +0000 http://elainemeyer.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1951 People know what they know because they self-educate themselves. You seem almost as proud to be ignorant of the world around you as those fellas on my street who are "keeping it real" as Chris Rock responded, "Real Dumb." A friend of mine who is a multi-millionaire once told me, "What was I going to get from like climbing one more tree in my backyard? I lived in DC so we took the bus to the museums after school." I can promise you that nothing excluded people from my friendships faster than a lack of understanding of medicine, film or politics. Conversations where people don't understand the filmmaking process is filled with bizarre theories of how TV shows get made (think Seinfeld's "who are the ad wizards who thought up this one?"). People who don't understand medicine or science seem to want to discuss every possible conspiracy theory on the internet. People who don't understand politics waste my time with insane conspiracy theories that don't come close to making sense. People who don't have interest in things are what some people would call "Dull." I work with these people, they know about the Redskins and Grey's Anatomy and love the beach and funny pictures of cats. You get un-dull by developing strong interests in things. The internet is overflowing with serious media posing serious questions or discussing things in such detail that I never had as a teenager. Enjoy it. People know what they know because they self-educate themselves. You seem almost as proud to be ignorant of the world around you as those fellas on my street who are “keeping it real” as Chris Rock responded, “Real Dumb.” A friend of mine who is a multi-millionaire once told me, “What was I going to get from like climbing one more tree in my backyard? I lived in DC so we took the bus to the museums after school.” I can promise you that nothing excluded people from my friendships faster than a lack of understanding of medicine, film or politics. Conversations where people don’t understand the filmmaking process is filled with bizarre theories of how TV shows get made (think Seinfeld’s “who are the ad wizards who thought up this one?”). People who don’t understand medicine or science seem to want to discuss every possible conspiracy theory on the internet. People who don’t understand politics waste my time with insane conspiracy theories that don’t come close to making sense.

People who don’t have interest in things are what some people would call “Dull.” I work with these people, they know about the Redskins and Grey’s Anatomy and love the beach and funny pictures of cats.

You get un-dull by developing strong interests in things. The internet is overflowing with serious media posing serious questions or discussing things in such detail that I never had as a teenager.

Enjoy it.

]]> By: Superfecta http://elainermeyer.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1950 Superfecta Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:17:35 +0000 http://elainemeyer.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1950 I can semi-reply to the wine question (although I loathe the stuff) as a beer geek (I recently took my beer judge certification exam) -- in my case, I got into it simply because I loved the taste (once I discovered what real beer was) and wanted to try as many varieties as possible. The geeky part where one starts memorizing different style guidelines and histories came later and seemed pretty natural. I've been blessed/cursed with hard-core taste buds, so I think it was just a good excuse to use my 'superpower' to some extent. Besides, I'm a history geek, and the history of brewing always interested me, even when I thought that all beer was swill like Budweiser. Clearly, I was destined to become a full-on beer loser. I can semi-reply to the wine question (although I loathe the stuff) as a beer geek (I recently took my beer judge certification exam) — in my case, I got into it simply because I loved the taste (once I discovered what real beer was) and wanted to try as many varieties as possible. The geeky part where one starts memorizing different style guidelines and histories came later and seemed pretty natural. I’ve been blessed/cursed with hard-core taste buds, so I think it was just a good excuse to use my ’superpower’ to some extent.

Besides, I’m a history geek, and the history of brewing always interested me, even when I thought that all beer was swill like Budweiser. Clearly, I was destined to become a full-on beer loser.

]]> By: billy http://elainermeyer.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1949 billy Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:47:35 +0000 http://elainemeyer.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1949 Ja, A pound has 16 oz. so where are the other 4 oz. ? I got really passionate about weights and measures for a while but got bored when it came to grams and grains. Your discription is not of Yuppies but of a sub-group called Yappies. Ja,
A pound has 16 oz. so where are the other 4 oz. ? I got really passionate about weights and measures for a while but got bored when it came to grams and grains.
Your discription is not of Yuppies but of a sub-group called Yappies.

]]> By: elainemeyer http://elainermeyer.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1932 elainemeyer Mon, 24 Sep 2007 02:33:22 +0000 http://elainemeyer.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/how-do-people-know-about-stuff/#comment-1932 Thanks for your thoughts, both of you. I agree, hm, that I have found contentment in less on many occasions. I guess this is part of being a moderation-ist. JA, I guess when I ask how people know what they do, I also include the sub-question, how do they decide to make the time to know it. How does someone decide, for instance to really get into wine, to the point where he can aptly identify various elements to the wine (if this is truly possible)? Thanks for your thoughts, both of you. I agree, hm, that I have found contentment in less on many occasions. I guess this is part of being a moderation-ist.

JA, I guess when I ask how people know what they do, I also include the sub-question, how do they decide to make the time to know it. How does someone decide, for instance to really get into wine, to the point where he can aptly identify various elements to the wine (if this is truly possible)?

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