Competence and the Meritocracy

[Pacific_Loner]

I think it might be easy for a gifted person with multiple college degrees, to say such a thing, and inadvertently, make others feel worse in the process.

Just saying, even if I know it's a "tough world" and it's not fair, or whatever.

It's interesting that you did not touch on the question of what a person is supposed to do, when they lack the innate foundation for developing competency. As an autistic person, I would not be alone in this, given how some studies show 85% are chronically underemployed, and often lack higher education. Nor is there much of a silver lining for "social fluency" here, given it's an autistic disorder, which impairs social skills (SA is the byproduct.) In other words, uselessness, all around!

Anyway, thanks for linking to that Cracked article, which for sure, brightened my day, mate!

I think Nate was describing how things are, right now in the 20-21th century, and I think you are more focused on how things should be. I mean, exactly as explained in the cracked article, we all wish we could go to a job interview and be hired because we're good and kind, but this is not how things are right now, most of the time. I think it's important to keep a view of what we hope the world would be in order to change it, but this is also important to accept what it is, right now, because change takes time, and humankind is deeply imperfect and will probably remain so

 

[Kiwong]

I think that the artists, philosophers, musicians, composers writers, philanthropists; those who create at a cost to their own sanity are valued, sometimes more so in death. But their value is often more long-lived than the more pragmatic types.

 

[Hot_Tamale]

I have to say I read that Cracked article too (thank you Nate!). I agree with Bronson, it brightened my day too but it was depressing in a way as well. The message I took away from the article at the end of the day was "people only care what you can DO for them, or they only care what you can GIVE them".

Someone once told me that finding a relationship is not like finding a job, but I beg to differ, how much more so after reading that article. I'm a nice guy, a caring person, a listener? So what? My crush has another potential suitor in her life, and he knows guitar, a second language, and can cook a four course dinner <--- something to that effect is what the author wrote about. Educational and a source of motivation to me but also depressing in a way.

 

[NathanielWingatePeaslee]

I think it might be easy for a gifted person with multiple college degrees, to say such a thing, and inadvertently, make others feel worse in the process.

Are you meaning me by that? You really don't know much about me at all and you'd do well not to assume things. In any event it doesn't matter if I tell the truth or if another person does or if you read it as the prize in a box of cracker jacks. It's still vital information.

It's interesting that you did not touch on the question of what a person is supposed to do, when they lack the innate foundation for developing competency. As an autistic person, I would not be alone in this, given how some studies show 85% are chronically underemployed, and often lack higher education.

The innate foundation for developing competency? Are you saying that autism prevents the learning of skills? This would be news to me. I did mention that it's possible to learn many skills just through the internet--which obviously does not require social skills.

ETA:

I think that the artists, philosophers, musicians, composers writers, philanthropists; those who create at a cost to their own sanity are valued, sometimes more so in death. But their value is often more long-lived than the more pragmatic types.

True. Artists are an interesting exception. In fact the value of an artist's work almost invariably increases after they die. Humans. :idontknow: