Off Topic

[iambored2006]

Hmm. I myself have a certificate that says I'm the second best speller in Jerusalem, so I think I'm entitled to the privilege of correcting people's grammar or spelling without having to suffer the misfortune of being called an 'arrogant asshole'. Am I qualified to be such a dick, or should I keep to myself with that noble of occupations?

How do you know that all the best spellers in Jerusalem took part in the competition?

I'm kidding, I'm kidding. But I do know that all the schools in Jerusalem participated. I also know that I initially didn't want to go, because of my fear of these situations (howzit called in english?). In hebrew it's called stage fear. So maybe another kid also didn't want to go and he actually didn't.

Close, it's called "stage fright" in English.

Ah, so I just needed to translate it to fright. It's the same word in Hebrew. I was actually kinda hoping for a word with '-phobia' in it.

[spiraldoor]

Hmm. I myself have a certificate that says I'm the second best speller in Jerusalem, so I think I'm entitled to the privilege of correcting people's grammar or spelling without having to suffer the misfortune of being called an 'arrogant asshole'. Am I qualified to be such a dick, or should I keep to myself with that noble of occupations?

How do you know that all the best spellers in Jerusalem took part in the competition?

I'm kidding, I'm kidding. But I do know that all the schools in Jerusalem participated. I also know that I initially didn't want to go, because of my fear of these situations (howzit called in english?). In hebrew it's called stage fear. So maybe another kid also didn't want to go and he actually didn't.

So adults were completely excluded? Now it doesn’t sound so impressive.

I’ve always thought of spelling bees as rather pointless pissing contests. Never been to one or heard of one being held in real life. I wouldn’t even know they existed if it wasn’t for an episode of The Simpsons. You don’t get that sort of indulgent silliness over here.

[stan423321]

Don't compare English spelling contests with Hebrew ones. Polish are different for sure.

[Adsolution]

Hmm. I myself have a certificate that says I'm the second best speller in Jerusalem, so I think I'm entitled to the privilege of correcting people's grammar or spelling without having to suffer the misfortune of being called an 'arrogant asshole'. Am I qualified to be such a dick, or should I keep to myself with that noble of occupations?

How do you know that all the best spellers in Jerusalem took part in the competition?

I'm kidding, I'm kidding. But I do know that all the schools in Jerusalem participated. I also know that I initially didn't want to go, because of my fear of these situations (howzit called in english?). In hebrew it's called stage fear. So maybe another kid also didn't want to go and he actually didn't.

So adults were completely excluded? Now it doesn’t sound so impressive.

I’ve always thought of spelling bees as rather pointless pissing contests. Never been to one or heard of one being held in real life. I wouldn’t even know they existed if it wasn’t for an episode of The Simpsons. You don’t get that sort of indulgent silliness over here.

I concur. All spelling is, especially in English, a combination of seemingly random knowledge combined with a little bit of logic. There's no real skill involved. English has so many illogical spellings that it's more of a "how many different words do you know how to spell" contest.

[iambored2006]

Don't compare English spelling contests with Hebrew ones. Polish are different for sure.

Actually, the spelling bee I attended was very much like the one from the Simpsons. And yes, spiral, no adults=unimpressive... Not gonna attend and adult one or anything. I'm happy with my certificate.

[Tobbe]

Hmm. I myself have a certificate that says I'm the second best speller in Jerusalem, so I think I'm entitled to the privilege of correcting people's grammar or spelling without having to suffer the misfortune of being called an 'arrogant asshole'.

No, you're not. It doesn't matter how good you are at spelling. You missed the point.

[iambored2006]

Hmm. I myself have a certificate that says I'm the second best speller in Jerusalem, so I think I'm entitled to the privilege of correcting people's grammar or spelling without having to suffer the misfortune of being called an 'arrogant asshole'.

No, you're not. It doesn't matter how good you are at spelling. You missed the point.

No, you missed my point, and you're the only one here who did. I was j o k i n g. Kidding. Laughing. Mocking. Making fun out of the situation. Now please reread my post in that light. (BTW, I'm not expecting you to laugh out loud at my post, but at least don't take it seriously. No one else here took it seriously.)

[Tobbe]

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realise. You seemed to be so serious, with that long-winded story about the spelling bee and everything.

[spiraldoor]

I concur. All spelling is, especially in English, a combination of seemingly random knowledge combined with a little bit of logic. There's no real skill involved. English has so many illogical spellings that it's more of a "how many different words do you know how to spell" contest.

I disagree. Correct and comprehensive spelling is a real skill of which many people are incapable. Just because it involves an intricate network of arbitrary rules doesn’t mean that it does not require talent. My point was that spelling bees themselves are showy and indulgent, and that there’s no reason anyone should be interested in such things. They’re a bit like dog shows – I just don’t get the appeal.

[Adsolution]

I concur. All spelling is, especially in English, a combination of seemingly random knowledge combined with a little bit of logic. There's no real skill involved. English has so many illogical spellings that it's more of a "how many different words do you know how to spell" contest.

I disagree. Correct and comprehensive spelling is a real skill of which many people are incapable. Just because it involves an intricate network of arbitrary rules doesn’t mean that it does not require talent. My point was that spelling bees themselves are showy and indulgent, and that there’s no reason anyone should be interested in such things. They’re a bit like dog shows – I just don’t get the appeal.

I agree with your main point, but it's factual that a fair chunk of English words have no reason one way or the other why they're spelled as such, and those are entirely based upon how much you know.

[spiraldoor]

Learning the more obscure and unintuitive rules of the language still requires a certain degree of talent.

[iambored2006]

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realise. You seemed to be so serious, with that long-winded story about the spelling bee and everything.

I was serious in the second part with the story. Just not in the first part about being a dick and all. BTW, did anyone else have a problem with Youtube suddenly? I was listening to a song and suddenly I heard a long alarm noise and all the Youtube videos that were open had an exclamation mark. I refreshed the pages and they worked. What's up with that?

[Adsolution]

Learning the more obscure and unintuitive rules of the language still requires a certain degree of talent.

Other than the completely nonsensical spellings, yes, of course. Though I don't like to use the word "talent," because I don't believe there is a such thing aside from broad genetic differences that might supply us with better or worse cognitive/creative skills.

[spiraldoor]

Other than the completely nonsensical spellings, yes, of course.

No, they require ability. Memory itself is a talent. Some people are better than others at memorising information.

Though I don't like to use the word "talent," because I don't believe there is a such thing aside from broad genetic differences that might give us better or worse logical/cognitive/creative skills.

I am quite comfortable with the use of the word ‘talent’, as I have a firm belief in its existence.

[Adsolution]

I think we've gone as far as we can with this since we have different beliefs on whether or not talent exists. It hasn't been proven to exist or not exist (aside from what I mentioned above).

[Tobbe]

...whether or not talent exists. It hasn't been proven to exist or not exist (aside from what I mentioned above).

Uhm... You have heard of genetics, right? Most traits have a certain genetic component, including intellectual skills.

[spiraldoor]

I think we've gone as far as we can with this since we have different beliefs on whether or not talent exists. I hasn't been proven to exist or not exist.

I don’t think it’s hard to prove at all. Look around you. Note that some people are better than others at certain things. That’s called ‘talent’.

[Adsolution]

...whether or not talent exists. It hasn't been proven to exist or not exist (aside from what I mentioned above).

Uhm... You have heard of genetics, right? Most traits have a certain genetic component, including intellectual skills.

Correct, but genetics have less of an impact on the person that the environment they've grown up in or what else they've been influenced by. This however isn't categorized the same as sexuality or other appeasements.

[spiraldoor]

Correct, but genetics have less of an impact on the person that the environment they've grown up in or what else they've been influenced by. This however isn't categorized the same as sexuality or other appeasements.

So if we kidnapped Albert Einstein the day he was born and secretly replaced him with a different child, you think that child would grow up to be just as intelligent and imaginative as the real Einstein? That all of his abilities were derived from his upbringing rather than his biology?

You seem to consider nurture more important than nature – the reason for this bias is fairly obvious.

[Tobbe]

Correct, but genetics have less of an impact on the person that the environment they've grown up in or what else they've been influenced by.

How do you know that? Because last time I checked, mankind hadn't settled how big a part genetics plays in proportion to how big a part environmental factors play. But if I understand you correctly, you do agree that genes play a noticeable part and thus there is such a thing as talent?