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Topic: What do you know?  (Read 1628 times)

Offline liszt-essence

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What do you know?
on: December 13, 2006, 12:56:35 AM
Just reading through the forum.

I see so many grave statements spread out over almost any topic.
It makes me ponder some thoughts. Regarding technique, methods, facts whatever.

We're all so different, I wonder how anyone else can speak for someone else..

I mean.. most things are so populair but unpersonal. I think that on a mental level, they seem to be "right" but I believe that most things are just so personal and should be approached personally without speaking for someone else.

This is really a learning proces for me as well. But it just got to me. I just now noticed how much this is a normal thing to do. Dictate, Teach, Tell. Most of it, with good intentions. And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, one can actually learn a lot from it.

But, I think it should not be overdone and that we should be cautious when we're stating our own relative truths.

It's just something that came to my attention.

Offline pianistimo

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Re: What do you know?
Reply #1 on: December 13, 2006, 02:53:10 AM
yes.  i appreciated that with my last teacher.  i was so used to gleaning information mostly from the teacher that i came armed with questions.  he would stick to whatever topic we were on - and not get sidetracked with questions he did not think were relevant to the lesson.  this bothered me at first - but, helped me later to realize that there are many ways of approaching a subject and that a teacher does not have to know all - and even if they do - they can be careful as to how much information is given out at once so as not to make things overly difficult or complicated.

also, there is a lot to be said for teaching creativity and creative thinking skills.  perhaps a good skill for teaching would be challenging students with questions regarding the piece they are studying and the historical context, composer facts, composition style, harmonies, etc.  instead of just telling.  or, with younger students - telling them and then asking later (seeing what they remember and can retell). 

Offline donjuan

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Re: What do you know?
Reply #2 on: December 14, 2006, 04:00:00 PM
post deleted

Offline rc

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Re: What do you know?
Reply #3 on: December 15, 2006, 12:30:11 AM
I don't think there's any point telling people to be cautious.  I'm all for uncensored honesty.  What I think is important is to make people aware that others cannot help but think differently, and therefore not to be offended when they speak their mind.

YES! I agree.  It's very frustrating for me when I speak my mind and someone gets upset over it, as if everyone needs to put a disclaimer before their posts:  "this is only my opinion"...  Of course it is, it doesn't need to be said, it can be assumed.  Whatever anyone says is going to be filtered through their experience and come out as thier opinion.  It's so useless to get angry over a discussion.

...But some opinions are more valuable than others, better informed, more useful.  That's what we learn.

I don't think anyone should be cautious about what they say, just speak your mind, rather the listener ought to be cautious about what he accepts.

Offline donjuan

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Re: What do you know?
Reply #4 on: December 15, 2006, 01:44:41 AM
as if everyone needs to put a disclaimer before their posts:  "this is only my opinion"...  Of course it is, it doesn't need to be said, it can be assumed.
...
...But some opinions are more valuable than others, better informed, more useful.  That's what we learn.

I don't think anyone should be cautious about what they say, just speak your mind, rather the listener ought to be cautious about what he accepts.
You see? Us Albertans have it right!

Offline liszt-essence

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Re: What do you know?
Reply #5 on: December 15, 2006, 11:29:18 AM
"Uncensored Honesty".. Absolutely

"I don't think anyone should be cautious about what they say, just speak your mind, rather the listener ought to be cautious about what he accepts."

True for me, except for the first part. Perhaps I misused the word cautious.

What I'm really saying is that one should not state something for someone else so easily. Unless it's something very logical like mothers teaching their children not to stick their hands in the frying pan.

Rc, it's frustating for you when people tell you it's your opinion? It frustates me when people spread their opinions as if they are the absolute truth.

You may get frustated with that, but you have to admit, at least to yourself that it ís your opinion.

Too much nasty things come from other people telling others what to do, think, feel whatever. They happen on every scale. But it's not so much a matter of scales, to me, it's a matter of principles.

Don't get me wrong. Your opinion, your truth may definitely work for you in EVERY sense of the word.

This is basicly an inner aspect more than it is behaviour. Someone that realises that their truth, opinions etc is true for them but not nessceraly for someone else will not so easily spread them across as a truth that will work for others. You may choose to do that, but only if you know that it's right to do so.

So you see, this is no question of censorship, or unspoken thoughts. But rather an inner realisation.






Offline counterpoint

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Re: What do you know?
Reply #6 on: December 15, 2006, 11:45:55 AM
As others said before:

no matter, how much someone claims to have the ultimate solution for all your problems, you should not believe it until you tested it for yourself. If it helps to get to the goal you want to reach, it's great. If it doesn't, look for some other solution.

If it doesn't work - try something different!

Offline rc

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Re: What do you know?
Reply #7 on: December 15, 2006, 07:24:29 PM
Rc, it's frustating for you when people tell you it's your opinion? It frustates me when people spread their opinions as if they are the absolute truth.

You misunderstand me, it doesn't bother me at all when people  recognize my opinion...  What bothers me is when people get upset over it, taking it personally, taking themselves too seriously.  There's no reason to get upset over someone's opinion (no matter how misguided they may be :D).  Take everything with a grain of salt, assume it's all tainted in some way with opinion, respect everyone's right to an opinion and decide for yourself if you agree or not. 

Absolute truth can often be relative, and what may be absolute truth for one person may not be so for you.  Actually, I'm thinking it's a little selfish to get upset over someone's opinion.

Though, now that you bring it up - I do get mildly irritated when I'm having a discussion with somebody and they go "well, that's just your opinion", because that's a cop-out for debating an issue, it's a way of saying that you don't want to debate the topic anymore.  "Of course it's my opinion! ...Now shall we discuss why you don't agree with my opinion?  Perhaps somebody can learn something."  But like I said, it's mild irritation.  I usually don't press it and just accept the other person doesn't want to debate.

I digress.

Anyways, I think I'm getting at what you're saying.  You're talking about when somebody tries to force their opinion on others, doesn't seem to recognize their opinion isn't universal, and most of all doesn't respect everyone else's right to an opinion (unless of course they happen to agree :P).  Is this what you mean?

I would agree with that, mainly for the lack of respect for others.  I wouldn't fault someone for having a forceful opinion, it could be something they hold deeply, or they may have a forceful personality.   That's understandable.  Disrespect isn't.

You see? Us Albertans have it right!

I agree again!  For some reason, we have the ultimate truth!

 ;D

Offline gorbee natcase

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Re: What do you know?
Reply #8 on: December 15, 2006, 10:27:59 PM
I know that I am an iota away from completing Rach 3 movement 1 and am looking forward to the 3rd movement and at the same time dreading spending 6 months plus on it allowing my current pieces to stay semi smootthe in its favour.
                                                         Must keep telling myself its worth it :)
(\_/)
(O.o)
(> <)      What ever Bernhard said
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