A well educated person
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What I find is that often so called well educated people are highly ignorant about things outside their own sphere of influence. This was documented by the fact that Michael Gove didn't know what an enzyme is - which is the biological equivalent of not being aware of WW2. Many people are hugely ignorant about the natural world - i.e. the sciences - but it is much more acceptable than not being aware of some irrelevance arts topic in most circles - like Greek Mythology.
It reminds me of this quote;
It strikes me that somebody with say an Oxford history degree may not be able to explain what an atom is; or rearrange an equation. This strikes me as a similar level of ignorance as being unable to place the Greek and Roman periods in chronological order. Most people who consider well educated as the OP are generally pretentious and faux intellectuals.
Not to mention that the Brontes are boring beyond belief.
It reminds me of this quote;
I remember G. H. Hardy once remarking to me in mild puzzlement, some time in the 1930s, Have you noticed how the word "intellectual" is used nowadays? There seems to be a new definition which certainly doesn't include Rutherford or Eddington or Dirac or Adrian or me? It does seem rather odd, don't y'know.
A good many times I have been present at gatherings of people who, by the standards of the traditional culture, are thought highly educated and who have with considerable gusto been expressing their incredulity at the illiteracy of scientists. Once or twice I have been provoked and have asked the company how many of them could describe the Second Law of Thermodynamics. The response was cold: it was also negative. Yet I was asking something which is the scientific equivalent of: Have you read a work of Shakespeare's?
I now believe that if I had asked an even simpler question — such as, What do you mean by mass, or acceleration, which is the scientific equivalent of saying, Can you read? — not more than one in ten of the highly educated would have felt that I was speaking the same language. So the great edifice of modern physics goes up, and the majority of the cleverest people in the western world have about as much insight into it as their neolithic ancestors would have had.
Technology is […] a queer thing. It brings you gifts with one hand, and stabs you in the back with the other.
A good many times I have been present at gatherings of people who, by the standards of the traditional culture, are thought highly educated and who have with considerable gusto been expressing their incredulity at the illiteracy of scientists. Once or twice I have been provoked and have asked the company how many of them could describe the Second Law of Thermodynamics. The response was cold: it was also negative. Yet I was asking something which is the scientific equivalent of: Have you read a work of Shakespeare's?
I now believe that if I had asked an even simpler question — such as, What do you mean by mass, or acceleration, which is the scientific equivalent of saying, Can you read? — not more than one in ten of the highly educated would have felt that I was speaking the same language. So the great edifice of modern physics goes up, and the majority of the cleverest people in the western world have about as much insight into it as their neolithic ancestors would have had.
Technology is […] a queer thing. It brings you gifts with one hand, and stabs you in the back with the other.
It strikes me that somebody with say an Oxford history degree may not be able to explain what an atom is; or rearrange an equation. This strikes me as a similar level of ignorance as being unable to place the Greek and Roman periods in chronological order. Most people who consider well educated as the OP are generally pretentious and faux intellectuals.
Original post by Dirac Delta Function
Unless you actually have an interest in this stuff, it's just pretentious nonsense. Who cares about Greek myth? Harry Potter is more relevant to most of the world.
Not to mention that the Brontes are boring beyond belief.
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by Emmie3303
I'm actually in Cumbria? Is that any better 
? I know about knife and fork etiquette I just choose to ignore it.
? I know about knife and fork etiquette I just choose to ignore it.No good. I'm in the Midlands.
P.S. I hope you're not taking anything I say seriously. Nobody does and to tell the truth nobody ought to
Original post by Rascacielos
Yeah.... that's taking it a little too far!
No, that's ridiculous. How did you deduce that?
This is how I hold my cutlery, which I believe is correct.
It's not a case of superiority, it's a case of using things in the way they were designed to be used. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't think basic table manners, like learning how to hold a knife correctly, is too much to ask.
It's such a shame that traditional manners have been lost.
No, that's ridiculous. How did you deduce that?
This is how I hold my cutlery, which I believe is correct.
It's not a case of superiority, it's a case of using things in the way they were designed to be used. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't think basic table manners, like learning how to hold a knife correctly, is too much to ask.
It's such a shame that traditional manners have been lost.
I will hold cutlery however I bloody want.
Original post by HSG1992
Whenever I see a person eat with their fork in their right hand and their knive in their left, I die a little inside.
Do you? Do you really?
Original post by HSG1992
No good. I'm in the Midlands.
P.S. I hope you're not taking anything I say seriously. Nobody does and to tell the truth nobody ought to
P.S. I hope you're not taking anything I say seriously. Nobody does and to tell the truth nobody ought to
Commiserations.
Original post by LawSuit
I'm probably going to sound totally..err.. uncultured here, but what's the problem with that? Isn't it the way left handed people eat? 
lol dude I have no problem at all with the way people eat, it's none of my concern tbh. The way you're "meant" to eat is with fork in left and knive in right (not sure why) but I'm just joking around.
Errrm also , I don't consider "general knowledge" a particular subject. You cannot go on to mastermind and reply when asked what you specialist subject is , "everything."
It can encompass everything from Jessie J to know the story of Don Giovanni . The Latter I am more acquainted with , in truth. In my opinion ( no doubt someone will argue with my opinion, after all this is the tsr.) I would rather accustom myself to the sound of Debussy than Lady Gaga. But also as a musician , I do not condemn the work of other artists. It also annoys me that science and maths , tend to be neglected or not considered "general knowledge". I am applying to engineering in a few years. I doubt that they will ask whom composed my favourite aria . Intelligence is the kindling of a flame , not the filling of a vessel .
It can encompass everything from Jessie J to know the story of Don Giovanni . The Latter I am more acquainted with , in truth. In my opinion ( no doubt someone will argue with my opinion, after all this is the tsr.) I would rather accustom myself to the sound of Debussy than Lady Gaga. But also as a musician , I do not condemn the work of other artists. It also annoys me that science and maths , tend to be neglected or not considered "general knowledge". I am applying to engineering in a few years. I doubt that they will ask whom composed my favourite aria . Intelligence is the kindling of a flame , not the filling of a vessel .
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by olivia_w92
Do you? Do you really?
No. It was a joke.
Makes me laugh all this guff about which hand to hold the knife and fork.
But you are all forgetting one important thing - there is NO right and wrong way - its only only what you have been taught and been brought to "think" what is correct
Different cultures eat differently - are thay all wrong or right as well
What about lefties - what about some cultures - it is considered very bad manners to use your left hand.
But you are all forgetting one important thing - there is NO right and wrong way - its only only what you have been taught and been brought to "think" what is correct
Different cultures eat differently - are thay all wrong or right as well
What about lefties - what about some cultures - it is considered very bad manners to use your left hand.
I think that learning another language is a sign of a well-educated/cultured person.
Personally, I love literature (and science to a lesser extent) but am not so interested in maths and so tend to steer clear of it.
I've got to say, there seem to be a lot of pretentious comments on this thread! It's a shame that snobbery still exists and probably always will do.
Personally, I love literature (and science to a lesser extent) but am not so interested in maths and so tend to steer clear of it.
I've got to say, there seem to be a lot of pretentious comments on this thread! It's a shame that snobbery still exists and probably always will do.
Original post by HSG1992
No good. I'm in the Midlands.
P.S. I hope you're not taking anything I say seriously. Nobody does and to tell the truth nobody ought to
P.S. I hope you're not taking anything I say seriously. Nobody does and to tell the truth nobody ought to
Aww no
. Oh well. I'll have to remain a savage .Don't worry I'm not taking it seriously
.A well educated person should know about all aspects of cultures and sub-cultures, not just what toffs who studied classics at oxford are interested in.
I'd say they should be well cultured and versed with films (including foreign film, indie films, cerebral films), literature (classic and modern) and music (hip hop, jazz etc).
They should be well read on science, philosophy and political science. They should read and watch the news every day and know current affairs in-depth. The history of the world everyone should know, not just well-educated people, as well as basic geography.
Also what is probably more important are life experiences. What is education worth when you are too inept to interact with people socially? Communication skills, relationship skills and management skills are more important in life than knowing about Jason and the Argonauts.
I'd say they should be well cultured and versed with films (including foreign film, indie films, cerebral films), literature (classic and modern) and music (hip hop, jazz etc).
They should be well read on science, philosophy and political science. They should read and watch the news every day and know current affairs in-depth. The history of the world everyone should know, not just well-educated people, as well as basic geography.
Also what is probably more important are life experiences. What is education worth when you are too inept to interact with people socially? Communication skills, relationship skills and management skills are more important in life than knowing about Jason and the Argonauts.
Original post by Cyanohydrin
Commiserations.
Thanks man. But it gets worse. Not only am I from the Midlands....I'm from Wolverhampton. Voted as one of the top 5 worst cities in the world to live in. People are putting it alongside Baghdad and I can't wait to escape it.
Original post by HSG1992
No. It was a joke.
Oh good, I was hoping TSR snobbery didn't extend to eating habits!
Original post by HSG1992
Thanks man. But it gets worse. Not only am I from the Midlands....I'm from Wolverhampton. Voted as one of the top 5 worst cities in the world to live in. People are putting alongside Baghdad and I can't wait to escape it.
Lets hope the American 1st Infantry Division come and liberate you then. Operation Wolverhampton Freedom.
Original post by Rascacielos
I'm not saying you don't. I just happen to like the traditional way of using it and according to the norms of social etiquette, that's how most people would see as the correct way, which I don't think is going to change. Eat your food how you like, it doesn't bother me, but that's not a reason to attack my views. I accept that only a minority of people care about tradition anymore.
.
I'm not saying you don't. I just happen to like the traditional way of using it and according to the norms of social etiquette, that's how most people would see as the correct way, which I don't think is going to change. Eat your food how you like, it doesn't bother me, but that's not a reason to attack my views. I accept that only a minority of people care about tradition anymore.
.
I didn't attack your views. I "attacked" your assertion that there is a "correct" way of using a knife and fork. There is perhaps a "traditional" way of using them but this doesn't mean it is the "correct" way.
Original post by sswf224
What subjects does a "well educated" person know or should know about.
For instance should they have a good grasp of:-
The classics (ie Bronte etc)
Shakespeare
Greek Mythology
A couple of languages
Opera
Classical music
General knowledge
Have I missed an important one ?
For instance should they have a good grasp of:-
The classics (ie Bronte etc)
Shakespeare
Greek Mythology
A couple of languages
Opera
Classical music
General knowledge
Have I missed an important one ?
Someone who reads a quality broadsheet newspaper every day?
The well educated you are referring to is definitely of a recognized 'type' that lots of people aspire to.
It's depressing but tbh you just need to have attended a top public school and you will have been taught all the right things, and given an awareness of all the right things.
Original post by Cyanohydrin
Original post by Cyanohydrin
Lets hope the American 1st Infantry Division come and liberate you then. Operation Wolverhampton Freedom.
Oh no - that would not be good - USA forces - everybody hide.....
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