Among Giants

[amalthya]

I'm always sort of overwhelmed when I read some of my friends' LJ entries. Overwhelmed with pride, because they are launching confidently into original/innovative endeavors, but also overwhelmed by the seemingly limitless extents of their knowledge.

And I guess the fear that runs across my mind is, how can I possibly stand among such giants? It's a beautiful thing to see, these elaborate weavings of people who are so well-versed in their crafts, and well-versed in verse itself! I could never quote a poet on the fly, a fact that has only partially caused me to review my own knowledge.

Maybe now that I have more free time, I should get back to reading? I guess I've lost focus with this post and with life but I guess I'm just impressed and feel a bit alienated by it. If only someone could banter explicitly with me about the foraging habits of the orangutan!

Merrrow.

Comments

[techempage.livejournal.com]

If only someone could banter explicitly with me about the foraging habits of the orangutan!

Merrrow.

Is that the sound they make when they forage?

[regyt.livejournal.com]

If only someone could banter explicitly with me about the foraging habits of the orangutan!

That would be totally hot and awesome. The problem is that none of us are a match for you!

[amalthya.livejournal.com]

I know! It's sadness. I'll just have to be more salacious at primatology conferences, I guess ;)

[justbeast.livejournal.com]

> I'll just have to be more salacious at primatology conferences, I guess

Madam, that is one of the best plans evar.

[justbeast.livejournal.com]

I feel like that too, sometimes. From what I can tell, the answer is niches.
If you get a sense of pride and esteem in knowing a lot (or just more than others) in some area (-- I know I do.), then find your niches, obsess over them happily, and draw contentment from that. (Like the foraging orangutans). And then, as time goes on, widen the narrow niches, and add new ones.
It may seem stupid (especially if, at the start, you have to slice your categories way thin), but it's sustainable and satisfying.
And I'm sure there's other strategies.

[amalthya.livejournal.com]

Niches, small though they may be, still fit two!

(I guess I'm saying that it feels more fun to obsess over something nerdy if you're not talking to yourself)

[justbeast.livejournal.com]

Ok, absolutely agreed. I think there's two kinds of niches like that for me, ones that I'm content to just know about by myself, and ones that I crave to share.

With sharing, you've got two choices. One is, take existing friends, and see if they share something that you know a lot about (or maybe go learn something that would be fun to share with them). This is probably harder.

And the other -- take existing obsessions you know lots about, and find new friends to obsess over. This is probably easier learning-wise, but harder socially.

(Also, apropos of nothing, you are incredibly cool. I wish we lived closer to you; I'd love to be part of a gaming group with you.)

[redcoat668.livejournal.com]

That's what my public blog's for. Whenever I try to talk about 18th Century food in company people throw things at me. ;)

[insheepsclothng.livejournal.com]

Tell me all about orangutans in a few months, ok? 'cause I am planning a trip to Borneo from Singapore and I want to know as much background info as possible.

[congogirl.livejournal.com]

In November-January I was feeling super smart and knowledgeable because I was listening to NPR all the time and reading Harpers. Reading rocks. I don't think that I am deepening my specific knowledge much on any one topic, but occasionally in conversation I realize that I know a lot about a few things, which is nice. I actually talked myself into a talk for an anthropology class on NGOs and globalization in central Africa.