Student/Teacher analogy

Troll Virus · 04-07-2007, 10:10 AM

Student/Teacher Analogy!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A little story which rambles a bit, but hopefully there's a meaning for some of you.

A few years back, I was offered a place on a luxurious business trip to South Africa. One of the things that caught my eye on the itinerary was 'White Water Rafting'. I pictured it as being a big old raft of logs, propelled by natives, with a large beer cooler in the middle, where we'd sit back and take in the scenery but I could'nt have been more wrong!

The name 'White River should have been a clue, and I was a little shocked to find we were expected to shoot rapids in two-man rubber canoes for 12 hours, practically from dawn till dusk.

I ended up in the drink countless times, half drowned and miserable, but it wasn't till the last hour or so that I realised where I was going wrong. It's a two man effort you see. The guy at the back steers and doesn't paddle, the guy at the front doesn't steer but must paddle. If the boat gets turned around, then you have to reverse roles.

If you don't propell yourself faster than the water, then the boat will do what the water does, and no amount of steering will ever get you where you want to be. If you move faster than the water, then the steering becomes effective.

I got a few ideas from this, one of which was; If I want to get anywhere, I can't expect others to steer me, as I have to have some forward momentum in the first place.

**Thai Bri** · 04-07-2007, 10:32 AM

Is this why you are so wet?

Tom Yum · 04-08-2007, 09:59 PM

Good stuff, Troll Virus.

Especially about being able to reverse roles as a student at times and as a teacher at others. Versatility is a strength in my opinion.

Troll Virus · 04-08-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Yum

Good stuff, Troll Virus.

Especially about being able to reverse roles as a student at times and as a teacher at others. Versatility is a strength in my opinion.

Cheers Tom, you have to watch out for the rocks (pitfalls?), accept/overcome the inevitable dominance of the river (time?) and pay attention to your own boat, rather than anyone else's?

Tom Yum · 04-08-2007, 11:16 PM

Agreed on paying attention to your own boat. That can mean alot of things, I imagine.

Jealousy isn't a word in my vocabulary, so that's one less possibility. But I see what you mean in other aspects.

Tom Yum · 04-09-2007, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

Careful, Tom. Don't go deluding yourself with illusions like not being capable of jealousy. Everyone feels a jealous need to protect something, be it image, reputation, possessions, or other...

Well Mike, I can put on a suit and tie like the next guy - but I don't feel the need to impress a gigantic image on anyone. Hell, I'm just glad to have a shirt on my back when it gets cold outside.

In terms of reputation, I'd rather be felt and not seen than the other way around. Yet another reason why I keep my volunteer activities quiet and out of the limelight.

As for possessions, I live in a van down by the river and I'd let you crash there if you needed to.

Tom Yum · 04-09-2007, 02:05 AM

I prefer to downplay myself whenever possible, frankly because everyone thinks they're better than someone else. It just makes their job easier, I suppose.

Tom Yum · 04-09-2007, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

You say "potato" I say "planned humility."

I know what you mean though. Just giving you a hard time.

Well Mike, I'll have to check the answer key on that defense language exam

No problem, Mr. Mike, I prefer to keep the ego in check.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

The very fact that you said "downplay" yourself indicates that you think a lot more of yourself than you let on, and in order to appear more humble, you "play down" your real self.

I'd rather have others asses my strengths (if I have any) and my weaknesses (which I've got plenty of) than promote my frequently flawed self-perceptions.

That's the reason for selecting 'down-play'

I'm just an ordinary, average guy; no different than the guy on the left or the guy on the right.

Troll Virus · 04-09-2007, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

Jealously guarding false humility is still jealousy...

Say less than you are, but be more than you say.
Integrity, is doing what you should be doing, even when nobody else is looking.

Tom Yum · 04-09-2007, 05:01 AM

Yes.

I am very slow and careful to share interests or talents in certain circles.

An example?

Martial arts.

The general public isn't interested in them anyway. I just assume that I'm slower, less aggressive and less trained than everyone whose got an opinion, even the average untrained Joe who hasn't trained.

**Thai Bri** · 04-09-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

Bri, wasn't it you who, just a few posts back told TV to stay on topic and not stir up conflict? Bad form!

Sorry, but he has called me a liar a few times.... and this did make me larf......

Troll Virus · 04-12-2007, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thai Bri

Sorry, but he has called me a liar a few times.... and this did make me larf......

Just for the record.
Thai Bri.
If you're going to disrupt a thread, then go on to justify that by saying I called you a liar on another, you should really have kept that issue on that thread and/or asked for assistance from the staff.

As it happens, I can't think of any occasion where I have called you a liar.
To say so however, makes you one!

**Thai Bri** · 04-12-2007, 08:36 PM

You said I was lying about having trained with Sam Kwok, and having trained with his guys in Burslem.

Remember?

You then quietly let it go when I provided so much detail that you slowly realised how dumb you had been.....

Apology accepted.

Troll Virus · 04-12-2007, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thai Bri

You said I was lying about having trained with Sam Kwok, and having trained with his guys in Burslem.

Remember?

Didn't you say that you had NEVER trained with Sam?

**Thai Bri** · 04-13-2007, 05:47 AM

Nope.

I outlined training with him at a makeshift gym on Oldham Stret in Manchester.

Attention to detail little fellah.... attention to detail.

04-07-2007, 10:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
Troll Virus Premiere Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Under a Bridge Posts: 808 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Student/Teacher analogy Student/Teacher Analogy! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A little story which rambles a bit, but hopefully there's a meaning for some of you. A few years back, I was offered a place on a luxurious business trip to South Africa. One of the things that caught my eye on the itinerary was 'White Water Rafting'. I pictured it as being a big old raft of logs, propelled by natives, with a large beer cooler in the middle, where we'd sit back and take in the scenery but I could'nt have been more wrong! The name 'White River should have been a clue, and I was a little shocked to find we were expected to shoot rapids in two-man rubber canoes for 12 hours, practically from dawn till dusk. I ended up in the drink countless times, half drowned and miserable, but it wasn't till the last hour or so that I realised where I was going wrong. It's a two man effort you see. The guy at the back steers and doesn't paddle, the guy at the front doesn't steer but must paddle. If the boat gets turned around, then you have to reverse roles. If you don't propell yourself faster than the water, then the boat will do what the water does, and no amount of steering will ever get you where you want to be. If you move faster than the water, then the steering becomes effective. I got a few ideas from this, one of which was; If I want to get anywhere, I can't expect others to steer me, as I have to have some forward momentum in the first place.

04-08-2007, 09:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tom Yum Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Here and there. Posts: 11,307 Groans: 1 Groaned at 4 Times in 4 Posts	Good stuff, Troll Virus. Especially about being able to reverse roles as a student at times and as a teacher at others. Versatility is a strength in my opinion. __________________ Love it, leave it or fix it. Last edited by Tom Yum; 04-08-2007 at 10:02 PM.

04-08-2007, 11:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tom Yum Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Here and there. Posts: 11,307 Groans: 1 Groaned at 4 Times in 4 Posts	Agreed on paying attention to your own boat. That can mean alot of things, I imagine. Jealousy isn't a word in my vocabulary, so that's one less possibility. But I see what you mean in other aspects. __________________ Love it, leave it or fix it. Last edited by Tom Yum; 04-08-2007 at 11:19 PM.

04-09-2007, 02:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
Tom Yum Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Here and there. Posts: 11,307 Groans: 1 Groaned at 4 Times in 4 Posts	I prefer to downplay myself whenever possible, frankly because everyone thinks they're better than someone else. It just makes their job easier, I suppose. __________________ Love it, leave it or fix it. Last edited by Tom Yum; 04-09-2007 at 03:13 AM.

04-09-2007, 05:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tom Yum Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Here and there. Posts: 11,307 Groans: 1 Groaned at 4 Times in 4 Posts	Yes. I am very slow and careful to share interests or talents in certain circles. An example? Martial arts. The general public isn't interested in them anyway. I just assume that I'm slower, less aggressive and less trained than everyone whose got an opinion, even the average untrained Joe who hasn't trained. __________________ Love it, leave it or fix it. Last edited by Tom Yum; 04-09-2007 at 05:38 AM.

04-07-2007, 10:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
Thai Bri Premiere Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 5,423 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Is this why you are so wet?

04-12-2007, 08:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
Thai Bri Premiere Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 5,423 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	You said I was lying about having trained with Sam Kwok, and having trained with his guys in Burslem. Remember? You then quietly let it go when I provided so much detail that you slowly realised how dumb you had been..... Apology accepted.

04-13-2007, 05:47 AM	#15 (permalink)
Thai Bri Premiere Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 5,423 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nope. I outlined training with him at a makeshift gym on Oldham Stret in Manchester. Attention to detail little fellah.... attention to detail.

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