Quote: (12-14-2015 08:40 AM)H1N1 Wrote:
Quote: (12-13-2015 09:04 PM)The Lizard of Oz Wrote:
I really hate to be severe about this, but almost no one speaking of these matters has any idea of what they're talking about. They should recognize their ignorance, and stop chattering at least until they are able to understand undergraduate level physics. These discussions are worse than hearing the most fantastical caricatures of virgin incel neckbeards holding forth on the intricacies of "game" and "seduction".
If you are the expert you hold yourself out to be, which I am sure you are, in addition to the negativity of this post, presumably you are able from your vantage point to offer guidance to those of us stumbling around in ignorance, and can offer some starting points that might allow us to begin our journey out of the darkness from which you've already emerged into the great light? Every expert in their field that I know personally is able to offer rapid illumination up to a basic level, and to direct attention to specific paths that can be walked towards specific points of understanding. Many excellent authors seem able to do this too, the theoretical physicist Roger Penrose for example is wonderfully adept at showing you, if you are unable to understand the argument he is making, specifically what aspects of maths or science will help you reach that understanding. I am sure if you are able to provide direction from your position of learning on the subject, that there are many of us who would take the opportunity to benefit from your generosity, and it might then help us to talk more sensibly in future.
I appreciate that this is the internet, and that there is no reason you should take the trouble to do as I asked. It is a particular frustration of mine with this corner of the internet that there are so many smart men, able to produce extremely astute, but fundamentally negative commentary on all aspects of politics, science, religion and culture. This negativity, this constant destruction without proposing solutions is something I typically see the Left as guilty of, and it perhaps disappoints me more than it should to see the same thing happen so often here. I do not in any way mean this as a personal criticism of you, as you are often generous with your 'good life' advice in the 'Everything Else' Forum. I am sure I'm not alone in saying I would appreciate your guidance on the matter should you be willing to give it. As someone who has taught themselves many aspects of degree level maths in the past few years, from a fairly modest mathematical beginning, I am again often frustrated by the fact that not knowing where to start is usually the biggest barrier to understanding, not the material itself.
I started a thread a while ago asking how much a layman can learn about science through self-study that you might find interesting, Lizard pops up in it.
thread-50782.html
Also another thread that is specifically about learning physics on your own.
thread-50883.html
Also I believe Lizard has a PhD in theoretical physics.
EDIT: Just noticed it seems like you already have seen those threads. I'll leave the links up though for other people to take a look at since I think those threads have a lot of worthwhile content.