I love you, Stephen Fry.

How completely true. Stephen Fry, I salute you.

Most appropriate use of the f-bomb I've heard in a while.

You guys thought this was good? I think it's indicative at the pointless bullshit we're taught roboticly in class when we could be learning things about the real world. For instance I failed a History class in High School, because I just didn't care about the subject matter. The teacher pulled me aside and gave me a book called "The People's History of the United States."

>> ^Yogi:
You guys thought this was good? I think it's indicative at the pointless bullshit we're taught roboticly in class when we could be learning things about the real world. For instance I failed a History class in High School, because I just didn't care about the subject matter. The teacher pulled me aside and gave me a book called "The People's History of the United States."


So the whole idea of learning about the world so as to reduce one's ignorance about it is refuted by you failing a class you did not even try to pass? Sorry but it does not work that way. Geometry is not from the real world? Latin isn't? so biologists name species from something they pulled out of their asses? engineers build things using fantasy formulas? He did not even divide 'real world' (whatever that means) learning from academic learning. The whole point is learning for the sake of learning no matter what type of learning it is. Not because you just need a grade, or because the field is 'hot' or because studying X will not give me money so I should just focus on Y, or not trying to learn because 'I will never use it so why bother?' etc.

And true history learning is more about critically comprehending and analyzing past events and ideas, and less about robotically learning dates. Many history professors of mine, treat dates as secondary.

So let me understand this clearly. You agree with Mr. Fry in that if I don't accept learning about Latin or Geometry as a virtuous exercise I will become a drunk or a loser?

I think what he said didn't come across like he meant it to. There's also a good argument to be made about classes you take even in college where you just work for a grade and a week later you don't remember what the class is about. I've taken several classes like that.

^ Your willful ignorance of the point being made here is painful to behold.

I hope it burns rasch.

^very clever! Proves Stephen Fry is indeed full of shit

Learning for the sake of learning seems invaluable for building one's general intelligence... but I think part of what Yogi is getting at is that there's an opportunity cost to everything... and students need to feel out for themselves what's interesting to them, rather than being forced along narrowly defined channels (which for some people but not others would be Latin or geometry).

That was put much better than the way I put it. I think I also had an idea in my head about History teachers just flat out lying to classes. That annoys me, questioning that is a great virtue.

>> ^Yogi:
So let me understand this clearly. You agree with Mr. Fry in that if I don't accept learning about Latin or Geometry as a virtuous exercise I will become a drunk or a loser?
I think what he said didn't come across like he meant it to. There's also a good argument to be made about classes you take even in college where you just work for a grade and a week later you don't remember what the class is about. I've taken several classes like that.


That part I don't agree with, but this is a comedy show. Not that it is an excuse, but is a comedy show and he generalized. It doesn't have to be Latin or geometry, but just about anything. The woman in the video asked, why bother learning about what they were discussing, and when would that info be useful? Why must everything has to have some material benefit as motivation to learning it? Is appreciating art going to give you money if you are an athlete? not likely, but that does not mean you should ignore all art because is not what you want to work on in the future. My main point is that to learn for learning's sake helps broaden your perspective of things, and sooner or later that will help you.

I agree with what chilaxe said, there has to be some liberty. I also think your history teacher should have handled things better.

It is impossible to foresee the usefulness or lack thereof of something you don't understand.

Knowledge is the devil... THE DEVIL, I say!

I think what yogi is trying to say is that he is an idiot and he shouldn't feel pressured into not being one.

>> ^rottenseed:
I think what yogi is trying to say is that he is an idiot and he shouldn't feel pressured into not being one.


I think that's a little harsh. The way I look at it is that when you're still in school it's your job: you should do it as best you can or leave and work in burger king instead. He's just saying academia isn't his cup of tea and I'm left to wonder why he's even in college if he cares about it that little? It's possible to make your way in the world with a college education.



P.S. Yogi: If you don't think you can make in the real world yet, maybe learning in college might bring you to that point.

It feels like the backlash against The Great Stupid is beginning to pick up steam.

>> ^lampishthing:
>> ^rottenseed:
I think what yogi is trying to say is that he is an idiot and he shouldn't feel pressured into not being one.

I think that's a little harsh. The way I look at it is that when you're still in school it's your job: you should do it as best you can or leave and work in burger king instead. He's just saying academia isn't his cup of tea and I'm left to wonder why he's even in college if he cares about it that little? It's possible to make your way in the world with a college education.
P.S. Yogi: If you don't think you can make in the real world yet, maybe learning in college might bring you to that point.

Hopefully he doesn't mind wielding a shovel instead of a pen. And there are ways to make it in this world without college...but there's never a way to make it without taking every opportunity you can to learn something.

Learning for the sake of learning just means your piss bored.

You don't hear many people say "gosh i'm so bored I think i'm going to go pick up a copy of Physics for dummies". What you do here is "im bored, lets go rent Hot Fuzz and eat some twizzlers".

Never mind the fact the whole education system, at least in the US, is a poster child of not wanting to learn. What kind of moron thought up the idea of shuffling kids around to different subjects every hour on the hour and expected it to be enjoyable. No wonder trade schools are packed of high school dropouts. Its not that they are dumb, its they are smart enough to ask the question "Why the fuck am i doing this when I can actually learn a useful skill to live by"

Double-infinity upvote

>> ^Dranzerk:
Learning for the sake of learning just means your piss bored.
You don't hear many people say "gosh i'm so bored I think i'm going to go pick up a copy of Physics for dummies". What you do here is "im bored, lets go rent Hot Fuzz and eat some twizzlers".
Never mind the fact the whole education system, at least in the US, is a poster child of not wanting to learn. What kind of moron thought up the idea of shuffling kids around to different subjects every hour on the hour and expected it to be enjoyable. No wonder trade schools are packed of high school dropouts. Its not that they are dumb, its they are smart enough to ask the question "Why the fuck am i doing this when I can actually learn a useful skill to live by"


Actually I went back to school because I was bored...so you're right. And physics is one of my favorite subjects.

I think the problem with our school system is that we're required to choose what we want to do with our lives at such a young age. If we don't have the mind set or discipline to do this, we end up coming out of high school with nowhere to go. In many cases, when people have lived in the real world for a while, they gain the discipline and drive needed to proceed with schooling. Some do trade schooling, some find a way back into a 4 year institution. But I wouldn't necessarily say that I don't consider the things I learned in high school useful.

...Hot Fuzz and Twizzlers does sound mighty awesome, where were you the day before I signed up for my first class?

>> ^rottenseed:
>> Hopefully he doesn't mind wielding a shovel instead of a pen. And there are ways to make it in this world without college...but there's never a way to make it without taking every opportunity you can to learn something.


People who wield shovels or do manual labor can be better intellectuals than Professors at a University. Most of what academics or intellectuals do is clerical work, while if you're in construction or a mechanic you have to use your brain creatively, rather than filing books or whatever.

I'm trying now to get back into a very good college, so far I've gotten rejected. Try, try again.

people should learn for the sake of knowledge..but at the same time if one has zero interest or capability in geometry then i dont think one should waste his/her time on it. Instead hone and be interested in things you have capability for and/or enjoy.

"my students always say to me 'mr mali, are we gonna be responsible for this?' and i say 'if not you, then who? you think my generation cares? we're the ones that got you into this mess! it's up to you to get us out! you are our only hope!' and then they say 'no, i mean are we gonna be tested?' and i say 'every day of your lives'".

-taylor mali, poet and 8th grade teacher.

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The duration of this video has been updated from unknown to 40 secs - length declared by ReverendTed.