Just Plain Bill

No one has lived any further

into the future than I have

When I first read that statement many decades ago, I was amazed with how simple, confusing, and yet true it was. For many folks, there may be a shared school of thought that better educated people, more powerful people, wealthier people, or others with some privilege of celebratory or class status – anyone but us - knows more about something that is about to happen.

I guess the question is - what am I going to do with this statement?

Looking back, I know there have been several occasions when I have withheld a comment, not made a decision or choice, or held back because I consciously or unconsciously “knew” that someone else had more information than I about a future result.

I’ve always been fascinated by those who classify themselves as “futurists.” I’ve attended some interesting presentations and read articles and books about those folks. They are students of what has gone on before and from their acquired knowledge (or insight or premonition), make predictions about events that will occur in the future: stock market movements, falls of leaders or movements, initiation of nature’s major changes, etc.

As I gain wisdom due primarily from living longer, I shall keep this statement about “no one having lived any further into the future than I have” as an extra impetus when “I’m not sure” I should take that risk, write that blog, or express myself in ways that will continue to define who I am and what I’m worth. 

As has been said many times and in many ways, “the future is now.” 

Just Plain Bill

“Here's to the crazy ones…”

Steve Jobs gave us a wealth of incredible devices, and he also provided some meaningful quotes. While in my doctor’s office the other day, I noticed the one about the “crazy ones” on his wall, and I feel it’s worth sharing.

Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.

Over the years, I’ve often felt myself occasionally being “out of step”, coming up with ideas that were out of the ordinary. I do believe this has helped me be an effective problem solver, but, at times, this “misfit” label was something that sometimes threatened those in power.

So, I’ll continue to wear – and even champion that label, as there remain many worlds yet to change!

Just Plain Bill

 “Live - which isn’t.”

It’s a small thing, but it still bothers me.

Lately, it seems there’s been an increase in movie trailers advertising, “Live, the Metropolitan Opera performance of Madame Butterfly on this screen.” 

If it’s being projected on my local movie screen, then how can it be “live”? If the opera company was in my local theater, then it would truly be “live”. Otherwise, it’s a movie; a substitute for the real thing – a celluloid version of the actual experience. Perhaps this is part of the ongoing trend to substitute for, or replicate experiences.

I’m reminded of a 1970s recording tape commercial: “Is it live or is it Memorex?” The commercial asks people to identify whether a song (or note by Ella Fitzgerald) is real or a recording. It was also during the 70s that laugh tracks gave way to shows being “filmed in front of a live studio audience”. These marketing messages are far more truthful than a “live” Madame Butterfly on a movie theater screen.

Once again, my concern might seem trivial to some, but for me, this marketing technique borders on false advertising at the least - and lying at the most. (Kind of harsh, eh?)

I really love live performances of any type you see. From sidewalk buskers to budding rock bands and from professional symphonies to high school marching bands – I find joy sharing in the true creativity of others delivered in real time. A movie-version cheapens, or lessens the emotional, engaging, and enriching experience of the real thing.

Is this an overreaction? To those promoters I say, “Please don’t insult my intelligence by attempting to sell me something so disingenuous.”

Just Plain Bill

“My students can’t write well enough to be taught!”

I used to have neighbors who were a highly educated husband and wife team. They were both published writers, with PhD’s, and the husband also had extensive experience teaching writing at the university level, as well as on numerous Native American reservations in the Southwest.

Soon after the couple moved in, we were conversing about the subject of creative writing, and the conversation led to the statement by the husband, “college kids can’t write today so I quit my university teaching job due to frustration. They didn’t know enough to learn what I was teaching.”

I was somewhat taken aback by such a strong statement, especially since I’ve been teaching business writing at a community college for many years, and, although I find that many students don’t write as “well” as I had hoped, I found the majority of my students were interesting in improving their writing ability and were able to enhance their writing competence level during the semester.

I do believe that if someone hasn’t learned how to write well by the time they’ve completed 12 or more years of school, there could be challenges to overcome to improve their writing ability - and typical teaching methods may not work. This is especially true if the person has been told many times over that he or she “can’t write”

Once I started teaching business writing, I found many students had a lack of confidence concerning their writing, and it was a challenge to get many of them to put much of anything down on paper. In addition to weekly writing assignments on the computer, I also required students to write 100 words or more in class on topics that were of relevant to business writing in general, and specifically of interest to getting a keeping a job.

I realize that there is little, if any writing by hand in the business world but I found by requiring this process, many of my students were able to enhance their writing ability through their hand-written assignments.

In researching the differences between writing on a computer (key boarding) and writing by hand, I found several citings that identified the different mental and physical process at work when using a pen or pencil versus a computer. Without going in the scientific differences, I found, through personal experience, that many of my students were able to write more effectively by hand, regardless of their protestations that “I couldn’t read their handwriting”. (I assured them since I had taught first graders I was proficient at reading elementary-level handwriting.)

As the fruit seller cries out at my local farmer’s market, “don’t be shy, give it a try”, and you may be surprised at the improvement in writing skills that may result!

Just Plain Bill

Surly, with just a touch of arrogance

My wife recently pointed out to me that I’ve been using the word “surly” quite a bit lately when describing someone’s attitude or demeanor when responding to a question. I finally looked up the definition, which led me to realize that I was often mixing up the word surly with arrogant, another adjective, but not nearly the same attitude intensity. 

“Arrogant” describes a person full of himself…a projected superiority based on self-importance. “Surly” however, describes a threatening person full of himself. Take a look at these definitions for surly:

·     Churlishly rude or bad-tempered

·     Unfriendly or hostile; menacingly irritable

·     Dark or dismal; menacing

This research led me to ask: “Self? What gave rise to my increased use of this term, or my increased sensitivity to the “attitude” expressed by the responder?”

The latest occasion when I used “surly” was during an interview with a football coach who was asked what he thought about one of his players getting into trouble with the law. His response was beyond “arrogant” and even well beyond “defensive” for his player or program. To me, his response was to the point of being rude, menacingly irritable, and downright dismal.

Is it my imagination that with the exponential increase of news “coverage”, there is a monumental increase in the opportunity for someone to be “interviewed” to the point of overkill?

Perhaps I’m simply remembering the good-old-days, when we were not subjected to a constant stream of questioners arrogantly probing for a scoop, while poised to catapult even the simplest “incorrect response” into the Twittersphere.

Am I becoming cynical? Am I becoming suspicious when a responder takes on a surly tone - tending to believe there’s something to hide? Or is surliness now a legitimate and necessary defense mechanism?  

What do you think?