Small anecdote. Teaching a student, and they shrink a little at me setting a somewhat challenging math question for homework.
Told them.
"I know it's not easy and it's tiring, but it's probably the best way to improve. I look back and the times where I've improved the most is when I pushed myself. Cause I saw something interesting that blew me away and I wanted to know how to do it. The times where it's been stagnant are where I'm doing the same thing over and over without really needing to think much about it."
And then I wondered if public speaking wouldn't have been so hard in school if I just relaxed a bit more and stopped caring about what other people think.
-Toan
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Out and About
Went out for a haircut and tightening of braces. I also ended up with some ice tea haha. I mean, it was tasty.
A little expensive, but I can afford it so w/e.
Ended up having a conversation about homosexuality with my orthodontist and well, I guess his stance on it (him being what I imagine is Christian/Catholic) [One day, I'll actually remember the difference, but I digress].
It started with a discussion on healthcare provision though, cause I was curious as to how private and public provision differs. And then he mentioned something about how the majority of taxpayers were supporting "the gay lifestyle with HIV and so on". Which.. I gave him the benefit of the doubt on because of stereotypes and about whether being gay's a choice and so on.
What was intriguing to me was his insistence that people were "promoting a gay lifestyle" and that it was wrong as per his religious conviction, but also he insisted that he didn't pass judgment on others. It seemed a little ironic. He subsequently expanded by explaining that even if people mind their own business, it still affects the people around them - though I'm not entirely sure how.
I suppose, at the end it saddens me to be reminded that people have unshakeable convictions about things. That there is an absolutism which shapes interactions with people and ultimately, may result in less respect for an individual than is proper.
I guess the final part to mention went something like so:
>So if your son were gay, hypothetically. Would you prefer that they were married with a woman that they didn't love, or with their male partner that they loved (marriage aside)?
"I mean that depends on your definition of love. It's a fleeting thing sometimes - that you passionately love someone, and then someday they do something horrendous and you don't like them nearly as much. But eventually it comes back, I suppose."
>Well, assuming that the hetero relationship never, ever had that feeling? Temporary or no. As though they were just best friends or companions but not really... man and wife?
"Well in that case, if they're in a relationship that's not right, they shouldn't be in that relationship. That includes one in which they didn't have love for their partner."
>Hmm... though what if they felt pressured by society.. or you, to have a "normal" relationship/marriage?
"I would never... No, I'm not the kind of person to pressure my sons like that."
Cynically, I figured that parental approval is worth a bit to a lot of people and that unwittingly, there'd be a rather strong pressure to conform to expectations. I guess the easiest example is how my parents keep insisting on matchmaking me with any pretty girl they see who I talk with .-.
[To be fair, they don't know about my uhh... extensive history. They know about only one relationship, and I've been too resentful to tell them about the others. So I guess they just imagine I'm something or other and can't get a date. Or something.]
I guess I never really considered celibacy. I'm also not really sure how far to push a conversation like this, considering he's one of my healthcare providers .-. Also, without any assurance of confidentiality so... Eh.
The world's quite strange.
-Toan
A little expensive, but I can afford it so w/e.
Ended up having a conversation about homosexuality with my orthodontist and well, I guess his stance on it (him being what I imagine is Christian/Catholic) [One day, I'll actually remember the difference, but I digress].
It started with a discussion on healthcare provision though, cause I was curious as to how private and public provision differs. And then he mentioned something about how the majority of taxpayers were supporting "the gay lifestyle with HIV and so on". Which.. I gave him the benefit of the doubt on because of stereotypes and about whether being gay's a choice and so on.
What was intriguing to me was his insistence that people were "promoting a gay lifestyle" and that it was wrong as per his religious conviction, but also he insisted that he didn't pass judgment on others. It seemed a little ironic. He subsequently expanded by explaining that even if people mind their own business, it still affects the people around them - though I'm not entirely sure how.
I suppose, at the end it saddens me to be reminded that people have unshakeable convictions about things. That there is an absolutism which shapes interactions with people and ultimately, may result in less respect for an individual than is proper.
I guess the final part to mention went something like so:
>So if your son were gay, hypothetically. Would you prefer that they were married with a woman that they didn't love, or with their male partner that they loved (marriage aside)?
"I mean that depends on your definition of love. It's a fleeting thing sometimes - that you passionately love someone, and then someday they do something horrendous and you don't like them nearly as much. But eventually it comes back, I suppose."
>Well, assuming that the hetero relationship never, ever had that feeling? Temporary or no. As though they were just best friends or companions but not really... man and wife?
"Well in that case, if they're in a relationship that's not right, they shouldn't be in that relationship. That includes one in which they didn't have love for their partner."
>Hmm... though what if they felt pressured by society.. or you, to have a "normal" relationship/marriage?
"I would never... No, I'm not the kind of person to pressure my sons like that."
Cynically, I figured that parental approval is worth a bit to a lot of people and that unwittingly, there'd be a rather strong pressure to conform to expectations. I guess the easiest example is how my parents keep insisting on matchmaking me with any pretty girl they see who I talk with .-.
[To be fair, they don't know about my uhh... extensive history. They know about only one relationship, and I've been too resentful to tell them about the others. So I guess they just imagine I'm something or other and can't get a date. Or something.]
I guess I never really considered celibacy. I'm also not really sure how far to push a conversation like this, considering he's one of my healthcare providers .-. Also, without any assurance of confidentiality so... Eh.
The world's quite strange.
-Toan
Monday, February 2, 2015
Weekend is over
Ended up getting my jeans slightly wet as we removed our old bathroom vanity. There's a new one to be installed, but that's for tomorrow I guess.
Also made something pretty creative and cool. Can't wait to test it out. Will probably cost me about $25, but that's worth it.
Have I ever told you that nurses know everything.
Today, a nursing student told me that hospital beds have two functions for making it rise or lower. Two. Just in case one doesn't work. I had no idea. I thought it was just one - a remote that you press that does all of the funky work. Or if it's a really old bed, you manually adjust it using the rungs. It's kinda like old GP examination tables or something.
Still standing by: nurses know everything and doctors just talk to people.
-Toan
Also made something pretty creative and cool. Can't wait to test it out. Will probably cost me about $25, but that's worth it.
Have I ever told you that nurses know everything.
Today, a nursing student told me that hospital beds have two functions for making it rise or lower. Two. Just in case one doesn't work. I had no idea. I thought it was just one - a remote that you press that does all of the funky work. Or if it's a really old bed, you manually adjust it using the rungs. It's kinda like old GP examination tables or something.
Still standing by: nurses know everything and doctors just talk to people.
-Toan
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