Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Liberator on June 15, 2004, 12:04:38 am

Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Liberator on June 15, 2004, 12:04:38 am: I am a Knower of How.

We've all played NWN: HotU and are familiar with the concept of Knowers. Beings gifted with ultimate knowledge in very specific areas.

Now I don't claim to posses ultimate knowledge of How, but my knowledge base skews heavily in this direction.

Knowers of How tend to be Technicians and Mechanics as they understand how things work but, tend to get lost and feel stupid when they can't really get much of a grasp on the Why of things.

Knowers of Why tend to be Theoretical "X" or Administrators because they know why things work, but get lost when a Knower of How tries to explain how a thing works.

So look at yourself and tell us whether you are a knower of How or a knower of Why.

*edit*
This explains my lack of aptitude with mathematics. Mathematics is the science of Why.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Knight Templar on June 15, 2004, 12:22:31 am: ..... both.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: ShadowDrakken on June 15, 2004, 12:38:31 am: I'm a how, I know how things work, and my constant quest in life is to know the why... without the why, I am lost an unable to function. If someone doesn't tell me why something is, the how is useless and/or pointless.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Liberator on June 15, 2004, 01:51:01 am: You'll know you're a How if the Why is unimportant or incomprehensible to you.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Singh on June 15, 2004, 02:18:13 am: NWN???

bit of both for myself. I know some fair bit of how, and a fair bit of why, but thats it for both :p
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Ghostavo on June 15, 2004, 06:23:27 am: A bit more of why then how... :nervous:
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Fineus on June 15, 2004, 06:55:59 am: Quote
Originally posted by Knight Templar
..... both.

I'm inclined to agree, I can tell you how some things work - and I can also tell you why. But it depends on the specific area.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: IceFire on June 15, 2004, 07:48:38 am: 42
Title: Re: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Styxx on June 15, 2004, 07:52:35 am: Quote
Originally posted by Liberator
I had an epiphany today...

Did it hurt?
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Nico on June 15, 2004, 08:19:49 am: yeah, especially when it went through the tight part.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Flipside on June 15, 2004, 08:44:05 am: I'm inclined to agree with Lib to a degree here, most people I have encountered have been thinkers or doers, thinkers can build 3D games in their heads, doers can put together the computer so you can play it ;)
Of course, the two lines blur, I now think nothing of slapping a processor into a motherboard, even when it makes that scary grinding noise as you crank the magic lever, most people who design cars are often pretty good drivers etc.

This is why Rennaisance Men are so hard to come by, they are thinkers and doers.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Taristin on June 15, 2004, 08:52:27 am: I'm both, but I'm lazy, as well, so.. err... I forget what's going on here...
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: aldo_14 on June 15, 2004, 09:46:06 am: Where.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Ghostavo on June 15, 2004, 10:36:15 am: When.

:nervous:
Title: Re: Re: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Levyathan on June 15, 2004, 11:58:50 am: Quote
Originally posted by Styxx
Did it hurt?

My thoughts exactly.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Nico on June 15, 2004, 01:56:25 pm: Don't worry, it's the genes.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Petrarch of the VBB on June 15, 2004, 02:11:42 pm: I'll have to say both, to an extent.

Why and how can often be used interchangably.
How is blood pumped around the body? - By the heart
Why is blood pumped around the body? - Because the heart does it.

Ok, bad example, but you get my point. I hope.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: jdjtcagle on June 15, 2004, 02:15:06 pm: How do Atoms work?? - there the make-up of everyhting
Why do Atoms work?? -

Now do you see, Petrarch?
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Petrarch of the VBB on June 15, 2004, 02:56:33 pm: Well I didn't say in all cases, did I?
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: diamondgeezer on June 15, 2004, 03:48:27 pm: For the atoms problem, you can cheat and just say 'the laws of physics' - they govern the how and the why :)
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: jdjtcagle on June 15, 2004, 04:00:35 pm: IIRC, Laws of physics doesn't explain the force that holds the Protons and Neutrons together...
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: diamondgeezer on June 15, 2004, 04:08:48 pm: Ah, yes, you're quite right. I should have said "because of quantum"
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Knight Templar on June 15, 2004, 08:50:39 pm: leap?
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Flipside on June 15, 2004, 09:20:57 pm: And it all boils down to Fractals, which is handy if you're in the T-Shirt business ;)
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: demon442 on June 15, 2004, 10:31:24 pm: Quote
Originally posted by ShadowDrakken
I'm a how, I know how things work, and my constant quest in life is to know the why... without the why, I am lost an unable to function. If someone doesn't tell me why something is, the how is useless and/or pointless.

My feelings exactly.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Liberator on June 15, 2004, 10:44:54 pm: My point is that people are predisposed to knowing either the How or the Why and have to work much harder to learn the other than someone who is predisposed to it.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Gortef on June 16, 2004, 02:55:09 am: Banana!

No I think it's both for me too
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Kazan on June 16, 2004, 07:47:09 am: you could drown an ant in the depth of that lake

*rolleyes*

Infact your conclusions are all wrong - I am living contradiction. I know both HOW and WHY
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: diamondgeezer on June 16, 2004, 01:06:32 pm: Explain
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: 01010 on June 16, 2004, 01:30:04 pm: All bow to master Kazan, please, show us the errors of our ways oh magnificent one.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Liberator on June 16, 2004, 01:34:38 pm: Kaz, unless you're some kind of droid(and I still haven't made up my mind), you are predisposed toward one or the other. It takes years to equalize between the two and you always learn one before the other.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Kazan on June 16, 2004, 02:27:21 pm: Liberator: provide reference materials proving that you must be predisposed tword being one or the other or don't try to assert that.

I am predisposed tword neither.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: jdjtcagle on June 16, 2004, 02:29:22 pm: Kazan is a Vulcan :D
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: aldo_14 on June 16, 2004, 02:32:44 pm: Quote
Originally posted by Kazan
Liberator: provide reference materials proving that you must be predisposed tword being one or the other or don't try to assert that.

I am predisposed tword neither.

You could start an argument in an empty house, couldn;t you Kaz?
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Kazan on June 16, 2004, 02:34:03 pm: aldo_14: no i couldn't, because in an empty house nobody is there to make assertions without backing
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: aldo_14 on June 16, 2004, 02:37:18 pm: Quote
Originally posted by Kazan
aldo_14: no i couldn't, because in an empty house nobody is there to make assertions without backing

See - you're doing it again. you'd probably have a go at the mold for being incorrect in its simple existentialist worldview, or something.

now, try not to argue your way out of that one.

:p
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Kazan on June 16, 2004, 02:40:25 pm: I do not argue with things that are not sentient
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: 01010 on June 16, 2004, 02:43:29 pm: Bet you'd love to try it though.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: jdjtcagle on June 16, 2004, 02:50:09 pm: Quote
Originally posted by Kazan
I do not argue with things that are not sentient

Yet, you call them names... I didn't expect that from you, it doesn't fit the character you claim to be
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: aldo_14 on June 16, 2004, 02:59:06 pm: Quote
Originally posted by Kazan
I do not argue with things that are not sentient

you argue with Lib.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Flipside on June 16, 2004, 03:13:47 pm: Well, for things like computers, I always find how is easier than why, I can figure out how to use a program quite easily, but I wouldn't be able to read the source code, learning computer languages is hard work for me, but that doesn't stop me trying :)

Electronics, strangely enough, is another matter, I know about electron flow and magnetic fields in a 'behaviour' kind of way, but if someone gave me a field strength, a resistance, a current etc and asked me to figure out the ampage required for it, I wouldn't have a clue, I know why, but I don't know how.

It all depends on how you visualise things I suppose. :)
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Knight Templar on June 16, 2004, 08:45:41 pm: Kazaan isn't Vulcan. He somehow manages to be too pompous.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Kazan on June 16, 2004, 08:57:48 pm: confidence is not pompousness
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Knight Templar on June 16, 2004, 09:00:58 pm: And more arrogant.

:D
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Kazan on June 16, 2004, 09:38:55 pm: Arrogance is being confident you can do things which you cannot.

Be careful whom you accuse of arrogance!
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: redsniper on June 16, 2004, 10:04:06 pm: yo mama!
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Knight Templar on June 17, 2004, 12:18:59 am: You take it like it's a bad thing, Kazzy.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: 01010 on June 17, 2004, 01:39:41 am: Quote
Originally posted by Kazan
Arrogance is being confident you can do things which you cannot.

Be careful whom you accuse of arrogance!

No it isn't.

arrogance

n : overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors [syn: haughtiness, lordliness
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Kazan on June 17, 2004, 06:04:49 am: 01010: I was being more precise. So say someone is arrogant, merely because they have great confidence that they have earned the right to have is pathetic
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Fineus on June 17, 2004, 06:08:40 am: Now now children :rolleyes:
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: diamondgeezer on June 17, 2004, 08:18:22 am: Forget the Kazan University Dictionary's definition of arrogance - I think 'full of himself' is more appropriate :)
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: aldo_14 on June 17, 2004, 08:41:26 am: The difference between arrogance and self-confidence is measured in how much of a twat the person is.
Title: I had an epiphany today
Post by: Fineus on June 17, 2004, 09:11:36 am: What part of my thinly veiled attempt to get people to move on did you not understand?

No matter, end of topic. Congratulations.