Conundrum-Dum-Duuuummmm

Discussion in 'Random Thoughts' started by autophobe2e, May 6, 2015.

  1. autophobe2e

    autophobe2e Senior Member

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    You have to leave your only infant child on the steps of an orphanage.

    you aren't gonna see them grow up so now is your only chance to have any say in their education.

    you may leave with them a maximum of:

    4 books
    3 DVD's
    3 albums
    2 objects

    what do you give them?
     
  2. AceK

    AceK Scientia Potentia Est

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    I could just leave with them one computer, which could contain all of these things.
     
  3. Sleeping Caterpillar

    Sleeping Caterpillar Members

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    I'd leave him one letter

    "Don't fuck it up"
     
  4. Meliai

    Meliai Banned

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    a kindle and a prepaid debit card to be used for buying books, albums, objects.
     
  5. autophobe2e

    autophobe2e Senior Member

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    Its safe to assume that the kid will have access to things growing up OTHER than the things you give him, you're leaving him/her at an orphanage, not just in the middle of the jungle.

    so yeah, you could leave them money, a computer etc, but it would be kinda pointless, this is the only link they have to you, seems kinda impersonal.

    the things that you give the kid are things that will be imbued with significance for them having been something that was left for them by their unknown parent.

    each to their own, i suppose.
     
  6. Meliai

    Meliai Banned

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    oh, well darn I guess I missed the point of the thread. Would the harry potter series count as one book or 7?
     
  7. Joshua Tree

    Joshua Tree Remain In Light

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    Books:

    Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
    Notes From The Underground by Fedor Dostoevsky
    On The Road by Jack Kerouac
    The View From Nowhere by Thomas Nagel

    DVD's:

    Apocalypse Now!
    Solaris
    The Last Detail

    Albums:

    Fear of Music by Talking Heads
    Meddle by Pink Floyd
    Rage Against The Machine by RATM

    Objects:

    Cricket Bat
    Surf Board
     
  8. I'minmyunderwear

    I'minmyunderwear Newbie

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    i already gave them my awesome genes; what more could they ask for?
     
  9. themnax

    themnax Senior Member

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    hienline's stranger in a strange land
    gibran's the prophet
    little railways of the world
    and survival, evasion and escape.

    ice age 3
    how to train your dragon
    barbarella

    tangarene dream's double album
    the origeonal days of future past moody blues from 71
    betovan's 6th

    an electronic thumb (as discribed in hitchikers guide to the galaxy)
    and a key to the tardis
     
  10. porkstock41

    porkstock41 Every time across from me...not there!

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    i would skip all the educational shit and "leave" them with just the 2 objects:

    a bad-ass weapon and body armor for me to kill whoever is making me leave them :devil:
     
  11. newbie-one

    newbie-one one with the newbiverse

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    How about leaving them with an explanation of why you are abandoning them?

    Also, a record of family medical history might be useful to them, since they are more likely to get whatever their family members have had.

    A picture of you and the mom with the kid.

    A note that says that you love them, if in fact you do.

    Why are you asking this?
     
  12. autophobe2e

    autophobe2e Senior Member

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    I just thought it might generate discussion.

    I have a friend whose expecting, and we were talking about bookshelves the other day. He says that he's very conscious now every time he puts a book on a shelf that these are gonna be the books that his kid grows up around. The books that are in the house that they grow up in can end up having a profound effect on their development.
    He says that every time he finishes a book and puts it up there, he kind of feels like he's building a person.

    It just got me thinking, what if you could only have a really limited number of potential influences on a kid, everything else was beyond your control? what things would you prioritise to try and put them onto the right track?

    The scenario was just a way to pose that question as part of a narrative.
     
  13. autophobe2e

    autophobe2e Senior Member

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    Apologies, double post.
     
  14. newbie-one

    newbie-one one with the newbiverse

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    The scenario changes the way the question should be answered, from my perspective.

    For example, in the orphanage scenario, what you give the child represents your connection to them, and that may be more important than imparting any particular knowledge.

    If you want to postively shape the life of a child living with you, the recorded information or objects you should give them is perhaps the wrong thing to consider.

    How you relate to a child will have a far more profound effect. So I would say working on yourself and your relationship skills would be a much better thing.

    1. Learn how to be a responsible figure of authority. You'll have to exercise some level of control over your child without corrupt motives. It's very common for parents to use their children to fullfil a power trip, or as an emotional punching bag to deal with daily stress. Learning stress management techniques, like meditation, and developing emotional maturity are important. If you have an emotional need for power, understanding that the power of helping someone is greater than the power of controling someone will make you a much better parent.

    2. Impart wisdom to your child without indoctrinating them. The purpose of parenting is not to clone a person with the same world view as yours, or to gather vicarious glory. It's not a disaster to have some selfish expectations in parenting, but good parenting is primarily an unselfish act.

    3. Learn how to keep lines of communication open. If you can't communicate with your child, you won't be able to help them with the problems that they will inevitably face. Many parents build a wall between themselves and their child, and are perceived as oppressors. Then later in life, they wonder why they never write.

    4. Give your child lots of love. Expressing love to a child is one of the most satisfying aspects of parenthood, and also one of the most beneficial things you can do for a child. If you can't say "I love you" or give a hug, go to therapy until you learn how.

    If you are a mature, loving parent, your child will be far better of than if you are a screaming asshole who gives them the complete works of Shakespeare.
     

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