The nicest thing someone's ever done for meIn amongst all the tales of bitterness and poo, we occasionally get fluffy stories that bring a small tear to our internet-jaded eyes.
In celebration of this, what is the nicest thing someone's done for you? Whether you thoroughly deserved it or it came out of the blue, tell us of heartwarming, selfless acts by others.
Failing that, what nice things have you done for other people, whether they liked it or not?
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chthonic, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:14)
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HeadwreckingI told this story in the "Kids" QoTW, but it can take repetition.
A couple of years ago, I was teaching at a summer school run by my then university. It was designed for kids who wouldn't normally stay in school beyond 16, let alone think about a degree, and was supposed to get them considering higher education.
As some of you know, I'm a bioethicist in real life, and I was running a couple of sessions on medial ethics. The first few minutes of this involved me explaining just what the term "medical ethics" means and how it relates to philosophy more generally.
Most of the kids, needless to say, don't have much of a clue about what philosophy is. With this in mind, I try to tell them a little bit about that and to explain why it's interesting and important.
Now: if you want to explain some basic problems of metaphysics or epistemology, you can go straight for the Descartes jugular, or you can use the Matrix analogy. That's a much better option, and requires asking how we know - if we know at all - that we aren't brains in vats tied to a computer in an otherwise empty universe? And if we can't even be sure that we're not, how the hell can we be sure of anything else about the world?
I tried that out with them as a warm-up to the main show.
The following evening, the last of the summer school, there was a dinner for the kids. One of the more talkative ones came up to me.
"I'd like to make a complaint," he beamed.
"Oh, yes?"
"Yes. I couldn't sleep last night, and it's your fault."
"Ummmm... go on..."
"I was wondering whether I was actually dreaming all this, and the more I thought about it, the more confused I became. And I couldn't sleep in the end."
GOTCHA!
Genuinely, that is one of the nicest things I've ever heard.
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Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 13:42,
6 replies)
Soooo!The best thing that has happened to you is messing with some kid's head....Okay!
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girlinthehole, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 14:01,
closed)
bloody teachers!always trying to inspire people and get them to think about stuff. you're a menace to society, so you are :P
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gypsy turnips, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 14:26,
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Heh hehNice to get feedback so it is, and have a positive effect on people. Also, Bioethicist sounds an interesting job! I've read other posts by you, but didn't realise what your job title was. Well played
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LemonEntryMyDearWatson This time, Moriarty, the hand is on the other foot, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 15:15,
closed)
It's an ace job.Sadly, too much arsing about on b3ta means that I don't do nearly enough of it...
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Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 15:31,
closed)
I would sympathiseBut then, I'm on here doing the same thing :)
Still, better to be surfing b3ta whilst having a great job, than a shite job. You could have a job that doesn't provide internet access. *shudders*
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LemonEntryMyDearWatson This time, Moriarty, the hand is on the other foot, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 15:53,
closed)
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