Comments for Jeff Wragg http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj dw in the blogosphere Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:40:17 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Who wants to be a genius? by George http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/2009/02/17/who-wants-to-be-a-genius/comment-page-1/#comment-19 George Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:40:17 +0000 http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/?p=15#comment-19 The ten year option would have to be nonlinear. Choosing a ten year, future block of time to eliminate involves too much uncertainty. Something great may occur during the last ten years of one's life, whenever that may be. However, having the ability to venture into the past, and cherry pick periods of time to eliminate, would have interesting effects upon the reality we experience in the present. Finally, you'd have to specify WHAT TYPE of I.Q. points one would be able to gain. There is no universal standard of intelligence. A person who sucks at math, but has the ability to make a guitar sing is intelligent in a way that is unique to them. Additionally, there are probably dozens of ways any one individual may manifest brilliance, and their are likely as many ways to be brilliant as there are people that populate the planet. In closing, I'd simply require that I'd be granted an I.Q. that would enable me to discover what my "TAILOR MADE" I.Q. is. The ten year option would have to be nonlinear. Choosing a ten year, future block of time to eliminate involves too much uncertainty. Something great may occur during the last ten years of one’s life, whenever that may be.

However, having the ability to venture into the past, and cherry pick periods of time to eliminate, would have interesting effects upon the reality we experience in the present.

Finally, you’d have to specify WHAT TYPE of I.Q. points one would be able to gain. There is no universal standard of intelligence. A person who sucks at math, but has the ability to make a guitar sing is intelligent in a way that is unique to them. Additionally, there are probably dozens of ways any one individual may manifest brilliance, and their are likely as many ways to be brilliant as there are people that populate the planet.

In closing, I’d simply require that I’d be granted an I.Q. that would enable me to discover what my “TAILOR MADE” I.Q. is.

]]> Comment on Who wants to be a genius? by Richard http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/2009/02/17/who-wants-to-be-a-genius/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Richard Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:23:45 +0000 http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/?p=15#comment-16 I can think of a few people I wish would trade ten years of their life for some additional IQ points. :-P I have a 185 points already. But if I knew the last ten years of my life would be on a respirator, I would trade that for another 20 points. I can think of a few people I wish would trade ten years of their life for some additional IQ points.

:-P

I have a 185 points already. But if I knew the last ten years of my life would be on a respirator, I would trade that for another 20 points.

]]> Comment on New theme – Provocative Questions by George http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/2008/11/30/new-theme-provocative-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-11 George Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:47:15 +0000 http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/?p=13#comment-11 Sanity is a condition that is reached when biological needs are met. Therefore, as one starves, sanity goes out of the window. Arguably, animal instincts would eventually consume senses of morality that we cherish in theory, but wouldn't practice in the situation described above. I'd just save the genitals for the LAST supper. No one ever has, or ever will do it quit like the "chief." Sanity is a condition that is reached when biological needs are met. Therefore, as one starves, sanity goes out of the window. Arguably, animal instincts would eventually consume senses of morality that we cherish in theory, but wouldn’t practice in the situation described above. I’d just save the genitals for the LAST supper.

No one ever has, or ever will do it quit like the “chief.”

]]> Comment on Who wants to be a genius? by George http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/2009/02/17/who-wants-to-be-a-genius/comment-page-1/#comment-10 George Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:42:03 +0000 http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/?p=15#comment-10 Life is over rated. Taking away 10 years is a favor, because you're just taking away the worst years you'll probably live. So the I.Q. requirement for me would be zero to infinity. Nobody ever has, or ever will do it like the "chief." Life is over rated. Taking away 10 years is a favor, because you’re just taking away the worst years you’ll probably live. So the I.Q. requirement for me would be zero to infinity.

Nobody ever has, or ever will do it like the “chief.”

]]> Comment on New theme – Provocative Questions by Mendi http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/2008/11/30/new-theme-provocative-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Mendi Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:47:37 +0000 http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/?p=13#comment-6 Wow! As a vegetarian it's a doubly hard question. I surely would do it to save my child, without question. If it were just me, alone, I'm not sure. I'd have to do some serious soul-searching if I were ever in that position (which hopefully I never will :) Wow! As a vegetarian it’s a doubly hard question. I surely would do it to save my child, without question. If it were just me, alone, I’m not sure. I’d have to do some serious soul-searching if I were ever in that position (which hopefully I never will :)

]]> Comment on New theme – Provocative Questions by Jenni Lockman Miller http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/2008/11/30/new-theme-provocative-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Jenni Lockman Miller Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:05:03 +0000 http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/?p=13#comment-4 I have a pretty strong desire to survive, but this is not something I want to really think about or decide on until I have to. :) I have a pretty strong desire to survive, but this is not something I want to really think about or decide on until I have to. :)

]]> Comment on Meeting Prospective Physics and Astro Majors by Jenni Lockman Miller http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/2008/10/31/meeting-prospective-physics-and-astro-majors/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Jenni Lockman Miller Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:03:00 +0000 http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/?p=11#comment-3 Do you have a sort of "Meet the Physics Dept" day or anything like that? Maybe that would help, at least for prospective students new to CofC. And remember that physics students are often shy and/or cranky and can be off-putting to new students, so maybe each year you could find a sort of physics dept ambassador who has lots (or at least more than most) of friendly personality! :) Kind of like the physics dept glee club! Do you have a sort of “Meet the Physics Dept” day or anything like that? Maybe that would help, at least for prospective students new to CofC. And remember that physics students are often shy and/or cranky and can be off-putting to new students, so maybe each year you could find a sort of physics dept ambassador who has lots (or at least more than most) of friendly personality! :) Kind of like the physics dept glee club!

]]> Comment on New theme – Provocative Questions by Mike http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/2008/11/30/new-theme-provocative-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Mike Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:21:33 +0000 http://blogs.cofc.edu/wraggj/?p=13#comment-2 I can't imagine being on the brink of starvation/death and turning down food of any type. The desire to stay alive would outweigh any discomfort I had with the decision to eat a human. I'm not saying I'd be telling jokes around the campfire with my finger wrapped around a tibia, but I would do whatever was required to not die. I'd likely be more comfortable eating a stranger. In the other direction, I'd be annoyed (as annoyed as a dead person can be) if people in my party failed to eat me and went on to die of starvation. It would be a stupid tragedy. I've got no children the law can tie me to (nor do I plan to change that), so I can abstain on the last question. I can’t imagine being on the brink of starvation/death and turning down food of any type. The desire to stay alive would outweigh any discomfort I had with the decision to eat a human. I’m not saying I’d be telling jokes around the campfire with my finger wrapped around a tibia, but I would do whatever was required to not die.

I’d likely be more comfortable eating a stranger.

In the other direction, I’d be annoyed (as annoyed as a dead person can be) if people in my party failed to eat me and went on to die of starvation. It would be a stupid tragedy.

I’ve got no children the law can tie me to (nor do I plan to change that), so I can abstain on the last question.

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