12-19-2013, 09:52 AM
I have an advanced degree; it's true that it doesn't make me smarter than everyone who doesn't have one and is often not relevant to my thought and decision-making processes.
Take this little mind bender, for example.
QUESTION:
Two men find themselves stranded on separate desert islands.
The man on island A has only a dictionary, a collection of Mozart compositions, and an endless supply of fireworks.
The man on island B has a coffee table book, 8 songs of various genres, and an endless supply of heroin.
The islands are exactly the same, but in different locations. There is no chance of rescue for either man. Which man would you bet on to live the longest, most productive, and most pleasurable life of solitude?
MY ANSWER:
I'd choose Island Man A - even without knowing that he was much more of a craftsman than Island Man B, and even knowing that the fireworks have no potential to facilitate a rescue.
He's keeping his brain active by learning/memorizing new words, keeping his spirit youthful by having a celebration to look forward to every night, and there are few things more life-affirming than lighting up the sky to Requiem.
Meanwhile, Island Man B is strung-out on horse, weeping to Ashes to Ashes, and fighting off suicidal tendencies as he desperately attempts to construct a coffee table upon which to place his coveted big colored picture book.
My advanced degree played no part in coming to this conclusion. Promise.
In fact, I'm so stupid, that I wouldn't consider people who choose Island Man B for reasons of their own stupid - being that there's really no right or wrong answer and it's a fictional scenario.
Take this little mind bender, for example.
QUESTION:
Two men find themselves stranded on separate desert islands.
The man on island A has only a dictionary, a collection of Mozart compositions, and an endless supply of fireworks.
The man on island B has a coffee table book, 8 songs of various genres, and an endless supply of heroin.
The islands are exactly the same, but in different locations. There is no chance of rescue for either man. Which man would you bet on to live the longest, most productive, and most pleasurable life of solitude?
MY ANSWER:
I'd choose Island Man A - even without knowing that he was much more of a craftsman than Island Man B, and even knowing that the fireworks have no potential to facilitate a rescue.
He's keeping his brain active by learning/memorizing new words, keeping his spirit youthful by having a celebration to look forward to every night, and there are few things more life-affirming than lighting up the sky to Requiem.
Meanwhile, Island Man B is strung-out on horse, weeping to Ashes to Ashes, and fighting off suicidal tendencies as he desperately attempts to construct a coffee table upon which to place his coveted big colored picture book.
My advanced degree played no part in coming to this conclusion. Promise.
In fact, I'm so stupid, that I wouldn't consider people who choose Island Man B for reasons of their own stupid - being that there's really no right or wrong answer and it's a fictional scenario.