Dec
27
I Wish, from Paolo Pezzutti
December 27, 2007 | 2 Comments
Knowledge in the past was passed by the senior members of communities to the younger generations in a slow and steady flow of traditions, experience, culture.
This role is less and less evident in the Western world today. Parents and grandparents tend to lead their life getting the most out of it for their own pleasure and satisfaction. I sense less dedication and commitment to transmit the famil'sy and the society's values to the next generations. I do not intend to be negative. It is a change, however, that is impacting our lifestyle and it is caused (at the same time) by our life style. Both parents go to work to make ends meet and/or to fulfill their expectations. They may not have enough time to dedicate. Children and teenagers have started to make use of the network to find answers to questions. Usable knowledge may comes from a virtual (but real) mass of humans who interact and share information through chats and blogs. Some blog the most private details of their youth writing very personal diaries to get some type of support from unknown readers. Also children have started to live their virtual life in the network. Virtual characters websites are an example.
Values proposed as the basis of the interaction are those of the website developer. Values are also broadcast by the latest TV series on the fanciest TV channel. Media are powerful vehicles to develop knowledge through sharing of information, but the direction in which knowledge and education is developed has to be based on values, that cannot be provided by the network or a TV channel. It has to be based on something more individual than global, more private than public. Family members cannot and must not be replaced in this role. The family must fulfill a role that is given by given by mother nature. As a father, I wish I were able to transfer to my girls the best part of myself, as a man.
I wish to transmit the story of our family, what my dreams were when I was a child and what has become of them now.
I wish to let them understand my mistakes and how we can learn from them. I wish to share with them my hopes and future endeavors.
I wish to discuss with them what I see right for their future.
I wish to observe them and help them exploit their talent.
I wish to help them be happy about their life and positive.
I wish to learn and understand their personality and to respect them.
I wish to invest my time in their future.
I wish to try and answer their questions. As they grow up, I expect these questions to become more and more difficult.
It needs preparation, it needs commitment, it needs love.
This is what I wish for next year.
Sam Humbert extends:
I got to thinking about Dr. Pezzutti's wise words yesterday, on my daily constitutional, in this case through a 200ish acre woodland park a few miles from my house (Vic and Laurel have written often of the benefits of a quiet walk-in-the-woods, and I've taken their sage advice).
Since I'm in the woods often, I've discovered all the local teenage drinking/smoking hideaways. Yesterday I noticed with dismay, at one of these gathering-spots, a bottle of Bacardi Razz — a fruit-flavored rum-based product that tastes like flavored cough-syrup. I can't imagine voluntarily drinking this stuff.
For how many generations past, in affluent Fairfield County, have the underaged sneaked off with a bottle of Early Times or Old Grand-dad (or other dignified, respectable drink) to indulge in the timeless ritual? And where are their parents now, to educate them about what is meet and right?
Frank Corberts advises:
Sam, I can only conclude by your narrative that you, in fact, tasted from the bottle of Bacardi Razz that you found at said party spot. Are you in the habit of sampling random liquors found in the wilderness? If so, I believe that some bars may offer the dreck of unfinished beverages for a man of your distinction. You may wish to thank your stars that the teens had not substituted some more nefarious mixture in the bottle — say, Green Dragon.
Archives
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- Older Archives
Resources & Links
- The Letters Prize
- Pre-2007 Victor Niederhoffer Posts
- Vic’s NYC Junto
- Reading List
- Programming in 60 Seconds
- The Objectivist Center
- Foundation for Economic Education
- Tigerchess
- Dick Sears' G.T. Index
- Pre-2007 Daily Speculations
- Laurel & Vics' Worldly Investor Articles