>>>>>PS -- Did Plato really live in a cave?
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>>>>Joking, right? Shadows on the wall ... ?
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>>>Actually I wasn't. I took it literally and didn't get the reference to caves in Plato's writing.
>>
>>http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/plato.html
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>Charles.
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>Your posts are always a joy, yet have a bitter side for me.

I am truly sorry if that is the case. I really don't mean to be belittling. I guess I am projecting my own feelings about myself at your age - perhaps inappropriately.

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>I know why you don't think my ideas are significant.

I'm not sure what you mean by significant. I have no doubt you have a first rate mind. (and that is not a assessment I throw around lightly) As to ideas and their significance - in the area of mathematics, physics etc. I am just not qualified to assess that (that's not false modesty - of which I possess none - just a realistic statement of my own knowledge in those areas) I have stylistic quibbles about how you present the ideas you've presented here, totally apart from their merits. I don't think you are going to get the kind of understanding or stimulation you hope for in this venue, but I may be wrong. There are a lot of very smart people here so who knows.

If you haven't done so already, you might check out Mensa. It's a mixed bag of folks, but for that very reason it is often a community where unconventional minds can find people who can keep up with them. I go hot and cold on my own interest and participation, but sometimes it can be fun.

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>You are extremely knowledgeable, and more than severely qualified, intellectually.
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>But I understand why you have the attitude you do.
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>I do.

Not sure what you understand that to be. We've only met once, that I recall, when you and Karsten (another of my favorite unconventional minds) were living in a hotel lobby (?) and playing Mad Hatter. I remember liking you and had already formed the opinion from your technical input that you were incredibly precocious. I also know some of the baggage that can come along with that.

Life experiences, of course, shape us as well and the component that may be missing from your understanding of my attitudes may be that mine have been probably not what one would expect. (certainly not what I expected)

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>In your words, what would it take to sway you?

To a positive attitude toward you? Nothing. I'm already there. To be a little less acerbic in my teasing? I think I should already do that. To understand or accept the significance of particular ideas or insights? That's pretty much on a case by case basis. <s>