The resources on this site seem to be mostly oriented toward raising somewhat above-average nerds up to truly exceptional levels. Sounds like you need a different set of resources, for a different sort of step up, possibly something like ‘feral/marginal’ up to ‘serving and being protected by a worthy master.’
Sure, but the problem is that I still have all the status-seeking instincts of an above-average nerd. I’m no good serving a master, worthy or otherwise. When I was younger, my problem was that every master I served was demonstrably less intelligent than I was, so I spent a lot of time trying to grant the wishes they would have made if they were smart enough to wish right, rather than granting the wishes they did make.
In status-oriented situations, this is a HUGE FUCKING MISTAKE, and taught me to understand that I am a bad samurai.
In the past few years, I’ve been ronin for so long that my bushido has gone rusty—and anyways, in this corporate market, no one wants a ronin in the first place.
There are non-corporate jobs. Personally, I sort scrap metal.
Perhaps we could come up with a pitch for an autobiography disguised as an anti-self-help book, “How to completely cripple yourself in just six years, with no drugs, exercise, or gimmicks!” put it on Kickstarter and see how much money people throw at you?
I must disagree, based on the technicality that there was actually some strenuous physical exercise involved with the volunteer firefighting thing.
On a more serious note, would you actually like to try doing this? Whatever else is wrong, you’re self-evidently capable of expressing yourself coherently and concisely in text. Most of the other prerequisites of being an author can (at least in principle) be handled as arm’s-length transactions, which minimize the need for any sort of personal trust.
I’m willing to entertain any idea; can you describe further? (note: private messages on this site have not been appearing reliably for me. Is there an easier process for identity exchange?)
How silly are you willing to be about the identity-exchange thing? I could, for example, give you my username on Nightstar’s forums, compromise of which would cost me nothing. You create an account there, send me a PM through that forum, I reply with some piece of information which you then repeat in reply to this comment, and (a secure channel having been established) I could then send you my e-mail address through Nightstar’s private messages.
The resources on this site seem to be mostly oriented toward raising somewhat above-average nerds up to truly exceptional levels. Sounds like you need a different set of resources, for a different sort of step up, possibly something like ‘feral/marginal’ up to ‘serving and being protected by a worthy master.’
Sure, but the problem is that I still have all the status-seeking instincts of an above-average nerd. I’m no good serving a master, worthy or otherwise. When I was younger, my problem was that every master I served was demonstrably less intelligent than I was, so I spent a lot of time trying to grant the wishes they would have made if they were smart enough to wish right, rather than granting the wishes they did make.
In status-oriented situations, this is a HUGE FUCKING MISTAKE, and taught me to understand that I am a bad samurai.
In the past few years, I’ve been ronin for so long that my bushido has gone rusty—and anyways, in this corporate market, no one wants a ronin in the first place.
There are non-corporate jobs. Personally, I sort scrap metal.
Perhaps we could come up with a pitch for an autobiography disguised as an anti-self-help book, “How to completely cripple yourself in just six years, with no drugs, exercise, or gimmicks!” put it on Kickstarter and see how much money people throw at you?
laugh it at least has the charm of complete truth in advertising.
I must disagree, based on the technicality that there was actually some strenuous physical exercise involved with the volunteer firefighting thing.
On a more serious note, would you actually like to try doing this? Whatever else is wrong, you’re self-evidently capable of expressing yourself coherently and concisely in text. Most of the other prerequisites of being an author can (at least in principle) be handled as arm’s-length transactions, which minimize the need for any sort of personal trust.
I’m willing to entertain any idea; can you describe further? (note: private messages on this site have not been appearing reliably for me. Is there an easier process for identity exchange?)
How silly are you willing to be about the identity-exchange thing? I could, for example, give you my username on Nightstar’s forums, compromise of which would cost me nothing. You create an account there, send me a PM through that forum, I reply with some piece of information which you then repeat in reply to this comment, and (a secure channel having been established) I could then send you my e-mail address through Nightstar’s private messages.
Heh, that’s a little more elaborate than necessary, I think. I’m bdill(at)asu(dot)edu; it shouldn’t be too problematic to make that public.