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George Wilson, The Man Who Walked His Life Away

deadspin.com

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Re: George Wilson, The Man Who Walked His Life Away

#31

Post by gambiting »

russfink wrote: post #28
gambiting wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is just an observation more than an opinion - you know how it's common knowledge that women had no power not that long ago and were kept under the boot of men? His wife not only cheated on him, when he found out she arranged to have him arrested and thrown in prison, and then was seeking to imprison him for life. As far as the article says, absolutely nothing has happened to her as a consequence of this.

He had SIX KIDS and left his family for months at a time.

....to make money and provide for his family? Lots of people did back then and still do now.

Re: George Wilson, The Man Who Walked His Life Away

#32

Post by gambiting »

JeremyBanks wrote: post #27
gambiting wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is just an observation more than an opinion - you know how it's common knowledge that women had no power not that long ago and were kept under the boot of men? His wife not only cheated on him, when he found out she arranged to have him arrested and thrown in prison, and then was seeking to imprison him for life. As far as the article says, absolutely nothing has happened to her as a consequence of this.

How dare she have him arrested for domestic abuse..?

She didn't have him arrested for domestic abuse - she fabricated a fake unpaid debt charge through her brother.

Re: George Wilson, The Man Who Walked His Life Away

#33

Post by notahappycamper »

JeremyBanks wrote: post #27
gambiting wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is just an observation more than an opinion - you know how it's common knowledge that women had no power not that long ago and were kept under the boot of men? His wife not only cheated on him, when he found out she arranged to have him arrested and thrown in prison, and then was seeking to imprison him for life. As far as the article says, absolutely nothing has happened to her as a consequence of this.

How dare she have him arrested for domestic abuse..?

After she held him down and had him beaten with a red hit iron poker? He was a physically weak man "fighting" a much stronger woman. If a weak woman hit her husband and then he held her down and had her beaten, you think that would be ok?

Re: George Wilson, The Man Who Walked His Life Away

#34

Post by mrslave »

arethuza wrote: post #15
mncharity wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The culture of the past feels so unrelatably foreign that it really feels like a fictional world. One idea for teaching history is to emphasize that which you, as a time traveler, would find startlingly strange ("wait, WAT?!?"). A 1700's British officer, traveling with American militia, is utterly boggled... the American officer, he is talking with his men , asking them what they think !?! A WWII American officer,…

One of my favourites: at the height of the British Empire, a private rises on merit to become Chief of the Imperial General Staff - rising from the lowest rank to the very highest. The equivalent is impossible today. Edit: Correction.

I heard a recent McDonald's CEO started at the fryer. No idea as to the accuracy.

Re: George Wilson, The Man Who Walked His Life Away

#35

Post by ubermonkey »

arethuza wrote: post #15
mncharity wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The culture of the past feels so unrelatably foreign that it really feels like a fictional world. One idea for teaching history is to emphasize that which you, as a time traveler, would find startlingly strange ("wait, WAT?!?"). A 1700's British officer, traveling with American militia, is utterly boggled... the American officer, he is talking with his men , asking them what they think !?! A WWII American officer,…

One of my favourites: at the height of the British Empire, a private rises on merit to become Chief of the Imperial General Staff - rising from the lowest rank to the very highest. The equivalent is impossible today. Edit: Correction.

Why do you think that's impossible today?

Enlisted personnel are often tapped to become officers. Once in the officer ranks, they've got the same shot at 4 stars as any other 2L, no?

Quick googling turns up the career of John Shalikashvili, who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1993 to 1997.

Shalikashvili was drafted into the Army as a private in 1958, eventually applied to Officer Candidate School, and ended up literally in charge of all US forces.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Shalikashvili

Re: George Wilson, The Man Who Walked His Life Away

#36

Post by arethuza »

ubermonkey wrote: post #35
arethuza wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of my favourites: at the height of the British Empire, a private rises on merit to become Chief of the Imperial General Staff - rising from the lowest rank to the very highest. The equivalent is impossible today. Edit: Correction.

Why do you think that's impossible today? Enlisted personnel are often tapped to become officers. Once in the officer ranks, they've got the same shot at 4 stars as any other 2L, no? Quick googling turns up the career of John Shalikashvili, who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1993 to 1997. Shalikashvili was drafted into the Army as a private in 1958, eventually applied to Officer Candidate School, and…

Well, starting off as a private in the British army and becoming the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff really would be an achievement! :-)

Re: George Wilson, The Man Who Walked His Life Away

#37

Post by dorchadas »

mrslave wrote: post #34
arethuza wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of my favourites: at the height of the British Empire, a private rises on merit to become Chief of the Imperial General Staff - rising from the lowest rank to the very highest. The equivalent is impossible today. Edit: Correction.

I heard a recent McDonald's CEO started at the fryer. No idea as to the accuracy.

Not sure about CEO, but I do know the owner of the one in my hometown (and a few others) started that way. He worked in one and was frugal and was eventually able to buy his own franchise.

Re: George Wilson, The Man Who Walked His Life Away

#38

Post by ddoran »

Anyone who wants to learn more about the history of pedestrianism, long-distance walking and latterly ultrarunning should check out Davy Crockett's Ultra Running History website and podcast [1]. He covers George Wilson in a two-part episode about 1,000 mile attempts [2].

[1] - http://ultrarunninghistory.com/ [2] - http://ultrarunninghistory.com/1000-milers-1/

Re: George Wilson, The Man Who Walked His Life Away

#39

Post by ubermonkey »

arethuza wrote: post #36
ubermonkey wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you think that's impossible today? Enlisted personnel are often tapped to become officers. Once in the officer ranks, they've got the same shot at 4 stars as any other 2L, no? Quick googling turns up the career of John Shalikashvili, who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1993 to 1997. Shalikashvili was drafted into the Army as a private in 1958, eventually applied to Officer Candidate School, and…

Well, starting off as a private in the British army and becoming the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff really would be an achievement! :-)

Heh. No doubt.

Re: George Wilson, The Man Who Walked His Life Away

#40

Post by ValentineC »

mrslave wrote: post #34
arethuza wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of my favourites: at the height of the British Empire, a private rises on merit to become Chief of the Imperial General Staff - rising from the lowest rank to the very highest. The equivalent is impossible today. Edit: Correction.

I heard a recent McDonald's CEO started at the fryer. No idea as to the accuracy.

I did a quick search, and that sounds like either Fred Turner [1], Michael Quinlan [2], or Charlie Bell [3].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_L._Turner

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_R._Quinlan

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Bell_(businessman)

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