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Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

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Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#111

Post by irrational »

nanolith wrote: post #107
klibertp wrote: post #93

My biggest fear. The nightmares I had for years after reading. They returned, years later, when observing Alzheimer's from up close, in family members. No way out, no cure. Memory, reasoning capabilities, character, everything that makes you yourself decline, disappear; you're still breathing, but you're more dead day after day. And then, when you stop being aware of all that... does it make it better? or worse? I do…

I'm of the belief that in such a situation, a pre-cognitive decline "living will" or dead man switch is appropriate. If I were diagnosed with dementia, I'd build automation to ensure that I'd appear to die a natural death when I enter the steep slope of cognitive decline. It's as easy as tying the results of frequent cognitive tests into a moving average that triggers my medication dispenser to start mixing in a toxi…

How would you do it if you didn't take any medication? The most medication I've ever needed to take is an aspirin once or twice a year. I'm trying to think what other method I could use in place of substituting mediation.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#112

Post by mvkel »

eismcc wrote: post #51

After my class read this book in high school, we wrote the author and he responded. How often does that happen in today’s schools?

I wouldn't say it's unusual.

Whenever I read a good book, see a great film, or appreciate an art piece, I try to track down the creator to send them a note of thanks. I'd say maybe 30% reply?

That said, I can't imagine creating something that people are still directly impacted by 60 years later. Software just doesn't seem to work like that

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#113

Post by matthewdgreen »

abraxas wrote: post #65

This is the original short story. I recommend that people read the full book instead or at least read the book first to avoid spoilers. It's at least as good as the short story but expands on the ideas and the story line significantly.

There is also a terrible 1968 movie called "Charly" that is worth watching just for the motorcycle scenes.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#114

Post by WarOnPrivacy »

bingleboy wrote: post #86
empath-nirvana wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have ADHD and I took Adderal for a while and it definitely does not make you smarter. It makes you more focused and there are plusses and minuses to that.

My experience with Adderall in my adolescence was that it made me more obnoxious towards my romantic partner and that when we did share affection while i'd want more things like my lips just felt numb. Doing more isn't always better.

For me, Ritalin came with attitude problems but not Adderall. My sons work better with Ritalin. Meanwhile, my sister has no access to healthcare so anything at all would work better.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#115

Post by WarOnPrivacy »

throwaway98797 wrote: post #79

this is why i don’t take adderal i dare not glimpse what i can be for to lose it seems like a terrifying fate

> his is why i don’t take adderal ... i dare not glimpse what i can be for to lose it

Counterpoint. Each day I'm gifted some hours where I can think more like normal.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#116

Post by [deleted] »

helboi4 wrote: post #29
roshin wrote: post #11

Great story, but terrible title. I'm not sure exactly what the point of a title is, but if it's to inform about what the story is, or entice, it does neither.

Engineering robot-person who cannot comprehend art with unquantifiable emotional value sneers, self-righteously at critically acclaimed art. He knows better because he knows calculus AND he organised his pens in chronological order of their manufacture date this morning. The electric feeling of restrained satisfaction had prickled across all the cropped hairs of his protruding neck. Everything must have logical meani…

[deleted]

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#117

Post by user_7832 »

hattmall wrote: post #108
klibertp wrote: post #93

My biggest fear. The nightmares I had for years after reading. They returned, years later, when observing Alzheimer's from up close, in family members. No way out, no cure. Memory, reasoning capabilities, character, everything that makes you yourself decline, disappear; you're still breathing, but you're more dead day after day. And then, when you stop being aware of all that... does it make it better? or worse? I do…

Would you prefer to suffer through something like cancer, fully aware of your decline and unable to do anything but with the will to do so? Or just be completely unaware of what is going on but not necessarily in poor health? Dementia is certainly terrible in a unique and disturbing way for the afflicted and people that care about them, but Im not so sure some of the more understandable alternatives would be preferab…

If you're asking what's worse, body dying with a a good mind, or mind dying eg in dementia but good body, the answer is almost 100% the latter being worse.

I know someone who had Alzheimer's. Was in excellent physical shape, had biomarkers of someone 20 years younger. Would go for daily walks for decades, consistently did yoga etc.

The issue, with late stage Alzheimer's (and possibly dementia in general), is that the brain starts to forget so many things it's not even funny (it never was). You forget to swallow water. You forget to chew food. You forget what the bathroom is for. It's far from "living with dignity", even if the body is still physically capable. I think lock-in syndrome is the only other medical situation I'd consider similarly traumatizing.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#118

Post by icedchai »

throwway120385 wrote: post #99
icedchai wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an 1980's "gifted" kid, believe me, they made sure you knew. IQ tests in 3rd grade, "enrichment" classes 3x a week, taking the SAT in 7th grade for some special program. Later in life, most of these gifted kids were total disappointments. I know I am.

I was a 1990's "gifted" kid and would later come to appreciate the enrichment classes as an opportunity to interact with other kids who wouldn't make fun of me for knowing things and being able to figure things out fast. In the "normal" track you have to learn to hide all of that quickly or you get picked on. Once a week I could experience being normal. If the expectation was that I would end up saving the world or s…

I definitely enjoyed the enrichment classes. I didn't feel challenged again for years, until AP classes later in high school.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#119

Post by havblue »

keiferski wrote: post #47

It's interesting to compare this story to the movie Limitless , which has a fairly similar premise, but ends on a positive note. Algernon seems to have more influence, probably because of it is fundamentally a kind of morality tale, but I actually kind of prefer Limitless, [0] as limited as its plot is. There is something motivational about it, which is probably why there are so many YouTube productivity videos with…

There's also a great Star Trek episode, the Nth Degree, where Barclay becomes the smartest man alive. The cast is typically annoyed with him so it's great to see the looks of admiration in their faces as he's suddenly able to solve engineering problems faster than Data, brings Beverly to tears in an acting scene they perform together and is confident enough to "make a pass" at Troi.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#120

Post by 0xEF »

kevmo314 wrote: post #102
0xEF wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can't call out a percentage of people you plucked from thin air on not understanding something, then qualify your understanding as your own interpretation. Are you aware that your whole post just said "Nobody understands the version of this thing in my head?" This us a studied thing. You need sources and conclusions drawn from them, not your own speculation (not that it was horribly off the mark, but come on, man…

Sure they can, it's called a joke.

Oh my god.

I'll see myself out.

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