The night I met Einstein • Hacker News Board

Re: The night I met Einstein

#11

Post by ovi256 » Sat, May 02, 2009, 1:22 PM UTC

swombat wrote: post #8

jack7890 wrote: post #3

Cool story, but what Einstein does here--escorting a stranger out of a concert for a private music listening training session--is downright strange and socially odd, by most standards. Did he feel he had a license to do this because he was one of the most famous people in the world? Or was he so wrapped up in his own brilliance that he didn't even notice what was a bit socially deviant?

What is the benefit of not being "a bit socially deviant"?

Yours ? Not being regarded as "odd".

Society's ? Not having to deal with the friction created by eccentrics.

Re: The night I met Einstein

#12

Post by ErrantX » Sat, May 02, 2009, 1:36 PM UTC

jack7890 wrote: post #3

Cool story, but what Einstein does here--escorting a stranger out of a concert for a private music listening training session--is downright strange and socially odd, by most standards. Did he feel he had a license to do this because he was one of the most famous people in the world? Or was he so wrapped up in his own brilliance that he didn't even notice what was a bit socially deviant?

Einstein asked a question, the writer said he did not understand the music. Okay so most people would perhaps have just tried to "explain" the music in the intermissions - but I doubt that would have the same effect.

One of Einsteins skills was explaining logic in simple easy steps to build up a very complex picture. For me this story (be it true or not) shows his brilliant tutalege in action :)

Re: The night I met Einstein

#13

Post by swombat » Sat, May 02, 2009, 1:41 PM UTC

ovi256 wrote: post #11

swombat wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the benefit of not being "a bit socially deviant"?

Yours ? Not being regarded as "odd". Society's ? Not having to deal with the friction created by eccentrics.

People whose opinion I care about aren't that fussed about other being "a bit socially deviant". Apparently Einstein had similar views, so I feel I'm in good company.

Society progresses only by the friction created by all those unreasonable eccentrics.

Re: The night I met Einstein

#14

Post by ErrantX » Sat, May 02, 2009, 1:52 PM UTC

ovi256 wrote: post #11

swombat wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the benefit of not being "a bit socially deviant"?

Yours ? Not being regarded as "odd". Society's ? Not having to deal with the friction created by eccentrics.

Im with Swombat. Who cares what society thinks :)

Re: The night I met Einstein

#15

Post by shabda » Sat, May 02, 2009, 2:21 PM UTC

utx00 wrote: post #9

feels made up.

That or the author knows time travel.He was born in 1986 http://akshar.co.in/blog/about-2

Re: The night I met Einstein

#16

Post by abless » Sat, May 02, 2009, 2:28 PM UTC

shabda wrote: post #15

utx00 wrote: post #9

feels made up.

That or the author knows time travel.He was born in 1986 http://akshar.co.in/blog/about-2

It's not by him, but supposedly by Jerome Weidman:

http://www.afn.co.kr/archives/readings/einstein.htm

Re: The night I met Einstein

#17

Post by bluishgreen » Sat, May 02, 2009, 2:33 PM UTC

shabda wrote: post #15

utx00 wrote: post #9

feels made up.

That or the author knows time travel.He was born in 1986 http://akshar.co.in/blog/about-2

The actual author is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Weidman and is 96 years old.

Re: The night I met Einstein

#18

Post by shabda » Sat, May 02, 2009, 2:42 PM UTC

bluishgreen wrote: post #17

shabda wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That or the author knows time travel.He was born in 1986 http://akshar.co.in/blog/about-2

The actual author is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Weidman and is 96 years old.

Ah, tells me how much I scan. I was unable to see Weidman reference even on second reading, and had to search

Re: The night I met Einstein

#19

Post by whacked_new » Sat, May 02, 2009, 2:50 PM UTC

bluishgreen wrote: post #17

shabda wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That or the author knows time travel.He was born in 1986 http://akshar.co.in/blog/about-2

The actual author is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Weidman and is 96 years old.

If WP is correct, he is 96 as of now, with 11 years spent in eternity.

Re: The night I met Einstein

#20

Post by brandnewlow » Sat, May 02, 2009, 4:31 PM UTC

My favorite part of this story is actually where the author admits that he categorically loathes any music that doesn't have a catchy hook and someone singing words he can follow.

A pet peeve of mine has always been how _everyone_ claims to like music. When there are people who dislike ice cream, people who dislike movies, people who dislike sports, people who dislike dancing...why is it that you never meet anyone who will admit to disliking music? That always annoyed me as a musician who's met many people who can't possibly actually enjoy music considering their listening tastes. Yet, because of social pressure, these people will never publicly admit to disliking music.

So it's refreshing to hear from someone who admits to feeling zero affection for music. There are people who admit this about visual art. People who say this about drama. But it's rare to meet someone who will admit this about music,