video; Harry Potter and the Socratic Paradox

[thebreakingwave]

I've noticed a lot of people talking about what they can teach or what they want to learn and that got me thinking. I was pretty distracted in school and I don't really feel like I know what I should know, but at the same time, I don't really know what I don't know.

[Perhaps its telling that he still thinks of what he ought to learn in prescriptive measures that have to do with school-based learning.]

If that made any sense to you, I'd really appreciate it if you could tell me what you think the average person should know. Maybe skills I ought to have or books I should've read?

Comments

[nubilate]

Then... well, I don't mean to say your intentions are misguided at all, because I think wanting to learn more is a really valuable trait. It's evidence you won't be satisfied with just that one thing, and I think that's something worth nurturing. But if it's a sense of purpose you're missing, maybe there's nothing wrong with what you know at all. If you have skills to only do that one thing, maybe it's a skill you can just broaden a little, and apply to new things?

... Though, it's probably not fair to make a vague comment like that, because if all you know is how to translate Latin, for example, that's a skill with limited opportunities outside of its primary purpose. But there are other skills that are very versatile, too. So it depends on what you've nurtured.

[thebreakingwave]

That makes a lot of sense. I'm pretty good at what I've learned to do and I like it, I suppose, or at least I enjoy when I manage to do a job well.

If I were back home, I'd certainly go into a related field, but I'd also not really have many other options. We don't have a lot of choice in the matter: police officer, teacher, government paper pusher, shop clerk, or maybe an athlete if you're really good.

[nubilate]

Aaah, I see. So there's some room, but you're feeling a little locked in with your choices? You're not sure which one to go for, or you don't like the sound of any of them?

But you know... in a way, if you're coming from that position, it's sort of lucky you're here. Not because you're essentially imprisoned in a place with a serious rodent problem which consistently causes people to vanish and possibly die, so much...

[ ... ]

... But the part where you have an opportunity to not be locked into those choices. Whatever skills you want or think would be helpful, you can pursue them for your pleasure, at this point. Your future will change again when we get home, so...

Maybe, if your skills are limited and you don't know where to start, it might be a good idea to spend some time formulating an objective, and then nursing the skills required to get there. Hahah, it's a little at odds with my last suggestion, but... since you're free, right now, I think it's good that you have lots of options.

[thebreakingwave]

Exactly what I'd thought. If I was home, I might be able to ask my friends for ideas, but we're all from the same place and without noticing it, our ideas might be limited. Here, there's everyone from everywhere.

[Harry isn't just being an optimist; he really is pleased to have been flung into space. It's a new adventure with new rules and challenges. Why shouldn't he appreciate it?]

Back on your world, what did you do? Or what did you want to do?

[nubilate]

Eh? [ he's audibly caught off-guard, and there's a mute pause.

... well, it doesn't do him any good to lie, here. start in with fabrications about his skills and it'll soon come clear what's truth and what isn't, especially if he's counting on contributing something of worth eventually. he might as well say it straight. ]

Well... I've been through all sorts of work, over time. I started off in construction; I've always been stronger than I look, so I would help with the heavy lifting. But mainly — I guess I'm admitting to my bias — I was into engineering and computing for a long time. Coding, constructing, repair and troubleshooting and such. Mostly for automatons. Robots. [ another hefty pause. ] I'm not really into it any more, though. Where I come from it's a typical hobby, not really résumé material.

What I want, though... I want the kind of work where people would say 'thanks for your help', or 'good job', and things like that. My life was most fulfilling when I was able to help people, when I was part of a team. That meant more to me than the work itself.

Whatever you choose to do, I think it's important that you feel wanted and have a sense of belonging.

[thebreakingwave]

[Harry's face lights up at the mention of robots. Magic is wonderful, but robots are a brilliant, glorious, unknown thing. While he's fairly sure that in reality, they're not as spectacular as the ones he remembered day-dreaming about as a very young boy, he's still enamoured with the concept.]

I think that if I found a job that I really enjoyed doing for the sake of doing it, I'd be less likely to worry like this. Back home, I thought I should be a police man, because I already had some of the skills I needed; I don't know if it's what I like doing, but it's what I'm good at.

[He pauses again and frowns as if he's almost got an idea put together but can't quite seem to properly articulate it.]

I really appreciate it that you've listened to me and taken me seriously. I sort of feel that, I don't know, maybe everyone else already knows these answers?

[nubilate]

Hahah, you're a nice guy, you know? And you seem like an earnest person, so I'm happy if I can listen and offer what I can, even if it's not much... [ but for all his modesty, he does sound very happy for harry's appreciation. ]

... I think some people's needs and wishes are more complex than others, and it probably takes them more time to figure it out — so maybe it's like that.

But I also know some people find their dream and after that, nothing else will do. Maybe when you find that thing you want out of your life, you'll know it for sure, and you'll narrow in on it as though there was never any question... but in the meantime, trying out everything you can think of, and experiencing lots of things, would probably be really fun and informative. It'd definitely broaden your chances of finding such a thing.

Hey — if you figure out what you're going to do, if it's not too weird to ask, keep me posted, okay? I think hearing your thoughts would be very interesting, especially given your background.

Sorry for the wait!

[thebreakingwave]

It's not weird at all and I'll be sure to do that.

[Harry seems pleased to have made a friend. When he was younger, he'd form attachments and pledge loyalty quickly and without thought; he still does, but at least he's a bit more self-aware these days.]

I used to think that I'd be happy just doing anything I was good at, and I don't know if that's true anymore.

No worries! You're just fine. :')

[nubilate]

[ hollow's smile is clear, even in audio. ]

... It's hard to aspire when you've got a place you're supposed to be, right? Well — more accurately, if there's a box you fit into perfectly, and you think that's what you're supposed to be in, there's no way to think differently.

It's not a great feeling, at first. But I think you'll be fine. You've definitely got the right idea about things, if you ask me.

[ a little pause, and then his voice comes again, somewhat shyer. ]

Sorry — I meant to ask your name before.

[thebreakingwave]

I'm Harry. Harry Potter from Britain.

[There's a pause before he speaks again.]

And, yes, that's exactly it. I feel like everything I did was setting me up for one thing, one box, and I was basically built for that one thing.

[nubilate]

[ "built", huh.... hahah, it's a good choice of words, he supposes, though the suspicion it kicks in is fully automatic, and rather difficult to reign in. ]

So it was the wishes of others that sent you in that direction?... That's a rough feeling. I can relate.

It's really nice to meet you, Harry. It's okay to call you Harry, right? So far I'm guessing we're on a pretty similar track, but you never know if you're going to sound too informal, around here. Though, it's nice that we have all these multidimensional cultural differences, isn't it?

I'm David, from the US.