Things you did as a child that got you...

[JonB]

...where you are today?

I was pondering over my life the other day. I'm 19 now, it feels strange that 10 years ago, I was only 2 years away from starting secondary school, life is moving so fast. I wasn't the cleverest at school, by year 6 I only got level 4's for English, Maths and Science, but I wasn't dumb either. Secondary school improved my knowledge somewhat. The advent of the internet allowed me and many others of my generation to pick up information faster than ever before.

However, whilst reminiscing privately myself the other day, I tried remember what I did as a child that gave me a generally sound general knowledge.

It sounds geeky and sad now, but I always remember getting my first encyclopedia, I was about 6 or 7. It was huge, must have been about 800 pages. It was designed with kids in mind. I remember the maker was "Kingfisher".

I didn't use it as a referencing tool as you would today, but I always remember as a child, i'd go to bed at say 8.30pm, and i'd spend an hour before going to sleep picking random pages and reading about particular subjects, for example the water cycle. Stuff I hadn't yet learned in school, however I already had background knowledge to it. My parents did not force this upon me, I didn't do it to excel myself intellect wise, I read this book, because I enjoyed it. I rarely read fictional books, I had TV for fantasy.

It's sad, but I feel the main reason I have a sound amount of general knowledge is because of reading that encyclopedia, I only studied Ghandi properly at University last year, but I already knew what he was about, where from? The trusty Kingfisher.

This isn't an ego trip, I rarely read anymore and feel no motivation to spread my wings and add knowledge. It's just I have finally came to a philosophical realisation, that it wasn't state education that made me, it was my own individual development and the choices and paths I chose to make.

It's a random thread and I hope I didn't bore you, but it's something I felt I needed to share, see if my opinions are reflected elsewhere.

Jon.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Dragonfly]

Now i feel old at 25 now you said that and you started my mind jogging to.

I remember using a soldering iron at 10 (yeah i know how unsafe but i wasnt stupid) to fix my casio keyboard when the circuit board used to snap at the adapter.

Also remember been given books from readers digest that no one was interested in like the myteries of earth and into the unknown filled with earth facts and ghost stuff i still have them and still pick themup and read them.

While clearing out the attic last week i found one of my old baby toys a wind up clock, and it hit home, i felt totally depressed and freaked out listening to it as it reminded me of some horror film so i was told to hide it. Alone with the old phone with the wheel that takes ten minutes to dial.
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All the breast.
Muzza on Binge:
He's too busy beating the everloving shit out of Lizzie to notice this thread has taken a turn down Drama Avenue and stopped off at the popcorn shop.

[hellkat]

I'm rather grateful my mother made me learn to type.

I wanted to do french and latin at school but she said No!, that I must at least be able to support myself when I left school, so I had to do commercial subjects, like typing, shorthand and commerce/economics. Ugh, hated it.

But now I'm rather pleased I did, as it's certainly kept me in the style to which I have become accustomed over the years

And I've picked up enough french or latin in the meantime to get by, anyway.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[killa]

Cool thread!!

Well I must admit I did read a lot when I was a child, but I was very selective in what I read.
My missus says I have a great quality in that I can pick up a conversation people are having and I know something about it. Even to the extent I can teach them something new. I know that sounds like I’m stroking my ego, but this is because I hate not knowing, I don’t like not knowing about things in general…..I’m not overly fussed about immense detail, just enough to hold my own in a group discussion.
I love finding out new things, the past has and does interest me but I’m always looking for new things and that’s what I did as a child.

Two examples that come to mind….

Something I know that has helped me in my adulthood is my dad, he was forever teaching me new things about the outdoors, how to start a fire….control it, and put it out. I used to play with fire a lot and soon learnt the dangers and the way it works, it’s not random and it’s not dangerous.
I remember going to my cousin’s house, he was turning 16, we messed around in the garden for a bit and then came back inside for food, his mum brought out the cake.
She went to the drawer and heard her mention she was getting ‘the lighter’ as in, this was the only lighter in the household.
I watched in amazement as a young boy, this woman struggling to light the thing, I’ve been burning thing’s most of my teens and this woman can’t light a candle.

I would say my passion to learn about all things, no matter how much detail has made me the person I am today.
This also means I think that I’m more willing to accept others for what they are and where they’re from.

My sisters are both older than me by about 7-8 years, I had met various lads they’d been with. Mel, quite liked black men. His name was James and I’l never forget that he spoke really articulately and posh…lol, he was from London and a real gentlemen as far as I can remember. I’d always have a laugh with him when he came round, he was one of those people when you’re younger that you look forward to seeing.
He came round one time, me and my best friend were playing SNES. Melissa comes in with James…..
“WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!!!!”
My mate hides behind the sofa and points at James.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[JonB]

[hellkat]

I think its very important to engender a sense of interest in many different things, even if you don't really understand them. At least you have a starting point when you are with people who DO understand or appreciate them, and you don't just look like a clueless twonk. Or you DO look like a clueless twonk and don't care cos at least you're picking up interesting bits and pieces ... (like me roaming about in the Geek forum, LOL - but at least I'm interested in learning new stuff, even if it all looks terribly brainy and way too techy for me)

I think nobody should discount learning new stuff. Not like going through a whole course or academia about subjects you're not interested in ... just having an interest in knowing about a subject that wouldn't normally attract you.

You never know when some useless bit of information will come in more useful than you ever realised.

Having a wide general knowledge has worked positively for me on many an occasion
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[pa_broon74]

[Dragonfly]

Just remember when my brother got a master system for xmas and i used to sneak into his room and play it. I was always stuck with my eyes glued to some gaming device.

I got a type writer to and my aunt use to work in a factory that made the ink ribbons so i got them free, no such thing as one of them factories around here now.

Also remember the streets being patrolled by soldiers and they used to give us sweets and all. They would hide out in our playing field across the road from my house and scare us in the long grass.
You wernt allowed to look out your window incase you where thought to be a sniper so when they passed you had to stand back from the window. The tv used to get bad interferance before they came because of their radios so you knew when they where about. You dont see any of that now. Happy memories there though.
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All the breast.
Muzza on Binge:
He's too busy beating the everloving shit out of Lizzie to notice this thread has taken a turn down Drama Avenue and stopped off at the popcorn shop.

[Dazbo666]

Very early on, I remember my dad admitting that he'd always been an atrocious speller, so he drummed English language and spelling in to us as extra homework after school.
Even after a full days hard work he'd always be willing to help us with our homework etc, and all this time later I'm making the extra effort in the same way with my own kids

At about 9 or 10 years old, I specifically remember saving my pocket money for 10 weeks so that I could buy the hardback version of David Attenborough's Life On Earth book as soon as it was released, and it spawned a lifelong love of natural history that I'm glad to nurture in my own step-daughters.

I also taught myself to type by trial and error when I had Commodore computers (a VIC 20 and later a Commodore 64).

...and later in my school life, at about 17, I remember deciding to stay at home to revise for my exams while my 'rents went away on holiday... and I surprised myself (and them) by actually studing most of the time that they were away. I got 9 'O levels' out of it so I guess that worked
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[J0Al1]

Yip

One example riden/hunted/evented and bought on young horses since the age of six. This has definitely made me able to copy in a situation not afraid of the elements and generally adventurous.

I appreciate winning, accept loosing and realise the winning is not normally about a red rosette or a silver cup.

I also believe it made me a much better car driver (amongst other things ).

Just a damn pity it hasn't helped with the bike (I'm NO natural).

[J0Al1]

PS - On down note, I had a hearing problem as a child which knocked my confidence for six and lead me to being run over. It took years for me to get over both elements.

[Cigaro]

I used to read encyclopedias, and physics text books, from the age of 6.

And I, too, knew how to solder by the time I was 8

I was obsessed with all things electronic and mechanical. Started going to the local go-kart track at 10 and was marshalling and fixing the karts soon afterwards.

I never really had much of a social life as a kid though, being home-educated and moving around from place to place constantly...

[Dan 4RR]

Hmmm, quite an interesting topic Jon B
Don't know if this is along the correct lines but heres my two pennies worth. At school I did ok, not the smartiest but neither the dumbiest contray to popular belief

Ever since I was young I've always been fasinated with how things work, guns , cars , planes , machines , trains ... you get the idea. I was extremley intrigued at these inventions. I know spend alot of my spare time .... dare I say it.... reading crap on wikepidia (sp) Knowledge is power as they say..

I've hunted with my older bro and dad since I was young , which meant skinning , guting rabbits , etc (Animals were dead btw before anyone starts) So things like this don't bother me now, nor does the slaughter of farm animals.

Plus there are other things such as my old man works down pits (yea laugh it up with the typical northern jokes ) but it gave me an insight into the basics of the coal mining industry which not alot of 'youths' know about or don't care about...meh
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[thegubner]

I was in the army cadets, which gave me a good physical well being for later in life, I dont mean just fitness but all round (if that makes sense).

It taught me a lot about people, learning to mix, ie-: there wernt many black people where i grew up and it was a bit racist, but in the army cadets were a wide range of people, so that bit of mixing set me up well in life if you know what I mean. I am guilty of telling racist jokes, but I tell em to my black and paki friends as well
.


The thing that set me up quite well though was being battered by my 19 stone 6 foot 4 step dad on a nearly daily basis. As now I wont tolerate bullies and despise them, this I believe helps in general life, as regardless of what people say I have a quite sound base of friends.


Don't know if any of that made any sense to anybody but it did to me.


Good thread.

[Ste]