Conversations work because, at their best, they know more and produce more than their members.
A splendid think-piece moment about learning comes from LibraryThing's founder, before the ALA, and replying to the odious Gorman:
Former ALA President Michael Gorman... takes a curious starting point.
"Human beings learn, essentially, in only two ways. They learn from experience—the oldest and earliest type of learning—and they learn from people who know more than they do."
There is something attractive about this conception. Some people have experiences, and they pass it on, directly or through writing. Knowledge happens. We get it one way or the other.
But this has never been quite right. Learning and knowledge, at least important learning and knowledge, are a conversation. (emphasis added)
Perhaps Gorman's screeds can best be compared to fertilizer, if this kind of thing grows from that foul matrix.
And yes, that is one odd poster.
(via Dave Weinberger)
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