Take advice from all people
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Take advice from all people
Why not just take advise from the wise? Because you may take someone as wise, but you can never be sure he is wise. Besides, even not a wise-guy, he may fool you for being so stupid. Even if not, you can never be sure his advice is always wise, even if he is genuine. You can, of course, become a fan of his, but then you would have to humble yourself unconditionally. You may be worshipping him.
Taking advice is different from following advice. This is apparent, since advices can be diverse and contrary. if so, why bother? Why not draw a lot? Because you have a brain. You can distinguish the difference, to make up your mind. First of all, keep an open mind. Nothing is more important. Next, take advice from all people. Third, let those advices compete and fight among themselves in your mind. Which advice wins, you are the winner in the end. You are wise.
I am not about to offend anyone, but I think the selective choice of taking advice only from the smart or wise is arrogant, stupid, wrong, and discriminating. Only a fool would choose to listen to what he chooses to be wise.
I can recall an old Chinese saying, which goes something like: The suggestion from three ignorant common folks is better than that from someone like Confucius. Don't agree? Let me listen from you, whoever you are.
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Re: Take advice from all people
I learned everything I need to know about alcohol from my dad, he died an alcoholic. He taught me the power of addiction.
I learned about the power to forgive, from a lady who made me incredibly angry for several months. I learned more about forgiveness, when on two occasions I met someone who was in the process of ending their life. Injustice and anger had led them to the point of despair.
My twelve year old grand daughter has given me sound advice.
It is far easier giving advice, because we don't have to act on it. All the advice is out there for most things. The problem is whether or how we choose to act on it.
If the suggestions from three ignorant people are still around in a thousand years, then I would agree with you. I believe some of the sayings of Confucius are profound and they have stood the test of time.The suggestion from three ignorant common folks is better than that from someone like Confucius.
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Re: Take advice from all people
It's true that a fool may well pick idiots to be their experts.
But for others they notice, for example, that certain people can play golf well. So, they approach these people for tips and not the people who are terrible at it. That increases, I think, the chances that they will get good tips. Even over three random people.
If I know someone has training in fixing Mercedes, again, I will be more likely to choose them for advice over three random people.
If I see someone with qualities of character, personality that I would like, I will be much more likely to ask them about how their acquired these or how they manage to exhibit these, rather than asking ten random people who haven't struck me in any way at all.
There are no guarantees, but I think there are many excellent heuristics for choosing who to listen to and consider wise.
Just because some people have terrible heuristics, doesn't mean I should give up mine.
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Re: Take advice from all people
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Re: Take advice from all people
Andther way to come at this is to ask if you would go to a doctor if you found a lump in your armpit or would you ask three random people?
And I should make it clear...I treat doctors less like deities than most people. But generallly if I go against a doctor, someone else who I consider an expert has supported my difference with the doctor. And then, of course, we are experts in some ways, those paying attention, to our own bodies and the bodies of those we live with. I consider doctors and relevant professionals and myself to be vastly more expert regarding my health than three randoms strangers. On average, that is.
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Re: Take advice from all people
You have missed my point that "Taking advice is different from following advice . . ." On medical opinion, it goes without saying that you should value more that of doctor's, but you may also distrust doctor's recommendation, depending on the circumstances. Should you also take the advice of your neighbor who has undergone the same experience, and in the process wait a bit. What if your neighbor has died? No, he can no longer advise you, but his death should serve as an advice.Moreno wrote: ↑December 15th, 2022, 1:15 pmAndther way to come at this is to ask if you would go to a doctor if you found a lump in your armpit or would you ask three random people?
And I should make it clear...I treat doctors less like deities than most people. But generallly if I go against a doctor, someone else who I consider an expert has supported my difference with the doctor. And then, of course, we are experts in some ways, those paying attention, to our own bodies and the bodies of those we live with. I consider doctors and relevant professionals and myself to be vastly more expert regarding my health than three randoms strangers. On average, that is.
In this respect, you should take advice from failure as well from successful stories, from the smart, the stupid, the careless, the prudent, and what not. Want to be happy? Take advice both from the happy and the miserable.
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Re: Take advice from all people
Which, as I said, I do. I really do think I got your point, but disagree. What you just said would apply even more to three random people.gad-fly wrote: ↑December 15th, 2022, 2:38 pm You have missed my point that "Taking advice is different from following advice . . ." On medical opinion, it goes without saying that you should value more that of doctor's, but you may also distrust doctor's recommendation, depending on the circumstances.
Sure, noting failures works fine, if one has time. If I am dealing with cancer I may not have the luxury of waiting to see if my neighbor passes the 5 year mark.Should you also take the advice of your neighbor who has undergone the same experience, and in the process wait a bit. What if your neighbor has died? No, he can no longer advise you, but his death should serve as an advice.
In this respect, you should take advice from failure as well from successful stories, from the smart, the stupid, the careless, the prudent, and what not. Want to be happy? Take advice both from the happy and the miserable.
And note, even here, the neighbor who has cancer has certainly qualities that random people likely do not: he is willing to share his advice AND he has cancer. So, in this way he is not random and has some kind of expertise compared to someone with no expertise and who has never had cancer. So, his opinion would weigh more than some other amateur advice giver, though this does not mean remotely that I automatically follow the advice.
Nothing you've said here contradicts what I said. I simply said I value some people's advice more that others, given my own assessment of their training experience wisdom and more.
And again, yes some/many people may choose their experts unwisely, but that does not mean that I do. Some people know more about various facets of life and one can whittle down the sources of one's advice effectively.
- byetata276
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Re: Take advice from all people
- Newme
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Re: Take advice from all people
2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month
Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023