Thread: Perception of greatness

Interesting article about how we percieve things, or take the time to appreciate things.

What a fantastic read! Thank you for sharing. Perhaps if Livi made a razor and put the words "Double Arrow" or even "Paksitan" on it...how many of would say more than "yeah, it's pretty good?" I am a straight razor shaver. I enjoy it, and I'm probably pretty good at it. I am not, yet, a master. Same with wine....if I had an Opus One in a $6 bottle....would I know more than "hey, that's a pretty good buy?" Now, make it a Scotch, a cigar, or a brandy, and I can probably tell that SOMETHING is up, more than meets the eye.
But GREATNESS? GENIUS? How likely am I to recognize it in areas that I don't consider myself expert? (including music...would I have stopped? I like to think so. Would I have recognized this greatness...I think it is hubris for me to pretend that I would.)

As an old philosphy major, I loved being reminded of some of those great discussions of beauty and art that I have read...I took a class in it, actually in undergrad, and I wish I knew then how much I would love to remember it all now...perhaps I would have kept my notes!

For those of you who have never closed your eyes and listend to Joshua Bell play...even if you are not a fan of classical music...give it a try. maybe ESPECIALLY if you are not a fan of classical music. You will be...at least for a while.

I'll be seeing him again in Boston November 27, and I can not wait. He is one of very, very few artists who have ever made me cry through music's beauty.

A local TV station did the same test here in Ottawa two years ago, one of the greatest musicians in the world playing her Strad on the street with the same results more or less.

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

What a fantastic read! Thank you for sharing. Perhaps if Livi made a razor and put the words "Double Arrow" or even "Paksitan" on it...how many of would say more than "yeah, it's pretty good?" I am a straight razor shaver. I enjoy it, and I'm probably pretty good at it. I am not, yet, a master. Same with wine....if I had an Opus One in a $6 bottle....would I know more than "hey, that's a pretty good buy?" Now, make it a Scotch, a cigar, or a brandy, and I can probably tell that SOMETHING is up, more than meets the eye.
But GREATNESS? GENIUS? How likely am I to recognize it in areas that I don't consider myself expert? (including music...would I have stopped? I like to think so. Would I have recognized this greatness...I think it is hubris for me to pretend that I would.)

As an old philosphy major, I loved being reminded of some of those great discussions of beauty and art that I have read...I took a class in it, actually in undergrad, and I wish I knew then how much I would love to remember it all now...perhaps I would have kept my notes!

For those of you who have never closed your eyes and listend to Joshua Bell play...even if you are not a fan of classical music...give it a try. maybe ESPECIALLY if you are not a fan of classical music. You will be...at least for a while.

I'll be seeing him again in Boston November 27, and I can not wait. He is one of very, very few artists who have ever made me cry through music's beauty.

Or vice versa, in regards to the GD/DAs?

If someone took a DA, and laser etched "Filly" on there, would the perception be of what a great shaver it was? But as a $10 razor, "it couldn't possibly be any good..."


As far as Albert Bell goes, I'm not shelling out $100 to see him. I'm waiting for the next time he plays the subway, caue I'm cheap like that!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Or vice versa, in regards to the GD/DAs?
If someone took a DA, and laser etched "Filly" on there, would the perception be of what a great shaver it was? But as a $10 razor, "it couldn't possibly be any good..."

Indeed. A cruel joke that has been played on new members of another community I used to be heavily invovled in (cigars) was to put the band of a VERY nice (Limited Edition Cuban, etc) cigar on a similalry sized/shaped/colored cheap-o, and watch them be WOWED by the "beast cigar they've EVER smoked!"

Originally Posted by Seraphim

As far as Albert Bell goes, I'm not shelling out $100 to see him. I'm waiting for the next time he plays the subway, caue I'm cheap like that!

I wouldn't pay that either!! For JOSHUA Bell, however, I'd pay considerably more(sorry, just being a bit of a jerk.)

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

I wouldn't pay that either!! For JOSHUA Bell, however, I'd pay considerably more(sorry, just being a bit of a jerk.)

I've been had!

Sorry, I didn't pay attention to the first name, as I'm no music afficianado.

The title, "Pearls Before Breakfast" comes from this I think:

Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

I'm not sure that's being fair to these worker stiffs. They can't just stop and smell the roses you know.


I'm familiar with the Chaconne. Very emotional J.S.Bach solo piece. Segovia played it on guitar.
YouTube - Andres Segovia Plays Bach Chaconne (Part 1)