Whykings
Neurotron | 16 November 2004, 11:33amPioneers are essentially ‘Why-kings’ – those who constantly ask ‘why?’ or ‘why not?’
Just like the Vikings. In many ways, the Vikings were pioneers, in terms of exploration of the lands around them, for instance. In those times, that was arguably the best or only way human knowledge was considered expandable. Leaving aside the argument of their reasons for exploration or invasion, their very endeavour reveals an underlying human trait – the quest for understanding what lies beyond.
And yet, we do not, by and large, encourage questions from those who ask the most fundamental ones – children. It is said that Einstein was able to achieve what he did because he asked the simplest questions, as a child might. What if a person traveled as fast as the light from the headlight of this train? I believe his ideas on relativity stemmed from a clock he saw on a station platform, as he was traveling home from work. And the very basic questions he asked himself about the relative passage of time for someone on the platform and someone traveling at the speed of light were what gave rise to one of the most celebrated scientific theories in human history.
When I was young, I remember most of my questions to my father, about anything, were almost invariably answered by something which amounted to “why do you need to know?” Thankfully, my mother encouraged my questioning mind and helped me learn how to find answers to them. I remember, at around the age of 9 or so, I used to ask a fair number of questions about how much things cost. A chocolate, a soft drink, the servants’ salary, a car. It probably stemmed from a desire to understand the relative value of things. Which becomes increasingly important as a child grows up. I was almost never told what anything cost. This just might explain why I am hopeless at bargaining.
Few things are as irritating as people who question just for the heck of it, or to appear smart. But every time we shush a curious child without at least trying to explain the world to them, we just might be repressing genius. There is a fine line between raising a genuinely inquisitive child to think constructively and creating a painfully supercilious know-it-all. Every parent can only hope their kids turn out alright. If I have a child, I can only hope I will find the fortitude and patience to answer all his questions, and the courage to admit I don’t know the answers to everything.
Let us nurture our Whykings. Let us temper their curiosity and not dismiss their innocent queries as ridiculous. Let us help them on their journey of discovery of this thing we call life. They may teach us something yet – about what we think are our limitations and how we can surpass them.
Everybody can be a teacher, everybody a student.
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1. By mls | 16 Nov 2004, 12:33pm
Oh boy! Can I relate to that! I perpetually asked my folks so many questions. It was always a battle of my curiosity and zeal v/s their patience and wits. More often than not their patience wore out and I drove them up the wall...actually I dont blame them. They kept discouraging my questions ... I got hold of all my aunts and uncles and grandparents. Never spared anyone :)
Nice post, especially the way you ended it.
2. By drp | 16 Nov 2004, 1:25pm
Where the heck did this come from? Who cares...it has so much meaning and so much sense I wont even go into saying its "nice".
So much wisdom at so young an age...[-x
em cheppinav anna!
:p
3. By Neurotron | 16 Nov 2004, 2:59pm
drp, mls - thank you guys. :-)
4. By Ravi | 16 Nov 2004, 3:12pm
Hey nice post man.... can so relate to it. I was really really lucky, the more questions I asked the more I was encouraged..... it was great. And also I reckon the Why-Kings should also specially be encouraged in schools, which rarely happens.
We used to travel a ton when I was a kid, and a normal journey lasted somewhere around 6 hours with very short breaks, and I remember me n my sis asking questions all through, and my mum and dad answering every single one. They are wonderful. Now I'm no Why-King........ but I reckon questioning needs to be encouraged.
5. By aloque | 16 Nov 2004, 8:05pm
this from the guy who once tried to squeeze the loque from aloque....
6. By Neurotron | 17 Nov 2004, 9:41am
~aloque: no i did NOT!when?when?
(and dude, dont say it like that...it sounds...weird. Squeezing stuff..not everyone knows what 'loque' stands for!)
Worai.
7. By aloque | 17 Nov 2004, 7:02pm
no..dont deny the attempt to de-loque aloque...
remember the time you said ... inta question cheyyaku ra annitini....
huh?
huh?
8. By Neurotron | 18 Nov 2004, 9:44am
heh heh. no, not really. But I dont have to worry abt your loques anymore. First, they've come down over the past 2 months (u know why). Second, i probably don't bear the brunt of them anymore!
Yay!
:-D