#the learner writes

[thelearnerinsidethestudent]

Working at the public library. I have weekly exercise sets about algorithms which are usually not trivial and take me two-three days to resolve correctly. But this exercise in particular is just frustrating because I know how to do it using dynamic programming, but I'm supposed to use BFS because we haven't seen dynamic programming yet in this course

[thelearnerinsidethestudent]

I've finally sent a message to a stranger via amikumu after weeks of pondering it. I need someone to speak in esperanto to if I ever plan on becoming fluent.

Some people have chatted with me throught amikumu but they are either a lot older than me or too far away. The older factor makes me extra intimidated and unfortunately there are a lot more of older people talking esperanto than young, at least in here, so any person under 35 automatically becomes a candidate to be sent a message.

I'll eventually have to overcome the feelings of inadecuance that I get from being in the presence of ppl who are 'more adult' than me. It's such a shame that I'm missing on their experience and knowledge, not to speak that surely many of them are wonderful persons with quirks, worries and plans for life that I could be meeting but I'm not.

[thelearnerinsidethestudent]

Hi everyone!

I’m not sure how many of you read my posts, but for those of you interested, I’m currently living in Norway

I got granted a scholarship and, well, now I’m here. I’m doing three courses at the university here, I’ll go back home for christmas and then I’ll do another three more courses in here so I can complete the acadamic year. I’ve been here for a month already, and my classes started in the last week of august (which YIKES, if I was in spain my first week would have been THIS WEEK) but I’m really enjoying my time here so far. The faculties are really nice, the teachers and TAs are usually helpful and I’m meeting many new places and people. it does get lonely from time to time, but I’m okay with loneliness, I’ve got no rush to form meaninful connections and I have skype with my dear friends roughly each week.

I’m not very sure about what to do with this blog. my interests are mostly organizational apps and skills, computer science (IA and programming in particular), mental health and languages, so if you want you can suggest I talk about this things or the city I’m living in to get this blog some more posts.

kay, read you later

[theverityofmay]

Are you morally superior?

Here come western senses of superiority, the idea of continents existing at all, of the need to "civilise". But in that kernel of "goodness" where the West wished to liberate other countries from morally reprehensible activities, there also came a sense of division, and the idea that possessing X Y Z moral beliefs made one a better, superior person. A superior nation. One which should spread, dominate, and erase all other ways of living.

Is to be a good person to be a better person? I think most would say yes. To be a good person, is it your compulsion to then better others? To bend them to your moral standard? To enforce your ways upon them to end their own evil ways? To take away their agency to do "wrong", however "wrong" is defined in your own subjective eyes, and force upon them your "good" ways?

It is so interesting. One might want to strip down morality to its most basic principles to avoid the evils committed by the west in their pursuit of enforcing moral superiority (among other interests). Ideas like "don't have slaves" for instance. But the moment you wish to enforce such a rule, you require consequence, which requires system, and institutions, which come with culture, installing powers to enforce such systems, and maintaining hegemony.

And that's not even considering the variability of morality. How modern powers themselves are divided on the justice of the "death penalty" which proposes that murder is okay if state-sanctioned and determined deserved by the systems in place. But it is not okay if taken in revenge by an individual who is not endorsed by the state. That individual was not vetted by the system, and the just cause for the murder had not yet been determined by the system's criteria and opinion, as determined by the system's culture.

Morality is enforced by system, which is tied into the cultures in which those systems were constructed. If you wish to enforce your morality upon another, you must bring with you the culture whereby your morality can be enforced.

[theverityofmay]

What's the Truth of it?

I share what I find interesting in what I research.

One day, I'll have learnt enough to write a book. But, right now, I know that I know nothing.

Currently Reading: The Penguin History of the Twentieth Century by J M Roberts.

Recommend a book to me?

Non-fiction: Books that deal with how civilisation came to exist and function, so that I may plan out my own fictional world. Particularly interested in the 1900s, but also interested in the buildup there before.

Fiction: Alternate histories.

Share an interesting historical fact with me?

That's the whole purpose of this blog! Very much appreciated.

A Waiver On My Own Opinions

I don't consider myself particularly smart. Don't read anything I say without question. I will still share my thoughts, at risk of seeming stupid and uneducated. But that's sort of the point, isn't it? This is a journey in the pursuit of becoming educated.

[thelearnerinsidethestudent]

tfw you start recognizing sympthoms of some anxiety disorder in your parents and realise that they don’t listen when you complain about them because they actually, honestly think that that’s just how life is supposed to be

[thelearnerinsidethestudent]

This week has been TIRING

I had to turn in an assignment on tuesday, the fire alarm went off in the dorm on wednesday because some idiot was smoking, on thursday I started a group assignment which ofc is stressing me the hell out and yesterday I had to go to the police to register myself as a foreing resident. Yesterday night I was so tired that I got a migraine and I've had to wear my earplugs until noon today because it was so bad. I'm never doing things again.