No problem with that. But keep in mind that another person's life entails exposure to things you are not familiar with. It is presumptuous to accuse a person of having a closed mind when they have read and digested material you have not. As for things beyond 3 dimensions, I will pay attention when there is evidence that we can't avoid. One of the things about a scientific education and a technical career is the development of a profound respect for what is true---because nothing will work if it is not true. I have read serious unconventional speculation by mature scientists, written at their level, and am a long ways beyond sophomoric bull sessions. I may have a higher standard for evaluating speculation.
Indeed, I have only learned from "other people" but consistently delved into both sides of any ideas. As I grew older, many nagging questions lingered that nobody had answers to. It was those questions that drove me out of the mainstream and into sources that at least weighed-in on the subject matter... right or wrong, they at least provided answers. Of course, for the most part, unverifiable. I know, the opposite of your approach. Even so, what I noticed was that most of these disparate sources begin to have dots that connected. That dot-connecting (though accidentally realized) begin to tell a story suggesting there could be something there. So the quest begin.
I spent over 30 years of travel trying to answer the question of which religion was right... even wrote a book about my findings and conclusions. As it turned out, science had the answers I sought. Science untraveled the mystery as to which religion was right and which was wrong. Curious? The answer science provided was the "how" part. How did they work. Turns out, they all used the exact same formula and they were all right... yet, they were all wrong at the same time. Worthy of discussion but too much to write here.
I've outlived too many friends and loved ones. You have to set your teeth for old age. And follow Solzhenitsyn's wise advice (paraphrased): "Never let bad fortune cast you down...but never let good fortune make you overjoyed. Maintain an even peace."
No problem with that. But keep in mind that another person's life entails exposure to things you are not familiar with. It is presumptuous to accuse a person of having a closed mind when they have read and digested material you have not. As for things beyond 3 dimensions, I will pay attention when there is evidence that we can't avoid. One of the things about a scientific education and a technical career is the development of a profound respect for what is true---because nothing will work if it is not true. I have read serious unconventional speculation by mature scientists, written at their level, and am a long ways beyond sophomoric bull sessions. I may have a higher standard for evaluating speculation.
Indeed, I have only learned from "other people" but consistently delved into both sides of any ideas. As I grew older, many nagging questions lingered that nobody had answers to. It was those questions that drove me out of the mainstream and into sources that at least weighed-in on the subject matter... right or wrong, they at least provided answers. Of course, for the most part, unverifiable. I know, the opposite of your approach. Even so, what I noticed was that most of these disparate sources begin to have dots that connected. That dot-connecting (though accidentally realized) begin to tell a story suggesting there could be something there. So the quest begin.
I spent over 30 years of travel trying to answer the question of which religion was right... even wrote a book about my findings and conclusions. As it turned out, science had the answers I sought. Science untraveled the mystery as to which religion was right and which was wrong. Curious? The answer science provided was the "how" part. How did they work. Turns out, they all used the exact same formula and they were all right... yet, they were all wrong at the same time. Worthy of discussion but too much to write here.
And also, okay you got me beat on the age scale.
I've outlived too many friends and loved ones. You have to set your teeth for old age. And follow Solzhenitsyn's wise advice (paraphrased): "Never let bad fortune cast you down...but never let good fortune make you overjoyed. Maintain an even peace."
Great quote! But I must correct you on something, "You have to keep your teeth for old age!" lol
Two of my favorite "live by" quotes.
"Everything works out in the end. If things aren't working out... you are at the end yet."
...and
"The wise man, though all laws were abolished, would lead the same life!"
I always like to refer to the Dilemma of Old Age:
Either you are falling apart---or you are an appalling fart!