Phenomena (dooo doooo doo doo doo)

[mizarchivist]

I've been knitting a lot on the train lately. I may have people staring at me constantly and I may not notice, because I certainly stare a lot at other knitters when we cross paths. My current project is a sock with a wandering, free-form cable design. And for whatever reason, I've noticed 2 sets of admirers on 2 consecutive evening commutes.

The first was group: mom her 2 daughters, the younger was probably 6 or 7 and the other a young teenager, I think. The 7 yr old was just fascinated  in the way that kids are. So I asked if she wanted to see. OH yes. I let her touch it, showed her it was a sock, showed her how stretchy it was. The mom stated "I [the mom] could never do something like that."  This was the red line, they got out at Central-- I suggested she go to Minds Eye if she wanted to try it out. The mom was pretty much not convinced. Then yesterday, I had 2 women pretty much do a repeat of admire and praise and emphatic self-deprecation that they could never.

This time I was not having it. Sure you can. First you really suck for a while, then you get better. Just like everything. It's OK if you don't want to figure it out, but I am not OK with the concept that it's impossible.  I taught myself to knit in college. It's been in my background for years and lately I've made a point of doing more. Primarily because I have in-house encouragement in asciikitty. And lo! I am light-years better in all my fiber activities because I keep at it.  But please, dear ones... and I'm looking even more meaningfully at The Ladies who have thus far filled my interactions this week... don't undercut yourselves. Be free to not pick up a new skill because you are not interested (Hi, I don't want to sew, possibly ever), not because you think you just aren't capable.

Comments

[ceo]

Sing it! I was like that about learning guitar for far too long. And guess what, I still suck at it, but that's because I have trouble finding time to practice and not because it's beyond my capabilities. (So far.)

[samuraizergling.livejournal.com]

I have a raging-hot spot in my brain for parents who do this to their children. One time when someone I knew did it to their child (not knitting), I mentioned it and was told "Oh, there's no way we could afford that right now so I don't want to encourage it."

Then TELL THEM THAT!

Don't plant doubt and uncertainty in a child's mind about their abilities when you don't have to. Please? *End Rant*

[42itous.livejournal.com]

Amen.

[mizarchivist]

... WOW. Yeah, that's super not OK. Never occurred to me that one would say that to their child saying they couldn't figure it out. The mom in this story was speaking strictly about her own capacity, at least. Apologies if I conveyed something other than that.

[samuraizergling.livejournal.com]

Oh. (Anger levels falling.)

[mizarchivist]

I can see why you'd have read it that way... too many pronouns that were the same.

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

This is why we need fourth-person pronouns.

[lifecollage.livejournal.com]

*nod* *nod* *nod*

In fact, the latest from Zen Pencils is right on that topic: a quote from James Rhodes, concert pianist (http://zenpencils.com/comic/rhodes/)

[veek.livejournal.com]

OMG, it seems to know EXACTLY how much time I have in a day—and I seem to have misplaced FIVE HOURS of it. Not to mention most of my energy when I do have "free" time, and money for the "right" teacher.

Presumptuous doesn't even begin to cover this cartoon.

[mizarchivist]

I couldn't account for all the hours he was talking...
I will take away with how much internet do I really need to consume? Eh... But sometimes quiet screen time is all I have left.

I will take away the bit of: if you want to learn a new thing, go for it... don't let the coulda shoulda woulda stop you if that's the only thing holding you back.

Moms with small kids are in their own special places, I think. Eh? I'm tired. I don't feel coherent. I hope this made sense.

[veek.livejournal.com]

It did make sense! <3