🚀 go-pugleaf

From [ Marc Abrams (990421.1542) ]


> Bill Powers (990420.1553 MDT) in response to a post by Bruce Gregory

> > Why are you so worried all of a sudden about people thinking
> > our ideas are
> > bizarre or that we are "flakes?" RE the other post, there
> > are plenty of
> > professional control system designers who do a lousy job of it. Do you
> > really care what they think? I don't.

Sorry Bill, I care, and I know Bruce cares. I think most of us care. I care
because I think PCT is important and if people do not take it seriously they
will not spend the time trying to learning it

If _we_ ( if it's ok with Rick :-) ) want PCT to be taken seriously by
others, _we_ need to take others seriously. If I have learned anything about
how people work, the lesson most hammered into my thick skull, is that each
of us determines what we will. and won't pay attention to.  _REGARDLESS_ of
what we ( others ) might think, feel, say, or do ( short of physical
coercion, that is :-) )

Bruce G is right on target with this. To say that a Control Engineer does
not "understand" control will only alienate. The same way that saying that a
conventional Psychologist does not "understand" behavior. We might be
_technically_ accurate but it does not help us win many friends.

I don't disagree with the notion that "bridges" for both conventional
Psychologists and control theorists do _not_ exist. New thinking is
required. Old ideas must be scrapped and replaced. But this must be done
from the perspective of the learner. Not the teacher. The recognition that
our understanding of _anything_ is off, _must_ come from _within_ each of
us. How do we help people do this? I really don't know, but telling someone
that they are talking out of there a__ is _not_ a good way to begin :-)

I think we need to find ways of helping people get to where they want to go.
But first, you've got to find out where they want to go. Then you have to
find out where they are starting from. There is no quick and effortless way
of doing this. It will require effort.  Maybe more effort then anyone really
cares to give. If that's the case it's wise to try and find that out before
to much time is wasted going no-where for all concerned.

Teaching ( I actually prefer Bruce G's "coach" ) is not about technical
subject expertise. It's about spending a whole lot of effort helping people
help themselves. PCT 101 if you will :-).

Hank F. I know this is a subject near and dear to you. Any thoughts?


Marc