OT
Some might agree with this, but it won't change anything, so I don't know why I'm posting it, except that I have my philosopher's hat on today. Oh, and every once in awhile, I have to make sure my SI is still working. Is there a lesson for us in the following? A parallel? I don't know; decide for yourself.
[[EXCERPTS FROM TIME MAGAZINE
THE EQ FACTOR --- New brain research suggests that emotions, not IQ, may be the true measure of human intelligence BY NANCY GIBBS]]
"It turns out that a scientist can see the future by watching four-year-olds interact with a marshmallow. The researcher invites the children, one by one, into a plain room and begins the gentle torment. You can have this marshmallow right now, he says . But if you wait while I run an errand, you can have two marshmallows when I get back. And then he leaves. Some children grab for the treat the minute he's out the door. Some last a few minutes before they give in.
*Note: Daytraders and shortermers, if you haven't already stopped reading at this point, do so now.
"But others are determined to wait . They cover their eyes; they put their heads down; they sing to themselves; they try to play games or even fall asleep. When the researcher returns, he gives these children their hard-earned marshmallows..."
*2nd Note: This last part isn't good news for some, but longterm diehards--keep reading. There is relevance for you.
"And then, science waits for them to grow up. By the time the children reach high school, something remarkable has happened. A survey of the children's parents and teachers found that those who as four-year-olds had the fortitude to hold out for the second marshmallow generally grew up to be better adjusted, more popular, adventurous, confident and dependable teenagers. The children who gave in to temptation early on were more likely to be lonely, easily frustrated and stubborn. They buckled under stress and shied away from challenges. And when some of the students in the two groups took the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the kids who had held out longer scored an average of 210 points higher." |
