Comments on: The Best Decline Letter of All-Time: Edmund Wilson http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/10/07/edmund-wilson-letter/ Tim Ferriss's 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:27:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Benjamin Pilkington http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/10/07/edmund-wilson-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-61262 Benjamin Pilkington Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:41:22 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=2229#comment-61262 Edmund Wilson was often thought arrogant, as am I. There are many far worse human failings than arrogance. Here's one: a pathetic propensity to spout inane claims for a classless human family in which no one has greater value to society than oneself -- which, when you consider it, is a sign of . . . arrogance. Edmund Wilson was often thought arrogant, as am I. There are many far worse human failings than arrogance. Here’s one: a pathetic propensity to spout inane claims for a classless human family in which no one has greater value to society than oneself — which, when you consider it, is a sign of . . . arrogance.

]]> By: Robert http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/10/07/edmund-wilson-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-61231 Robert Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:58:54 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=2229#comment-61231 I am amazed at the variety of attitudes that are revealed in a situation such as this. In response to Benjamin, the world consists of people who are more accomplished or less accomplished than others. To claim that that others are presumably our betters is truly misguided. That point of view comes across as arrogant. You can never be better than someone.... just as you can never be worse. I'm expecting a tirade of angry emotion in response to my comment. Please surprise me by responding otherwise. I am amazed at the variety of attitudes that are revealed in a situation such as this.

In response to Benjamin, the world consists of people who are more accomplished or less accomplished than others. To claim that that others are presumably our betters is truly misguided. That point of view comes across as arrogant.

You can never be better than someone…. just as you can never be worse.

I’m expecting a tirade of angry emotion in response to my comment.
Please surprise me by responding otherwise.

]]> By: Benjamin Pilkington http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/10/07/edmund-wilson-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-61141 Benjamin Pilkington Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:34:17 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=2229#comment-61141 > I was thinking ‘this is great’ right up until I saw that line, then I thought ‘this guy is a jerk!’. That is no way to treat the people who were responsible for the financial gains that he enjoyed.< This statement reveals a delusion characteristic of our society. The public do not share credit for the achievements of the people from whose work they benefit. Edmund Wilson was their superior: their consumption of his work was proof of that fact. They did not become his equal by paying him for his work. Delusions of this sort are what bring increasing numbers of complaints from my B and C students, who expect that in paying tuition they have paid for an A, rather than the opportunity to earn one. Readers here would do well to heed that distinction, and express due respect to their betters. > I was thinking ‘this is great’ right up until I saw that line, then I thought ‘this guy is a jerk!’. That is no way to treat the people who were responsible for the financial gains that he enjoyed.<

This statement reveals a delusion characteristic of our society. The public do not share credit for the achievements of the people from whose work they benefit. Edmund Wilson was their superior: their consumption of his work was proof of that fact. They did not become his equal by paying him for his work. Delusions of this sort are what bring increasing numbers of complaints from my B and C students, who expect that in paying tuition they have paid for an A, rather than the opportunity to earn one. Readers here would do well to heed that distinction, and express due respect to their betters.

]]> By: Vince Golangco http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/10/07/edmund-wilson-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-59178 Vince Golangco Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:26:38 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=2229#comment-59178 Where was this article when I needed it? lol. I've volunteered for way too many things this year! Need to draft one up for next year! Due to having better things to do, Vince sincerely regrets that he cannot: without compensation: be your friend give you a shoulder to cry on help you with your tie be part of your wedding entourage visit you at the hospital see your relatives put the new cover sheets on the TPS reports under any circumstances: be your beer pong partner go to a lame party with you talk to a drunk you while I'm sober help you deal with your latest break-up sleep with your mother Where was this article when I needed it? lol. I’ve volunteered for way too many things this year! Need to draft one up for next year!

Due to having better things to do, Vince sincerely regrets that he cannot:

without compensation:

be your friend
give you a shoulder to cry on
help you with your tie
be part of your wedding entourage
visit you at the hospital
see your relatives
put the new cover sheets on the TPS reports

under any circumstances:

be your beer pong partner
go to a lame party with you
talk to a drunk you while I’m sober
help you deal with your latest break-up
sleep with your mother

]]> By: Muhammad http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/10/07/edmund-wilson-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-57279 Muhammad Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:00:48 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=2229#comment-57279 I have not gotten to the point where it would make sense to have a pre-made rejection letter, and perhaps never will, but I really like the idea of a not-to-do list -- basically a list of things that are so unproductive or so outside our core focus that we ought to either outsource them or simply ignore them. I have not gotten to the point where it would make sense to have a pre-made rejection letter, and perhaps never will, but I really like the idea of a not-to-do list — basically a list of things that are so unproductive or so outside our core focus that we ought to either outsource them or simply ignore them.

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