The New General Knowledge Thread

Darth Bobo wrote:

BOK is pretty bad, at least i've seen that a few times

I suppose you havent been to the Chester Beatty either? Or the RIA where they have a manuscript older than the B(and there are several and they are not books)OK. Or the Library in Pearse street? what kind of education is Trinity providing you today? Maybe someone should email you a digitised version? I wonder if you ever bothered looking through a telescope. they are installing an observatory on the new physics building. Is that near enough for you? But the things you will see in it are so far away and you ewill never get there. I suppose you wonder why people bother. Maybe it is the free drink that gets people to all the library exhibitions?

John2 wrote:

Come off it, you know the majority of people never see what's on their own doorstep.

Do you mean they cant see very far because they have sunk in the footprints of giants?

Just because some of the people here haven't gone to the Book of Kells or the other museums doesn't mean they're ignorant idiots.

No. I agree. It does not. I have met people who have spent four years at Trinity and not gone to the Old Library, The Chapel, Commons, or even to oneof the other libraries in Trinity not in their discipline. does it not make you wonder why people might build roads over national monuments and few express any concern?

Maybe they aren't interested in it. How many students of English go to the Physics building to see the old instruments or the Hamilton library to read the old copies of Nature?

I would venture to suggest that more arts people are versed in sciences or engineering than vice versa. Mind you i do not necessarily subscribe to C P Snow's "Two Cultures". One can get Nature in the Museum Building library. the senior common room dropped the subscription of it last year. I would have thought the arts people read it since science departments already have it.

I am just concerned that people don't experience what they have on their doorstep. As you have pointed out this applies in a general way to all Dubliners.

What about TCD's botanic gardens in Dartry? Get off your high horse.

I know the keeper actually. They aren't that large. But you just reminded me of the Glasnevin ones. another of the greatest "free but avoided" places.

I aploogise if you think I was "talking down" from a high horse. I don't want you to pick me up in the wrong. I respect students. But I think they shouldnt miss on things which are free. they should also value what is there and be aware of it. though you may spend a week in small talk on it, in ten years time,you wont remember question two in yesterdays paper. But you will remember the Champions league final in the Pav. Or the first wicket/catch you took in cricket or the first time in the Old Library etc. THAT is education. It is not all about passing exams. Indeed IMHO it is a better education to live in one place for four years with other people than to pass exams. I am robbing the church/and that other University in Dublin's idea on a University here.

I am not such a snob as you may think. I believe many of us are snobs to some degree (no pun intended) but I DO think Trinity has some traditions worth cherishing. Otherwise they may become meaningless rituals. Also when you have access to something and dont use it it is very easy for people to remove that access.

I mean for example the students used to be able to change the SU constitution. With the recent changes it has gone from a la carte referenda to almost written in stone.

Anyway the corset- In the Arts block somewhere?

Myth wrote:

I didn't say the corset itself was around somewhere. I'm really surprised that this hasn't been *solved* before. And no, ISAW.

No i know. I am aware of the advertisment. It is a strip with a womans back a sort of profile and a schpeel on "Dr Scott's amazing electric corset" or words to that effect.

where did I see it. Is it somewhere anyone from the public might see or might just wander into?