The Derbyshire Saga
Alex deVries
: Ok, kids... here's the voice from the cheap seats, on the Derbyshire Saga
: (tm).
Chris, I really must thank you.
Today has been the absolute worst. My gf didn't get the job she was
hoping for. I almost lost mine in a restructuring, and I found out that
neither the Mac or i8086 ports of Linux are any good. All in all, the
worst day I've had in months.
But having read this, I laughed... hung up my Penguin calendar I've been
meaning to hang up since Jan 1, promised myself I'd buy some red wine
this evening, and suddenly I realized that there were people much worse
off than me.
- Alex
Alex deVries
<Various snips throughout>
: There is one unfortunate aspect that is perhaps being overlooked here.
: I've heard from a couple of people who have Paul in their class that
: he is a genius.
: words. As well, there is a overhead being shown. Within one minuit,
: Paul pipes up "Sir, Sir, there's a spelling mistake on the second page
: *AND* on the overhead. This is completely unnacceptable! Can't you
: even spell? . . . "
: I don't think that there's any doubt that Paul is a very screwed up
: man, but from what I hear he is by any definition, a genius.
I have a simple question here: Does being able to spot spelling mistakes
quickly make one a genius?
- Alex "IYHABAACSWCYD?" deVries
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex deVries, System Administrator, EngSoc
Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
http://www.engsoc.carleton.ca/~adevries/
Steven Meece
> <clap clap>
I sat in front of two Chemistry students on the 118, at around 5:30pm.
They were talking about it.
1. The assaulted TA is named Steven (or more likely Stephen.)
2. They do not know Paul Derbyshire by name, but they do know that
contrary to observation, he is not 14. He is a regular 19 year old
highschool graduate.
3. This is the talk of the school right now.
They think that he is just someone who snapped from BSc pressure. I think
this will become a chemistry legend, passed on from undergrad to undergrad
for years. In turn it will be elevated from one punch to an all-out brawl.
---
Steven Meece
http://chat.carleton.ca/~smeece
When a nation's young men are conservative, its funeral bell is
already rung.
- Henry Ward Beecher
Jamie LaBrash
> In article <DMFqK...@cunews.carleton.ca>,
> Andrea Toole <ato...@chat.carleton.ca> wrote:
> :P.S. Doesn't Jamie still owe me a pizza? 8-)
Actually, I thought YOU owed me pizza. A half of one to be exact.
> Why does Jamie owe you a pizza? Can I get in on some of this free pizza
> action?
I don't think that will be happening, Kia. Basically, due to the fact
that you are complete opposites with respect to pizza toppings.
However, if you really suck up to me I might be able to get you a good
deal on Loeb pizza and vegetable samosas.
*--------------...@chat.carleton.ca--------------------*
Help me bring back the ultimate food! Go to Ben & Jerry's
Flavour Graveyard at http://www.benjerry.com/graveyard and ask
For the return of Chocolate Raspberry Swirl Frozen Yogurt!
*--------------http://www.eng.carleton.ca/chat/~jlabrash----------*
Jamie LaBrash
> cev...@superior.carleton.ca (Chris Evans) wrote:
> >Ok, kids... here's the voice from the cheap seats, on the Derbyshire Saga
> >(tm).
> There is one unfortunate aspect that is perhaps being overlooked here.
> I've heard from a couple of people who have Paul in their class that
> he is a genius.
I'd say idiot savant.
> For example, someone told me this story tonight:
> Paul walks into his class about five minuits late. He grabs a handout
> on the way in. The handout is two pages long, completely covered with
> words. As well, there is a overhead being shown. Within one minuit,
> Paul pipes up "Sir, Sir, there's a spelling mistake on the second page
> *AND* on the overhead. This is completely unnacceptable! Can't you
> even spell? . . . "
IF he were a genius I would suspect that he would possess at least some
degree of tact.
> I don't think that there's any doubt that Paul is a very screwed up
> man, but from what I hear he is by any definition, a genius.
Well there are many different types of intelligence and while Paul might
be blessed with an abundance of some types, he is completely lacking in
others.
> I hope that Paul get's all of the help that he needs, I also hope that
> he is able to come back and finish his studies. I have no doubt that
> when he finally calms down, or finds a tollerant organization he will
> do *extreemely* well.
Well, if his problems are neurological in nature than I doubt that there
will be anything that will solve his problems in the near future. If
there was anything that could have been done to help him I would suspect
that it would already have been done.
Jamie LaBrash
> K.M. Mennie (kme...@superior.carleton.ca) wrote:
> : Substitute `Paul' with `Kia,' and you have a fairly accurate image of my
> : grade school years.
> And she posts it!
Well there is a difference between acting like that when you are 6 and
when you are 19.
I acted similiar to the way Paul did on Monday when I was in grade school
but there's a big difference between throwing a tantrum when you are a
child and when you are an alleged adult.
Jamie LaBrash
> adev...@lager.engsoc.carleton.ca (Alex deVries) wrote:
> >I have a simple question here: Does being able to spot spelling mistakes
> >quickly make one a genius?
> >- Alex "IYHABAACSWCYD?" deVries
> I hope not, that would put me pretty low on the pecking order.
> However, I do think that it does show that Paul has something that the
> rest of us couldn't ever hope to grasp. Aparently he get's marks like
> I've never seen before, never mind even hoped to have gotten myself.
I remember Paul telling me that he graduated high school with an average
of about 90. Although that is really good, it isn't really amazing.
> We seem to like scapegoating Paul as a moron, as it certainly seems
> appropriate given the way he conducts himself online, never mind the
> stories that are circulating about him. Unfortunately I think that we
> might be taking the easy way out here. It is far to easy for us to
> label him as a moron, twit, buffoon, etc.
But he is all those things with respect to interpersonal relations.
> Someone earlier posted a suspicion that he might be autistic, or have
> some similar mental illness. I have had the opportunity of dealing
> with some autistic children who were siblings of friends back home. I
> know that these people often appear to be quite incompetent on the
> outside, but if given the time they will do some remarkable things.
> I'd hate to imagine that we are mislableing Paul as this moron when,
> god known, the Man has tremendous potential.
No offence, but I really wouldn't call Paul a man.
K.M. Mennie
Andrea Toole <ato...@chat.carleton.ca> wrote:
:P.S. Doesn't Jamie still owe me a pizza? 8-)
Why does Jamie owe you a pizza? Can I get in on some of this free pizza
action?
K.M. Mennie
Andrew Metcalfe <amet...@ccs.carleton.ca> wrote:
: Paul walks into his class about five minuits late. He grabs a handout
:on the way in. The handout is two pages long, completely covered with
:words. As well, there is a overhead being shown. Within one minuit,
:Paul pipes up "Sir, Sir, there's a spelling mistake on the second page
:*AND* on the overhead. This is completely unnacceptable! Can't you
:even spell? . . . "
Substitute `Paul' with `Kia,' and you have a fairly accurate image of my
grade school years.
K.M. Mennie
Jamie LaBrash <jlab...@chat.carleton.ca> wrote::> : Substitute `Paul' with `Kia,' and you have a fairly accurate image of my
:> : grade school years.
:> And she posts it!
:I acted similiar to the way Paul did on Monday when I was in grade school
:but there's a big difference between throwing a tantrum when you are a
I meant I acted in a similar manner w.r.t. the spelling and grammar errors
of teachers. Grade three was particularly hellish; teacher couldn't write
properly to save her life, and I couldn't stand her (quite unrelated,
really), so at least once a day I took great delight in raising my hand
and pointing out the mistakes on the blackboard. She hated me too, natch,
but what was she going to do - complain to the principal that I corrected
her errors too much?
Thinking about this, I suspect that spelling might be something you're
born with, and not a learned item.
As for tantrums, the closest I ever came was in grade eight, when I and my
homeroom teacher used to regularly stand out in the hall and swear at each
other.
Andrew Metcalfe
>Ok, kids... here's the voice from the cheap seats, on the Derbyshire Saga
>(tm).
There is one unfortunate aspect that is perhaps being overlooked here.
I've heard from a couple of people who have Paul in their class that
he is a genius.
For example, someone told me this story tonight:
Paul walks into his class about five minuits late. He grabs a handout
on the way in. The handout is two pages long, completely covered with
words. As well, there is a overhead being shown. Within one minuit,
Paul pipes up "Sir, Sir, there's a spelling mistake on the second page
*AND* on the overhead. This is completely unnacceptable! Can't you
even spell? . . . "
I don't think that there's any doubt that Paul is a very screwed up
man, but from what I hear he is by any definition, a genius.
I hope that Paul get's all of the help that he needs, I also hope that
he is able to come back and finish his studies. I have no doubt that
when he finally calms down, or finds a tollerant organization he will
do *extreemely* well.
Andrew Metcalfe
Canadian Studies at Carleton University.
End User Education, Metcalfe Consulting, Toronto Free-Net.
See the best of Carleton's webspace at http://www.carleton.ca/bestof
Jessica Cohen
> that they had reputations as social outcasts. I'm not sure who said the
> following statement or where it came from but here goes..."There's a thin
> line between insanity and genius."
I'm not sure where it comes from either, but I have always heard it as
"There is a fine line between insanity and genius. Cross it".
Actually a friend of mine on the PGD something-like-yet-entirely-unlike-a-
mailing-list suggested that Paul might have a syndrome called 'Asperger's',
which apparently means "a difficulty being able to make empathic connections
with other people."
Which would fit his witnessed online & offline behaviour; he does not pick up
on other people's clues, even when they are shoved down his throat.
--
Long live usenet! | Long may anarchy disrule! | How would you feel about
life if Death was your older sister? | There is a fine line between genius
and insanity. Cross it. | I read the news today, oh boy. | Lord what fools
these mortals be! | San Jacinto- I hold the line | a.m.h.h. official Idiot
michelle r. tribe
In early September, Paul and I exchanged friendly e-mail over something.
And at Christmas time he sent me a nice little e-mail Christmas greeting.
I'm not saying this makes his behaviour the other day acceptable, just
that there is a friendly human being in him somewhere.
(God, sometimes I wish I had the guts to scream at some people I really
hate and loathe.)
Michelle (the continuously sickening happy and motherly type)
Andrew Metcalfe
>I have a simple question here: Does being able to spot spelling mistakes
>quickly make one a genius?
>- Alex "IYHABAACSWCYD?" deVries
I hope not, that would put me pretty low on the pecking order.
However, I do think that it does show that Paul has something that the
rest of us couldn't ever hope to grasp. Aparently he get's marks like
I've never seen before, never mind even hoped to have gotten myself.
We seem to like scapegoating Paul as a moron, as it certainly seems
appropriate given the way he conducts himself online, never mind the
stories that are circulating about him. Unfortunately I think that we
might be taking the easy way out here. It is far to easy for us to
label him as a moron, twit, buffoon, etc.
Someone earlier posted a suspicion that he might be autistic, or have
some similar mental illness. I have had the opportunity of dealing
with some autistic children who were siblings of friends back home. I
know that these people often appear to be quite incompetent on the
outside, but if given the time they will do some remarkable things.
I'd hate to imagine that we are mislableing Paul as this moron when,
god known, the Man has tremendous potential.
Colin Henein
>Someone earlier posted a suspicion that he might be autistic, or have
>some similar mental illness. I have had the opportunity of dealing
>with some autistic children who were siblings of friends back home. I
>know that these people often appear to be quite incompetent on the
>outside, but if given the time they will do some remarkable things.
>
Hmm, I'm not the walking DSM-IV but I though autism was characterized
by shyness rather than brashness. Am I wrong here?
In any case, I spent a little while getting flamed by Paul on freenet
about a year ago. In fact, he was one of the reasons that I decided I
didn't have time for the kind of shit I was dealing with over there.
I might have sympathy for him otherwise...
Colin "The only thing worse than waking up with a hangover is easing
into one during an all-nighter." Henein
--
=============================+=======================================
Colin Henein (Code guy) | The decor has been chosen in honour
c...@ccs.carleton.ca | of its owner's sad, lamented, and
ro...@consecol.org | tax-deductible condition... -DA raeou
Erdem Onder
> Jamie LaBrash (jlab...@chat.carleton.ca) wrote:
> : IF he were a genius I would suspect that he would possess at least some
> : degree of tact.
> Actually, you take many of the so-called great minds in history and note
> that they had reputations as social outcasts. I'm not sure who said the
> following statement or where it came from but here goes..."There's a thin
> line between insanity and genius."
That was Wilson Wilson Jr. The guy on Home Improvement (:
Oh well, gotta hit the books now, ciao.
> ---
> James Chow - Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
> Computer Systems Engineering (3rd Year)
> Email address: jc...@engsoc.carleton.ca
--
Look ma! Short sig!
er...@lager.engsoc.carleton.ca
eon...@chat.carleton.ca
er...@icons.net
ce...@freenet.carleton.ca
Chris Evans
: However, I do think that it does show that Paul has something that the
: rest of us couldn't ever hope to grasp. Aparently he get's marks like
: I've never seen before, never mind even hoped to have gotten myself.
I've heard him described in these parts as "not a typical idiot". Well,
we aren't very charitable to our undergrads.
As for outrageous marks, the only one of his I've ever seen (by accident,
so as not to implicate anyone) was 36/50.
From what I've heard (and only relating to chemistry), this is pretty typical.
Draw your own conclusions, I guess.
Oh... two other quick things:
As far as I know, no TA (named Stephen or otherwise) was struck/assaulted
in any manner. Paul assaulted only Al, the security mountain. For which,
I hear, he will be charged and expelled.
I omitted a couple of choice quotes from the original posting...
the best, I think, is the following:
(To Al, as the cuffs are applied)
"Why don't you shove that plastic badge up your ass!"
Al: "854, this is 8, I need backup in the Steacie building"
Paul: "What are you *saying*? What does that *mean*? Talking in police
code doesn't make you any better than me!"
(To the Ottawa cops, as they remove him from the building)
Paul: "Where are you taking me?"
Cops: "You're going downtown; you'll be there for a long time."
Paul: "I can't go downtown! I've got things to do tonight!"
I know you've heard versions of the last two in the original post, but I'm
a purist, you see... I feel sick about misquoting Paul in the original...
sick, I tell you!
cheers,
mL
Jamie LaBrash
> [ Article crossposted from alt.fan.kia-mennie ]
> [ Author was Chris Evans ]
> [ Posted on 9 Feb 1996 16:05:35 GMT ]
Uh...why are you crossposting to the same newsgroup?
K.M. Mennie
Jamie LaBrash <jlab...@chat.carleton.ca> wrote:
Because tin #$&(#*$& sucks shit. Hold on, will try to fix...
Jamie LaBrash
> In article <DMG8s...@cunews.carleton.ca>,> >: Thinking about this, I suspect that spelling might be something you're
> >: born with, and not a learned item.
> Without reference to any research material, I'd venture that Kia is
> wrong on this one. In my experience, there's a direct correspondence
> between good spelling and early reading. People who didn't read much
> as children (even those who end up getting English degrees and
> teaching certificates :-P ) have great difficulty learning good
> communications skills later in life, in my uninformed opinion.
I'd suggest that spelling might be based upon how much you read period.
Recently, I've felt that my spelling skills have deteriorated and I really
don't think I'm going senile this early in my life. I also don't read, if
you don't count Usenet as reading, nearly as much as I used to. I don't
think I've read a novel in a couple of years.
> Kia's an excellent example of this. Her unpopularity on
> carleton.general is probably directly traceable to the fact that she
> was busy reading _The Citadel_ when everyone else on that newsgroup
> was watching "The Electric Company" on TV.
Pardon my ignorance, but what is The Citadel?
Andrew Jeanes
Jamie LaBrash <jlab...@chat.carleton.ca> wrote:
>Andrew Metcalfe (amet...@ccs.carleton.ca) wrote:
>> cev...@superior.carleton.ca (Chris Evans) wrote:
>
>> >Ok, kids... here's the voice from the cheap seats, on the Derbyshire Saga
>> >(tm).
>
>> There is one unfortunate aspect that is perhaps being overlooked here.
>> I've heard from a couple of people who have Paul in their class that
>> he is a genius.
>
Something like a monument!
(Colin Henein will now complete the non-sequitur.)
In all seriousness, though. No matter what we may think of Paul--his
possible psychological defects, his intelligence, or whatever--the
fact remains that his University career is now effectively over.
Potentially, he may find help for his problems and eventually return
to the world of post-secondary education and, someday, real life. I'm
sickened by the alternative possibilities.
I've known about these problems of his for three years, and they seem
to be worsening rather than improving. I ask again, what is going on
with his parents? Presumably he's still living with them; are they
unable to get their son some help?
We can all laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation (as, indeed,
did I when I read Chris' initial posting) because our lives are
unaffected by it in the long run. At some point, can't we find a bit
of charity for a guy who looks to be in for some real hellish times up
ahead?
I've struggled with problems like these within my own family for most
of my life. For the most part, it's been a frustrating, occasionaly
terrifying, ponderously inevitable tragedy. I'd really like to think
that others can do better than my family has.
Thank god for a good sense of humour, eh?
Andrew
"--or worse, it was Ottawa, they were Carleton students, God help us,
they were Carleton film students..." Russell Smith,_How Insensitive_
http://www.consecol.org/People/ajeanes <--new--> aje...@consecol.org
K.M. Mennie
Andrew Jeanes <aje...@consecol.org> wrote:
:>K.M. Mennie (kme...@superior.carleton.ca) wrote:
:>: Thinking about this, I suspect that spelling might be something you're
:>: born with, and not a learned item.
:Without reference to any research material, I'd venture that Kia is
:wrong on this one.
To stave off more follow-ups: the above was a joke!
:In my experience, there's a direct correspondence
:between good spelling and early reading.
I'd agree with that.
Kia `It all comes down to phonics, and those whole language folks should
be lined up and shot' Mennie
Jamie LaBrash
> In article <DMG6n...@cunews.carleton.ca>,
> Jamie LaBrash <jlab...@chat.carleton.ca> wrote:
> >Andrew Metcalfe (amet...@ccs.carleton.ca) wrote:
> >> cev...@superior.carleton.ca (Chris Evans) wrote:
> >
> >> >Ok, kids... here's the voice from the cheap seats, on the Derbyshire Saga
> >> >(tm).
> possible psychological defects, his intelligence, or whatever--the
> fact remains that his University career is now effectively over.
> Potentially, he may find help for his problems and eventually return
> to the world of post-secondary education and, someday, real life. I'm
> sickened by the alternative possibilities.
Well, university just wasn't a place that he could deal with maybe instead
of getting "help for his problems" he'll find his niche in life that
will be able to accommodate his deficiencies.
> I've known about these problems of his for three years, and they seem
> to be worsening rather than improving. I ask again, what is going on
> with his parents? Presumably he's still living with them; are they
> unable to get their son some help?
Maybe they've gotten tried to get him help but there's only so much that
can be done for some problems. They've probably just come to the
realization that Paul is the way he is and they'll will just have to
accept him for the way he is right now.
> We can all laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation (as, indeed,
> did I when I read Chris' initial posting) because our lives are
> unaffected by it in the long run. At some point, can't we find a bit
> of charity for a guy who looks to be in for some real hellish times up
> ahead?
Why do you assume that he because he is no longer in university that he is
in for hellish times? Maybe university is the worst place for him and
he'll will find more happiness without it.
And I laugh at it because it is funny. I've had a rather troubled
elementary school experience but I can look back and laugh at some of the
unbelievable things that I foolishly did back then. I wished that I could
have had a "normal" childhood but I didn't so life goes on....
Andrew Jeanes
>: her errors too much?
>
>My grade seven "math" teacher (she was really an English teacher, but
>it was a package deal, I guess -- lucky gifties) did just that.
>Claimed I was "undermining her authority". I made some smart-ass
>comment questioning how much authority there could really be if
>factual corrections threatened it severely and was threatened with
>"dire consequences", and then the whole thing blew over. I kept
>correcting her, and she kept giving me disapproving looks.
This wasn't Miss Hawkin(sp? it's been a long time) was it? Miss Joe?
I can't really see the latter getting all worked up about a student
correcting her, but Ms. Hawkin was pretty uptight. I have too many
memories of the hours I spent in detention, the endless trips to the
VP's office, all thanks to her.
My grade eight math teacher, Mr. McKay, was famous for his fuck-ups.
He once, while attempting to explain Pi, drew a circle on the board
saying "here is a Big Circle." He then labelled it "B.S." He was
such a nice guy, though, that we never made fun of him to his face.
(Mike, you *were* at Broadview for grade seven, right? Otherwise I'm
going to look pretty silly rattling off all these names. I'm cursed
with an excellent memory of the names and personalities of every
teacher I've ever had, right back to kindergarten. The horror of it
keeps me awake at night.)
>: Thinking about this, I suspect that spelling might be something you're
>: born with, and not a learned item.
Without reference to any research material, I'd venture that Kia is
wrong on this one. In my experience, there's a direct correspondence
between good spelling and early reading. People who didn't read much
as children (even those who end up getting English degrees and
teaching certificates :-P ) have great difficulty learning good
communications skills later in life, in my uninformed opinion.
Kia's an excellent example of this. Her unpopularity on
carleton.general is probably directly traceable to the fact that she
was busy reading _The Citadel_ when everyone else on that newsgroup
was watching "The Electric Company" on TV.
Andrew "whereas I was busy reading Sergeant Rock comic books, which I
guess puts me somewhere between the two" Jeanes
Andrew Metcalfe
>>: Thinking about this, I suspect that spelling might be something you're
>>: born with, and not a learned item.
>Without reference to any research material, I'd venture that Kia is
>wrong on this one. In my experience, there's a direct correspondence
>between good spelling and early reading. People who didn't read much
>as children (even those who end up getting English degrees and
>teaching certificates :-P ) have great difficulty learning good
>communications skills later in life, in my uninformed opinion.
I'd have to disagree on this one. Take me for example (I don't want
me anyways. (oh god, did I just say that?))
Anyways, I've always been reading for as long as I can remember. I
was one of the first people in my class to learn to read, and while
the rest of the class was reading Curious George, I was reading the
Toronto Star. (ok, not much better, but let's be generous here.)
Reading, in fact, is one of my strengths. Ask me to write and I
consider scrapping the english written language. It just doesn't work
for me. Why? I dunno, it's never bothered me enough to go out and
get something diagnosed. I figure people who use learning disorders
as excuses are, well, using them as excuses.
>Kia's an excellent example of this. Her unpopularity on
>carleton.general is probably directly traceable to the fact that she
>was busy reading _The Citadel_ when everyone else on that newsgroup
>was watching "The Electric Company" on TV.
Electric Company? Never seen it....
Andy Mason
: In article <4fh8rf$2...@bertrand.carleton.ca>,
: Andrew Jeanes <aje...@consecol.org> wrote:
: :Without reference to any research material, I'd venture that Kia is
: :wrong on this one.
: :In my experience, there's a direct correspondence
In any other newsgroup I wouldn't bother, but... shouldn't that be
correlation? And more importantly, shouldn't someone else have pointed
that out by now?
: :between good spelling and early reading.
--
Andy Electrical III @ Carleton
http://engsoc.carleton.ca/~amason ERTW
Jamie LaBrash
> K.M. Mennie (kme...@superior.carleton.ca) wrote:
> : In article <4fh8rf$2...@bertrand.carleton.ca>,
> : Andrew Jeanes <aje...@consecol.org> wrote:
> : :Without reference to any research material, I'd venture that Kia is
> : :wrong on this one.
> : :In my experience, there's a direct correspondence
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> In any other newsgroup I wouldn't bother, but... shouldn't that be
> correlation? And more importantly, shouldn't someone else have pointed
> that out by now?
Damn! I should have noticed that! Oh well. Guess it was just too late
last night when I read it.
BTW, does anyone happen to want to loan me a scanner? I have a couple of
pictures that I'd like to scan.