まだあたまがいたい！

Well...after discussing with my good friends both here in Singapore and in Kuala Lumpur, I have to re-assess my interpretation of the signals given off by the world's most intriguing creature...women! Specifically one women, Jane Doe. All these while, I've read her signals wrong. Not only am I wrong, heck, I made my moves based on these wrong signals!! How wrong I was! Well, I didn't do anything overt, just that some of my moves are relatively obvious as compared to others...now...sigh...another failure. You'd think that after years of failures in this regard, I would be turned off by the whole experience...and yet, I found myself drawn; like moth to fire, in this game of chance. I keep going back for more, and keep getting myself hurt time and again, and come out smiling first, then morose, then suicidal, then laughing, then back to square one, trying to repeat the cycle all over again....honestly...why do I do that?!?

On another note, I thought up something while I was waiting for my Japanese class to start today. It concerns how we measures ourselves and our capability when confined into the expectations of others.

What I mean is this; people grade other people for various reasons. They grade them according to criteria set by certain people. How good or bad people fare depends on the criteria used, the method implemented and the perception of those graded towards the grading process. Generally speaking, there are two rather large type of grading methodology. Which one is better over the other is the point of my rambling now.

First method, I have no idea what it's called, but it starts by giving a range of figures to which the graded belong. For example, when grading exam papers, those who got a 'C' falls into the 50-70 points range. And those who got 'A' falls between 80-100 points, and so on... Now...with this grading 'system', I believe the perception of those graded are something like; "Damn! I only got a 'B'! So sad!"...and that is it. No more. No future initiative to get and 'A' because in their mind, a 'B' is a 'B' and an 'A' is not necessary better than a 'B', so, why should they work "harder" to get an 'A' which in their mind is equivalent? This grading "system" is also akin to some lot placement of students into various sporting house/colleges' banners. One house is not necessary better then the next. It's just a division of labour. Working "harder" does not entail you to move "up the ladder" because there is no ladder. That is why it's "hard". In short, there is no imperative to improve oneself.

The second method, I have no name for it as well, some other smart soul might know it, but I don't. But I can describe it's nature pretty well. Here goes...this "system" starts by placing limits to a certain criterion. For example, again the exam papers. The grading system are graded thus; "If you understands the concept of this question, and are able to complete a certain number of questions in increasingly difficulty, then you are qualified to be ranked as a 'C'." and "If at level 'C' you are able to differentiate so and so matter with their intended purpose so on and so forth, then you are qualified to be graded 'B'."

This goes on and the complexity and difficulty rises. Another fine example would be martial arts exponents earning levels of belts. The level of the belt is not a measure of how many points you score in a routine, it is a measure of your ability to master certain skills relevant to that level. Should you be able to master a level higher, then a belt of a higher level will be accorded. In this way, there is a clear "ladder of improvement" that can be ascended. In short, the imperative to improve is built in.

In conclusion, Method 1 sucks and bringing out the best in people for the purpose of improvement but is an excellent device to segregate people based of non-critical/non-natural issues. Method 2 excels at bring out the best in people by the chance of constant improvement inherent in such a system, thus ensuring "evolution". However, there will be deep seated bias against someone of a different level. It is segregation based along natural lines.

One last thing...does your head hurts now?