In a message dated 97-11-06 08:02:25 EST, [log in to unmask] writes: > It is not only the craftspersons who learn by the hearing of stories and > teach by the telling of stories. What architecture student has not been > told of a professor handing a student a quarter and telling the victim > to call his mother and inform her that he will not be an architect? John: I agree with what you are saying. Possibly I have to be more specific in what I am searching for in the idea of oral-transmission of information as specific to the trades. I think in general the trades have fewer alternatives of expression. Therefore the really wopper stories, I believe, come from craftspersons and _builders_. Everyone can tell stories, but not everyone can write a technical paper. Many craftspersons are not highly skilled in either handwriting or reading comprehension. I find architects, from my persepctive, often lack literate skills... if I send a memo I get no corresponding response, if I send a sketch I get an appropriate response, despite the fact that I am nearly illiterate in sketching ability. A stonemason will perceive my ability to hammer on a stone a lot faster than if I write them a note about it. If I tell them a story they usually respond with another story, and suddenly we are both stonemasons... which is an in-the-blood thing. Getting a stonemason to tell deliver an organized lecture based on an outline is difficult. Encourage them to tell stories and they will keep you occupied for hours. (Most recently I was told stories about working on the American embassy in Warsaw in the 1970's.) Some architects are _builders_. I see John Callan as a _builder_. Again, it is a blood thing. Stetson, out of curiosity, asked me who I am... there are several roles to any one individual. We should tell each other, on BP, what we perceive our various roles are, imagined or otherwise. Hope this is not TOO serious for BP. ][<en Follett