How Useful Are Iranian Know-It-Alls And Their Advice? Part 2

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How Useful Are Iranian Know-It-Alls And Their Advice? Part 2
by JahanKhalili
16-Oct-2011
 

It is Ironic that the most popular high school major in Iran is named "oloomeh tajrobi" (loosely, "science that is understood through direct experience or investigation").

I never saw Iranian high school students doing any such thing. The entire course of study involved reading books, memorizing what was in them, and regurgitating it in class or on an exam.

The teacher would teach his lesson. Students would absorb it as if a prophet of god was dictating the truth to them.

There was never a single experiment or field trip. The students were of course free to do this on their own time, but none of them ever did.

Nothing prevented them from going out and catching lizards and snakes (of which Iran has plenty), for example, and studying them. No, that's not how things are done in Iran. You have to be instructed about lizards by some important person. You can't learn about them by actually catching one and examining it; that would be a waste of time!

Actually, something did prevent them from doing that; their culture. In Iranian culture, knowledge doesn't come through an individual's own efforts at gathering information about the world through direct experience or observation; it comes from someone else - either in the form of their written opinion (a book), or through their spoken word.

The students had to pass exams, so that's what they learned to do. They studied for grades. Society prepared them to ignore distractions like genuine interests in favor of jumping through hoops and achieving "success". 

Therefore Iranian students were too interested in "studying" to study anything (if that makes sense).

The word "taghlid" ("emulation") is a familiar word in Islam, and one might be mislead into thinking that only religious Muslims do it.

Actually, the irreligious and even atheistic Iranians do it as well.

Yes, the same Iranians who pride themselves on being "Westernized", "enlightened", etc.

They mindlessly repeat the pronouncements of their own favorite authority without question. That favorite authority is sometimes the BBC or Voice of America. Sometimes, its some prestigious human being that they idolize. Sometimes its public opinion. At other times, it is their esteemed golden know-it-all selves.

Knowledge, power - and all other goodies - come from prestige.

If the Shah or an Ayatollah burps, Iranians will report it with such an air of importance that a Tsunami warning would be sidelined. If an important person says something and its absolute garbage, Iranians will quote it as if its the truest most important thing in the universe.

Next down the line are Iranians with degrees, great arbab or kadkhoda, or other forms of big-shot that can be found in Iranian society. Their pronouncements elicit the same fawning worship from their subjects.

All such a person has to do is stand there, and this will produce an impression on the worshipful idiots around him.

Iranians are prestige-worshippers. They care nothing about direct inquiry or investigating what's on this earth. All their concern is for worshipping someone, and belittling someone else.

All their activities besides eating and sleeping revolve around gaining prestige for themselves, or trying to take it from someone else. 

Pictured above is a page from a book which contains information about Iran's mammals.

The book was compiled by a Dr. Esmail Etemad. It is the third volume of the series, پستانداران ایران  

It was published by Iran's "Organization for Preserving Wildlife",

سازمان حفاظت محیط زیست  

It was given to me by the only Iranian I have ever met who had any interest at all in Iranian wildlife. I'd better point out here that he had no respect from other Iranians, who viewed him and his activities as a waste of time - but I have a great deal of respect for him, because it was through him that I was able to see a side of Iran - its wilderness and the Golestan National Park - that no other Iranian ever showed me.

I'm no expert, but just checking the scientific names of all of the species being discussed in the book, I'm having a bit of trouble locating a single species that is named for an Iranian discoverer; once again, it looks as if most or all of Iran's species of bats was discovered and studied by foreigners. I can't seem to find any Iranian names.

And there on the page is a picture of a bat specimen from Iran, but preserved in the British Museum.

Once again, its the evil British Museum, "stealing" Iran's treasures.

No, actually its the British Museum doing the job that Iranians should have done - studying their own country's animals.

Someone has to do it.

.... and if not the unconcerned, too-important, strutting know-it-all Iranians ....

.... why not the exploratory British?

Why didn't Iranians discover and study their own mammals?

Dumb Iranians.

You have no reason to complain if you flunk your own test, and someone else passes it.

You're too stuck up, self-important and arrogant to study your own wildlife - foreigners beat you to it.

... and now you look like idiots.

Deal with it.

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anglophile

بابا ول کنین تو رو حضرت عباس

anglophile


 

 

این طفلک خلیلی یه چرتو پرتی به هم میبافه و میگه (یا از یکی‌ دیگه به اسم حکیم کپی می‌کنه) اونوقت شما آقایون و خانما هم تحویلش میگیرین. من از شما تعجّب می‌کنم. بابا این خلیلی از همه  ما ایرونی‌ تره. یکی‌ از خصایل پسندیده ما ایرونیا اینه که از هموطن خودمون بیشتر از بقیه عیب و ایراد میگیریم. این طفلک هم حاصل یه ازدواج مختلت بوده حالا یهو دوزاریش افتاده که‌ای وای همه منو ایرونی‌ میدونن. واسه اینکه خودشو قانع کنه که ایرونی‌ نیست شروع کرده عیب ایرادای بنی اسرائیلی گرفتن که چرا ایرونیا موسیقی‌ کلاسیک بین المملی (!!) ندارن یا چرا مثل داروین نرفتن دنبال کشف جدّ و آباد پستاندارن و خزندگان بومی خودشون. اتفاقاً ایرونیا خیلی‌ زود تر از داروین (سیصد سال جلو تر) این اکتشافات رو کرده بودن شاهد و مدرکش هم هست غربی‌ها هم خودشون راجع به اون کتاب نوشتن ولی‌ این بابا کار به این کارا نداره. تو عالم خودش خوشه. شما‌ها رو تعجبم که این طرفو جدی گرفتین. بابا ایوالله. 

 

 


Oon Yaroo

Agha Jahan, add all your responses in one post, just a sugestion

by Oon Yaroo on

That way you waste less Internet bandwidth!

Thank you!


JahanKhalili

"published in Iran"

by JahanKhalili on

Yeah, Iranians translated them into Farsi and printed the books in Iran.

Big deal. 


JahanKhalili

Speak for yourself, VPK

by JahanKhalili on

Iranian For Aryans has plenty of credibility with me.... maybe not with you, but who cares about that?


JahanKhalili

"BTW: I flagged your homophobic; antisemitic post"

by JahanKhalili on

Every dog barks for its master.


JahanKhalili

"Neither JK nor IFA are interested in facts"

by JahanKhalili on

No, VPK is.

That's why VPK provided examples of species Iranians have discovered and studied, to disprove all this. 


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

IFA

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

I am not going to bother to flag this one because you need to be read. You make so many odd statement that I hope all people read them.


You are pushing for genocide and ethnic cleansing. You have the temerity to call me a racist, you diversity-monger?

I am? Based on what prove it or take back your statement.


Hypocrite, Iranian. Why don't you call for millions of blacks and Mexicans to inundate Iran? Why don't you live in an all-black or all-Mexican neighborhood?

Now Iranians are hypocrites? Iran is already housing millions of poor Afghans. Not to mention Iraqi refugees. How do you know what kind of neighborhood I live in? 


Do I care whether you or someone else calls me a racist? You and every other lemming who watches TV and is a product of NPR applaud the diminution of White people;

You are not an Iranian are you? I don't know when stormfront.org infested this site.

 

 


Mohammad Ala

Be the change that you want to see....

by Mohammad Ala on

IFA what seems to be your problem?  For a person who says does not like Iranians you are spending a lot of time here.

By accomplishments... I meant to say contributions...  What have you done for Iran?  or be the change that you want to see... is it difficult to do?!?


Iranian for Aryans

I disagree

by Iranian for Aryans on

Iran's resources should be its citizenry's limitless curiosity. Stepping outside one's front door can lead one down the path of exploration. What better place than Iran to go crazy being a herpetologist? What about the fascinating creatures one sees all over Iran? Are they all just black or brown snakes or are there differences? You don't need money to do this.

Poor White people could go to their libraries or universities and peruse books on herpetology. There were no such books on these subjects in the Iranian past because Iranians were more concerned about baghaalee and Islam. Furthermore, Iran wouldn't allow strangers into their libraries without letters of recommendation or proof of importance. I can hear it now: "To cheeka-ray-ee? Faamelee-et key-eh? Boro! Boro, gooretoh gomkon!"

Like Mr. Ala asked below: "What is [sic] your accomplishments"?

So trite.

www.iranianforaryans.com


Iranian for Aryans

You're not cute.

by Iranian for Aryans on

Why do Iranians have a constitutional incapability of self-reflection and self-evaluation? You're like every other inane nationality who bristles at the slightest critique.

You're such a bunch of ninnies. All you can do is mock the messenger, Mr. Jahan Khalili.

This shows how unchanging and backwards you are; one generation removed from dahaatee mule-drivers.

 IFA

www.iranianforaryans.com


Iranian for Aryans

Isn't the motto on this site "Nothing is sacred"?

by Iranian for Aryans on

Gertrude Stein was a lesbian and a Jewess. Denoting the obvious is "hate"?

Do I care whether you or someone else calls me a racist? You and every other lemming who watches TV and is a product of NPR applaud the diminution of White people; the same people who discovered antibiotics to cure your unappreciative rear-end and made this country a safe and orderly nation where you could grow fat and content and fatuously call for the demise of its people.

You are pushing for genocide and ethnic cleansing. You have the temerity to call me a racist, you diversity-monger?

Hypocrite, Iranian. Why don't you call for millions of blacks and Mexicans to inundate Iran? Why don't you live in an all-black or all-Mexican neighborhood?

IFA

www.iranianforaryans.com


Kaveh Nouraee

After reading all of JK's rants

by Kaveh Nouraee on

I can only conclude:

That the guy needs a hug.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

IFA

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

It is your "name" that reduces your credibility. Do you understand how racist it is? Anyone who deliberately picks an inflammatory name like that lack credibility.

BTW: I flagged your homophobic; antisemitic post.


Anahid Hojjati

lack of resources might have

by Anahid Hojjati on

had something to do with it.


Iranian for Aryans

"What has [sic] been your accomplishments?"

by Iranian for Aryans on

This is such a typically Iranian question to ask. As if Mr. Khalili's credentials in any way reduce, negate, or bolster his frank musings and truthful ideas concerning that which he has empirically witnessed and suffered under! Ha ha

Mr. Ala, I sell walnuts on a street corner in Jiroft. My last name is that of every daahaatee in Iran, and I have no education. Happy?

To quote that lesbian Jewess, Gertrude Stein: "A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose."

Stop being so status-fixated, Iranians!

IFA

www.iranianforaryans.com


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Dear Mohammad Ala

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

Neither JK nor IFA are interested in facts so you are wasting your time. They just want to vent as JK admitted. COP got it right maybe he should "sue" his father or his own Iranian half. As for IFA I won't even bother.

You may put up evidence as long as you want. Nothing  will change. Because they don't want to listen. When someone does not want to listen then they will flatly tell you noon is midnight. And they will be so sure they would pass a lie detector test! 


Iranian for Aryans

Published in Iran? So what!

by Iranian for Aryans on

Mr. Ala,

I've been told by those in the know that the best books on ancient Persia were written by Europeans. They, too, have been published in Iran - in translation!

How many of those species in those books were discovered by Iranians? How many by Europeans? From when jave Iranians become the equal of Europeans in the study of scientific study of nature? This is so palpably ridiculous that I'm laughing at yet another Iranian's braggadocio.

Whatever Iranians and other turd-worlders have learned about science and technology has been at the feet of Europeans.

IFA

www.iranianforaryans.com


Mohammad Ala

There are several books...

by Mohammad Ala on

There are several books with pictures about Iran's plants and birds... I have several of them in my library in Iran...  These books are published in Iran.   I will be happy to share... send me a PM. 

 


JahanKhalili

Introductions?

by JahanKhalili on

"I know people in Iran who has spent a lot of times to search for new species and plants…"

Would you mind introducing me to them? 

I have only met one such person, so far - and he had no respect from Iranians whatsoever. 


JahanKhalili

Would you share your accomplishments?

by JahanKhalili on

No. What do you think I am, a full-blooded Iranian?


Mohammad Ala

What has been your accomplishments?

by Mohammad Ala on

Jahan... you keep attacking Iranians for their failures.  Each person or country has his or its own shortcomings.  Would you share your accomplishments?

I care about environment in Iran and other countries as an interest and what is good to do.  I know people in Iran who has spent a lot of times to search for new species and plants…  one the problems, in my view is that we do not advertise our findings… in a way that many countries have taken our findings or accomplishments and registered as theirs.  An Iranian professor who is now teaching at Cal. State Fullerton sued several companies and won because she was negligent in patenting her accomplishments.

Cheer up, you should be proud of your upbringing and represent what is GOOD about Iran and the USA. 

Regarding tribes, Iranian tribes are described some of the best people in the world (by Professor Lois Beck, an American who lived several years among them.  I had an opportunity to translate for her). 

 


JahanKhalili

Maybe its Something in the Environment

by JahanKhalili on

The barren desert might have forced people to be obedient to the tribe, and the tribe was their means of survival.

Banishment from the tribe wasn't just an exercise in humiliation - it was probably a death sentence, since no one could probably survive all on their own in such a vast and bleak wilderness.

The parched desert was probably not good for farming, and there aren't a whole lot of trees in Iran - and probably weren't back then either, so people had to build homes out of mud.

Water was extremely scarce.

Resources were scarce. So people might have developed interdependability, while in the West you have what appears to be a great amount of individualism.

I don't know. Does that sound like it could have something to do with it? 


JahanKhalili

I Honestly Don't Know

by JahanKhalili on

I'm just bitching.

But why are Iranians such status worshippers - such servants?

I know you're all just so anxious to blame everything on the IRI and Islam, but that won't do at all since Iranians haven't suddenly become that way after the 1979 revolution - far from it, they were probably even more servile before it.

In fact, if I remember correctly, the ancient Greeks had plenty to say about Persians being serville, and despised them for it - proudly pointing to themselves as the counter example of how superior free men are to slaves (like the Persians).


Anahid Hojjati

Good blog Jahan but I wish

by Anahid Hojjati on

you would answer Ari's questions or at least attempt to.


JahanKhalili

The Question Ari Didn't Ask

by JahanKhalili on

... so I might as well ask it here:

Why can't Iranians value the truth?   Maybe that's related to why they didn't investigate or take an interest in their own wildlife. 

JahanKhalili

Iranians Should Consider Learning to Tell the Truth

by JahanKhalili on

What is all this evasive stuff you all write?

Say "yes, its true. We Iranians didn't discover our own species of bats." ... or snakes. ... or any other plant or animal life.    Is it really so hard? 

Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

IFA

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

First of all I refuse to use the expression you have for your login. It is offensive and racist. Iran is for all of its people not just Aryans. Most Iranians including me have plenty non Aryan genes. And I like it!

Regarding professions yes many Iranians are engineers and doctors. Do you disapprove? Would you rather we were less productive. When I was a kid Iran needed engineers and scientists. We were encouraged to go in those fields. It made sense then and does now. Nothing to do with Aberoo. I have poets and musicians in my extended family as well. They are loved as much as the engineers. My advise to my kids is to do what they love but do it well. Being learned is a virtue not a vice.

You should consider stormfront.org instead of iranian.com. Because your writings are more in line with their mind set. 


JahanKhalili

You Can't Hide The Truth Forever

by JahanKhalili on

"Honestly I am surprised hate spewed by JK goes on without him being banned."

I guess we can chalk it up to the fact that someone out there probably agrees with me. 

For every crybaby who hates hearing the truth, there is someone out there who appreciates it.

John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and that truth will set you free.” 


JahanKhalili

Mohammad Ala

by JahanKhalili on

Iranians students jump through hoops that I don't care about.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Darius

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

I don't know if you were serious but I flagged your post about the bomb. You are advocating violence and genocide.

Honestly I am surprised hate spewed by JK goes on without him being banned.