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My mom always encouraged me and my brother to find out as much as we could about anything that interested us. This was easier for us than most other kids, because she’d taught us how to read when we were babies, and the house was full of books.
(Did you know that being able to read & comprehend at a level that’s ten years ahead of other kids your age, is really amazing—to adults? The other kids, however, will not hesitate to let you know that they consider you a disgusting freak of nature. Often.)
My brother and I have always treasured knowing all sorts of interesting & odd facts. In high school, his friends called him “Cliff Clavin” (after the character on “Cheers”)—except my brother’s facts are actually true.
As for me, I know that the human brain has a *finite* capacity for knowledge. So, someday, I’m going to wake up and discover I’ve forgotten how to tie my shoes.
Curiosity is also part of a very evil game that my brother discovered when he was 2. Today, he remains a Grand Master of it. It’s called “Why?”
When someone tells him to do something, or starts lecturing him, he’ll listen very seriously, and when the person finishes, he’ll innocently say, “Why?”. The person will explain, and my brother will again listen very seriously, and again innocently ask, “Why?”.
The game is repeated until his victim finally snaps. Most people only last about 3 rounds.
(This game is especially satisfying when you use it on someone who is insisting that ADHD isn’t real.)
When I took courses in improv, I learned a benign variation on “Why?”.
It’s called “Yes, and…?”, and it’s a basic principle of improvisation. Whatever idea anyone throws at you, no matter how bizarre and unbelievable, you have to accept it and work it into the scene you’re improvising.
“Yes, and…?” teaches you to think fast. This gives you more confidence to speak to large groups of people, because you know that, if something goes awry, you can make a little joke about it and keep going.
Of course, if a stage light falls on your head and knocks you out, then all bets are off.
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