Regarding Randy Pausch

I have no grievances with Randy Pausch. None at all. If he's in a position to inspire millions of people to live a better life and has the ambition to do so then the more power to him. My issues are more geared towards those millions of people that are being inspired.

Something occurred to me as I watching Pausch's now famous "Last Lecture" the other day. Are we as a society ever going to reach a point where this kind of stuff is just obvious? While Pausch is certainly an engaging and sincere person, there's nothing there original from a content perspective. It simply resonates when it comes from a guy who knows he's going to die.

The most incredible thing about him is not his spirit but his immune system. The fact that he's lived with pancreatic cancer for two years is amazing. I've seen that shit up close and to see a guy running around catching passes from Hines Ward is off the charts remarkable. Perhaps his spirit has helped him mentally deal with the massive amounts of chemo and radiation he's been exposed to but I don't think it can actually sustain life.

Back to the "message." Pausch is right. It can't be overstated how obviously accurate his message is. This is the way you should live. It's also incredibly redundant. We've seen it so many times yet everytime someone gets sick it's as if they invented the idea of perspective. Did Erma Bombeck have to get cancer to realize a stain on the rug shouldn't inhibit you from having friends for dinner? We saw the fascination with the tripe that is Tuesdays with Morrie. "Hey, he's dying and he's happier than you! How does that make you feel, miserable reader?" For that matter, everytime someone famous dies, it seems that their life solely existed so that they could posthumously remind us how to live.

Again, if Pausch is really stopping suicides and inspiring radical life changes across the globe then he deserves all the accolades. I'd just hope that someday we can get to a point where we're not so blown away by it. If you're truly inspired by him, then you should hook up these cats, because that shit is truly nasty.

As for life lessons, they shouldn't be up for debate. Don't dwell on stupid shit, embrace your inner child, help people out once in a while, celebrate every day, don't worry about what people think of you, you only get one shot at this...etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

I know I'm just a healthy importer/exporter but trust me on this.

Comments

[Jack Klompus]

"Don't dwell on stupid shit."

Unless it involves the Patriots.

[Art Vandelay]

Well, let's face it. An entire decade of football being delegitimized is no laughing matter.

[Mr. Kruger]

there's nothing there original from a content perspective. It simply resonates when it comes from a guy who knows he's going to die.

Agreed. What I saw of the talk I found to be mediocre at best, definitely boring- maybe even a little narcissistic.

[SL222]

I stopped at the pushups.

[phil]

It reminds of St Francis of Assisi and what he said about hoeing his garden. Wish I was in a place where I could say the same. Maybe someday...

Great post Vandelay. I've been around this, too. Horrible. Most people spend what little time they have being even more miserable. It's, like "hey, you've got 6 months more or less and it's over no matter what you do." Are you gonna make it the best? Most people don't. A chance lost forever. You're right, it should be obvious.

[jackie]

"It simply resonates when it comes from a guy who knows he's going to die."

Isn't that the whole point, though? Yeah, this stuff is obvious, but a lot of us forget it day in and day out. I don't necessarily see it as "inventing perspective," it's just a perspective that most people are fortunate enough to have never had. When you hear perspective stuff from someone who knows their death is imminent, you sure do feel like a horse's ass for holding grudges, sweating the small stuff and the like. That Jim Valvano speech moves me every time.

(I have never heard of Randy Pausch and I did not watch the links.)

[Art Vandelay]

Yeah, I guess I can see where you're coming from Chiles. That Jimmy V speech gets me every time as well. Honestly, I think Pausch's lecture is fantastic as well. Just not necessarily ground-breaking stuff.

Great post Vandelay. I've been around this, too. Horrible.

Brutal. Pausch made a great point when he testified before congress (video attached to pancan website). Pancreatic cancer doesn't have any advocates because they're all dead.

[Schmoopie]

I knew a guy who died of pancreatic cancer a year or two ago. Doctor gave him six months, and that's all he got. Ovarian cancer's nearly as bad—the most famous survivor of that is Gene Wilder, and it was his wife Gilda Radner who had cancer. Went to an ovarian cancer walkathon the other weekend...small crowd. Not a disease that gets many heartwarming stories of survival and cure.

As for Pausch, yeah, you should know this stuff already, but a reminder is good because people do forget about human priorities. Did I change my life after seeing the video? No. But I didn't object to any of it.

[Art Vandelay]

Hey Phil, aren't you gonna tell us heathens what St. Francis said with the hoe in his garden?

[Bonnie]

Apparently you never had cancer or have lost a love one to the horrible disease. Until you do, don't criticize ANY person who is dealing with this. I dealth with my bout with the disease and I'm still trying to deal with my husband's death from this disease. And, by the way, my husband kept his sense of humor for the six months he was given before his death.