[quote=FlyerInHi]
Zk, I just want to clarify that tidiness is just one item in a good upbringing. There are other qualities such as being able to play chess, a musical instrument, athleticism, etc… I suppose that in order to quantify the whole person, you’d have to assign weights and scores to whatever criteria you believe are important. I personally assign more weight to tidiness.
I haven’t read the book but the title is “The life changing magic of tidying up.” That implies there’s positive magic to the process. You might as well argue that the whole premise of the book is flawed.
Also, you talked about forgetting about social norms and judging from a blank slate when it comes to tidiness and table manners. But then you bring up faithfulness in marriage. Marriage and faithfulness to one spouse are as strong social conventions as they get. Can we throw them out too?
I’m being facetious here, but I think that your wife has saved you from a life of messiness. You owe her a debt of gratitude. Your progeny are from now on going to pass on the art of being tidy.[/quote]
I’ll agree to disagree on how much weight to put on tidiness. It’s possible I undervalue it, but I think it’s obvious you overvalue it.
While I don’t think the premise of the book is flawed, I do think, as I said in previous posts, that the “magic” would only really apply to people who are bothered by clutter. Which isn’t everybody.
