Apparently so, as illustrated by your last two posts.olafhardtB said:
Instructors: Why do you teach?
- Thread starter siglite
- Start date
- Status
You have a serious problem, then
siglite
Member
Ok, before everyone dogpiles on olafhardtB, I have to say... I've seen it.
I've seen exactly what he's describing. I've seen it MANY times. Dozens, even. I've seen instructors who, in my opinion, are motivated by ego to a great degree. Some of them have been pretty good instructors DESPITE that fact. Most, not so much. But, I'm going to (hesitantly) give olafhardtB some credit here for being honest. This is why:
To some of us, the concept of teaching based on ego is going to be alien, and you'll find his post repulsive. But based on my observations of instructors, I think the law of averages (not pointing at anyone) indicates that some here will be offended because the truth hits close to home.
A long time ago I recognized this tendency among instructors. Since then, I've tried really hard to approach instruction with the confidence that comes with my experience, but without ego.
I haven't discussed my personal motivations, but olafhardtB has told a truth here. Hard truths are still truth.
I've seen exactly what he's describing. I've seen it MANY times. Dozens, even. I've seen instructors who, in my opinion, are motivated by ego to a great degree. Some of them have been pretty good instructors DESPITE that fact. Most, not so much. But, I'm going to (hesitantly) give olafhardtB some credit here for being honest. This is why:
To some of us, the concept of teaching based on ego is going to be alien, and you'll find his post repulsive. But based on my observations of instructors, I think the law of averages (not pointing at anyone) indicates that some here will be offended because the truth hits close to home.
A long time ago I recognized this tendency among instructors. Since then, I've tried really hard to approach instruction with the confidence that comes with my experience, but without ego.
I haven't discussed my personal motivations, but olafhardtB has told a truth here. Hard truths are still truth.
We're getting far afield, into an area of psychology, but ego is a powerful motivator. It is also, in many cases, a proper and appropriate motivator.siglite said:
People who are good at something, be it carpentry, the practice of law, business or teaching, for several examples, tend to have healthy egos and a strong sense of self esteem. And those qualities help drive people to put out the added effort to become especially good at what they do.
siglite
Member
A fair point, Frank. And that's why I stated I've seen some instructors that were good despite being motivated by ego. However, it's apparent from some of the responses here that many find instruction from a place of ego negative. You yourself reacted to olafhardtB's post with distaste.
After my "softening" of his post into a more clear point and observation, we see a defense of ego as a motivator.
And, yes, to some degree, ego probably is a motivator for much at which we wish to excel. And yes, we're now branching into psychology, and I am no psychologist.
olafhardtB took it to extreme.
Though, he did preface his confession as "awful." And as he phrased it above, I agree with him. It's awful.
Ego can be a really, really bad thing in instruction. I've seen that first hand. And I personally find a difference in ego-motivation versus some of the other motivations that have been listed in this thread.
And since I'm referencing that, now seems as good a time as any to list my own motivations, since I'm the one that started this thread.
For me, it's about power.
Now, if you read that, you might think, "christ, he's after power." Except, for me, it's not about "power" as an instructor. It's certainly not about control of or influence over my students. Power is the root word of "empowerment." I had an instructor say (in the most unlikely of settings) just last week, "warriors choose to be pacifist." This was an instructor at most of the most liberal universities you can imagine. For me, instruction is about the transfer of power. Good defensive instruction infuses students to some degree or other with the power to defend themselves and theirs. It is a power of self-reliance. And self-reliance is the foundation upon which this country was built. Self-reliance, self-defense, and even on the macro scale, self-governance. I enjoy passing on a realization, that one does not have to rely on others for the defense of that which is truly most precious. Life.
Ego can get in the way of that transfer.
After my "softening" of his post into a more clear point and observation, we see a defense of ego as a motivator.
And, yes, to some degree, ego probably is a motivator for much at which we wish to excel. And yes, we're now branching into psychology, and I am no psychologist.
olafhardtB took it to extreme.
Though, he did preface his confession as "awful." And as he phrased it above, I agree with him. It's awful.
Ego can be a really, really bad thing in instruction. I've seen that first hand. And I personally find a difference in ego-motivation versus some of the other motivations that have been listed in this thread.
And since I'm referencing that, now seems as good a time as any to list my own motivations, since I'm the one that started this thread.
For me, it's about power.
Now, if you read that, you might think, "christ, he's after power." Except, for me, it's not about "power" as an instructor. It's certainly not about control of or influence over my students. Power is the root word of "empowerment." I had an instructor say (in the most unlikely of settings) just last week, "warriors choose to be pacifist." This was an instructor at most of the most liberal universities you can imagine. For me, instruction is about the transfer of power. Good defensive instruction infuses students to some degree or other with the power to defend themselves and theirs. It is a power of self-reliance. And self-reliance is the foundation upon which this country was built. Self-reliance, self-defense, and even on the macro scale, self-governance. I enjoy passing on a realization, that one does not have to rely on others for the defense of that which is truly most precious. Life.
Ego can get in the way of that transfer.
Last edited:
parsimonious_instead
Member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2010
- Messages
- 791
As a computer instructor, I got a tremendous sense of satisfaction out of helping my adult students improve their Windows skills.
I set the computers up early, gave everybody my best, most energetic self during the instructional part, and hung around a while afterward in case anyone had additional questions for me.
Was there some ego involvement? Sure... but most of that came from seeing the progress, and reading the overwhelmingly positive surveys they filled out at the end, anonymously.
The four firearms instructors who've taught me over the last few years - Charlie Timlin, C. Robert McDowell, Gary LeRoux (with Mark Preston co-teaching), and Cope Reynolds were all excellent men who cared first and foremost about safety, and truly wanted their students to excel in their shooting.
I set the computers up early, gave everybody my best, most energetic self during the instructional part, and hung around a while afterward in case anyone had additional questions for me.
Was there some ego involvement? Sure... but most of that came from seeing the progress, and reading the overwhelmingly positive surveys they filled out at the end, anonymously.
The four firearms instructors who've taught me over the last few years - Charlie Timlin, C. Robert McDowell, Gary LeRoux (with Mark Preston co-teaching), and Cope Reynolds were all excellent men who cared first and foremost about safety, and truly wanted their students to excel in their shooting.
VA27
Member
^This. I do a lot of work with the local reserves, and I always tell them that one of the reasons I'm here is that if some bad guy has me down stomping my guts out and you show up, I want to know that things just got better, not worse.
Ehtereon11B
internet infantryman
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2012
- Messages
- 983
Main reasons why I teach are because if I can promote a good attitude about guns to get the populace over their irrational fear, that is worth it. And because most instruction most people get is watching the news or playing games so they don't know anything about firearms. I once had a kid who I was teaching about the M4. Played a game called Counterstrike. The reload animation on that game is pulling back the forward assist instead of the charging handle. Lots of bad information about firearms everywhere and I do my part to correct some when I can.
Infidel4life11
Member
There is no future without education. A lot of people I come across have no clue about guns outside that the media tells them "they kill people". The Army IMO focuses more on teaching to qualify with a weapon instead of how to shoot/fight with a weapon. Tactics and technique are a must if you are going to be a responsible gun owner/operator. I don't teach "the way" I teach a way that works and can be built off of. If you are going to use a gun for work, home defense, or a tool you need to be able to make a difference with that weapon not become a victim with a gun. IMO
- Status
Similar threads
