“Finally, there will always be people (no matter how “dumb” or “smart”) who would prefer others to do for them.”
Mazey, I think that is exactly what I said. I have admitted, twice, that what the problem is in this particular case is not really the lack or not of smarts, but more a lack of motivation to make the best of what is there. Whatever that best is for J., it certainly is not being reached. There are all sorts of factors in his background that contribute to this problem.
It’s also true that if he were of over-average intelligence, they might not be screwing up his life so badly, just for the simple fact that maybe he wouldn’t need as much discipline to get the skills he wants to find the positions in life that he wants.
What I keep thinking is getting lost here is that I did not start all this to say that we need to do something to people like J., but that it is harder these days, atleast in Orange County, CA, where all the white people seem to have white collar jobs, or something that involves thorough understanding of say, elevators and everything about them, for someone with all these accumulated setbacks to get where he wants.
Ok, final summary:
J. has less than average intelligence. He may or not really realize that. His lack is not what is the overriding problem. It’s a lack of discipline and honesty that keep sabotaging his occasional efforts. I keep thinking that he’s looking for something spectacular to fall into his lap, without him having to go back to school, apprentice a trade, or something that involves a lot of dedicated effort.
So, would it help if I admitted that I misstated the problem initially? Although at this point I’m beginning to despair of everyone trying to get my actual point.