If a Thousand People Say a Silly thing it is Still a Silly Thing

 Throughout my life idiots in positions of power calling themselves teachers have been trying to tell me what to do.

When I was at Sixth Form surviving on £40 per week an idiot with called John Edward Comerford took it on himself to tell me I needed to learn how to behave in an academic environment.

When I went to university I read a book as opposed to taking part in a parlor game. The idiot in charge told me I had a bad attitude and called me a trouble maker.

Years later I have a 2:1 degree, a job as a project manager, have passed translation agency tests and am recognized as a good translator. The reason I still have a job is because I didn't listen to a word these idiots had to say.

One idiot asked me if I had a problem with the course. I should have replied "yes I have a problem. You are responsible for wasting years of peoples lives and getting customers into debt for a piece of paper you have devalued by giving out degrees to incompetent fools."

When I studied Japanese the English idiot who "taught" me allowed electronic dictionaries in the exam so that students who could read no kanji could pass. The Japanese national teaching sided with me and said he would write me a letter to state that I could read all the kanji. He said "I was one of the people who wanted Kanji in the exam. They are an important part of Japanese". He said he was happy to write me a letter.

This is an example of how stupid the education system is.  Interestingly my Japanese grammar was weak so I looked bad next to other students who used electronic dictionaries, but I improved on that. After I learnt the grammar my knowledge of kanji helped me to translate documents quicker.

After Graduating I became the first person ever to complete the computer program Kanji Gold. Many slated me on the Koohii Forum but a native Japanese speaker said it was very impressive.

When i split up with my ex-girlfriend I hung out with criminal gangs and almost got myself killed. I decided to learn chess as a hobby and wasn't very good when I started. Many people laughed at me and were surprised that I stuck it out.

I have beaten an F.M. in a blitz game and a G.M.  in a simul online.  I got to this standard by studying tactics, endgame and openings. Notice I named the third thing, openings.

It is a commonly cited pile of nonsense when someone tells you "don't study openings".

Both Justicebot who teaches me online, the guy who taught me in real life and GM Michael Adams stress the importance of openings! I seem to remember an acquaintance quoting Michael Adams as saying "no work in the opening is wasted".

The following quote from a WGM is evidence of how much absolute tripe can be published "I asked her what tips she could give to aspiring chess players.  She replied 'study endgames and chess tactics. You really cannot go wrong with that, Note that I have not mentioned openings."

I am sorry but this is absolute tripe! I ignored openings to start with and studied tactics (as idiots say you should do) and when as black I was faced with the Scotch I did not know what to do and lost.

Once again I ignored the "expert" "teachers" and went on to become a respected chess player.

When I started selling on eBay people laughed at me and said I would never get anywhere. I went on to manage the eBay for an antiques shop as well as setting up the Near East Liverpool. I achieved Powerseller and Top Rated Seller status.  I did all this by ignoring idiots who thought they knew better. 

A final parable from my own life is that of matched betting. When I tell people I earn £30 a day matched betting they look at me as if I am a fantasist. I tell them to google it and they just laugh. I got started with sign up offers and went on to Oddsmonkey and laying accumulators.

I am very, very secure financially now due to matched betting, eBay and translation work.

There are many, many successful people like me who ignored idiot teachers and became successful. An example that springs to mind is Warren Buffet who was laughed at by people who thought he would never make it as an investor.

DO not get me wrong, there are some teachers who do deserve to be listened to. One of the wisest things I ever did was study French to English Translation under Alexandre Coutu, He was very knowledgeable and really improved the standard of English in my texts.

But these are in the minority - my advice to you - don't listen to a word most teachers have to say.