Specialization is for Insects
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:43 pm
These is a quote from Robert Heinlein which I've seen on the sig/tagline of forum posters here and there. It is interesting and when I ran across it today, it got me thinking. The quote is:
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein
So I thought I'd see how I measured up:
Change a diaper: Been there, done that. Two young men now in their 20's.
Plan an invasion: Never had occasion to do that, although I think I could. Not sure how good the plan would be though...
Butcher a hog: Butchered deer. Think you have to scald said hog to get the hair off. Should be similar to deer after that. Not sure what to do with the curly tail or the squeal though...
Conn a ship: Been there, done that. Spent 12 years in the Navy on submarines including stints as Navigator/Operations officer. Been the Officer of the Deck in places I wished (at the time) I wasn't the OOD. Glad I did it and have the t-shirt now
Design a building: Did that in high school, drew up complete plans/drawings for the "house of my dreams". Funny what you think is important when you're 17 eh?
Write a sonnet: Not sure what constitutes a sonnet exactly, but I've written poetry to my wife, when I was deployed and lonely as heck. So I give myself a check on this one.
Balance accounts: Quicken for the WIN!
Build a wall: Helped Grandpa building a house, although I don't think I can get credit for the entire wall... Sheetrock, taping and floating I'll take credit for... although I'm way slow compared to a Pro.
Set a bone: Had mine broken, saw others break theirs. Never been in a situation where competent medical help was
remote enough that setting the bone couldn't wait. No credit on this one. I should probably take a first aid/emergency medical course. Although I don't want to be one, perhaps EMT cert?
Comfort the dying: I've seen my share and more family members dying. I've not sat at their bedside in their last hours. My mother passed away unexpectedly and my Grandparents also went relatively unexpectedly. I guess if I find myself in that situation, I'll focus on telling them how much they are loved and what a fantastic job they've done... and that they will be missed.
Take orders: Been there, done that. Navy thing again. Otoh, maybe I should count being married as meeting this!
Give orders: Been there, done that. See above.
Cooperate: Been there, done that. Navy. Marriage. Most any serious employment.
Act alone: Been there, done that. Hunting, investing, fishing. Not sure, but I think maybe Heinlein had something more serious in mind although I'm not sure what. Guess I'll say the jury is still out on this one.
Solve equations: High School Algebra, Trigonometry. 2 years (4 semesters) of college calculus followed by differential equations, partial differential equations and complex variables (calculus with imaginary numbers lol... yuck). Been there, done that.
Analyze a new problem: Been there, done that. Assuming that by "new" he means a problem new to the human in question. Not sure there are many problems new to humanity that 99% of us would ever encounter if not in the sciences. So I'll cite my mathematics classes above. Being an officer on various submarines including Nav/Ops and Engineer billets. And most importantly, keeping my wife convinced that remaining married to me is in her best interests and is the best course of action!
. But seriously, I'm pretty sure I married way above my station so I'd better work hard on that one... although some would say that in my particular case, ANY woman would be above my station... 
Pitch manure: Been there, done that. Had the nasty socks to prove it. Grandpa had cattle with some in a feedlot. Wearing grandpa's rubber boots that are 3 sizes too big when walking through slurry like manure 2 feet deep isn't something I'd recommend... although perhaps Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs might be interested...
Program a computer: Been there, done that. Still doing it...
Cook a tasty meal: Been there, done that. What? Well, our black Lab and I thought it was tasty. YMMV.
Fight efficiently: Does paintball count? Darn... Well, guess I can't take credit for this. All the fights I got into in high school ended up with my attacker having bruised knuckles
Guess that was a good reason to get a CHL eh?
Die gallantly: Uh... although I hope to never have occasion to be tested on this one, I think that should someone or someones threaten my family, I'll take 'em out or die trying. Hope it would be considered gallant.
Now... anyone willing to have a bone broken so I can set it? Don't think I'll hold my breath on that one.
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein
So I thought I'd see how I measured up:
Change a diaper: Been there, done that. Two young men now in their 20's.
Plan an invasion: Never had occasion to do that, although I think I could. Not sure how good the plan would be though...
Butcher a hog: Butchered deer. Think you have to scald said hog to get the hair off. Should be similar to deer after that. Not sure what to do with the curly tail or the squeal though...
Conn a ship: Been there, done that. Spent 12 years in the Navy on submarines including stints as Navigator/Operations officer. Been the Officer of the Deck in places I wished (at the time) I wasn't the OOD. Glad I did it and have the t-shirt now
Design a building: Did that in high school, drew up complete plans/drawings for the "house of my dreams". Funny what you think is important when you're 17 eh?
Write a sonnet: Not sure what constitutes a sonnet exactly, but I've written poetry to my wife, when I was deployed and lonely as heck. So I give myself a check on this one.
Balance accounts: Quicken for the WIN!
Build a wall: Helped Grandpa building a house, although I don't think I can get credit for the entire wall... Sheetrock, taping and floating I'll take credit for... although I'm way slow compared to a Pro.
Set a bone: Had mine broken, saw others break theirs. Never been in a situation where competent medical help was
remote enough that setting the bone couldn't wait. No credit on this one. I should probably take a first aid/emergency medical course. Although I don't want to be one, perhaps EMT cert?
Comfort the dying: I've seen my share and more family members dying. I've not sat at their bedside in their last hours. My mother passed away unexpectedly and my Grandparents also went relatively unexpectedly. I guess if I find myself in that situation, I'll focus on telling them how much they are loved and what a fantastic job they've done... and that they will be missed.
Take orders: Been there, done that. Navy thing again. Otoh, maybe I should count being married as meeting this!
Give orders: Been there, done that. See above.
Cooperate: Been there, done that. Navy. Marriage. Most any serious employment.
Act alone: Been there, done that. Hunting, investing, fishing. Not sure, but I think maybe Heinlein had something more serious in mind although I'm not sure what. Guess I'll say the jury is still out on this one.
Solve equations: High School Algebra, Trigonometry. 2 years (4 semesters) of college calculus followed by differential equations, partial differential equations and complex variables (calculus with imaginary numbers lol... yuck). Been there, done that.
Analyze a new problem: Been there, done that. Assuming that by "new" he means a problem new to the human in question. Not sure there are many problems new to humanity that 99% of us would ever encounter if not in the sciences. So I'll cite my mathematics classes above. Being an officer on various submarines including Nav/Ops and Engineer billets. And most importantly, keeping my wife convinced that remaining married to me is in her best interests and is the best course of action!
. But seriously, I'm pretty sure I married way above my station so I'd better work hard on that one... although some would say that in my particular case, ANY woman would be above my station... Pitch manure: Been there, done that. Had the nasty socks to prove it. Grandpa had cattle with some in a feedlot. Wearing grandpa's rubber boots that are 3 sizes too big when walking through slurry like manure 2 feet deep isn't something I'd recommend... although perhaps Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs might be interested...
Program a computer: Been there, done that. Still doing it...
Cook a tasty meal: Been there, done that. What? Well, our black Lab and I thought it was tasty. YMMV.
Fight efficiently: Does paintball count? Darn... Well, guess I can't take credit for this. All the fights I got into in high school ended up with my attacker having bruised knuckles
Guess that was a good reason to get a CHL eh?Die gallantly: Uh... although I hope to never have occasion to be tested on this one, I think that should someone or someones threaten my family, I'll take 'em out or die trying. Hope it would be considered gallant.
Now... anyone willing to have a bone broken so I can set it? Don't think I'll hold my breath on that one.