A Human being should be able to........"

In My Humble Opinion
1

While glancing through Robert Heinlein’s “Time Enough for Love” I came across a quote that made me think. “What should I be able to do?” I am wondering if anyone has any additions to this quote/list.
A human being should be able to
1.change a diaper
2. plan an invasion,
3.Hi opal!
4.butcher a hog
5.conn a ship
6.design a building
7.write a sonnet
8.balance accounts
9.build a wall
10.set a bone
11.comfort the dying
12.take orders
13.give orders
14.cooperate
15.act alone
16.solve equations
17.analyze a new problem
18.pitch manure
19.program a computer
20.cook a tasty meal
21.fight efficiently
22.die gallantly
Specialization is for insects

Does anyone have anything to add to my list?
And does anyone know where to learn these thing?Butchering a hog seems like it would be hard.

2

General Questions is for questions with factual answers. I’ll move this to IMHO for you.
Ok, so I’m not an admin, and I can’t actually move it, but I’ve always wanted to say that.

3

You don’t have to be an Admin to move threads, Wikkit.

You could be a mere Moderator and do it.

Moderator’s Note: What Wikkit said.

4

A human being should be able to . . .

match quote marks.
Too nit picky? Okay, let’s try:

enjoy sex.

or

laugh

or

both of them at the same time.

5

Well, to add an Ellisonian spin:

  1. A man should be able to shoot his own dog.

(We’re talking a dying animal in pain, here…)

6

[small]I feel so inadequate.[/small]
Actually, I figure I’ve done 6 or 7 of those things, and there are another 6 or 7 that I could manage if I put my mind to it.

That “butchering a hog” always stuck in my mind, as something I’d be unlikely to ever do.

My vague and incoherent memory has “climb a tree” on that list.

7

Here are the ones I haven’t done yet. But I have butchered a cow, does that count as close enough? It did say “be able to.” And I think I could do the rest, just haven’t.

1.change a diaper
2. plan an invasion,
4.butcher a hog
5.conn a ship
22.die gallantly

How about “Go without sex for a month.” I think there are many who couldn’t/wouldn’t do that.

8

Laugh, and be able to make others (especially children) laugh.
Play with children and be able to appreciate them.
Appreciate the beauty of nature.

F_X

9

Wow, the only thing I’ve done is change diapers (lots of them).

10

SWIM

It never ceases to amaze me when I run across people who can’t swim and/or are afraid of water. I hate reading stories about kids drowning in hip-deep water. For the love of god, we live on a planet that is three-quarters liquid–dontcha think knowing how to not die in it might be prudent?

Teach your kids to swim. Please.

11

I’d like it if more people could think critically, be polite, and clean up after themselves.

I know you didn’t ask this, but I’ve done most of these things. I haven’t planned an invasion, said Hi to Opal, or butchered a hog, but I did butcher a couple of ducks once. Did a bad job of it. I’ve solved only the simplest of equations, and I’ve never programmed a computer. (I can barely manage my email account.) Haven’t died gallantly, but I hope to. Eventually.

12

Install a telephone extension starting at the junction box (i.e. a real extension, not just a split-plug and a really long modular-plug wire).
Put out a small fire.
Deliver a speech, or debate, in defense of your position, before an assembly.
Tell someone you love him/her and mean it, AND be able to take it when their response is NOT what you wanted.

Anyway I can’t help but notice old Bob didn’t say how well is the “human” expected to do any of those things. I look at the list and notice there are quite a few that I could theoretically do properly (including some I have done in training or simulation scenarios) but really do not have any expectation to have or want to IRL for the foreseeable future.

And I’ve been at hog-butcherings, though my participation has been limited to fetching stuff.

13

A human being should be able to
1.change a diaper
CHECK

  1. plan an invasion,
    CHECK-- if roleplaying or soccer games count :wink:

3.Hi opal!
Yo!

4.butcher a hog
Never seen a hog. Could probably figure out how to cook it though.

5.conn a ship
Do small boats count?

6.design a building
Experience with Lego comes in handy.

7.write a sonnet
Sonnets are dull. I prefer free verse.

8.balance accounts
Check! (or cheque, for my fellow Canucks)

9.build a wall
Been there, done that. Also taken one down.

10.set a bone
Can’t really set collarbones or toes, and those are the only broken bones I’ve seen.

11.comfort the dying
Check.

12.take orders
Check

13.give orders
Check.

14.cooperate
Check

15.act alone
Check

16.solve equations
As long as it’s not calculus. I haven’t cracked a textbook in years.

17.analyze a new problem
Find me a new problem and I’ll analyze it for ya. I may sit around and go <hmmm> for a while.

18.pitch manure
Check. Next time bring a face mask.

19.program a computer
Does basic count? How about Fortran?

20.cook a tasty meal
Check, many times over.

21.fight efficiently
Well, I’ve put people in the hospital…

22.die gallantly
Trying to avoid this one for as long as possible.

Hmm, can you tell I have the same birthday as RAH?

I’d add : know the difference between when it’s a game, and when it’s not.
Know when losing is actually winning.

14

I’ve done all of them except set a bone, conn a ship (closest I’ve come is a big boat on a huge lake in a thick fog), and die gallantly. I know in theory how to do those, but I’m not seeking out opportunities to test them. Some of the ones I’ve done I’m in no hurry to repeat.

I agree with everyone who mentioned laughter, but with a slight twist: Laugh at himself.

Another addition to the list should be “Improvise.”

15

All the ones that involve laughing and dealing with other people seem to fall under the category of “being a decent human being”.
For things I think I should know how to doI was thinking more along the lines of fixing a car, play an instrument etc.

As a side note does anyone know where I can learn to butcher a hog?

16

The only thing that a human being truly has to be able to do is survive.

17

I inserted an “L” into exactly the wrong place in this sentence. JRD, what exactly kind of hog-butcherings have you been to?!?