# Hey teachers re: "I'm not going to be an X, so why do I have to learn Y?"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-teachers-re-im-not-going-to-be-an-x-so-why-do-i-have-to-learn-y/687815>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 6, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-teachers-re-im-not-going-to-be-an-x-so-why-do-i-have-to-learn-y/687815 "2014-05-06T15:33:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-teachers-re-im-not-going-to-be-an-x-so-why-do-i-have-to-learn-y/687815/61 "2014-06-27T15:27:01Z")

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> [@The\_Mask\_behind\_the\_Mask](#):
>
> However, I found history to be an empty, soulless subject devoid of any merit or value.

Please don’t vote.

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**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-teachers-re-im-not-going-to-be-an-x-so-why-do-i-have-to-learn-y/687815/62 "2014-06-27T15:46:27Z")

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> [@Septima](#):
>
> “Because if you don’t learn X, you’ll look like a fucking idiot in the real world. Seriously, people will think you’re mentally disabled, and ask if you need help at the grocery store. Adults know X.”
> 
> Works like a charm.

S’a filthy lie though. Most adults know fuck all. If they did, we wouldn’t have a board:)

[QUOTE=Chronos]  
My answer depends on what the Y is. I’ve never yet heard of a job where physics doesn’t apply… but knowing how it applies depend on the job.   
[/QUOTE]

Most office jobs don’t, actually. Like secretary - you don’t need to understand how a phone bank works to use it.

My own job (translation) has precious little physics in it, or maths - and that’s the way hu-huh hu-huh I liiike it hu-huh hu-huh. Though I did have to give myself a crash course in car engineering for a gig. Prior to that, as I told my supervisor, to me a car was 4 tires and a steering wheel :).

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