# Skills everyone should have. "Specialization is for insects" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 26, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781 "2007-02-26T22:02:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/1 "2007-02-26T22:02:05Z")
I was thinking about this famous, and one of my favorite, quotes by Heinlein - > [@Heinlein](#): > > 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. - and started to wonder about what other skills everyone should have. As for more skills that I think should be added: Deliver a baby CPR The Heimlich Maneuver How to use and maintain a pistol, a rifle and a shotgun (whether or not you are an American) How to build a fire using a variety of methods and materials How to sharpen and maintain blades How to drive a stick shift How to drive a motorcycle How computers work, including a basic idea of how a program is written What else? ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/2 "2007-02-26T22:32:41Z")
Read, write, math. Handle & understand your own finances. Cook. Clean. First aid & CPR. Critical thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/3 "2007-02-26T22:46:35Z")
I dunno about adding anything _more_ to Heinlein’s list, seeing as I probably score subhuman on about half of his criteria… 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/4 "2007-02-26T22:47:28Z")
More than one language. ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/5 "2007-02-26T23:01:37Z")
[QUOTE=Muad’Dib] How to drive a motorcycle [/QUOTE] I should think that riding one would be sufficient. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/6 "2007-02-26T23:09:23Z")
[QUOTE=zelie zelerton] I should think that riding one would be sufficient. [/QUOTE] It may be fun, but I would like to make the thing go where I wish! ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/7 "2007-02-26T23:10:59Z")
What’s “conning” a ship? ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/8 "2007-02-26T23:14:59Z")
[QUOTE=Muad’Dib] It may be fun, but I would like to make the thing go where I wish! [/QUOTE] In which case you’d still be riding it! ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/9 "2007-02-26T23:37:10Z")
Hoping to get this thread back on track, I think “planning an invasion” and “conning a ship”, while useful skills, are not really necessary, but reflect RAH’s military background. I would also have said, “design and build a **simple** building”, (given a supply of lumber and regular tools, provide you and yours with adequate, permanent shelter.) I do like **Muad’Dib** ’s list. But I think many of Heinlein’s were examples of classes. “set a bone” could refer to general first aid, which today would include CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. Of course I could be over generalizing. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/11 "2007-02-26T23:45:40Z")
[QUOTE=leased to own] None of the above. Diapers and guns are best left to the experts. [/QUOTE] Especially when loaded. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/12 "2007-02-26T23:54:34Z")
Feed, change, and bathe an infant. Speak a foreign language. Prepare a résumé. Write a business letter. Change a tire. Cook a good dinner for guests. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/13 "2007-02-27T00:06:09Z")
Skill with a bo staff. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/14 "2007-02-27T00:08:00Z")
Learn how to take care of those that you love and love you. It’s work, but it is worth it. Take care of your Wife or Husband. Mom and Dad. The children that you may bring into the world. Dogs, cats and any other thing that may depend on you. It’s your job. And you volunteered for it. Take care of them. On a lighter note…… Try to understand a little bit about the weather. Basic tools. Always carry a pocket knife. Geography. Home is important to everyone. But never as important if you can’t get there. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/15 "2007-02-27T01:33:23Z")
1. Feed, bathe, clothe and even deliver a child. 2. Basic first aid including CPR. 3. Catch and Clean fish. 4. Change a tire. 5. Load, use, and otherwise maintain a firearm. 6. Drive on the opposite side of the road from the one you’re taught (including motorcycles) 7. Use and maintain a decent pocket knife. 8. Tie a tight, solid knot between two ropes. 9. Wash and properly press clothing (add shine shoes here too). 10. Operate and maintain a computer. 11. Cook from scratch. (not everything, just something) 12. Know basic phrases in several languages. 13. Know how to navigate with and without a compass. 14. Know basic vehicle repair (including motorcycles) 15. Play something on some musical instrument. 16. Comfort a child. 17. Send a fax. 18. Make fire. 19. Do Math. 20. Hide. 21. Kill. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/16 "2007-02-27T02:22:54Z")
All nonsense, there’s only one: 1. Know to ask the Dope when you need to know something new. Seriously, though, that quote has always bugged me. I’ll never be called upon to do half that stuff, and if I were, I could (and would) look it up. I’m hardly the poster child for specialization, but the myriad things I know are because, at one point or another in my life, they were actually useful to me. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/17 "2007-02-27T02:35:56Z")
A lot of Heinlein’s list seems to be influenced by the ideas behind _Starship Troopers_, specifically those recalling the Spartan ideal that only soldiers deserved full rights as citizens. He didn’t say “kill” (somewhat surprisingly), but he did say “give orders” and “take orders,” hinting at a belief that unquestioning obedience to authority is one of the basic building blocks of any civilization. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/18 "2007-02-27T02:52:41Z")
In Tribute to RAH… how can we forget Take Time enough to Love… A lot of these skills merely demonstrate the ability to be human, but being able to love, well, perhaps that is what being a human being is all about… Other than that, we are just a bunch of insects that specialized in non specilisation regards FML ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/19 "2007-02-27T05:32:14Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] What’s “conning” a ship? [/QUOTE] RAH was an Anapolis graduate. “Conning” a ship is [navalese](http://www.hazegray.org/faq/slang1.htm) for giving rudder/engine orders. Not the long term, “We’re going to sail for Portsmouth” but the minute-by-minute “Steer two points starboard so we can pass that freightter safely” stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/20 "2007-02-27T05:34:18Z")
Who is “RAH”? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781/21 "2007-02-27T05:34:53Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] A lot of Heinlein’s list seems to be influenced by the ideas behind _Starship Troopers_, specifically those recalling the Spartan ideal that only soldiers deserved full rights as citizens. He didn’t say “kill” (somewhat surprisingly), but he did say “give orders” and “take orders,” hinting at a belief that unquestioning obedience to authority is one of the basic building blocks of any civilization. [/QUOTE] Nitpick: it wasn’t only _soldiers_ specifically who got the vote in _Starship Troopers_, but “veterans”: anyone who had served society. I understood this to mean solders, civil servants, politicians, volunteers, perhaps even what we would call activists and members of NGOs… but not people who had only done what we would call “private life”. I suspect also that the vote was awarded only after they had finished their service, but I am not sure of this. The book was set during a major war, so of course there were a lot of soldiers around. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skills-everyone-should-have-specialization-is-for-insects/393781.md?page=2)