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Jack-of-All-Trades isn't a bad thing...


SiG Lady

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"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

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That truly is a great concept. I guess on the surface I've always kind of believed a survivalist was in fact simply a generalist that had the intelligence to understand his or her limits.

What seems so scary to me these days is not only do we have specialists, we have specialists that are experts in very non-essential skills. It amazes me that there are people that don't know how to jump a car. That don't know what end of a canoe steers the boat. That don't know how start a fire. But they can tell you where every contestan on American Idols is from!!!!

I've always wanted to be a good golfer. It's just something that I've yearned for, and I wish I could be so much better than I am today. That said, I'm so thankful that God blessed me with a little talent on the shooting side of things. If things went bad in society I just have a sneaky feeling that knowing how to handle a hunting rifle is going to put so much more meat on the table than knowing how to hit the perfect bunker shot.

Thanks Siggy - I really like that one.

Jack

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I actually went shooting at the indoor range today (God, I need to get out more) and mentioned this quote to one of the owners... and she agreed. She figured she could learn just about anything as long as she was able to read about it. Many of us are self-taught in a number of things, or just had certain unique opportunities (and the guts) to up-and-learn stuff for the sheer exicitement of it... not to mention that we might've also been able to make a living at it... or HAD to make a living at it. Many of us turn entrepreneurial when necessity calls.

At the same time, I think it's eminently PRACTICAL to be this way. I've been able to survive, render myself employable, dumbfound employers and others, and just rack up some good wordly skills and experiences by doing the things I did. And it's still happening.

One needs to know how to shoot a gun, to field-strip a gun, clean a toilet, provide good customer service, write investigative news, write a resume, create or repair office filing systems, drive a car/truck, teach a foreign language, perform public speaking, organize promotions, be reliable, be honest, be a team member, learn a variety of computer softwares, build simple computers from scratch, know how to cook/sew, how to budget funds, how to advertise products, how to wash a dog/cat/baby, how to wash clothes by hand, how to find cheap clothes/food/books, how to keep business records, how to use a camera, how do your own taxes, how to grow vegetables, how to "put up" food, how to work leather, how to administer first-aid, how not to burn bridges, how to defend oneself verbally and how to be alone but not be afraid.

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"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

Woodrow Wilson Smith aka Lazarus Long was some kinda character wasn't he?

But the thing he said that I like best was:

Rub her feet.

Edited by gino_aki
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I actually went shooting at the indoor range today (God, I need to get out more) and mentioned this quote to one of the owners... and she agreed. She figured she could learn just about anything as long as she was able to read about it. Many of us are self-taught in a number of things, or just had certain unique opportunities (and the guts) to up-and-learn stuff for the sheer exicitement of it... not to mention that we might've also been able to make a living at it... or HAD to make a living at it. Many of us turn entrepreneurial when necessity calls.

At the same time, I think it's eminently PRACTICAL to be this way. I've been able to survive, render myself employable, dumbfound employers and others, and just rack up some good wordly skills and experiences by doing the things I did. And it's still happening.

One needs to know how to shoot a gun, to field-strip a gun, clean a toilet, provide good customer service, write investigative news, write a resume, create or repair office filing systems, drive a car/truck, teach a foreign language, perform public speaking, organize promotions, be reliable, be honest, be a team member, learn a variety of computer softwares, build simple computers from scratch, know how to cook/sew, how to budget funds, how to advertise products, how to wash a dog/cat/baby, how to wash clothes by hand, how to find cheap clothes/food/books, how to keep business records, how to use a camera, how do your own taxes, how to grow vegetables, how to "put up" food, how to work leather, how to administer first-aid, how not to burn bridges, how to defend oneself verbally and how to be alone but not be afraid.

And run a milling machine.

FM

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Since the economic downturn I have been forced (Because I avoid unemployment payments of any type. Not a judgement thing, just me.) to do all the things I have ever done for a living. In the past 18 months I have or do on a regular basis: woodworking, finishing (spray and wipe-on/off) electrical, welding, labor, stagehand, building cages that people rent inside warehouses to lock up their products, and as I suggested to others on this forum repo clean-up. I might help out a friend with his filling/service station doing closing and after-hours clean up for cash. I even hauled mud and tended block for a couple of weeks last year. Those bags of cement get heavier after 15 years!

I can dress an animal, do a typical service on a vehicle and change a tire. There are a myriad of things I can do but computers is not one of them. Heaven help me should I try and sell something on the classifieds, I have trouble posting anything visual. :wacko:

I fear Rober Hienlien would be disappointed, :unsure:

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