Richard Baker asked: > > > Can anyone non-fictional do all of those things adequately well? I > think it's much better to do a few of them very well and rely on > others to do different subsets and trade skills or goods and so > forth. It seems to me that all the people who've done most to > advance human civilisation have specialised in one or at most > several fields, and it's becoming increasingly important to > specialise as human civilisation becomes ever more complex and our > collective knowledge ever vaster. > Ok, let's see how Heinleinian I can claim to be :-)
>> "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, Ok, ok >> butcher a hog, Never done it. >> conn a ship, I have no idea what's that. But I can pilot a spaceship (did that for 18 years). >> design a building, Probably yes. >> write a sonnet, No. >> balance accounts, Yes - but it insists on remaining negative. >> build a wall, I think I can. >> set a bone, Never done that. Probably I couldn't, I have a kind of panic to treat people and causing more harm than good. >> comfort the dying, Tried that, but I don't think I was successful. The last time, _I_ was comforted by the dying. >> take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, >> analyze a new problem, Yes to all. >> pitch manure, What's that? >> program a computer, Yes. >> cook a tasty meal, Yes - with a microwave and pre-prepared meal. >> fight efficiently, die gallantly. Probably yes to both, but never had to do any of them. >> Specialization is for insects." I agree - I am now in my 3rd different profession [plus a couple of non-pro that I have a good understanding] :-) Alberto Monteiro _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
