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Comment by stratosgear | Hacker News Reader

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, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

— Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competent_man

Sorry for not providing concrete instructions for each...

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I mean, I sort of agree, but the real world doesn't reward people like that. Society is all about conforming and those of us that don't fit the mold are held in high regards by a small number of friends but not rewarded by society. Those who highly specialize are the winners.

I'm a jack of all trades and new people I meet tend to be surprised by the various activities that I can perform. Yet I'm a near useless, underpaid (for the position, not performance), mid-level dev with no professional future.

Heinlein was a bit odd in that many of his writings, especially his lesser-read short novels, were written about these idealistic characters, living in idealistic environments that were full of equality, self-empowerment, and ignoring societal norms... yet at the same time, was often led by a man who could do everything, had everything, and everyone served him. It was like he saw the potential for change, but still fell back on a strong patriachical paradigm. An odd mix. And that quote is written from the perspective of one of his patriarchs. It is a good example of the variety of tasks that a self-sufficient person may learn. But I would not take that specific list as a correct guide for our time or society.

Yeah, most novels or movies use ideal characters, or story lines where they have just what they need to get something done. Otherwise the story would end partway through.

Yeah, not necessarily that specific list. The list could really be anything. If the items on it are not mainstream, then there's really no reward to them. People aren't expected to be self sufficient, rather they are expected to buy things and hire people, or otherwise participate in the consumerist economy.

Can anyone name a single real person who can do all of those skills competently?

If not, this is an unhelpful response to this question.

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