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Counterpoint from Mr S. Holmes :) Only learn skills that are truly applicable to your life. "You see," he explained, "I consider that a man's brain originally

Counterpoint from Mr S. Holmes :) Only learn skills that are truly applicable to your life. "You see," he explained, "I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has difficulty laying his hands upon it. Now the skillful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones." "But the Solar System!" [Dr. Watson] protested. "What of the deuce is it to me?" he interrupted impatiently: "you say that we go round the sun. If we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work."

ghaff 6y ago
I actually sort of agree with that. It doesn't have to be stuff you need to do but you do need to pick and choose. For example, while I'm not ignorant of how a car works, I did make at least an implicit decision a very long time ago that working on cars wasn't going to be one of the ways I spent my time. And while I do certain things around the house, I get someone in for major jobs and for electricity/plumbing generally.
- chrismeller 6y ago
  Completely agree that having a fundamental understanding of most things is good, but that it’s more important to know what you don’t know than to really and truly know something. Changing a tire? Yes, you should know that (or, honestly, be able to intuit it, it’s not exactly complex). Being able to change the oil, a fan belt, or coolant? Yeah, I know I could if I had to, but with the hazardous waste and all it’s far from worth it for me to try to.
  - ghaff 6y ago
    Of course, "run-flat" tires are increasingly common these days and the crap jacks that are almost always the from-the-factory standard can make it near impossible to change a tire in non-ideal situations. And you should also know how to jump-start a vehicle which is almost certainly something you'll need to do sooner or later. Also add washer fluid. But yeah, the engine compartment isn't some mysterious magical box to me but the vast majority of things I get done for me. (My parents also never did any car work and I didn't own a car until I had a professional job.)
milansm 6y ago
Note that every single item from the parent comment is actually applicable, practical skill, unlike the knowledge about the solar system.
- Riverheart 6y ago
  It's very unlikely that I or the OP will ever, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, build a wall, set a bone, or pitch manure. And recognizing that these aren't personally valuable skills is a worthwhile skill.
  - ghaff 6y ago
    I'd argue that at least knowing the basics of splinting is a good skill to have. (I keep up to date on wilderness first aid.) And many people know and sometimes use the basics of sailing/seamanship--it's not something exotic. I wouldn't really say I can "design a building" but I know some basics of construction which I think is pretty common.

ghaff 6y ago

I actually sort of agree with that. It doesn't have to be stuff you need to do but you do need to pick and choose. For example, while I'm not ignorant of how a car works, I did make at least an implicit decision a very long time ago that working on cars wasn't going to be one of the ways I spent my time. And while I do certain things around the house, I get someone in for major jobs and for electricity/plumbing generally.

chrismeller 6y ago
Completely agree that having a fundamental understanding of most things is good, but that it’s more important to know what you don’t know than to really and truly know something. Changing a tire? Yes, you should know that (or, honestly, be able to intuit it, it’s not exactly complex). Being able to change the oil, a fan belt, or coolant? Yeah, I know I could if I had to, but with the hazardous waste and all it’s far from worth it for me to try to.
- ghaff 6y ago
  Of course, "run-flat" tires are increasingly common these days and the crap jacks that are almost always the from-the-factory standard can make it near impossible to change a tire in non-ideal situations. And you should also know how to jump-start a vehicle which is almost certainly something you'll need to do sooner or later. Also add washer fluid. But yeah, the engine compartment isn't some mysterious magical box to me but the vast majority of things I get done for me. (My parents also never did any car work and I didn't own a car until I had a professional job.)

milansm 6y ago

Note that every single item from the parent comment is actually applicable, practical skill, unlike the knowledge about the solar system.

Riverheart 6y ago
It's very unlikely that I or the OP will ever, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, build a wall, set a bone, or pitch manure. And recognizing that these aren't personally valuable skills is a worthwhile skill.
- ghaff 6y ago
  I'd argue that at least knowing the basics of splinting is a good skill to have. (I keep up to date on wilderness first aid.) And many people know and sometimes use the basics of sailing/seamanship--it's not something exotic. I wouldn't really say I can "design a building" but I know some basics of construction which I think is pretty common.