How many different things can you do?

[Lark]

I'm always intrigued by stories of polymaths or some of the outlying ideas or dreams from socialists and others about job rotation, the idea that you could be skilled up in more than one field without suffering any detriment, I think that multi-talented individuals should be seen as an asset and I'm not always sure that this is the case.

Anyway, I was wondering how multi-talented are you? Was a result of a plan or did it come about spontaneously or by happy accident? Does it relate to your thinking about what is valuable or has value or something else? Do you think its a good idea to be accomplished in more than one sphere of life or is it really a better idea to excel in one field?

 

[Fluffywolf]

It sucks to be a polymath.

If something needs done, I'm always called on. It's not that I know how to do everything. But it doesn't take a genious to figure out how to do things once you sit down and do them. I hate it when people go "I don't know how to do that." or "I can't do that.".

It just frustrates me to no end.

I have the suspicion there are far more polymaths out there than let on. And they all just happen to be smarter than me at dodging work. My ego is such a burden.

I never had a fear of failing and nervousness is not an emotion I am familiar with, I suspect that is what lies at the base of my polymathness.

 

[Lexicon]

It sucks to be a polymath.

Misread this as, "It sucks to be a polymorph."

Thought, well.. does it, though?
Seems like an apex predator. Pretty advantageous, not to mention - adaptable.

Full episode:

 

[Fluffywolf]

Pretty advantageous, not to mention - adaptable.

Yes, of course. I was mostly jesting saying it sucks. Well, sometimes it does suck I guess, but of course it is totally worth it in the grand scheme of things.

What I said on there being a lot more polymaths out there then you might think is something that I believe to be true though. A lot of people have a tendency to be defeatist about things, probably mostly because of convenience, but probably due to a wide variety of reasons. The difference between such a person who would never be considered a polymath and someone that is a polymath, I wonder how small that line can be for some people.

Perfectly capable people wasting away because of misguided beliefs about themselves being unable to do things that they are really perfectly capable of doing.

 

[Lark]

I think if I could change the education system then everyone would leave school with a trade skill and an academic education, they could then choose whether or not to study further education out of interest or in order to enter a profession but there would be no trade skills shortages and people could do work on their own homes and stuff too.

I'd also have the state legislate so that people could take career breaks to learn skills and return to work.

I like the US emphasis upon people having athletics, community involvement and academic performance indicators in order to get to university or further study, even if those things could be ticked off with tokenistic moves in high school like working on a year book or something.

 

[Lexicon]

Yes, of course. I was mostly jesting saying it sucks. Well, sometimes it does suck I guess, but of course it is totally worth it in the grand scheme of things.

What I said on there being a lot more polymaths out there then you might think is something that I believe to be true though. A lot of people have a tendency to be defeatist about things, probably mostly because of convenience, but probably due to a wide variety of reasons. The difference between such a person who would never be considered a polymath and someone that is a polymath, I wonder how small that line can be for some people.

Perfectly capable people wasting away because of misguided beliefs about themselves being unable to do things that they are really perfectly capable of doing.

Wholeheartedly agree. I feel like the majority of the human race possesses an astounding amount of unrealized potential. Difficult to get out of our own way, though. But, not impossible.

One might assume a fair deal of it has to do with emotional biases, conscious and unconscious.
If only a polymorph were available upon request to (at least, temporarily) eat up all of our feelings. Especially the stupid ones.

 

[Yuurei]

I'm kind of a Jack of all trades. I have a fair knowladge of many subjects but I only specialize in a few.

My single greatest skill is in adapting. If I don't multi-task I get bored.

 

[Fluffywolf]

I think if I could change the education system then everyone would leave school with a trade skill and an academic education, they could then choose whether or not to study further education out of interest or in order to enter a profession but there would be no trade skills shortages and people could do work on their own homes and stuff too.

I'd also have the state legislate so that people could take career breaks to learn skills and return to work.

I like the US emphasis upon people having athletics, community involvement and academic performance indicators in order to get to university or further study, even if those things could be ticked off with tokenistic moves in high school like working on a year book or something.

The japanese school system, (which is far from perfect), actually does this pretty good I think in terms of providing for extracurricular activities.

But yes, I agree education is just too important.

My high school (dutch high school is kinda inbetween american highschool and college I believe) kinda sucked in that way. I was in the higher tier of highschool and the amount of freedom given to students who did well enough was enormous. Well, I loved that of course, I didn't have to do fuck all and just had fun all the time. But I was still a kid when I was 20. I didn't really start applying myself until that time. Looking back on it now, it kinda feels like a waste if you know what I mean.

 

[Fluffywolf]

Took me a while to dig up and find it, but the topic reminded me of this absolutely baller piece of art.

It Couldn't Be Done

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That maybe it couldn't, but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so "till he tried."
So he buckled right in with the
trace of a grin on his face.
If he worried, he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it."
But he took off his coat and took off his hat
And the first thing he knew he'd begun it.
With the lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle right in with a bit of a grin,
Then take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That cannot be done, and you'll do it.

Edgar A. Guest

 

[that's not my name]

Not to toot my own horn (which is an ironic pun as the horn is not one of the instruments I excel at) I have been told I have natural talent in musical instruments and sports. I have the potential to be academically gifted when I apply myself which is part of the reason why I can do well at something when I find something Im passionate about. I know a lot about history politics and various other random topics. People call on me when they need to know something and I usually have the answer however when I talk to an expert in any one of these fields I am completely out of my depth. That's the curse I think. Its extremely hard for someone with a polymath oriented personality to really become a definitive authority on any one thing. Id rather be a master of one.

 

[Fluffywolf]

Not to toot my own horn (which is an ironic pun as the horn is not one of the instruments I excel at) I have been told I have natural talent in musical instruments and sports. I have the potential to be academically gifted when I apply myself which is part of the reason why I can do well at something when I find something Im passionate about. I know a lot about history politics and various other random topics. People call on me when they need to know something and I usually have the answer however when I talk to an expert in any one of these fields I am completely out of my depth. That's the curse I think. Its extremely hard for someone with a polymath oriented personality to really become a definitive authority on any one thing. Id rather be a master of one.

Polymathy, mastery of one? Mastery of life!

 

[that's not my name]

Polymathy, mastery of one? Mastery of life!

Is that possible without context to direct it though?

 

[Fluffywolf]

Is that possible without context to direct it though?

Just wing it, no one will know anyway. I mean, without context, how could they.

 

[highlander]

I am pretty good at a lot of things. Key thing is to work with other people who are good at what you suck at or don't like doing (even if you are good at them).

 

[Coriolis]

I am pretty good at a lot of things. Key thing is to work with other people who are good at what you suck at or don't like doing (even if you are good at them).

Same here. I am actually pretty good at teaching myself what I need to know in order to do something, when I don't already have the skills/knowledge.

 

[Siúil a Rúin]

In the direction of the arts I have ability in music, art, poetry, and some potential in drama and dance. Within that field I've had to be extremely flexible and willing to apply the skill in every direction.

I'm in the process of changing careers into psychology, so I'll be certified to work in two fields. Still, it will be connected to the arts, though.

 

[Bush]

Yeah. The key to polymathy(?) is to be able to learn in the first place. Hell, learn how to learn, and everything else falls in place.

Specific tools and methods will more than likely become obsoleted, so you have to know how to adapt and to read the tea leaves to survive. Do you know Lotus 123? Are you well-versed in FORTRAN? Can you operate a wrench on an assembly line? Well, those skills in and of themselves may have served you well back in the stone age, but aside from the indirect general knowledge you gained as a result of your experience, they mean fuck all today.

I wouldn't exactly consider myself a polymath, but I'm pretty diverse (read: broad but narrow). I've dabbled in a shitload of different fields of study, though I do have a few favorites and a few that I despise but can tolerate. If I'm an expert on anything, my expertise is in bridging gaps, forming teams, bringing in alternate perspectives, and aligning goals and visions among people who actually are experts. I don't have the time, patience, or interest to deep-dive into any particular fields of study, but I thank Christ every day for those who do.

That's in terms of knowledge, though. I'm much weaker with kinesthetics and moment-to-moment operations.

Still, it will be connected to the arts, though.

It's quite possible to connect pretty much any field to any other. Luckily for me, for example, there's overlap between engineering and psych in terms of human factors, training, and good old-fashioned communication.

 

[Lark]

I am pretty good at a lot of things. Key thing is to work with other people who are good at what you suck at or don't like doing (even if you are good at them).

Complete and utter politics fail though

 

[highlander]

Complete and utter politics fail though

Because I asked if trump was a buffoon a year and and half and ago?

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

Unfortunately most of my talents are only in the arts, which makes me pretty useless to society.