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Class Teaches Nerds Social Skills
Posted by
samzenpus
on Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:00 AM
from the geeks-need-love-too dept.
from the geeks-need-love-too dept.
PeterAitch writes "According to Reuters, Potsdam University in Germany is now teaching social skills as part of their IT courses. This is intended to 'ease entry into the world of work'. The 440 students enrolled in the master's degree course will learn how to write flirtatious text messages and emails, impress people at parties and cope with rejection(s)." The class is taught by a superficial model, who will fall in love with the nerdiest student at the end of the semester after realizing that he is beautiful on the inside.
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This can be improved by removing some text (Score:5, Funny)
Fixed (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:This can be improved by removing some text (Score:4, Insightful)
I don't think there's a response to this news article that could be better than the parent's.
Parent
Re:This can be improved by removing some text (Score:5, Insightful)
When it comes to "hot chicks" and being rejected, just remember...
Somewhere, someone is tired of her shit.
Parent
Re:This can be improved by removing some text (Score:5, Insightful)
And when it comes to "nerds" and being rejected, just remember...
Everywhere, everyone is tired of his shit.
Parent
Re:This can be improved by removing some text (Score:5, Insightful)
Amen, brother. Every time I see a woman who is immaculately dressed and made-up, the same thoughts go through my head:
Of course there's also the (even more important) fact that somebody who spends that much time and energy on their appearance clearly thinks their importance is crucially important. In some cases (not all, of course) this will be to the detriment of other qualities like, you know, being an interesting or pleasant person.
Parent
Re:This can be improved by removing some text (Score:5, Funny)
True that.. that's why I dress in whatever I pull off the floor that passes the smell test, have stubble most of the time, and usually need a haircut weeks ago. Someone someday is going to look at me and go "My God, that man is free. I want him."
Hasn't happened yet but it will!!
Right??
Parent
Re:This can be improved by removing some text (Score:5, Insightful)
This point can NOT be overemphasized. In the 'real world'...quite often, in addition to who you know (#1 importance), how you present yourself and people skills, will outweigh your raw tech. talent. Me? I'm not that good...never have been. My degree was in biochem....I missed med school a couple of times, and kinda 'fell' into IT while learning to make a relational database with gui from Foxpro for med. research while trying to get in. I've gone from there through jobs...till I'm now doing consultant work, usually from my own company...specializing in DBA and data design work. Are there people more skilled than I? YOu bet!!
But, over the years...being able to speak well, NOT being shy about getting up in front of people and presenting...have carried me further than people I know that are tech wizards...but, are scared to speak out in a room full of 3 people (including them).
Knowing how to work with people. Having the ability to think and learn on your feet....will help out the most. This gets you IN the door, and of course, you have to be able to learn and do when you get there. But, also....it often doesn't have to be the prettiest way to do it, or most elegant solution. Get it done...get it to work...and get it turned in and have it succeed on time. No...I'm not talking bad code...but, say if you are behind, if you have good people skills, etc...you can explain the deal, and get more time, understanding....etc.
""Hot" women, as you call them, are almost always allot more insecure than normal looking peers. Meaning, they spend so much time because they are trying to compensate for feeling inferior in some way. They are also exceptionally easy to date if you know how to approach them, and are experienced enough that you never get rattled. Also, looks are not as important as they are played to be... Confidence and a good understanding of how to read/react to body language are the most important attributes.."
Confidence...is a key one here. Took me a LONG time to figure out. Be confident...slightly aloof, and a little self centered. It helps to get them. If you have to fake it...do so. Again, being able to 'put a face on'...is a people skill that will help you get laid too.
The subtle body language and signs women put out there?
I gotta admit....I'm completely lost on this one. I just never see or read them....I've had friends that are good at it...ask me what the deal was with "X" ...did I get some. And often I tell them I had no idea....so, I do try to keep friends around that can read the clues..at least initially...I use them as translators..hahaha.
But yeah..that body language women often put out, if it is shy of carrying a sign, or physically putting her hands down your pants is the toughest thing to read, IMHO.
But, if you can act confidently and fake it...that will carry you a long way.
Parent
Re:This can be improved by removing some text (Score:5, Funny)
It's me. I'm sick of her shit. She and her girlfriend ruined all of my god damned cups.
Parent
Re:This can be improved by removing some text (Score:5, Funny)
"According to Reuters, Potsdam University in Germany is now teaching social skills as part of their IT courses. This is intended to 'ease entry into ..... a superficial model, who will fall in love with the nerdiest student at the end of the semester after realizing that he is beautiful on the inside.
By that point of course, he will have become a handsome and rugged jock on the outside while keeping the smarts and sensibilities of a computer geek, thus bridging the gap and making the world a better place where nerds and football jocks can live together in peace while 80's pop-rock plays over a sunset.
Parent
Re:This can be improved by removing some text (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:This can be improved by removing some text (Score:4, Funny)
Mod this up. Even Rocky had a montage.
MONTAGE!
Parent
Re:Alternativeley (Score:5, Funny)
In other words, would she agree with the statement that Star Trek was, through a long an complicated chain of events, the ultimate cause of Obama's presidency?
Parent
Hey! (Score:5, Funny)
I flirt with that hot female blood elf on WoW, you insensitive clod!
Re:Hey! (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:Hey! (Score:5, Funny)
I flirt with that hot female blood elf on WoW, you insensitive clod!
I *am* that hot female blood elf, you insensitive clod!
Yep. Nothing wrong here. Geeks and nerds everywhere are going to be just fine.
Parent
For the first lesson: (Score:5, Funny)
Grades...? (Score:5, Insightful)
10 years too late... (Score:5, Insightful)
Social Intelligence is a skill that can be taught and learned. That is how most people get it although somewhat unconsciously. Inherent personality does play a role which is why "Nerds" have to work harder at learning it.
Because the majority of the world runs on Social IQ more than we like to admit.
Re:10 years too late... (Score:4, Interesting)
Social Intelligence is a skill that can be taught and learned. That is how most people get it although somewhat unconsciously. Inherent personality does play a role which is why "Nerds" have to work harder at learning it.
So is quantum mechanics, but like with social skills some are just basically hopeless.
Because the majority of the world runs on Social IQ more than we like to admit.
When was that in question? I work with a number of very smart people who I wouldn't even think of putting in front of a customer. Of course, there are also smart people who can hold a real conversation, so I think this stereotype is overplayed.
You have to know your stuff, but if you can't express it you'll always be the guy they stick in a cube where he'll never interact with anyone. That guy also has his ideas stolen quite often, unfortunately.
Parent
Extracurricular activites (Score:5, Informative)
A lot of homeschooled kids end up socially disfunctional because they aren't put into extra curricular activities where most socializing happens even in public schools.
You could probably learn just as much as the class teaches by joining clubs and sports teams. You learn how to interact with people by being around people.
A lot of it is just getting past your fears and putting yourself out there. The more you do it the more your fear lessens or at least your ability to deal with it improves.
Parent
Re:Extracurricular activites (Score:4, Interesting)
I've heard of some other curious instances, like elementary kids being homeschooled for a few years and then placed into schools, where they nearly immediately assume leadership roles in their classroom and don't have the self-esteem issues from being picked on so much.
There's also something to be said from learning social skills from adults rather than other immature kids.
I'm planning on homeschooling, btw, if I cannot afford a good private school.
Parent
Re:Extracurricular activites (Score:5, Interesting)
Parent
Re:Extracurricular activites (Score:4, Interesting)
Congratulations you are like the typical New York Cityer who think NYC is the center of the world and the rest of us are a bunch of country bumpkins. Having lived in Albany, NY (you know the Capital of NY). NYC are a bunch of Whiny Babies... Oh we need this service oh we need that... We need more money from Upstate. I don't see what is so adult about needing a high paying job to live life equivalent of a college dorm room.
Of course this is partially tung in cheek, Buy New Yorkers (City) or LA while have a diverse population and there unique culture, It doesn't really make them any better or adult or worse then the rest of the world, just different, being adult is about taking responsibility for yourself and your own actions.
Parent
Re:Extracurricular activites (Score:5, Interesting)
While I don't necessarily begrudge pitying those who went through traditional primary education (whether public or private), the quality of homeschooling is hardly better on the average. You may quote statistics about likelihood to go to college (and yes, the ratio of homeschooled children admitted to college is higher than public education, though pretty much on par with private education -- which says more about the average income of homeschooled families versus traditional education), but the matriculation rate is comparable.
The lack of standardized curriculum is a sticking point. Beyond a doubt, traditional education offers opportunities which are nigh-impossible to get while home schooled (extracurricular, Johns Hopkins Math Program, et al), while home schooling provides a chance to tailor to individual students. Whether or not that is a good thing is up for debate, I guess. Certainly what I'm doing for a living now is not what I thought I'd want to do when I was younger.
What is certain (other than "for certain" being a grammatically incorrect construct) is that you get out of education what you put into it. It's also certain that a far higher proportion of home-schooled students are taught in religiously-charged environments which are hardly free from bias. There's a reason why home-schooled children, while often doing well at spelling bees (though it's hard to tell whether this is because those are skills autistic people -- who may have trouble with traditional education -- excel at), home-schooled children don't exactly dominate science competitions. "High-potential" students will excel no matter what situation they're thrown into, but the majority of people are average. Total range of vocabulary is pretty much the same between the two (journals of cognitive development and speech pathology cover this every few years), and having an "adult's capacity" for vocabulary (where I suspect you meant that home-schooled children tend to use allegories, metaphors, and figures of speech more prevalent in the adult population) isn't necessarily something to trumpet. Your phonotactic repetition is not representative of vocabulary size, and simply indicates that you (as collective home-schoolers) spent more time with adults than with peers in your age group.
Slashdot isn't the best place to debate the relative merits of schooling systems, but you'll find that reality is a lot more nuanced than the picture you have of it right now as you get older.
Parent
Re:10 years too late... (Score:5, Insightful)
Where was this course when I went to college.
It's called "parties" and "extracurricular activities" and "sports" and the millions of other opportunities that college provides.
(For the record I'm not trying to troll...just give me a sec.)
My freshman year of college, I spent a lot of time in my dorm room. I played around on my computer, I studied (a lot), and...that's about it. Yeah, I did a little martial arts here and there, but not really. I didn't have any friends to speak of.
Then, after a good kick in the pants by this guy called "Life," I realized I was wasting a very valuable experience. So, I put down the books (sometimes), shut down my computer, and I went out and experienced life. It was, without a doubt, the best decision I ever made. I forced myself into social situations which I was uncomfortable in. I made myself apply for an RA position just so I would be forced into more social situations.
Without going into too much detail, it paid off. For those of you in college, take advantage of everything that it provides. You don't necessarily get those type of opportunities once you leave.
Parent
Re:10 years too late... (Score:5, Insightful)
Well, I was in the exact same position as you my freshman year and tried to improve my sophomore year. But ... it didn't go well, and it's not as easy as you make it sound.
I tried to cure my problem (of being socially inept) by joining a club, several in fact. Because I rubbed some people the wrong way (figuratively!), one girl started telling the leadership that I did very horrible things (which were very untrue) and got a bunch of other girls to go along with her in complaining until I got expelled from it. Shortly thereafter, I noticed people in the other groups I tried joining, not wanting to interact with me, and then I found out about more (untrue) rumors against me.
Then, when I filed a formal complaint about this treatment, the administrator destroyed my complaint without telling me and didn't act on it. I appealed to another administrative organization, who then gave me similar treatment.
So, any time you tell one of these nerd types to "get over their fears" and "what do you have to lose?", well, *that* is what they have to fear, and it's possible to face *much* more than mere rejection.
I think that it is, in a sense, hard to teach these social skills. Most people don't realize, and so can't even articulate, what social skills they're learning as they're learning it. Even on this very discussion, virtually all the advice that's been posted wouldn't help: I *already* shower daily and I relgiously brush my teeth. While I may not have the best fashion sense, I do get complimented on outfits I pick out myself from time to time. And I don't wear star trek/wars themed stuff or bring up my MtG skills.
In my experience, it really all does boil down to me just not *knowing* the unspoken boundaries that other people somehow know. And I don't know any way you can teach this to someone -- whenever someone actually tells me I did something wrong (in the rare cases where I actually get to learn it!), it is something very hard to describe: "Yes, you should have done that, but the *way* you said it put people off".
In more recent groups that I've tried to join, I haven't gotten the treatment of the one listed above, but for some reason nobody ever wants to see me outside of it, and (it seems) participation quietly drops sharply once I join.
And just to give you an example of how hard it is to find relevant advice: in another slashdot discussion about this, someone suggested that when I join a group, I bring along a friend, preferably a hot female one. Well gee, when I dont *have* a friend in the first place, let alone a female one, let alone an attractive female one... . And when I found a girl I knew from high school and asked her what I should do, she could only think of things I've already done.
Riddle me this: why is it that if someone has trouble in math or something, other people who can do it will offer to help, but if someone is socially inept, the immediate reaction is to ostracize the person rather than offering to give them social coaching? I have helped people all my life in technical areas where they needed it, but not one time has anyone made any such offer to me.
Okay, well this post is getting long. I don't know if I'm representative of socially inept people. But please, stop giving trite dismissals of us (I know you weren't specically doing this, but many in the discussion are). This loneliness is starting to really cripple me -- I never realized growing up how important it would be later in life to have friends. While there may be a few nerds that genuinely don't care what others think, I think you're mainly seeing people doing the best they can to cope with a bad situation.
For those of you in college, take advantage of everything that it provides. You don't necessarily get those type of opportunities once you leave.
And how painfully I learned this :-(
Parent
Social Engineering skills would be cool (Score:5, Interesting)
You can't teach people to be jerks. (Score:4, Funny)
> ...how to write flirtatious text messages and emails...
And get arrested for sexual harrassment.
> ...impress people at parties...
"Impressive! I bet he took courses in being a boor!"
> ...and cope with rejection(s)...
Sulking works fine. Go away and leave me alone.
Re:You can't teach people to be jerks. (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
You cant teach tact. (Score:5, Interesting)
Many of the "nerds" I know are not socially inept because of lack of training. It's because they have a disorder or disease. Not bathing, incredibly wierd behaivoir, etc... The "hot chick" is not going to date you because you are...
1 - dressed like a wierdo. Sorry Emo/Goth is not cool.. It's as bad as dressing in a star trek shirt.
2 - Social tact, you have to actually have some.
3 - Hygene.. good god, take a bath, discover toothpaste, and deodorant, cheap cologne is not a substitute.
4 - There are no good pick up lines. Stop trying, stop reading the speed seduction books, they do not work if you do not understand human psychology and look like a "hunk" or at least semi cute to a woman.
5 - Nerdy = dorky and repellant. the second you mention you're a top notch national MTG player they will ask to go to the bathroom and never come back. Magic the Gathering is NOT COOL, nor any of your really nerdy activities.
Now all bets are off if you find a nerdy girl. I strongly suggest never even trying for the hotties and look only for nerdy girls. Librarians tend to be nerdy and incredibly sexually creative. Honestly a HOT CHICK is not worth the pain of their upkeep, and maintenance.
Find a nerdy chick that is a bit of a sex freak and you got a incredible relationship.
Re:You cant teach tact. (Score:4, Insightful)
ProTip: Nerds are not that way because most, or even because a majority, have assburgers syndrome. They just don't care. They've convinced themselves they are above the rest of the world with their little societal rules. There is no disease or disorder, they're just stupid.
As a corollary, having Asperger's syndrome is not cool. It's not a badge of honour. It's not something to be proud of. If you are, you don't have it.
Parent
Re:You cant teach tact. (Score:5, Insightful)
Asperger's is a behavioral difference, that's all. Some people thrive on social relationships, most people enjoy them, some people find them to be a chore. Those people thrive on independence, spending an evening by themselves doing whatever they're interested in is as invigorating for them as a night on the town for a socialite. Big deal.
On the one hand we all accept that people are different, and on the other hand we expect them all to be the same. It's confusing. Lets just go with the first one and stop expecting everyone to exhibit the same social behaviors, shall we?
Parent
Re:You cant teach tact. (Score:5, Informative)
Just one viewpoint, take it or leave it.
Aspergers is to the body language and subtle social cues that define 2/3 of human communication as blindness is to vision or deafness is to sound. Only on the outside, no one knows you have an impaired perception. You don't get cut the slack that the person signing or the guy carrying the cane would.
You constantly monitor yourself every second to make sure you don't do anything wrong. You're labelled as weird, or rebellious, rude, or unpleasant to be around because you can't perceive the messages people are trying to send you. You have few friends because whatever secret magical language that's being spoken to generate new connections with people you totally miss. Many attempts you make to reach out to people end in disaster, and you can't for the life of you understand what the hell it is that you're doing wrong.
Those lonely nights spend in front of a computer are ones you'd probably rather spend hooking up with a girl you met at a bar instead of learning the intricacies of Yacc or device drivers. And it drives you absolutely fucking insane that everyone else is in on the fuck-fest that is life except you.
Any super-abilities you might gain from this condition are cold comfort, as they're used more as survival skills to get around the enormous deficits you experience in being able to read people. The money that you earn from your impressive abilities has to be the substitute for having lots of friends who could help you do stuff (e.g. you pay someone to install an super-heavy air conditioner in a second story windows because you don't have many friends you can call on to help you). It's not really a preference for certain kind of social lifestyle, it's a crappy hand of cards you're dealt that you have to make the best of.
Parent
You can't teach self-esteem (Score:5, Interesting)
The reason why nerds have that weird behavior is because they can get away with it. This is because they essentially have nothing to lose, and the capital that I'm referring to here is acceptance and validation by his peers. Since he knows he would never "get anywhere" with them anyway, he has no incentive to have the hygiene or tact that you mention.
If his self-esteem is even lower, then he claims those "outsider" social trappings (emo/goth) as part of his identity. This is a way for outsiders to gain companionship, but, inside, many of them want out.
The only way for an individual to gain self-esteem is to earn it. It can't be given to him by teachers who hand out "Good Job!" stickers to all students regardless of effort. An individual has to meet people, make friends, take chances, stand up for himself, refuse to be abused, be positive, and be funny. If he's rewarded for that behavior with more friends, then he gains self-esteem.
High school teaches us nerds all the wrong things about human interaction. Being punished for our choices drives us farther into seclusion and "nerdy" behavior.
Teaching "social skills" won't fix anything. Instead, send people to therapy and help them find ways to rebuild their destroyed self-esteem. Telling a nerd, "Bathe every once in a while!" is not going to do him any good if, inside, he says to himself: "I'm not worth the effort."
My self-esteem was destroyed when I was 12. It took me until I was 34 to earn it back.
Parent
Re:You can't teach self-esteem -- addendum (Score:5, Interesting)
At very bottom rung of the self-esteem ladder is furries. No matter who you are or what you are into, you will be accepted into a furry community. It's a great big love-fest over there. It's no surprise that there are so many gay guys and nerdy guys among furries: both of them have traditionally had their self-esteem utterly ruined by the time they graduate high school. The furry community provides them with a perfect escape from the hell world they've grown up in -- this escape is a fantasy world where everyone loves them.
Parent
Re:You cant teach tact. (Score:5, Insightful)
Add to the list - work out.
Seriously, people underestimate the importance of looking buff. In undergrad, I was a skinny guy (I used to play in a metal band, which was considered cool by some chicks, but I was still skinny).
Somewhere after grad school, I discovered the gym and sports that I enjoyed (rock climbing, for one). And once I started bulking up, I was amazed at the attention that women give you. To all the geeks out there -- buff up. Stop eating junk, eat healthy, work out regularly, run, get good abs and build some muscle.
You'd be amazed at how much better your chances are. Especially in summer.
Parent
Re:You cant teach tact. (Score:5, Insightful)
Ah yes, and one reason so many geeks ignore this seems to be that they're assuming that when females they know say "looks aren't important" and "I think six-pack abs are gross" they actually believe that their female friends aren't being manipulative and essentially playing mind games.
Summary: Most "real geeks" (not "I play video games and call myself a geek") tend to assume people are being honest since they fail to see any logical reason for lying about something like one's preferences when it comes to body type, hairstyles and such...
/Mikael
Parent
Re:You cant teach tact. (Score:4, Interesting)
I'm going to have to disagree with some of your points.
Being part of a subculture (goth, emo, punk, etc) is fine when you're associating with others in that subculture or with others who are attracted to that subculture. I was a goth and I met most of my girlfriends at goth clubs or at Rocky Horror.
Tact is less important than it may seem, as there are plenty of assholes who do well with the ladies because their behavior is seen as being strong, edgy, or cool. This usually doesn't last long, but it lasts long enough for that particular guy to get what he wants.
The art of the pickup line is misunderstood. The entire point of the first minute or two that you speak to a new person is to convey that initial impression. What you say very much matters. Now, traditional, oft repeated lines are hackneyed to the point that they're useless unless she's already looking for sex, but something clever that matches the rest of your personality might serve to distinguish you from all of the other guys who are all attempting to do the exact same thing.
there's a difference between being Nerdy, Dorky, and Geeky. Geeks have technical, obsessive interests, but also have social skills above a minimum threshold. Nerds have technical interests and abilities but don't meet the minimum threshold for social skills and general self-maintenance. Dorks have the same rough social skills and self-maintenance as Nerds, but generally lack the technical abilities. They're the AOLers, the me-too-ers, the guys who are "so into science fiction" because they like Star Wars and have watched it over and over and over, and the like.
I will agree with you on bathing though. Shower daily (preferably morning) and as preparation before going out.
I will also agree that most women generally do not care about what speed of microprocessor is in your PC, or how much RAM you have, or what kind it is, or what video card you have. If women care about your computer at all, it's because it functions for them the way they want it to. You'll only find out if it functions the way they want it to if you manage to get them home, so it's generally not worth trying to go that route until after you've already been successful. Same with gearheads. Women don't really care about the dual-quad intake with 1600cfm airflow into the 440 with headers with 2" primaries into 3.5" collectors and a race cam; they care that the car looks cool, sounds good, and that they'll look good riding in it. It can be a six cylinder for all they know, so long as it looks and sounds good. When I would go to meet women, I'd talk about other hobbies that I had, like my movie collection, music, and the like.
It's all about giving them what they want, really. It may be a bit of a facade, but that's okay, really, if they're in it only for the short term too.
Parent
Learning Center in FWB, Florida (Score:5, Interesting)
US HR practices (Score:4, Interesting)
Surely the point of the training is that some nerds don't know the point at which ordinary human interaction becomes harassment, and because of this either fail to communicate or get into trouble. I didn't know this and then ended up in what was nearly a single sex university (Cambridge at the end of the 60s) - it took several years in the world of work to recover.
It's also worth pointing out that when nerds do get married, which they usually do, it often turns out very well. Low divorce rates, successful children. The application of intelligence to human relationships is not a bad idea.
You've got it backwards. (Score:5, Insightful)
This will be about as good for them as "Change Your Underwear, Change Your Life," and similar self-help books. Most of what people call "social skills" problems really boils down to self-esteem. I've been to more than a few support groups, talked to a lot of people about their childhood and adolescent learning experiences, coached people on interviewing skills... I don't have a degree as a therapist, but at least in my social circle I'm the go-to girl (for better and for worse!). That said, don't take what I have to say as the gospel -- it's just my own point of view.
First, there's nothing wrong with so-called "nerds", "geeks", or many other classes of people that are bright, insightful, but often shy and hard to approach. They are rarely rude, they don't insult people, they respect another's boundaries if told directly. About the only thing "wrong" with them is that they miss subtlety and sometimes lack tact. Frankly, there's a lot more wrong with people who consider themselves to have "great social skills" than those who don't -- those people are often manipulative, petty, morally underdeveloped, and often destroy group harmony to further their own ambitions. For the girls, I have two words: Queen bee. Guys who have these "great social skills" are often egotistical, inconsiderate, etc. My friends call it the "napoleon complex", after a certain short guy in history who had a real problem with the word "no."
I guess what I'm saying to the people who think their social skills have the suck... Stop beating yourself up. Contary to popular belief, none of us start out equal. And throughout life we never become equal. Trying to move towards normality is like trying to... Well, it's like the Kobashi Maru, you just can't win. So stop trying. Normal doesn't even exist. If you want these mythical social skills--Go someplace where you think there are others like you (or others who you'd like to be like if your self-concept isn't that developed) and listen to them. Watch, learn, interact. What movies do they watch? What phrases do they say? What little gestures do they make? Reason out what it all means and then practice it on your friends and anyone else you can. And don't judge yourself for awhile -- just go out and try things for a bit. The judging part everyone else will do for you (*trust me on this*), so focus on doing it instead of reviewing it. This isn't a question to be answered, but one to be lived. Someday you will find yourself experiencing the answer.
Re:Nerds don't need this.... (Score:5, Insightful)
You know what I want?
Logic skills taught to those people who have "social skills"
While I can understand the desire to teach social skills, I wish people would stop thumping on people with strong technical abilities.
For example, say you are a born classical musician, and are quite good. They would say you are cultured and have everything life needs. YET, if the same happened to a mathematician, well then they are not balanced.
Really? Not knowing how to calculate yourself out of a wet paper bag is balanced?
So sure I will take social skills, so long as the others take logic skills.
MAYBE THEN we have rational discussions....
Parent
Re:Nerds don't need this.... (Score:5, Insightful)
For example, say you are a born classical musician, and are quite good. They would say you are cultured and have everything life needs. YET, if the same happened to a mathematician, well then they are not balanced.
Really? Not knowing how to calculate yourself out of a wet paper bag is balanced?
Not all humans are mathematically-inclined, or even intelligent enough to understand basic math concepts.
All humans are social creatures, from you all the way down the world's stupidest. "Cultured" is the term that people use to describe those who are best at winning approval from others. I understand why you resent it and hold those people in contempt. They didn't have to work nearly as hard as you had to work, and yet they have more than you do. It hurts.
Parent
Re:Nerds don't need this.... (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re:Nerds don't need this.... (Score:5, Funny)
Though on the other hand I've never got myself a carrier since I've been looking for love & friendship instead but never found any...
It sounds like a modem problem to me.
Parent
Re:Nerds don't need this.... (Score:5, Funny)
I also wonder if this should really be teached in class...
Like English? ;)
Parent
Re:Nerds don't need this.... (Score:4, Insightful)
Aspergers is the psychiatry honeypot of the next decade. It's a measure of the confusion when you get an economy that screams "specialize" with a guy too busy specializing to talk to babes and catch bass off the coral reef.
But since all four of the major economic industries just melted, specialization will be the way to survive, in weird little eddy current niches.
Parent
Yes, you do need to be taught to interact w/others (Score:5, Insightful)
Have you been around kids?!? My experience (YMMV) is that yes, kids DO have to be taught to take a bath, speak clearly, and say please/thank you. It's hard for parents to get them to do that, and many of today's parents don't bother (perhaps because they incorrectly think that all kids will figure it out without being taught). The result is kids who are absolutely not ready for "real life". Forget the flirting; a class in the "basics of living in a society" (to raise your social IQ) is a really, really useful course. Stuff like bathing, having a brief conversation with someone you don't know, etc. Historically, the people who were getting ready to lead society went to finishing schools, took etiquette classes, etc. Some of it was bunk, but the basic idea that you need TRAINING to be able to work in a society is true enough. Self-taught can work, if you work at it... but too many people don't realize it's something that needs to be learned.
In Neal Stephenson's "The Diamond Age", a key part of the book was "A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer". Being able to work with others - instead of offending them before you meet them - is a good idea.
Parent
Re:Basic Supply and Demand (Score:5, Insightful)
"...fact they cry to me every week about these bums they cater to..." and all those nice guys out there are invisible to them. As I said, a jerk with a bike and good abs win. I've buried 4 nice guys that couldn't take it (Not literally, I only went to one funeral).
One who wife left him for his boss. He shot himself in the face.
One who couldn't get a date at all (as in ever) and after graduating U of M jumped off the Stillwater rail bridge. His note read "What good is knowledge when you are alone."
One former Co-Worker in Minneapolis at 35 gave up and drank himself to death (GI bleedout, vomited up the blood, not a plesant way to die..)
One who despite being good looking lost the girlfriend to a "more exciting guy" who promptly beat her on a regular basis. She runs back to Mr. Nice, then when the loser got out of prison, she ran back to the abuser. Nice guy drove 70 mph into a bridge column in Woodbury with no seat belt.
The world is hurtling towards a rather lonley place at breakneck speeds.
There was a poet\writer from the early 40s that once said:
"The older we get, the fewer good people there are. Good people marry their childhood sweethearts and live happily-ever-after. Then hour by hour, day by day, there are fewer and fewer; and those that remain have more and more luggage they bring. Then when they are finally ready for that Mr. or Ms. Nice they have so much luggage that Mr. or Ms. Nice would rather die alone then deal with the mistakes of those that now late in life come around. I fear that the generations to come will suffer their parents misdeeds and the cycle will get worse rather then better."
I couldn't imagine being out there dating anymore, too old to put up with such nonsense. I need character in a person and so few, if any it seems, possess it. Perhaps I've seen the worst, but I haven't seen much in examples that show me otherwise. Why are dating sites overflowing with people that can't find someone? Because there aren't any 'people' out there anymore, just parisites looking for a host.
We crafted our own hell here on Earth with no one to blame but ourselves and the fact we need classes now for simple human interaction means we've hit about rock bottom. Perhaps there is hope, there would appear to be only one way to go now.. up.
I gave up on people as a whole a long time ago I suppose, hope doesn't spring eternal unfortunately. I've just seen too much to put any faith in people. Perhaps it's just here in Minnesota, if so say away from this place. Just makes me sick... it's just so sad how people not only treat others, but how they treat themselves. I just can't stomache it. A world of mercenaries with the battle cry "It's all about me"
Just sad...
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