I know Kung Fu!

McGruff · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 148

I want to learn how to photosynthesise. I could spend my life travelling the world (so long as it's somewhere sunny and they don't object to green men) and never have to work again.

Bones McCracker · Veteran Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1611 Location: U.S.A.

sikpuppy · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:08 pm Post subject:

nomilieu · n00b Joined: 22 Nov 2011 Posts: 24

Dr.Willy · Guru Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 518 Location: NRW, Germany

notageek · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 2:43 pm Post subject:

Sheesh
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Old School · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 3:35 pm Post subject:

McGruff · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 148

I heard that.

BonezTheGoon · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:10 pm Post subject:

pjp · Administrator Joined: 16 Apr 2002 Posts: 18542

McGruff · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 148

Although we don't know how to do it - yet - it is actually within the laws of nature to engineer human skin cells with photosynthetic organelles. Organic chemistry is a whole little lego-land of lego bricks which can be assembled into almost anything you can imagine. Assuming we can continue to maintain a technological civilisation (not something we should take for granted), it's only a matter of time before we start genetically-engineering ourselves.

Probably not to photosynthesise though. I'm pretty sure that, with the energy requirements of a large mammal, we wouldn't have anything like enough surface area. We'd have to grow giant, bat-like wings and hang them out in the sun to feed.

Bones McCracker · Veteran Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1611 Location: U.S.A.

Old School · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 4:01 am Post subject:

Interesting thread BoneKracker. The more I think about it, the more I am tending towards languages.

I just learned Shoshone.
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Old School · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 4:04 am Post subject:

I just learned how to fly a Super Hornet.
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Bones McCracker · Veteran Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1611 Location: U.S.A.

Learning to fly would be a good choice, I think.

I think if I were limited to one choice, I'd pick something I could actually make use of that I could/would not otherwise learn. Maybe a fine art that I lack the talent for, like playing the violin.

I suppose investing might be a more productive thing to have mastery of.
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dmitchell · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 4:30 am Post subject:

The problem with this idea is that mastering something is an achievement, but using such a machine is not. In skipping over years of hard work, you also miss the sense of accomplishment.

That said, probably either math or piano.
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pjp · Administrator Joined: 16 Apr 2002 Posts: 18542

Dr.Willy · Guru Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 518 Location: NRW, Germany

Muso · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:08 am Post subject:

Liszt's technique.
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aidanjt · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:39 am Post subject:

petrjanda · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 10:55 am Post subject:

Bones McCracker · Veteran Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1611 Location: U.S.A.

I wouldn't say somebody who's never pursued something for the sense of accomplishment, ever, is "not a human". I'd say that, if it's really true (which I doubt), then they ought to get some psychotherapy, or they will probably never develop into a self-actualized person.
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nomilieu · n00b Joined: 22 Nov 2011 Posts: 24

He may have merely meant that he is concerned with the result of an ordeal, not the sense of accomplishment.

For example, one learns Spanish to know Spanish, not to feel good about knowing Spanish. One loses weight to weigh less, not to jump for joy about meeting a weight-loss goal. The feeling of accomplishment comes when you feel like what you did required effort; it makes you feel good about not being lazy. It could help you maintain your gains (in whatever area), but you can still use what you've learned or done without feeling especially accomplished about it.

An example of accomplishment for accomplishment's sake would be something like beating your top score at Super Mario Bros.

sikpuppy · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 1:25 pm Post subject:

Some people's idea of an accomplishment is finding something to read while on the toilet before accidentally shitting themselves. Not me of course, I am far more highly evolved than that.

Bones McCracker · Veteran Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1611 Location: U.S.A.