I've been thinking about teaching my daughter to weld...

Here's what I did:

I bought a Mig welder and an auto darkening helmet. Then I built a welding cart. Then I built a welding table. Then I built a Locost chasis.

Before long, you've done a lot of welding.

HiTempguy wrote: I'm just going to throw this out there... Just because you CAN raise your child to be different, doesn't mean you should. Think about that a bit.

And I'll just throw this out here:

I would definitely want to raise a child to be smarter than the average ignorant spawn raised by ignorant idiots across this continent. Teaching them welding, how to maintain a car, and how not to be lazy, to ask questions and think critically will get them farther in life than many.

ScottRA21 wrote: Teaching them welding, how to maintain a car, and how not to be lazy, to ask questions and think critically will get them farther in life than many.

And I would argue the exact opposite. Being charismatic, being able to relate to people (which tomboy's certainly don't do well with when relating to other people of the same sex), and in general fitting in earns you WAY more money than the things you list. Plus it typically makes most things in life a lot easier.

Welding and how to maintain a car? Probably two things on the bottom of the list of how to be successful. Also for a chick, certainly things that would lead to them being on the outside of groups of people.

Being ignorant does not preclude someone from being successful, some of the most successful people I know are so incredibly ignorant you'd think there would be no way they could succeed. I've had this conversation with my own parents before, and they've admitted they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have raised me as an ignorant, self-centered jerk of a kid vs the one and only kid who had pulled a motor by high school and replaced it, was thoughtful, respectful of others, and in general tried to be kind.

I realized after high school how ineffective their upbringing program was, and now you get this

Woody wrote: Who says I don't have a thing for female bicycle mechanics?

Just be careful.. loose sprockets and chainings are amazingly effective throwing star weapons if things don't end well

Empower your women to learn more about everything. Do not prejudge what they should know, or pretend to know what is best for them, for that is the surest way to end up with a bunch of bitchy little girls that I know.

ECM:

I'm a bit young to adopt you, but you could adopt me. I'm a volunteer firefighter and I know how to weld.

JohnInKansas wrote: ECM: I'm a bit young to adopt you, but you could adopt me. I'm a volunteer firefighter and I know how to weld.

Not only that, but you know your chickens!

HiTempguy wrote: And I would argue the exact opposite. Being charismatic, being able to relate to people (which tomboy's certainly don't do well with when relating to other people of the same sex), and in general fitting in earns you WAY more money than the things you list. Plus it typically makes most things in life a lot easier. Welding and how to maintain a car? Probably two things on the bottom of the list of how to be successful. Also for a chick, certainly things that would lead to them being on the outside of groups of people. Being ignorant does not preclude someone from being successful, some of the most successful people I know are so incredibly ignorant you'd think there would be no way they could succeed. I've had this conversation with my own parents before, and they've admitted they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have raised me as an ignorant, self-centered jerk of a kid vs the one and only kid who had pulled a motor by high school and replaced it, was thoughtful, respectful of others, and in general tried to be kind. I realized after high school how ineffective their upbringing program was, and now you get this

Very true. I do not know any wealthy person who is "handy" (if anything I see a strong inverse correlation between success and "handyness") and I don't see any correlation between intelligence and success.

My sister is a total ditz and slob, and at her job as an interior designer/buyer for a high-end furniture store, she makes about twice as much as me, the handyman uberhacker. She started out doing retail there. She mismanages a lot of that money out of existence but she's still better off, takes long vacations travelling the world doing fabulous things while I squeeze out 3 weeks of vacation a year just staying with family. Who's better off?

GameboyRMH wrote: Who's better off?

Cue the depression.

I think some of the discussion can be applied to our community as well.

We're all handymen, cheapskates, and DIYers. How do apply that same mentality towards making ourselves live more successful, happier lives?

Do we just hope/wait until the world needs us and hope we profit?

Or do we refocus our energy on shiny things and materialism like the rest of society and ride the wave?

Money does not equal happiness. It's all in how you measure success.

PHeller wrote: I think some of the discussion can be applied to our community as well. We're all handymen, cheapskates, and DIYers. How do apply that same mentality towards making ourselves live more successful, happier lives? Do we just hope/wait until the world needs us and hope we profit? Or do we refocus our energy on shiny things and materialism like the rest of society and ride the wave?

I just make my own shiny things - then I race them.