Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums GT Research IQ levels can greatly fluctuate over time

Apparently I was a Fawlty Towers fan at DS' age. I've lent my set out to a friend, but maybe I should have it returned and diversify DS' viewing menu.

And Yes, Minister...to die for.

We have noticed an unholy obsessions with baseball and basketball in DFD's homework. DD really does not care about these sports so she is perpetually mystified. Recently she had to fill in the blank with the word "foul" (the player "fouled" another player). Her only context for this word was "disgusting," so she was extremely confused.

There was something else lately where she was supposed to know what a triple play was.

I think these may be intended to make work more exciting to boys? I don't know, but seriously, they exclude some children.

Part of cultural literacy is knowing the basics about the major American sports, including what a "foul ball" or "triple play" is. In the business world knowledge of professional and college sports is an important ice-breaker.

Generally useful, but unimportant. Adults should be able to find common interests with each other that can act as social lubricants. Entertainment, travel, business experiences, and family are all similar, non-controversial topics.

However, in certain circles it's VERY important, because it ensures an executive is doing business with the "right kind" of person. Good-old-boys and glass ceilings, etc.

After all, just as ultramarina indicated this sort of thing excludes certain children in school, it's also quite handy for excluding certain adults in the business world.

Are we writing as parents or social reformers here? It looks like you don't disagree with my advice if that if you want your children to do well in business, have them know something about sports.

Yes. And ideally, you played several as well.

Aren't we as parents, on a micro level, both?

As a way to break ice with a wide range of people, I would encourage her to develop a wide range of interests. If one of them happens to be a sport, so be it.

But since my DD is highly unlikely to be initiated into the good-old-boy club (seeing as how she is only one of the three), I do disagree. As a parent, I see little future financial value in educating her on the niceties of the infield fly rule.

I think his point is that you have to at least be able to pretend to get along with the relevant people because otherwise you will remain irrelevant.

Oh, I agree you have to pretend to get along with people. I just think there are a lot of ways to do that.

Only random Monty Python, Doctor Who, and Star Trek references truly let you know who the right people are, however. Everyone knows this. LOL.

Oh, sure-- some of those people also love sports. Some of them love chamber music. That is merely coincidence, though.

I've educated my spouse about early music notation and he's educated me about the niceties of a "perfect" game. In spite of irritating questions like "Shouldn't a pitcher really have to only make 27 pitches if he were truly having a "perfect" game?" I still maintain that this is a perfectly valid line of reasoning, but whatever. He seemed to think it was hopelessly gauche. I defer to his judgement on baseball, and he defers to me about composers. Ken Burns' work seems to suffice as common ground here, supporting Dude's assertion.