Building Social Skills in Gifted Youths? 1319
UNOStudent asks: "I'm currently a Biotech undergrad at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and have spent the past several semesters mentoring gifted youngsters and have been presented with a challenge this semester. My student is unbelievably smart, however has very limited social skills, is unable to cooperate with peers, doesn't understand why they make fun of his uncombed hair, etc. Since many of us may have grown up in a similar circumstance, I'm looking for suggestions from my fellow geeks on ideas for how to challenge him mentally, while building essential social skills." How would you build social skills in someone more concerned with math, science and computers?
One word - Karate (Score:4, Funny)
There'll be time for girlfriends later (when he's rich), and who the hell said we all *have* to be open, loving marketing types anyway?
Let's get this out of the way...... (Score:5, Funny)
you must be new here.... (Score:5, Funny)
This is a joke, laugh.
Easy... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I HAVE AN IDEA (Score:0, Funny)
Role-playing games. (Score:5, Funny)
Get him into dungeons and dragons. Find a group at a local shop or a campus club that will allow him to join as a newbie.
Most experienced DM's enjoy seeing new players grown and mature while learning and playing the game.
Re:Let's get this out of the way...... (Score:3, Funny)
Natural Geek Development (Score:5, Funny)
New young geeks should have to wait for beer to develop social skills just like we did.
Obligatory Simpsons Quote (Score:5, Funny)
Woman: Pardon me, but I wish to tender a serious cash offer for this stack of water damaged Little Lulus.
CBG: Huh, "A" that is not water, it is Diet Mr. Pib, and "B" I... (CBG turns to look at the woman) Ohh... Err... Tell me, how do you feel about 45 year old virgins who still live with their parents?
Woman: Comb the Sweet Tarts out of your beard and you're on.
CBG: Don't try to change me baby.
Re:Role-playing games. (Score:4, Funny)
Christ, we're trying to HELP the kid, not condemn him to being a virgin until he dies!
Hookers, lots of hookers (Score:3, Funny)
its easy (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Role-playing games. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:you must be new here.... (Score:2, Funny)
What makes them Tick? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:One word - Karate (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Let's get this out of the way...... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:One word - Karate (Score:5, Funny)
I can build networks. Wait...
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Two things that have helped me build social skills (Score:3, Funny)
Not joking.
Obligatory Simpsons Quote: (Score:3, Funny)
- Lisa Simpson
(Yes, I was diagnosed as "gifted" when I was a kid. They should have NEVER told me...)
Re:you must be new here.... (Score:4, Funny)
After a younger me consumed 108 ounces (9 bottles) of Coors Light (I don't drink that watery shit anymore... Arrogant Bastard [stonebrew.com] is my new love) at a local club full of plasticized morons, I got ahhh... slightly... uh... tipsy.
I told my girlfriend's friend who is severly overweight that she'd have much better luck finding a guy if she'd "do something about that fat ass".
Despite this unfortunate incident, my girlfriend says I am much more sociable when I'm drunk, and she prefers me that way.
Re:Easy... (Score:5, Funny)
You can *explain* it all you want, but till he's actually had the, uhm, pleasure, he won't understand.
Re:Another word : Ausbergers (Score:5, Funny)
(Ausberger is a german take-out food, eaten by highlanders, with lotsa sauerkraut and no iodine).
Re:Let's get this out of the way...... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:One word - Karate (Score:3, Funny)
Now this sounds like the average slashdotter's kind of martial arts!
Re:One word - Karate (Score:3, Funny)
Of course, later on, she picked a smart girl, 'cause she was smart and has boobies.
Cripes I wish I was joking.
I suggest fencing (Score:3, Funny)
Of course, being a fencer, I'm highly biased. :)
The advantages are that (1) geeks love swords, (2) there's no temptation to use it in a fistfight, and (3) in my experience, there are always hot chicks in fencing classes. :D x 1 million
Re:you must be new here.... (Score:3, Funny)
Man - it was my first experience with constant, heavy drinking. AND I ONLY WEIGH 145 FREAKING POUNDS!
Heh.. give me a break - I've since graduatated to a regular beer (as mentioned previously), and can even handle REAL beer in quantities.
I didn't stay a total puss. It was temporary situation that I was able to remedy through.. uh... hard work and dedication.
Re:you must be new here.... (Score:1, Funny)
You don't have the first idea what that is, do you!
Re:One word - Karate (Score:4, Funny)
Oops! Damn dyslexia...
You missed one : Aardvark (Score:3, Funny)
Aardvark:
A furry thing that eats insects.
just put it in a language they can understand... (Score:3, Funny)
Collection otherPersonsInterests = new ArrayList();
while(true){
while(otherPersonTalking){
boolean noddingAndSmile = true;
listenIntently(noddingAndSmiling);
if(mentionsInterests){
otherPersonsInterests.add(conversationStream.read
}
}
Thread.sleep(10000L);
if(otherPersonHasREALLYstopped){
conversationStream.write(constructQuestionsAboutI
}
paySincereComplement();
}
Re:you must be new here.... (Score:2, Funny)
Look buddy, takes one to know one. And you ain't one. Trust me and everyone else who's posted on this thread.. Your feeble protestations to the contrary just serve to damn you further.
"Ooooo! Look everyone! He's drinking an obscure micro-brew instead of a light Pilsener!!! What a Drinker!!!"
"Hey, it's 11PM--better leave the bar, you've got an early day tomorrow. Gosh, I can't believe you stayed so LATE!"
Re:I was a 'gifted' student (Score:4, Funny)
Er, yes it does :)
Re:One word - Karate (Score:5, Funny)
On behalf of tormented geeks everywhere with similar memories of childhood bullying, please tell us you ended the evening with a warm, friendly handshake... and then you kicked his sorry ass six ways to sunday, just for the fun of it.
Wow good roll (Score:4, Funny)
Wow, what's your charisma at, like 19? I'd get the kid to reroll if possible.
Re:One word - Karate (Score:5, Funny)
Easy, teach him the meaning of compount Interest (Score:2, Funny)
Name your kid Sue (Score:3, Funny)
Like the Johnny Cash song [elyrics.net], just name the kid Sue and he'll be forced to grow out of his shell.
LS
Re:One word - Karate (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Three Words - Job in Retail. (Score:3, Funny)
When I was going to College, the biggest influence in my confidence and people skills was a job in retail.
Other benefits:
1. Money. I mean, who couldn't use some more money? You can buy clothes, haircuts, women, toys; hell, he could even buy a gold brick if there's nothing else he wants.
[...]
4. You will learn that a company will stab you in the back, then figure out if it's cheaper to pull out the knife and stab you again, or use a new knife. That's a VERY valuable lesson.
So your advice is to become a bitter shoe-salesman and visit hookers? Great life advice there, Al.
Re:One word - Karate (Score:4, Funny)
Better yet, he could get a job as a cook and take up a martial art (specifically, aikido). After many years of this, grow out his hair and start wearing it in a pony tail, and start writing screenplays [imdb.com]. It may not develop great acting (or for that matter, social) skills, but at least he'll be able to randomly kiss women on battleships with impunity.
Re:Another word : Ausbergers (Score:1, Funny)
So, Asperger's is rather like being an American?
Yrs,
A Brit.