I find the term "competence porn" to be amusing. I find the term "competence fetish" to be annoying. This implies that competence shouldn't be the standard. I find an increasing number of incompetent people out there and I think they're threatened by people who can do things reasonably well.
I’m with you and now I have a name for it. And I can’t get very far in a book where the main character, or one on stage a lot, is the complete opposite.
I read a lot of Louis L’Amour stories growing up and the concept of competent heroes stuck with me into my writing. Even in the story where the FMC struggles with competence at the beginning (because of her youth), she gets there well before the end (and succeeds because of it).
Interesting. I've often read women wax poetic about seeing a man rolling up his sleeves, and I can only assume that it is related to this.
Heinlein has also been praised/maligned/accused of his use of the competent man. My favorite quote from him is the one ending with "Specialization is for insects." It has always felt like great life advice.
Am no car mechanic but I carry a small plastic snap-shut tool box in all my vehicles and donated a pair to my daughters. They have, as a minimum, Vice Grips, screw drivers, fuses, pliers, electrician's tape, some wire. Had a '93 Ford F-150 that had intermittent electrical problems. Turns out it was a loose battery cable that would not stay tightened. Fixed that with the Vise Grips, which stayed attached until I traded it in a few years later. Competence is giving it your best shot, your best thought and keeping at it until someone taps you on the shoulder and tells you you've done enough or are doing it so wrong that you are just making it worse...like overusing Vise Grips. Uh-h, maybe competence is also knowing your limits.
I find the term "competence porn" to be amusing. I find the term "competence fetish" to be annoying. This implies that competence shouldn't be the standard. I find an increasing number of incompetent people out there and I think they're threatened by people who can do things reasonably well.
I’m with you and now I have a name for it. And I can’t get very far in a book where the main character, or one on stage a lot, is the complete opposite.
The shorthand I’ve seen for that, and adopted, is TSTL for too stupid to live, and it’s a thing I cannot stand in a book I’m reading.
I read a lot of Louis L’Amour stories growing up and the concept of competent heroes stuck with me into my writing. Even in the story where the FMC struggles with competence at the beginning (because of her youth), she gets there well before the end (and succeeds because of it).
Louis L'Amour should be required reading in our public schools.
Agreed!
Interesting. I've often read women wax poetic about seeing a man rolling up his sleeves, and I can only assume that it is related to this.
Heinlein has also been praised/maligned/accused of his use of the competent man. My favorite quote from him is the one ending with "Specialization is for insects." It has always felt like great life advice.
Oh yes indeed. Competence is more exciting than sparkles. Thank you for yet another recommendation - I had never heard of the Grey Man series before.
Am no car mechanic but I carry a small plastic snap-shut tool box in all my vehicles and donated a pair to my daughters. They have, as a minimum, Vice Grips, screw drivers, fuses, pliers, electrician's tape, some wire. Had a '93 Ford F-150 that had intermittent electrical problems. Turns out it was a loose battery cable that would not stay tightened. Fixed that with the Vise Grips, which stayed attached until I traded it in a few years later. Competence is giving it your best shot, your best thought and keeping at it until someone taps you on the shoulder and tells you you've done enough or are doing it so wrong that you are just making it worse...like overusing Vise Grips. Uh-h, maybe competence is also knowing your limits.
Alas, that redirect link to thelawdogfiles doesn't work.
Ah, drat. Yeah, his website is down.