25 Skills A Man Should Know

Scott James · 09-20-2007, 08:05 AM

Quote:

As Glenn Reynolds writes in his new PM column, traditional knowledge of how to build and fix ordinary things—around the house and in a jam—might be on the decline. With our lives becoming more driven by technology, blue-collar labor has been replaced with more white-collar employment, and teenagers are becoming better at programming Web sites than swinging hammers.

Here at PM, where we at least try to do everything, we spent weeks fine-tuning our list of "25 Skills Every Man Should Know," debating over whether certain items were too basic, too challenging or just too obscure. You can find a full how-to rundown of each one in the October issue of Popular Mechanics, which just hit newsstands. But for now, check out our carefully selected list below, then offer your own arguments and suggestions in the comments section below, or tell us how to perform your must-know skill by writing to us here...

The List: How to...

1. Patch a radiator hose
2. Protect your computer
3. Rescue a boater who has capsized
4. Frame a wall
5. Retouch digital photos
6. Back up a trailer
7. Build a campfire
8. Fix a dead outlet
9. Navigate with a map and compass
10. Use a torque wrench
11. Sharpen a knife
12. Perform CPR
13. Fillet a fish
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid
15. Get a car unstuck
16. Back up data
17. Paint a room
18. Mix concrete
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle
20. Change oil and filter
21. Hook up an HDTV
22. Bleed brakes
23. Paddle a canoe
24. Fix a bike flat
25. Extend your wireless network

God bless those manly men at Popular Mechanics but this list seems a little archaic and technology-obsessed to to me, although I agree wholeheartedly with skills 7 and 12.

Here is my alternative 25:

1. Build a campfire
2. Learn to cook
3. Perform CPR
4. Change a nappy
5. Read bedtime stories with a variety of different voices
6. Paint a self-portrait
7. Build a tree house
8. Play a sport (golf does not count)
9. Learn a foreign language
10. Name all the constellations
11. Teach your old dog new tricks
12. Make a pinhole camera
13. Understand the laws of cricket, rugby and football
14. Build and race your own go-cart
15. Spend an evening down the pub without mentioning sports or cars
16. Identify the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World
17. Learn how to build bottle rockets
18. Write a novel
19. Volunteer for a charity or good cause
20. Identify the best quotations from Shakespeare
21. Change a tyre
22. Administer first aid
23. Skim stones
24. Learn a musical instrument
25. Understand the laws of chess and checkers.

Any other suggestions?

AthenaRose · 09-20-2007, 08:14 AM

I can do some of those - does that make me a man?

spider · 09-20-2007, 08:23 AM

Real men need to know how to fight too, it's a terratorial thing.
Plus hunting and building weapons, and teaching their young how to do manly things.
Material things like learning an instrument or holding an enjoyable conversation shouldn't have to matter in the grand scheme of things, manly and feminine things should come down to survival instincts.

Nitecrawlah2 · 09-20-2007, 09:11 AM

...Retouch digital photos?!

**Mwynn** · 09-20-2007, 09:12 AM

Skim Stones?

Mike225 · 09-20-2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spider

Real men need to know how to fight too, it's a terratorial thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spider

Just count your lucky stars you're not being surgically removed from a dustbin every other week like me.

Newt · 09-20-2007, 09:53 AM

I'm about 4 for 5 on each list; do I have to return my man license?

kdmelrose · 09-20-2007, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newt

I'm about 4 for 5 on each list; do I have to return my man license?

It was fake, anyway.

dano · 09-20-2007, 09:59 AM

I think the key here is not to do them, but to do them WEll. For example, any fool can buy a cheap store 'knife sharpener' and ruin his blade under the illusion of sharpening it.

Don't get me started on the fire thing.

kdmelrose · 09-20-2007, 10:00 AM

Fire bad?

Newt · 09-20-2007, 10:01 AM

But I payed that guy with the metallic shades like $200 for it! He swore it was authentic! I'm gonna find that s.o.b. and kick his ass with my digital-photo-retouching skills.

Toyandgadgetguy · 09-20-2007, 10:03 AM

Can and have done all on the first list with varying degrees of skill (or lack thereof). Nine things missing on the second list. (have no intention of writing a novel, either)

dano · 09-20-2007, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdmelrose

Fire bad?

Making fire isn't a skill, it's an ART! You breathe life into it literally adn then you have to love it and feed it to make it grow. And if you don't set it up properly it will have a short and crippled life while the other fires party on!

Mike225 · 09-20-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dano

Making fire isn't a skill, it's an ART!

That's why chicks love it when you burn stuff for them!

Newt · 09-20-2007, 10:09 AM

Like incense?

09-20-2007, 09:12 AM	#5
Mwynn On THE EDGE Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Haven Posts: 23,240	Skim Stones? __________________ www.goldengoatstudios.com Buy Digital Webbing Comics. Or Bucho will foreclose on the orphanage. The Edge issue one Diamond code : NOV121048 The Edge Online The Edge Facebook

09-20-2007, 10:00 AM	#10
kdmelrose Pope of Appalachia Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: In the conservatory, with a candlestick Posts: 7,567	Fire bad? __________________ Robot 6 at Comic Book Resources

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09-20-2007, 08:14 AM	#2
AthenaRose 12.9.12...? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: European Capital of Culture 2008 Posts: 8,767	I can do some of those - does that make me a man?

09-20-2007, 08:23 AM	#3
spider Still has his job, HA! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Up my own ass. Posts: 2,220	Real men need to know how to fight too, it's a terratorial thing. Plus hunting and building weapons, and teaching their young how to do manly things. Material things like learning an instrument or holding an enjoyable conversation shouldn't have to matter in the grand scheme of things, manly and feminine things should come down to survival instincts.

09-20-2007, 09:11 AM	#4
Nitecrawlah2 Oh come on!! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: DC Posts: 4,128	...Retouch digital photos?!

09-20-2007, 09:53 AM	#7
Newt Common cold fusion Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: On the mighty Cumberland Posts: 5,136	I'm about 4 for 5 on each list; do I have to return my man license?

09-20-2007, 09:59 AM	#9
dano . Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Penna Posts: 923	I think the key here is not to do them, but to do them WEll. For example, any fool can buy a cheap store 'knife sharpener' and ruin his blade under the illusion of sharpening it. Don't get me started on the fire thing.

09-20-2007, 10:01 AM	#11
Newt Common cold fusion Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: On the mighty Cumberland Posts: 5,136	But I payed that guy with the metallic shades like $200 for it! He swore it was authentic! I'm gonna find that s.o.b. and kick his ass with my digital-photo-retouching skills.

09-20-2007, 10:03 AM	#12
Toyandgadgetguy Eat your vitamins. Really Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Isle of Long, NY Posts: 8,291	Can and have done all on the first list with varying degrees of skill (or lack thereof). Nine things missing on the second list. (have no intention of writing a novel, either)

09-20-2007, 10:09 AM	#15
Newt Common cold fusion Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: On the mighty Cumberland Posts: 5,136	Like incense?