25 Skills

Community
#1

Popular Mechanics’ have released a list of 25 skills every man should know. OK, I quibble with why only men should be able to do this stuff, but anyway the list is interestingly modern.

  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. Manoeuvre 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

So, anyone here able to do everything on the list ?

#2

I’ve only done (or learnt to do, in the case of CPR) about 11 of those, and most of the rest I wouldn’t know the best way or in some case any way at all. I am a man for one and a bit seasons.

#3

I can do 13. but many are things I have no need of doing. I don’t go boating, why would I need to save some one who has. I don’t even go near the water, bloody water. But I have to say that the things on the list I cant do are things I could learn to do. Perhaps I am inspired to learn t do them.

R

#4

I reckon I’ve done/trained for 21. I think no. 3 is a bit nebulous. If they are in a 12 ft yacht with a daggerboard, then I should be able to uncapsize it, otherwise I’m not sure what else can be done.

Ones I haven’t done are:

  • Hook up a HDTV (but how hard can it be, I mean these days cable A only goes into socket A)
  • Frame a wall
  • Extend my wireless network (this has got to be a joke item. Getting my wireless router to even work on it’s own was a nightmare, and that included having two network professionals try get the &%# thing going. Two of them would be nigh impossible).

As for the list, I reckoned they missed some essentials:

  1. BBQ a steak until it is medium-rare
  2. Put on a hangi and/or charcoal spit roast
  3. Make a salad
  4. Play a musical instrument
#5

I either have done or have been shown how to do at least 12 but am pretty sure I could do most of the others if I tried. I’ve never had a wireless network, so how would I know? I think most people could do most of these things with a little thought. And then theres things I wouldn’t bother doing, like fixing a power outlet, because both my dad & brother are electricians. But I’m pretty sure I could do it. Do I count getting out of mild skids? I mean I used to do this on purpose when I lived down a gravel road but I was never out of control.
It is kind of irrelevant though, there are so many skills we have that are just as important or more important to know.
I saw a list of survival must knows a while back, it was much shorter than this, things like CPR, being able to swim 200m etc. which I think is much more relevant as things we SHOULD know how to do.

#6
  1. Make a woman laugh
  2. Sterilize a needle and sew up a serious wound
  3. Vote

… they missed some pretty big categories.

EDIT: okay, missed the first bit. Popular Mechanics said…

#7

I score 18, but some of the ones I can’t do are not very appealing to me… or I don’t even understand the question.

  1. Patch a radiator hose
    Pardon me? I can fix a punctured bike tire if it’s nearly the same thing…

  2. Frame a wall
    This is really difficult. I think I’d be able to achieve a result, but anyone with training would laugh at me.

  3. Fillet a fish
    No thanks! Maybe a better one here would be “identify edible plants”

  4. Mix concrete
    I’d need good instructions on this one.

  5. Clean a bolt-action rifle
    No thanks! Peacemongering hippy right here!

  6. Change oil and filter
    I’m a little bit embarrassed to admit I can’t do that and never have.

  7. Bleed brakes
    What?

#8

You could probably find your way through it, but it’s not quite that simple. Add control panels, flashing lights, multiple rooms, multiple mixers and a few remote-controlled computers to the mix for some serious fun :smiling_imp:

#9

  1. Patch a radiator hose
    I think I probably could do this. I know the basic theory but have never done it.

  2. Protect your computer
    I don’t run protection software on my personal computer. If you get a virus you deserve it.

  3. Rescue a boater who has capsized
    I can’t swim very well, so I’d just probably increase the casualty rate by one. That boater’s on his own. I will, however, call the Coastguard then get the hell out of there.

  4. Frame a wall
    What?

  5. Retouch digital photos
    That’s my job, so I assume I can do that.

  6. Back up a trailer
    I don’t even know if I have a towbar. So, no.

  7. Build a campfire
    Do they mean with a lighter or by rubbing sticks together?

  8. Fix a dead outlet
    I’ve done that. Then it caught fire. So I didn’t so much fix it as I made it worse. Wires confuse the hell out of me.

  9. Navigate with a map and compass
    Badly. I’d lose the race but I’d finish eventually.

  10. Use a torque wrench
    What are they even for?

  11. Sharpen a knife
    That’s pretty easy. Never had any problems sharpening things.

  12. Perform CPR
    CPR only has about a 4% success rate in hospitals so I’m never learning this. I don’t save people.

  13. Fillet a fish
    That’s what restaurants are for. I don’t eat fish that hasn’t been deep fried, anyway.

  14. Manoeuvre a car out of a skid

  15. Get a car unstuck
    I’ve done this. It’s not as hard as it’s cracked up to be.

  16. Back up data
    Are there still people who can’t?

  17. Paint a room
    I could, I just don’t have the patience. I’d rather just live in an unpainted room that bother with that shit.

  18. Mix concrete
    No.

  19. Clean a bolt-action rifle
    Slowly at first but I’m sure I’d pick this one up. I’ve used a rifle before and the mechanism didn’t look terribly complicated.

  20. Change oil and filter
    Done once. Pretty easy.

  21. Hook up an HDTV
    I hooked a receiver to my computer. That’s sort of the same thing.

  22. Bleed brakes
    Nope. Never done this one.

  23. Paddle a canoe
    I’m surprisingly good at paddling, despite my scrawny arms.

  24. Fix a bike flat
    I don’t have a bike or plan getting one anytime soon. Exercise is a waste of time.

  25. Extend your wireless network
    I’m more a fan of wires. It’s just not a real network unless you’ve had to drill holes through the walls and run spools of cable down the hallways. But yes, I can do this.

#10

just to show grrls can do (almost) anything, the only ones I haven’t done are:

  1. Rescue a boater who has capsized
    I am a good swimmer - how hard can it be? - Note I draw a huge difference here between rescuing the boater and rescuing their boat :wink:

  2. Frame a wall
    Can’t remember - I seem to recall assisting with this once - should be no problem with a little research

  3. Hook up an HDTV
    Feel confident I will handle this one ok when I get one - my Dad phoned me for advice on his freeview box…

I agree with some of the suggestions for missing skills:

  • all kiwi guys whould be able to BBQ (many cannot, or they think burnt=cooked; having said that, I do know some great BBQ ‘chefs’ - mostly guys).

I would have thought some other things may include:

  • correctly replace glass using window putty
  • correctly prepare a surface for painting (I have seen some shocking examples of this)
  • sew on a button - my brothers both did, but I never fail to be amazed at the amount of people of both genders who cant do this!
  • Change a tyre - again increasing numbers of people can’t do this

I could go on, but you’re probably already sick of this list :slight_smile:

#11

The only things I can’t do are:

  1. Change oil and filter
  2. Bleed brakes

Everything else I have actually done.

#12

Only done 18 on that list. Could make a fair attempt at three more.

Does this mean that I am not a man?

#13

No, it means we’re not popular mechanics…

#14

[size=150]WARNING[/size]

Guys, do NOT show this to your girlfriends…

I scored a 10-12ish… my girl friend scored 19 :-/

#15

I can do 12.
And whoever said CPR doesn’t work in hospitals - that’s because CPR is only effective if done almost immediately. Hospitals have better ways of reviving people, CPR is only used in some cases eg when there is no equipment/the equipment can’t be got there fast enough/ the person arrived unconcious and should have had CPR ages ago anyway.

#16

[quote=“No Rectangulars”]I can do 12.
And whoever said CPR doesn’t work in hospitals - that’s because CPR is only effective if done almost immediately. Hospitals have better ways of reviving people, CPR is only used in some cases eg when there is no equipment/the equipment can’t be got there fast enough/ the person arrived unconcious and should have had CPR ages ago anyway.[/quote]

Umm, just to clarify. CPR should only be done on someone who is DEAD. Eg: not breathing and no heart beat. Doing CPR on someone with a heart beat can send them into cardiac arrest.
CPR is done to keep the blood oxygenated and circulating preventing/slowing brain death. You cannot bring someone back to life by doing CPR - all you are doing is trying to keep them in “stasis” until a defibrilator can be used to jump start their heart.
Andrews 4% success rate figure is wrong. CPR is something that everyone should learn to do properly because it DOES save lives. (Speaking as someone who has saved a life using CPR)

#17

No heart beat and not breathing doesn’t mean dead - CPR should never be used on a corpse, it would do nothing. Only good for living people! It should be used on someone who’se heart has stopped or gone into fibrillation (random uncoordinated jiggling that does nothing to move blood). It’s mainly a manual pumping of the heart, but can sometimes jumpstart the heart/recoordinate it’s pumping action. It’s not as effective as a defibrillator, of course, but it’s possible.

#18

“Clinical death is the popular term for cessation of blood circulation and breathing. It occurs when the heart stops beating in a regular rhythm, a condition called cardiac arrest.” – Wikipedia

#19

CPR alone is only occasionally succesful. Either in hospital or on the street.

However I suspect it gives people something to do until the ambulance arrives.

.

#20

Well I guess Im pretty useless then my wife tops you all though

  1. Patch a radiator hose (me No Wife Yes) - band aid?

  2. Protect your computer (me Yes Wife Yes)

  3. Rescue a boater who has capsized (me Yes Wife Yes) Jamie Save them

  4. Frame a wall (nope)

  5. Retouch digital photos (me yes Wife Yes)

  6. Back up a trailer (hell I cant drive)

  7. Build a campfire yes to both

  8. Fix a dead outlet ( nope not me - im sure my wife could if she needed to)

  9. Navigate with a map and compass (yep both)

  10. Use a torque wrench (yep both)

  11. Sharpen a knife (yep both)

  12. Perform CPR (yep both)

  13. Fillet a fish (yep me - not sure about her though)

  14. Manoeuvre a car out of a skid ((no way in hell - wife is a master)

  15. Get a car unstuck - as above

  16. Back up data - Yep both

  17. Paint a room - yep both

  18. Mix concrete - i can not sure there though

  19. Clean a bolt-action rifle (never had to)

  20. Change oil and filter (not me she can

  21. Hook up an HDTV (i am a tchnophile she can

  22. Bleed brakes - not me she can

  23. Paddle a canoe - no problem there

  24. Fix a bike flat - umm pass i know how lazy though - she probably can

  25. Extend your wireless network (wizard?)

i would like to add

26 Cook something from nothing