some things every man should know how to do

[lemiel14n3]

Ride a horse, sing or play an instrument or dancing seems pretty irelevant, although I see how that makes it easier getting in contact with women, but riding a horse doesnt really make you more manly in my oppinion.

I watch a lot of westerns.

I see, but that was a hundred years ago, we got cars now, no need to ride horses anymore... other than steel horses of course (motocycles)

When we run out of oil, your tune will change.

 

[Heronblade]

Well, you covered most of it, OP. I actually came in specifically intending to say "use an axe," because in my experience very few people know how to do that, even though they think they do; however, you covered it. I guess I'll add "sharpen a blade with a whetstone" to the list before someone ninja's me on that too

Do you live in some alternate past that has the internet?

All bladed tools wear out, replacing them every time they start to get dull is not usually a good option. As such, being able to keep them sharp is important, both for utility and for safety. Using a basic whetstone is still the best option, since most people lack access to a motorized grinder.

Ride a horse, sing or play an instrument or dancing seems pretty irelevant, although I see how that makes it easier getting in contact with women, but riding a horse doesnt really make you more manly in my oppinion.

I watch a lot of westerns.

I see, but that was a hundred years ago, we got cars now, no need to ride horses anymore... other than steel horses of course (motocycles)

I don't know about it being necessary for manliness, but knowing the basics of horse-riding has many benefits, not least among them the potential for gaining a friend you would literally trust with your life, and who trusts you with theirs. Then there's the fact that most women I've talked to about it were really excited by the concept, more than a few first dates involved introducing them to some of the horses I've been privileged enough to ride. I do live in a small city by the way, none of those mentioned were country girls.

 

[XHolySmokesX]

Attempt to carry as much weight as possible.

I work at a shop that sells 15Kg bags of sand. Now, Im not a bulky guy, i've always been pretty skinny, so carrying a lot of weight is something i probably shouldn't do often. So that's exactly what i tried to do, i managed to carry 4 bags of sand (60kg) across my arms and walk a good 25 meters to the customer with them, granted i nearly spraned my back, but it was worth it becasue i felt like a man!!!!

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

I fail at a lot of those things, but some of your items have become outdated by about a century or so. I highly doubt that there are many people who know how to hunt and skin animals for resources and even fewer who regularly apply this skill to their lives. Also, if you can drive a car then why would you need to ride a motorcycle? Or is that just listed as an alternative?

 

[orangeban]

You missed: Every man should know how to cook

No I didn't

Anyone else raise an eyebrow at the seperation of talking to others and talking to women? Seems a bit odd to me.

I debated this one for a while while I was writing this, and I consider it a different skill set being able to talk to other guys, and being able to talk to women, it's practically a different culture, actually, no, it IS a different culture. And I hate to admit this one, but women can be scary to talk to.

Perhaps a better distinction would be to have talking to others and flirting/hitting on/whatever with others. That's less sexist and more accepting to homosexuals. Talking to women is just like talking to any other human.

 

[MrShadowzs]

Know what he's talking about on at least one subject

 

[Irriduccibilli]

Ride a horse, sing or play an instrument or dancing seems pretty irelevant, although I see how that makes it easier getting in contact with women, but riding a horse doesnt really make you more manly in my oppinion.

I watch a lot of westerns.

I see, but that was a hundred years ago, we got cars now, no need to ride horses anymore... other than steel horses of course (motocycles)

When we run out of oil, your tune will change.

I doubt it, by that time we will have invented a car that runs on some other kind of fuel. We already have, but they are not as popular yet. Electric car still beats horses

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

Ride a horse, sing or play an instrument or dancing seems pretty irelevant, although I see how that makes it easier getting in contact with women, but riding a horse doesnt really make you more manly in my oppinion.

I watch a lot of westerns.

I see, but that was a hundred years ago, we got cars now, no need to ride horses anymore... other than steel horses of course (motocycles)

When we run out of oil, your tune will change.

You realise we've developed hydrogen cars, right?

 

[Cracker3011]

Be secure enough in who he is to watch a kid's cartoon about magical ponies? You may laugh, but it takes balls to watch that show with other people in the vicinity XD

 

[Wintermoot]

take a piss while standing.

 

[Woodsey]

Well, you covered most of it, OP. I actually came in specifically intending to say "use an axe," because in my experience very few people know how to do that, even though they think they do; however, you covered it. I guess I'll add "sharpen a blade with a whetstone" to the list before someone ninja's me on that too

Do you live in some alternate past that has the internet?

All bladed tools wear out, replacing them every time they start to get dull is not usually a good option. As such, being able to keep them sharp is important, both for utility and for safety. Using a basic whetstone is still the best option, since most people lack access to a motorized grinder.

I'm sure there's a joke in there I could make about missing the point.

 

[loc978]

...well, the only thing on the list I can't do well is ride a horse. I'm more apt to kill and eat one. Between my own two feet and a bicycle, though, I can outpace most horses through any terrain except open grassy plains... and I hate open grassy plains (fortunately, I don't live near any).

I would suggest adding "operate a boat on a river, a lake, or an ocean" and also "swim", but some people live in horrifically landlocked places.
The only one I could add definitively is "sexually pace yourself".

Also, a lot of these could be put under a subsection called "survive without the help of human society". That's the big one for me.

 

[aashell13]

I put a Heinlein quote to the effect of the OP as my favorite quote for the senior yearbook.
which may or may not be related to the fact that the person in charge of yearbook quotes stopped talking to me afterwards...

 

[lemiel14n3]

Anyone else raise an eyebrow at the seperation of talking to others and talking to women? Seems a bit odd to me.

I debated this one for a while while I was writing this, and I consider it a different skill set being able to talk to other guys, and being able to talk to women, it's practically a different culture, actually, no, it IS a different culture. And I hate to admit this one, but women can be scary to talk to.

Perhaps a better distinction would be to have talking to others and flirting/hitting on/whatever with others. That's less sexist and more accepting to homosexuals. Talking to women is just like talking to any other human.

I don't see how flirting is less sexist than talking. And I'll admit I generalized a bit in not considering homosexuals while writing this list. I'll admit normally talking to women is no different from talking to any one else, but talking to someone you're attracted to is a whole different animal. (I'll think about changing "women" to "people you're attracted to")

 

[orangeban]

...well, the only thing on the list I can't do well is ride a horse. I'm more apt to kill and eat one. Between my own two feet and a bicycle, though, I can outpace most horses through any terrain except open grassy plains... and I hate open grassy plains (fortunately, I don't live near any).

I'd be amazed if you could out-run a (decently fit) horse on foot. On a bike I could believe (presuming you were a very good bike rider) but no way could you beat one in a foot race.

 

[smearyllama]

Operate a T-65B X-Wing Starfighter.
Ride a horse.
Holster an object with style (which I can do with a lunchbox)

That's my contribution.

 

[orangeban]

Anyone else raise an eyebrow at the seperation of talking to others and talking to women? Seems a bit odd to me.

I debated this one for a while while I was writing this, and I consider it a different skill set being able to talk to other guys, and being able to talk to women, it's practically a different culture, actually, no, it IS a different culture. And I hate to admit this one, but women can be scary to talk to.

Perhaps a better distinction would be to have talking to others and flirting/hitting on/whatever with others. That's less sexist and more accepting to homosexuals. Talking to women is just like talking to any other human.

I don't see how flirting is less sexist than talking. And I'll admit I generalized a bit in not considering homosexuals while writing this list. I'll admit normally talking to women is no different from talking to any one else, but talking to someone you're attracted to is a whole different animal. (I'll think about changing "women" to "people you're attracted to")

I meant sexist as in making the disinction between others and women could be considered sexist. I think people you're attracted to makes a lot more sense though.

 

[Impluse_101]

People needs to know how to SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE

 

[Ledan]

I think every man should:
- Know how to fight with a weapon other than a gun (e.g sword, martial art, pole)
- Know how to control their anger/other emotions
- Pack a car or a suitcase
- How to properly shake someone's hand
- How to make a simple hunting weapon (bow or other)
- .........

 

[Smooth Operator]

Can do most things, but sing and dance I don't do.

One things the manliest of men usually miss is:
- admitting own mistakes (can't do better unless you see the cockups)