Foo - Life skills

A posting elsewhere reminded me of one of the essential life skills that I feel my kids must learn. I'll start, please contribute your own:

Automobile related:
1. Ability to change a flat
2. Ability to operate a standard transmission
3. Ability to monitor fluid levels (oil, et cetera)

General:
4. Ability to read a map
5. Ability to swim
6. Ability to do their own taxes.

Any others? The glaring omission of zombie defense (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=363455)will be remedied shortly.

7. Ability to safely handle any firearm.
8. Ability to light a road flare without burning one's self.

boil an egg
wash clothes
change bedding
wipe own arse

14. know someone's personal space
15. don't invade someone's personal space

Build shelter and a fire
Snare food
hunt
Be able to defend self and family with whatever force necessary
do own taxes
understand finance
repair his/her car
Play Chess and Go (develops strategic thinking beyond tactical)
Know how to set up a defensible home
handle firearms, bow, and bladed weapons
More than basic medical knowledge

Build shelter and a fire
Snare food
hunt
Be able to defend self and family with whatever force necessary
do own taxes
understand finance
repair his/her car
Play Chess and Go (develops strategic thinking beyond tactical)
Know how to set up a defensible home
handle firearms, bow, and bladed weapons
More than basic medical knowledge


I'd call you Robert Heinlein, but you substituted Go for Bridge. :)

force quit on a mac

Live within a budget. I know the government can't seem to do it, but kids should be able to learn it.

7. Ability to safely handle any firearm.

This is not a necessary life skill.

Build shelter and a fire
Snare food
hunt
Be able to defend self and family with whatever force necessary
do own taxes
understand finance
repair his/her car
Play Chess and Go (develops strategic thinking beyond tactical)
Know how to set up a defensible home
handle firearms, bow, and bladed weapons
More than basic medical knowledge


whatever you say, rambo.

This is not a necessary life skill.

The hell it isn't.

The hell it isn't.
I don't care to shoot or own a gun, so how is it necessary?

I don't care to shoot or own a gun, so how is it necessary?

Just because you have no interest in guns doesn't mean that you won't have an interaction with guns, and having a good understanding of how they work will be of great benefit if/when you have an interaction with a gun(s). I'm not saying that everyone should have a gun. What I'm saying is that it would behoove everyone to have a understanding of how they work and eliminate this "mysteria" that surrounds guns.

Just because you have no interest in guns doesn't mean that you won't have an interaction with guns, and having a good understanding of how they work will be of great benefit if/when you have an interaction with a gun(s). I'm not saying that everyone should have a gun. What I'm saying is that it would behoove everyone to have a understanding of how they work and eliminate this "mysteria" that surrounds guns.

What possible way would I have an "interaction" with a gun?

Goal setting
Self confidence
The ability to seek help when needed.

Goal setting
Self confidence
The ability to seek help when needed.

:thumb:

Live within a budget. I know the government can't seem to do it, but kids should be able to learn it.

this

daily exercise.

riding a bike

14. know someone's personal space
15. don't invade someone's personal space



Live within a budget.



Goal setting
Self confidence
The ability to seek help when needed.


riding a bike


These are all excellent :thumb:

What possible way would I have an "interaction" with a gun?

You never know what the future will bring....

They should be able to change the oil in the cage. Don't want jiffy lube ruining it.

Cooking should be on the list too. I can't imagine not knowing how to do some basic cooking and baking.

I disagree with changing the oil. I don't think that is essential because it's something that our society provides for. You have to pay for it, of course. I think people should be given a pass on mechanical skills as they may have other skills benefiting society.

Cooking in the context of being able to feed yourself given only basic ingredients is a very good one.


7. Ability to safely handle any firearm.
8. Ability to light a road flare without burning one's self.

I disagree with the firearm suggestion. But in places where firearms are easily accessible, having a healthy respect for them is useful.

Interpersonal Skills
Public speaking
Dancing
and a strong knowledge of Pareto Charts

and a strong knowledge of Pareto Charts

That seems like useful knowledge in certain aspects of life, but how would that apply to me, an aircraft mechanic?

That seems like useful knowledge in certain aspects of life, but how would that apply to me, an aircraft mechanic?

Depends on how many errors you make as an aircraft mechanic. If you really suck, you might want to trend your work activities to find the cause of your incompetence ... if you were a bad mechanic :p

Depends on how many errors you make as an aircraft mechanic. If you really suck, you might want to trend your work activities to find the cause of your incompetence ... if you were a bad mechanic :p

I doubt a streak would be long enough to build a trend... :p at least, I hope not.

whatever you say, rambo.

Heh, what you teach your kids is up to you. That's just what I'd teach mine. ;) I've always been of the opinion that it's better to have a skill you never need than need a skill you'll never have, though.

Heh, what you teach your kids is up to you. That's just what I'd teach mine. ;) I've always been of the opinion that it's better to have a skill you never need than need a skill you'll never have, though.

I wanted to avoid teaching my kids to speak. That way they'd never get into an embarrassing or incriminating conversation. My wife disagreed. :(

Sorry, but not teaching kids about gun safety is like not teaching kids how to change a flat and thinking that prevents them getting a flat. Might as well avoid teaching them about sex and drugs too.

Build shelter and a fire
Snare food
hunt
Be able to defend self and family with whatever force necessary
do own taxes
understand finance
repair his/her car
Play Chess and Go (develops strategic thinking beyond tactical)
Know how to set up a defensible home
handle firearms, bow, and bladed weapons
More than basic medical knowledge


I'd add onto that:



Know hand to hand martial arts, and not just kill/maim strikes, be able to have a "volume control" so one can use the least amount of force for the job.

Understand the reasoning behind Shakespeare's villains, to understand motive by people in the real world.

Discern what someone (people or an organization) has to gain by an action taken, even if it appears counter-productive.

Have the ability to master key a building.

Know basic lockpicking techniques.

Be able to understand the basics of various HVAC systems and building systems.

Understand basic computer administration (install an OS, patch it, back it up, deal with a live hacker or compromised system.)

Have a basic ability to teach on any subject.

Basic ability for flying a plane both VFR and IFR, including knowing to drop the landing gear on planes that have it.

Know how to use a fully automatic firearm accurately. Not just jamming down on the trigger like a buzzsaw.

Be able to use a reloading machine safely.

Basic carpentry/architectural skills.

Have knowledge of the court and justice system where they live, how it really is, so as not to do something that would land them jail/prison time.

Respect the law. Not because law enforcement have the bigger guns and manpower, but that the police, even if corrupt, is are a must for a basic functioning society.

Be able to write a legible paper, either expository, persuasive, or coercive.

Be able to negotiate when there isn't much in one's deck to play. This includes bluffing.

Ability to actually listen to what others are saying and understanding it.

horse whispering.

I'd add onto that:



Know hand to hand martial arts, and not just kill/maim strikes, be able to have a "volume control" so one can use the least amount of force for the job.

Understand the reasoning behind Shakespeare's villains, to understand motive by people in the real world.

Discern what someone (people or an organization) has to gain by an action taken, even if it appears counter-productive.

Have the ability to master key a building.

Know basic lockpicking techniques.

Be able to understand the basics of various HVAC systems and building systems.

Understand basic computer administration (install an OS, patch it, back it up, deal with a live hacker or compromised system.)

Have a basic ability to teach on any subject.

Basic ability for flying a plane both VFR and IFR, including knowing to drop the landing gear on planes that have it.

Know how to use a fully automatic firearm accurately. Not just jamming down on the trigger like a buzzsaw.

Be able to use a reloading machine safely.

Basic carpentry/architectural skills.

Have knowledge of the court and justice system where they live, how it really is, so as not to do something that would land them jail/prison time.

Respect the law. Not because law enforcement have the bigger guns and manpower, but that the police, even if corrupt, is are a must for a basic functioning society.

Be able to write a legible paper, either expository, persuasive, or coercive.

Be able to negotiate when there isn't much in one's deck to play. This includes bluffing.


The ability to shoot down enemy aircraft.

Land on an asteroid, light off the nuclear weapon, and land safely back on Earth. Failing that, have a prepared speech ready to give to your wife and kids and know how to give it within seconds of you perishing.

The ability to travel through time without getting into any sort of paradox.

Heal the sick through medical means.

Bring back the dead.

Walk on water

Live within a budget. I know the government can't seem to do it, but kids should be able to learn it.Maybe it'll filter up down to the government eventually.


This is not a necessary life skill.It is, but only as far as "If you don't know how to handle a gun, ****ing don't." Any further specifics can be learned if/when the child has an interest.


I disagree with changing the oil. I don't think that is essential because it's something that our society provides for. You have to pay for it, of course.There's way too much "someone else will do it for me" in this country. Too much "I'm lazy. if I give up some of my hard earned money and place my dependence on others, I can continue to be lazy."

Changing oil is easy. Even if someone decides that it'd not something they care to tackle on their own on a regular basis, better to make an informed decision that one based on ignorance.

It is, but only as far as "If you don't know how to handle a gun, ****ing don't." Any further specifics can be learned if/when the child has an interest.


This applies not just to firearms. Chemicals, ordnance, electricity, even firecrackers come to mind here.

What about socializing in public? I bet more than a few people here could benefit from that :lol:

I could agree with all of these. :D I just posted a short list for brevity.


I'd add onto that:



Know hand to hand martial arts, and not just kill/maim strikes, be able to have a "volume control" so one can use the least amount of force for the job.

Understand the reasoning behind Shakespeare's villains, to understand motive by people in the real world.

Discern what someone (people or an organization) has to gain by an action taken, even if it appears counter-productive.

Have the ability to master key a building.

Know basic lockpicking techniques.

Be able to understand the basics of various HVAC systems and building systems.

Understand basic computer administration (install an OS, patch it, back it up, deal with a live hacker or compromised system.)

Have a basic ability to teach on any subject.

Basic ability for flying a plane both VFR and IFR, including knowing to drop the landing gear on planes that have it.

Know how to use a fully automatic firearm accurately. Not just jamming down on the trigger like a buzzsaw.

Be able to use a reloading machine safely.

Basic carpentry/architectural skills.

Have knowledge of the court and justice system where they live, how it really is, so as not to do something that would land them jail/prison time.

Respect the law. Not because law enforcement have the bigger guns and manpower, but that the police, even if corrupt, is are a must for a basic functioning society.

Be able to write a legible paper, either expository, persuasive, or coercive.

Be able to negotiate when there isn't much in one's deck to play. This includes bluffing.

learn how to take criticism and not be upset.
learn you can't be good at everything.

learn how to take criticism and not be upset.
learn you can't be good at everything.

These are very wise words. :D

they don't call me the wise man for nothing. in fact, they don't call me the wise man at all.

learn how to take criticism and not be upset.
learn you can't be good at everything.

Screw you!

I am good at everything! :mad:





:p

In short, teach them to do any/all activities that this convenience-driven society thinks is worthwhile to pay someone else to do.

Like the episode of 2-1/2 Men, when Alan (Jon Cryer) hurt himself adjusting the satellite dish; everyone asked him, "Why didn't you just CALL THE GUY?" Alan was right about self-reliance, and it irked me a bit to have the writers make fun of him like that...but it was a good episode.