# 25 Skills Every Man Should Know **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936 "2007-12-05T19:35:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/1 "2007-12-05T19:35:03Z")
From those lists msn loves to publish, [here](http://men.msn.com/articlepm.aspx?cp-documentid=5741230>1=10716): 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 Well, fellas? And chicks? Let me know your gender and which you have mastered. Chick here. I’ll say I can: 1. Frame a Wall 2. Retouch Digital Photos 3. Paint a Room ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/2 "2007-12-05T19:39:26Z")
I’m good for: 1. Protect Your Computer 2. Retouch Digital Photos 3. Build a Campfire 4. Navigate with a Map and Compass 5. Sharpen a Knife 6. Perform CPR 7. Maneuver a Car out of a Skid 8. Get a Car Unstuck 9. Back Up Data 10. Paint a Room 11. Change Oil and Filter 12. Paddle a Canoe 13. Fix a Bike Flat 14. Extend Your Wireless Network ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/3 "2007-12-05T19:47:19Z")
Girl here! I can: 1. Patch a Radiator Hose 2. Protect Your Computer 3. Rescue a Boater Who Has Capsized 4. Retouch Digital Photos 5. Back Up a Trailer 6. Build a Campfire 7. Fix a Dead Outlet 8. Navigate with a Map and Compass 9. Sharpen a Knife 10. Perform CPR 11. Fillet a Fish 12. Maneuver a Car out of a Skid 13. Get a Car Unstuck 14. Back Up Data 15. Paint a Room 16. Mix Concrete 17. Hook Up an HDTV 18. Paddle a Canoe 19. Fix a Bike Flat 20. Extend Your Wireless Network But then again, I was daddy’s girl, and he’s mr. fix-it. I also grew up in a snowy area where, if you can’t maneuver your car out of a skid or get it out of a muddy patch, you’re guaranteed to have no car very soon. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/4 "2007-12-05T19:48:02Z")
Identically-titled thread from September: [25 Skills Every Man Should Know - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=436337) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/5 "2007-12-05T19:51:35Z")
And i’ll say now what I said then; it must have been some pretty colossal nerd who made up a list of 25 basic life skills for a man that includes four different computer skills ("Extend your wireless network - why would I even need to do that?) but doesn’t include _anything to do with women_. ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/6 "2007-12-05T19:58:50Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Well, fellas? And chicks? Let me know your gender and which you have mastered. [/QUOTE] 1. Patch a Radiator Hose - yep 2. Protect Your Computer - step away from the computer, or I’ll be forced to fire up this chain saw! 3. Rescue a Boater Who Has Capsized - does it count if we righted our own boat and pulled ourselves out of the water? 4. Frame a Wall - yep 5. Retouch Digital Photos - yep 6. Back Up a Trailer - yep 7. Build a Campfire - even did the flint and steel stuff in the scouts! 8. Fix a Dead Outlet - wired my previous house myself 9. Navigate with a Map and Compass - yep 10. Use a Torque Wrench - I used to get to install the heads on my buddy’s big-block Chevy because I had the coolest torque wrench of the whole lot of us 11. Sharpen a Knife - I LOVE to sharpen knives 12. Perform CPR - yep 13. Fillet a Fish - yep 14. Maneuver a Car out of a Skid - yep 15. Get a Car Unstuck - yep 16. Back Up Data - yep 17. Paint a Room - yep 18. Mix Concrete - never done this, except for small batches of patching concrete 19. Clean a Bolt-Action Rifle - I’ve never even HELD a rifle 20. Change Oil and Filter - yep 21. Hook Up an HDTV - never seen one 22. Bleed Brakes - yep 23. Paddle a Canoe - I can do mild rapids, but nothing insane 24. Fix a Bike Flat - yep 25. Extend Your Wireless Network - I guess not; I don’t even have a wireless network I’m a guy. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/7 "2007-12-05T19:58:37Z")
Since I’m a doofus and didn’t check first, perhaps making up alternate lists is the way to go. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/8 "2007-12-05T20:00:52Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] And i’ll say now what I said then; it must have been some pretty colossal nerd who made up a list of 25 basic life skills for a man that includes four different computer skills ("Extend your wireless network - why would I even need to do that?) but doesn’t include _anything to do with women_. [/QUOTE] The nerds must have invited Hemingway to the committee, though. Clean a bolt-action rifle? Why is that an essential man skill? I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to make it through the next 40 or 50 years without needing to clean a gun of any kind. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/9 "2007-12-05T20:03:47Z")
1. Patch a Radiator Hose 2. Protect Your Computer 3. Rescue a Boater Who Has Capsized 4. Retouch Digital Photos 5. Back Up a Trailer 6. Build a Campfire 7. Fix a Dead Outlet 8. Navigate with a Map and Compass 9. Use a Torque Wrench 10. Sharpen a Knife 11. Perform CPR 12. Maneuver a Car out of a Skid 13. Get a Car Unstuck 14. Back Up Data 15. Paint a Room 16. Mix Concrete 17. Change Oil and Filter 18. Hook Up an HDTV 19. Bleed Brakes 20. Paddle a Canoe 21. Fix a Bike Flat I’ve done those (or something close enough). I’m willing to take a swing at the others. (I probably could fillet a fish without undue damage to me. Or frame a wall. Never had to clean a gun.) Guy. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/10 "2007-12-05T20:07:49Z")
Male, 32 1. Patch a Radiator Hose - yes 2. Protect Your Computer - yes 3. Rescue a Boater Who Has Capsized - maybe 4. Frame a Wall - no 5. Retouch Digital Photos - never tried 6. Back Up a Trailer - yes 7. Build a Campfire - yes 8. Fix a Dead Outlet - no 9. Navigate with a Map and Compass - maybe 10. Use a Torque Wrench - maybe 11. Sharpen a Knife - maybe 12. Perform CPR - no (I really need to learn this one) 13. Fillet a Fish - A fresh one? than probably no 14. Maneuver a Car out of a Skid - yes 15. Get a Car Unstuck - yes 16. Back Up Data - yes 17. Paint a Room - yes 18. Mix Concrete - never needed to 19. Clean a Bolt-Action Rifle - no, there is no need for guns of any kind in my life 20. Change Oil and Filter - yes 21. Hook Up an HDTV - haven’t needed to yet 22. Bleed Brakes - maybe, it’s been years 23. Paddle a Canoe - yes 24. Fix a Bike Flat - maybe, it’s been years 25. Extend Your Wireless Network - yes ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/11 "2007-12-05T20:11:49Z")
I can do almost all of these. I’ve only helped people with brake jobs - never done it myself. And repairs around my house tend to be small ones. I haven’t had to frame a wall. Other than that, check. Mrs. Moto loves having me around. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/12 "2007-12-05T20:13:11Z")
I can do, like, three of those things. I’m not even sure what some of them _mean_. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/13 "2007-12-05T20:13:55Z")
1. Protect Your Computer 2. Rescue a Boater Who Has Capsized 3. Retouch Digital Photos 4. Fix a Dead Outlet (depends on the problem – if the wiring is still good, yes) 5. Navigate with a Map and Compass 6. Sharpen a Knife 7. Maneuver a Car out of a Skid 8. Get a Car Unstuck 9. Back Up Data 10. Paint a Room 11. Paddle a Canoe 12. Fix a Bike Flat 13. Extend Your Wireless Network ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/14 "2007-12-05T20:14:22Z")
Thanks for that call, **RickJay** , as my 3 misses were all in the tech dept. I think I’d extend the flat tire to cars and add; 1. Know how to make a woman’s eyes glaze over with a kiss 2. Be able to jump a dead battery 3. Retrieve a stuck toy from a high tree limb. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/15 "2007-12-05T20:14:58Z")
I’ll stick with what I said last time: > [@](#): > > That ain’t such a useful list. I dunno. What would make me feel more satisfied as a man… patching a radiator hose (a simple question of duct tape) or knowing how to move from cowgirl to reverse cowgirl to doggie style without her falling off? Would I rather know how to setup my computer to make a mirrored backup (it’s a cinch, really) or make the perfect dry vodka martini? Maybe I’m a different kind of man, but I’ll pay one of the other kinds of men $5 to bleed my brakes and fillet my fish while I give a clinic on how to undo a bra with one hand. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/16 "2007-12-05T20:22:41Z")
If you had to make a similar list for women, how would it differ? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/17 "2007-12-05T20:22:51Z")
Yeah, but I can do those things too. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/18 "2007-12-05T20:25:41Z")
[QUOTE=Gfactor] If you had to make a similar list for women, how would it differ? [/QUOTE] Dunno. My wife can also clean a bolt-action rifle (not to mention other guns) so I don’t know what difference this would make. Perhaps sewing - though that should be on the men’s list as well. Saved my ass numberless times in the Navy. Likewise cooking - men and women alike should be able to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/19 "2007-12-05T20:31:33Z")
[QUOTE=Waverly] I’ll stick with what I said last time: [/QUOTE] I would agree with your list too. I can do most of that other list–but they aren’t the important ones. I do know my wife is way impressed that I can unsnap her bra with one hand–now that is a skill that is useful and important! ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/20 "2007-12-05T20:36:39Z")
Guy here…last I checked. 1. Patch a Radiator Hose (I don’t even know what a radiator hose is, or what one looks like, so **NO** ) 2. Protect Your Computer **YES** 3. Rescue a Boater Who Has Capsized **YES** …was a requirement of my boating course earlier this year 4. Frame a Wall **NO** …and I admit I’m jealous of those who can 5. Retouch Digital Photos **YES** …and was actually paid freelance for one 6. Back Up a Trailer **NO** …but I can back up a 35 foot cruiser into a ten-foot wide slip without hitting the pilons, so how hard can it be to back up a trailer? 7. Build a Campfire **YES** …former Eagle scout here 8. Fix a Dead Outlet **Trick Question.** It depends on what’s dead. Is it a short? If so, where? 9. Navigate with a Map and Compass **YES** See my answer to item 7 above 10. Use a Torque Wrench **YES** …this is a skill? 11. Sharpen a Knife **YES** …have whetstone, will travel 12. Perform CPR **YES** …and have, unfortunately. Scary. 13. Fillet a Fish **NO** …and, um, yuck 14. Maneuver a Car out of a Skid **I HOPE SO** …but have never had the pleasure 15. Get a Car Unstuck **YES** …and have 16. Back Up Data **YES** …again, this is a skill? 17. Paint a Room **YES** …even sponging and ragging 18. Mix Concrete **NO** 19. Clean a Bolt-Action Rifle **NO** 20. Change Oil and Filter **NO** …ashamed to admit 21. Hook Up an HDTV **YES** …I guess the ability to follow written instructions is a skill 22. Bleed Brakes **NO** 23. Paddle a Canoe **YES** …and do quite regularly 24. Fix a Bike Flat **YES** 25. Extend Your Wireless Network **CAKE** …I mean **YES** So, my score is 15 - Yes, 8 - No, and 2 maybe. What’d I win? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936.md?page=2)