# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/61 "2007-12-06T02:58:45Z")
I can roleplay with the best of them, come up with some zingers, find multiple and unusual uses for duct tape (one time I held the gearshift of my car together with ducttape), drink my tequila straight and hold my liquor pretty good, give wonderful massages (well, until I injured my wrist), skilled at the art of pleasure and most of all with my mouth :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/62 "2007-12-06T03:05:02Z")
Male, 49… I can/have: 1. Protect Your Computer 2. Frame a Wall 3. Retouch Digital Photos 4. Back Up a Trailer 5. Build a Campfire 6. Fix a Dead Outlet 7. Navigate with a Map and Compass 8. Sharpen a Knife 9. Perform CPR 10. Fillet a Fish 11. Maneuver a Car out of a Skid 12. Get a Car Unstuck 13. Back Up Data 14. Paint a Room 15. Mix Concrete 16. Change Oil and Filter 17. Paddle a Canoe 18. Fix a Bike Flat ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/63 "2007-12-06T03:44:00Z")
Male, 51. Can and have done, no problem: 1. Patch a Radiator Hose 2. Protect Your Computer 3. Frame a Wall 4. Retouch Digital Photos 5. Build a Campfire 6. Fix a Dead Outlet 7. Navigate with a Map and Compass 8. Use a Torque Wrench 9. Sharpen a Knife 10. Get a Car Unstuck 11. Back Up Data 12. Paint a Room 13. Mix Concrete 14. Change Oil and Filter 15. Hook Up an HDTV 16. Bleed Brakes 17. Fix a Bike Flat 18. Extend Your Wireless Network Can do, but not really very well. 19. Back Up a Trailer (single is not too bad if I go _very_ slowly, doubles I’m hopeless) 20. Fillet a Fish 21. Maneuver a Car out of a Skid 22. Paddle a Canoe Don’t know, never tried: 23. Perform CPR 24. Clean a Bolt-Action Rifle Probably would never be good at: 3. Rescue a Boater Who Has Capsized (I can’t swim) For the ones I’m not very good at, a little practice could change most of those pretty quickly. For the two I’ve never tried, I’d bet I could learn do them easily in a very few minutes. So I’d have to agree with some of the others, not really a challenging list. ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/64 "2007-12-06T04:32:37Z")
Jerking off should also be on that list. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/65 "2007-12-06T06:21:08Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] If you can navigate class IV rapids in an open unmodified canoe, you are a river god. [/QUOTE] Uh, a very short Class IV… without much foam…? (You got me. I was off on the classes by one. But I have run short class III+ rapids. Ok, we swamped from the foam, but we could have done it if we had a skirt. Hey, at least we kept the boat upright until it was underwater and well into the tailrace!) ---
**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 6, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/66 "2007-12-06T13:37:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Male, 42. > > I have never… > 19. Cleaned a Bolt-Action Rifle–I don’t hang around gun people much, but judging by a friend’s Mauser it doesn’t have to be that hard. > 21. Hook Up an HDTV–I don’t have HDTV. > 25. Extend Your Wireless Network–The router sits atop my one box. > > And while I don’t mean to be a jerk, there are varying grades to a lot of the tasks. Does “mixing concrete” mean that the person knows the importance of slump, or does paddling a canoe include the ability to navigate Class IV rapids or track a straight line in flatwater? Hey **cornflakes** , I think your list is the same as mine! CalMeacham, who has been dumped by well under class III rapids. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/67 "2007-12-06T14:04:45Z")
Bleed brakes?? Frame a wall?? Maybe this is something american? Can somemone explain this for me? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/68 "2007-12-06T14:23:52Z")
If the brake fluid level in the fill reservoir becomes too low, you can actually press air into the lines, thus inducing a gas bubble into a normally hydraulic-only environment. This’ll make 'em feel spongy. Bleeding the brakes is the method by which that unwanted air is removed from the system. Framing a wall is the way in which a carpenter applies a structurally adequate but not materially excessive support for the wall(s) of a structure. You’ve seen new houses first take on an open, stick-like appearance? 2x4s in parallel and perpendicular arrangement, sometimes doubled or tripled, with opening for windows, doors, insulation, etc? That’s what they mean by [“framing”](http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/234408/2/istockphoto_234408_wall_framing_construction.jpg) and I suppose they could mean either for a new home or just to add a wall to an existing structure. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/69 "2007-12-06T15:27:44Z")
How about 26 Punch a dude in the face 27 Purchase a lapdance from a stripper 28 Break a bottle in order to make a weapon out of it like they do in the movies 29 Pick up a girl in a bar 30 Prepare a bong for smoking ? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/70 "2007-12-06T16:16:45Z")
Thank you **lieu**. In my native language the equivalent would be ‘de-airing’, I can see how that would be inconvienient in English. > [@](#): > > You’ve seen new houses first take on an open, stick-like appearance? No, in holland we use bricks or concrete to build walls. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/71 "2007-12-06T17:24:27Z")
[QUOTE=The Librarian] No, in holland we use bricks or concrete to build walls. [/QUOTE] Even for interior walls?? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/72 "2007-12-06T17:37:11Z")
Not in newer houses, but in older houses every wall is made of bricks (interior walls from lesser quality bricks). ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/73 "2007-12-06T18:42:50Z")
Do the brick walls get covered with anything? Like drywall or plaster? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/74 "2007-12-06T20:16:24Z")
Typically plaster and wallpaper. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/75 "2007-12-06T20:34:11Z")
I’ll do it the other way around, here’s what I CAN’T do: 1. Rescue a Boater Who Has Capsized - If I had a boat or floatation device I probably _could_ by holding out an oar or whatever, but don’t know the proper way and I’m not a strong swimmer. 2. Frame a Wall - I’m ok with a hammer, but I’ve just never framed a wall myself, I was helping someone else. 3. Back Up a Trailer - Never had the pleasure except in GTA: San Andreas 4. Perform CPR - Think I knew in high school 5. Fillet a Fish - I like fishing, but not dealing with the caught fish 6. Bleed Brakes - I don’t like to mess with such an important part of the car. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/76 "2007-12-06T20:39:32Z")
Response deleted, Lieu covered it better… ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/77 "2007-12-07T02:17:16Z")
Male person here 1. Patch a Radiator Hose **√** 2. Protect Your Computer **it’s a Mac** 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 **does out-of-date version count?** 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 ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/78 "2007-12-07T02:58:55Z")
[QUOTE=The Librarian] Bleed brakes?? Frame a wall?? Maybe this is something american? Can somemone explain this for me? [/QUOTE] When the hydraulic braking system of a car, truck, or motorcycle is opened to replace a component, such as a wheel cylinder, a caliper, or a master cylinder, it is important to ensure that all air is removed from the system. Air is compressable, hydraulic fluid isn’t. This procedure is called bleeding the brakes, and involves forcing fresh fluid (with associated air) out of the system. Framing a wall consists of assembling a system of wood or metal members such that they define, enclose, or partition a living or work space. Most popular in the US are 2 x 4 members, aligned vertically on 12, 16, or 24 inch centers, between upper and lower plates of the same dimension. Framing is done prior to installation of electrical or plumbing utilities, insulation, and finish covering of said wall unit. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/79 "2007-12-07T05:13:13Z")
1. Protect Your Computer Well I have a Mac, which alleviates some of that… 2. Retouch Digital Photos 3. Navigate with a Map and Compass 4. Sharpen a Knife 5. Perform CPR Took a course but might be a bit rusty… 6. Maneuver a Car out of a Skid 7. Get a Car Unstuck 8. Back Up Data 9. Paint a Room Unless there is more to it than I thought… 10. Hook Up an HDTV 11. Paddle a Canoe Male, 33 ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936/80 "2007-12-07T06:47:53Z")
None of these skills are relevant to my life. There are only two things a man needs to know: 1. How to conjugate verbs in a foreign language. 2. How to give a lady lovin’ like she’s never had before. As for me, I’m the Bob Vila of lovin’ and conjugation. My verb tenses bring all the girls to the yard. I could teach you, but I’d have to charge. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-skills-every-man-should-know/428936.md?page=5)