Oh! And I forgot COOKING. A young person needs to be able to put together an edible meal for himself or herself.
• Should be able to write a résumé.
• Should be able to complete an income tax form.
• Should be able to navigate the public transportation in a large city.
• Should be able to change a diaper.
• Should be able to feed an infant.
• Should be able to play a musical instrument.
• Should be able to play a team sport.
• Should be able to play a solo sport or athletic activity.
• If American, should read and understand the U.S. Constitution and its amendments.
• Should be familiar with the texts of the three major monotheistic religions.
I’d generalise the ‘de Tocquville’ requirements to ‘know the founding philosophies (if any) and history of your country’. Preferably from more than one viewpoint. I’d add knowing something about the philosophies and histories of a) your country’s neighbours, and b) the large, powerful countries in the world.
So for us Canadians, we’d have to learn about de Tocqueville and the Federalists anyways. We’s also learn about the Russians, the Chinese, and the Europeans. And you Yanks would have to learn about the parliamentary system, Lord Dorchester, prairie socialism, the PQ, Trudeau, and the Reform party. Among other things. 
Combat skills: if by this we mean some sort of ‘martial arts skills’ for unarmed combat, yes. I’d also add some kind of training about what to do when confronted with a knife or gun… not necessarily detailed combat training, exactly, but enough to get past that panicked freeze-up that the unprepared may have.
I’ll add ‘diplomacy and mediation skills’ to this: how to spot when some situations’s going to turn violent. How defuse things, and how to tell when things can be defused, and when it’s better just to depart. This would include how to identify and handle scammers, crazies, drunks, belligerents, and other people who may obtrude into your space. How do you tell who is a harmless crank, who despeately needs help, and who is flung out on drugs and will kill you just because you are in their imagined way?
After this, the medical skills will come in handy.
This is a great thread. I think we can come up with a whole revised educational curriculum out of it, at least.
Know how to hire a Butler. If you can do that right, you don’t really need about half of the other skills suggested.
Why just Christianity, Judaism, and Islam? It seems just as important to know the tenets of Buddhism and Hinduism.
Yeah, really. Why should I know how to cook and clean if I know how to hire/enslave someone to do it for me?
No matter which vehicle(s) you choose to operate, learn to do it safely and courteously.
Learn to think two moves ahead. In other words, think about the potential negative consequences of your actions.
Money isn’t everything; there’s nothing wrong with the pursuit of money; spend less than you earn and invest the difference.
Learn how credit/debt works and how to avoid problems with it.
Learn how to effectively converse/interact with others in business and personal relationships. Sub-topic: learn how to “read” people.
And, to quote Dilbert, “Dance like it hurts, love like you need the money!” 
In order to supervise/critique your minions in an informed way.
Tabby
- Know how to enjoy alcohol without being a drunken idiot.
- To expand on the “drive a car well,” know how to drive a stick shift.
- Know how to start a fire.
For those who are bemused at the mentions of armed combat and shooting and de Tocqueville, do note that this was an excerpt from a column entitled “Thoughts from the Gunner’s Guru” by Col. (Ret.) Jeff Cooper, appearing on the gunsandammomag.com website.
Lets see… as a 22 year old male, and not much different than I was 6 months ago, when I was 21, I’ll give this a go.
Well, I’m quite familiar with Canadian political history, and Confederation, etc.
Well, I’m not exactly sure what those are, as I’ve never really been big on US history… But if someone could point out what they actually are, I’m sure I could tell you our equivalent… From a glance a Wikipedia, perhaps the British North America Act could qualify?
Can’t say I’ve ever used a computer before… (If I didn’t detest smilies, I’d insert a winking one)
Sure can. Of course, I’ve never read an entire book by either of them, but I’ve read enough exerpts that I can tell the difference, side by side.
I’d like to think I can. I can operate a car no problem, and even large trucks and trailers are not a problem (One of my many jobs is renting/selling cars and trucks… it involves a lot of driving)
No problem. Been licenced to do that since I was 16… If a glider counts as an airplane. But even if it doesn’t, I had my PPL when I was 21.
Been shooting airguns for longer than I can remember… Firearms not so much, but the times I have handled them, my accuracy was quite good.
I suppose so. I can keep up with Jeopardy on the geography category.
Local, yes, exotic… Not so much, but I can tell the difference between a llama and an alpaca.
Define fundamentals.
Well, I can shoot. I can hit pretty well too. No actual formal training though.
The first real problem. I probably could handle one, I’ve just never had the opportunity. I take enough of a risk flying, I have no need to ride a motorcycle.
I have a pretty good understanding of french. I just can’t speak or write it. I also have a rudimentary understanding of most european languages… Usually only when written though.
I’m fully first-aid qualified, plus I’ve learned a lot of herbal-first aid type knowledge.
Looking though the “modern” list. I can’t do most of the physical requirements (bench-pressing half my own weight, for example) Nor could I care for an infant in any way, shape or form. I can’t play a musical instrument, though I’m told I’m a pretty good DJ. (again, insert smilie here)
I don’t know if I’d consider myself an average kid (I spent most of my schooling in enrichment classes) and I received a scholarship for the gliding bit, but other than that, I’m entirely middle-class, and truthfully, I’d hope that most people my age could handle most things on this list, except for the exceptional ones (like the aircraft requirement) Unfortunately, those hopes are highly unlikely, as for with every person who can fly an airplane, there’s a counterpart who can’t figure out how to open their seatbelt.
This is a stupid list, but I’ll bite, anyway. Let’s see…
Knowledge of how this country is run and how it got that way.
I have a pretty good idea here. There are a few holes in my knowledge areas, but overall I thnik I paid enough atetntion in my history lessons to get by.
Knowledge of the Federalist Papers and de Tocqueville, and of recent world history.
What the hell are these things, anyway? I must admit I am only vaguely aware of world history, recent or otherwise.
Should be computer literate.
No problem.
Should know Hemingway from James Joyce.
I don’t even know who James Joyce is. While I know who Hemingway is, I wouldn’t be able to distinguish his work from anyone else’s.
Should know how to drive a car well.
Got this one down.
Should know how to fly a light airplane.
If someone showed me what I needed to do I might be able to get one off the ground hovering just above the runway with some practice, if that counts as flying. Landing, on the other hand…
Should know how to shoot well.
I’m timid about firing a .22, so I’m out of this one, too.
Should know elementary geography, both worldwide and local.
I’m good with geography. I have to be as I work in a travel agency.
Should have a cursory knowledge of both zoology and botany.
This one is too vague to know whether or not I am qualified. What defines the threshold of “cursory” knolwedge?
Should know the fundamentals of agriculture and corporate economy.
Again, too vague. I kind of know how they work.
Should be well qualified in armed combat, boxing, wrestling and judo, or its equivalent.
None of the above applies to me.
Should know how to manage a motorcycle.
Never ridden one and don’t plan to, either. A friend of mine messed up his back after wiping out on his motorbike and my sister wrecked her car once because she didn’t see a motorcycle coming the other way (the motorbike wasn’t in the wreck, though).
Should be comfortable in at least one foreign language.
I took Spanish in high school, and I still remember bits and pieces of it, but I can’t say that I am comfortable with trying to speak what I remember of it.
Should be familiar with remedial medicine.
Does this mean knowing to take an aspirin for a headache, or knowing what to take for any malady that comes up? I guess I fall somewhere in between the two.
I think the other suggestions on this list make much more sense.
I interpreted this as a prescriptive list of things you should be able to do, but that many cannot. It is obviously and intentionally a Manly Man list, and one that is meant to make you into somewhat of an elite well-rounded male, IMO. As such, many of the suggestions added on about normal everyday life don’t really fit with the intent of the original list. They are fine ideas in their own right, though. I agree that everyone should be able to, for example, balance a check book. On the other hand, I don’t think that’s anything noteworthy for a 21 year old; I could do that when I was ten.
Knowledge of how this country is run and how it got that way.
Knowledge of the Federalist Papers and de Tocqueville, and of recent world history.
I’m a big fan of knowing history so that you have some idea of the origins of today’s problems. That said, I’m vague on de Tocqueville, though I did re-read several of the Federalist Papers in their entirety about 5 years ago, partly because of 9/11 and the subsequent Patriot Act foolishness. I’d agree with the original author of this list that better knowledge of these works would be a Very Good Thing if you want responsible well-informed US citizens.
Should be computer literate.
I think I’ve got that basically covered. I probably couldn’t do more advanced programming than scripting, but anything short of that is a no-brainer.
Should know Hemingway from James Joyce.
Major was Comparative Literature. Big damn check.
Should know how to drive a car well.
Would like to improve this by taking one of those elite driving courses. I have driven anything up to a 2 ton truck and have gotten some preliminary lessons on how to drive a rig; I used to have a part-time job with the motor pool at the post office. I’ve driven in blizzard and flood conditions.
Should know how to fly a light airplane.
I took ground-school classes when I was 13 because I was really interested in being a pilot. Unfortunately, I was 1) too young to solo in the time my score from the test would be valid, and 2) I didn’t have enough money to keep taking lessons. I logged about 15 hours in a single engine plane. Still have the log book somewhere. I wouldn’t guarantee I’d make it back to the ground in one piece in bad conditions, but I’d probably be able to take off and fly without much difficulty. I still want to get my pilot’s license someday.
Should know how to shoot well.
Dad taught me to shoot when I was 5. Last time I visited the US I went shooting with my friend. He shoots twice a month. It’s been close to 5 years since I shot last. I was more accurate than he was. Got that covered.
Should know elementary geography, both worldwide and local.
I damn well better, since I was arguing in a recent thread that basic geographic knowledge should be possessed by everyone, without exception.
Should have a cursory knowledge of both zoology and botany.
I also think this is a little vague, but that probably the original author meant that you should know a bit about animal species in general, especially ones you might come in contact with, and that you should have a basic knowledge of plants, again with an emphasis on those in your area. I am admittedly weak on my knowledge of plants lately. In my defense, I live in an area that is vastly different from where I grew up. If I still lived in northern California, I would check this one off the list without question.
Should know the fundamentals of agriculture and corporate economy.
Yep. Spent part of my childhood helping my dad and mom on our semi-subsistence farm, learned basic economics in university and more on my own in learning about investing money.
Should be well qualified in armed combat, boxing, wrestling and judo, or its equivalent.
I’ve been training in some kind of martial art since I was about 16, about half my life now. I personally think that absolutely EVERYONE should have some training in how to fight. Studies have shown that martial arts training actually reduces aggressive tendencies and makes most people both more confident and less likely to escalate conflicts in both physical and social encounters, so even leaving self protection and safety issues aside, you get social benefits. There are also the physical benefits of better fitness and improved coordination and flexibility. Since I know how to fall without hurting myself, I’ve also escaped injury in several situations that probably would have crippled people without training.
Should know how to manage a motorcycle.
I rode one as my only form of transport for over a year; it was much cheaper than a car and I was broke.
Should be comfortable in at least one foreign language.
Check my location. I think I could pick up Spanish again if I spent a few months in a Spanish-speaking country or studied it seriously. I’ve forgotten much of it due to over a decade of non-use, but was able to get by in Spain when I took a trip there last year.
Should be familiar with remedial medicine.
First aid certified, CPR training, way too many stories and jargon from hanging out with EMT buddies. Short of cutting someone open, I’ve probably got it covered. Well heck, I know how to do an emergency tracheotomy, so the cutting someone open caveat is only mostly valid.
Which items seem completely impractical or unnecessary nowadays?
Considering that I pretty much agree with just about everything on the list, I don’t think any of them are unnecessary. The pilot requirement is probably the hardest and least practical of them, but that is a very nice skill to have if you can manage it.
What do you think should be added to complete the skill set of today’s 21-year-old?
I wish I didn’t have to say this, but it has become obvious to me that the ability to write clearly and effectively has come to be regarded as optional. It shouldn’t be. So, I second Hilarity N. Suze’s second point, and her first as well; everyone should be able to swim.
I would also add in basic carpentry and mechanical skills. I’m not talking about building a house or rebuilding a transmission, but basic household and car repairs are something most 21 year olds should be able to do.
Housework–laundry, dishes, vacuuming/sweeping, dusting, mopping, unclogging, cleaning windows, etc.
38yo female
[li]Knowledge of how this country is run and how it got that way.[/li]“Spain” and “the EU” work, right?
[li]Knowledge of the Federalist Papers and de Tocqueville, and of recent world history.[/li]Considering I’m not from De Yu És Éi, I hope I’ll be forgiven for going with things like the Treaty of Tordesillas and History of the Fueros instead of that french guy.
[li]Should be computer literate.[/li]Yep yep. Was at 21 too.
[li]Should know Hemingway from James Joyce.[/li]Hemingway is the yankee who sends all those drunk tourists to Pamplona every year around July 6th. James Joyce wrote something called “Ulysses” which apparently is a serious brick along the brickness of Miguel Delibes’ “5 hours with Mario” (I love Delibes in general, but you could use that one to build bunkers)
[li]Should know how to drive a car well.[/li]Well enough to have my driver’s license, yes, it’s the year I got it (normal for Spain).
[li]Should know how to fly a light airplane. (?!?)[/li]Maaandeloqué? Nope, no, sorry. Are you sure these aren’t the requirements to be a character in an H.P. Lovecraft story?
[li]Should know how to shoot well.[/li]AGH! Guns! The devil loads 'em! (j/k) I’m from Spain, here the only people who use guns are cops, hunters and terrorists. I’m neither.
[li]Should know elementary geography, both worldwide and local.[/li]Yep yep.
[li]Should have a cursory knowledge of both zoology and botany.[/li]Define cursory? 9th and 11th grade “Natural Sciences” included zoology, botany and geology. They explained what a “phylum” was, that dogs and wolves are actually the same species but horses and donkeys are not, stuff like that.
[li]Should know the fundamentals of agriculture and corporate economy.[/li]Agriculture? Well, you go to the store and buy veggies… Theoretical knowledge, yes, but plant-growing and accounting give me rashes.
[li]Should be well qualified in armed combat, boxing, wrestling and judo, or its equivalent. (?!?)[/li]My instincts have been known to stun a too-grabby guy. My rational mind is afraid to hurt people.
[li]Should know how to manage a motorcycle.[/li]You sit behind the driver and let him or her do the driving (playing “dead weight” makes their job much easier than any other kind of behaviour). My sense of equilibrium sucks, in my case operating a motorcycle by more-direct means would count as “stupidity likely to result in injury”.
[li]Should be comfortable in at least one foreign language.[/li]I’m writing foreign now. Would something like Navajo count for an American? At 21 I spoke 3 languages already and was able to read several more, but of the 3 I spoke, only 1 is “foreign”. Badly phrased requirement.
[li]Should be familiar with remedial medicine.[/li]Yeah, specially diet-based remedies.
[li]Should know how to sexually please one’s partner, and how to tell one’s partner what to do to pleasure oneself.[/li]Pst, some of us come from countries where being a 40-year old virgin is not considered shameful. Really. Promise. Sigh.
[li]Should be aware of one’s constitutional rights and civil liberties, and be prepared to assert them stridently when necessary.[/li]Well, my family has taken arms against the central government over half a dozen times in the last 200 years. At the moment we prefer to be more pacific about it, but yeah, I know how to yell “foul”.
It must be nice to be rich so you can afford flying lessons by age 21.
Knowledge of how this country is run and how it got that way.
I can tell you all about early European exploration and settlement of Australia, from Abel Tasman to Federation, then there’s a bit of a gap until the Boer War and WWI, then another gap until the Depression, then a gap until WWII, then a rather large and embarrassing gap from the mid 1950s until… about 1995 or so, actually. (I’ve looked into it, and very little of interest happened in Australia outside the time periods I mentioned above, IMO.)
I’m much better on NZ history, and I’m also very good on British History from the start of the Age of Imperialsm (late 1500s) to the modern day. My knowledge of US History involves the Spanish Conquista, early Colonial times, something about a “War of Independence”, something about a War of 1812, then another gap until we get the start of the West and the US Civil War… then the Spanish-America War (and the West), then nothing until 1916, then pretty much everything of major importance up until the end of the Vietnam War, then not a lot until Operation Desert Storm.
Knowledge of the Federalist Papers and de Tocqueville, and of recent world history.
The Federalist Papers sounds awfully like something that a Government Committee no-one’s ever heard of has produced, in the full knowledge that no-one cares and it rather nicely justifies the 18 month paid holiday they’ve had at the taxpayer’s expense, all in aid of telling people the blatantly obvious or things everyone already knew anyway.
de Tocqueville… don’t suppose that’s a French Vinyard or anything useful? No?
World History, however, is something I’m very keen on. Just don’t ask me about the British Empire or WWI/WWII, or else we’ll be here for days.
Should be computer literate.
And have been since I was 12 or so.
Should know Hemingway from James Joyce.
Sure. Never read any of their works, but I’ve seen photos and they look nothing alike.
Should know how to drive a car well.
Well, I’ve got a driver’s licence and I drive all the time. Operating the car isn’t difficult, but it’s responding to sudden changes in condition that takes skill.
Should know how to fly a light aeroplane.
Fly? Yes. Land? Nope.
[li]Should know how to shoot well.[/li]
Ah yes, firearms. I’m well and truly in my element here.
[li]Should know elementary geography, both worldwide and local.[/li]
Geography is one of my strong points, although I do have some slightly anachronistic tendencies in that regard… (“I’m sorry, Mr. Enfield, but there’s no longer a British East Africa… and Mesopotamia hasn’t existed since Lawrence of Arabia was blowing up trains and Hitler was still in the redecorating business… and it’s not the Belgian Congo anymore, either.”)
[li]Should have a cursory knowledge of both zoology and botany.[/li]
A cursory knowledge, yes. Don’t ask me for scientific names, though.
[li]Should know the fundamentals of agriculture and corporate economy.[/li]
I know the fundamentals:
- Plant seeds
- Water
- ???
- Vegetables/Crops!
In a metaphorical way it works for corporate economy, too!
[li]Should be well qualified in armed combat, boxing, wrestling and judo, or its equivalent. (?!?)[/li]
Erm… If I was going to learn a martial art, it would be Kung Fu. As it is, I can only be a decent marksman and firearms historian OR a badass Bruce Lee wannabe.
Nunchuku aren’t very useful for hunting feral animals.
[li]Should know how to manage a motorcycle.[/li]
I manage a motorcycle by not bothering with one, having a car instead.
[li]Should be comfortable in at least one foreign language.[/li]
Sure. I’m Удобно.
Seriously though, I can understand a reasonable amount of written French and Latin, which is surprisingly useful.
[li]Should be familiar with remedial medicine.[/li]
Apply bandage/tourniquet, call ambulance. (Yes, I do actually know first aid!)
[li]Should know how to sexually please one’s partner, and how to tell one’s partner what to do to pleasure oneself.[/li]
I’m very glad I grew up in a country without a lot of weird hangups on sex, put it that way.
[li]Should be aware of one’s constitutional rights and civil liberties, and be prepared to assert them stridently when necessary.[/li]
The Australian Constitution is 200 pages long and guarantees surprisingly little, except tedium, boredom, and a desire to invent a time machine in order to travel back to 1900 and slap the appropriate people with a deceased fish of some kind.
Let me add:
[li] If you have a car, know how to change the oil and tyres, refill the radiator/wiper reservoirs, and change the rear light bulbs- at a minimum[/li]
[li] Know how to write a cheque- even if you never have to, it’s important to understand how they work.[/li]
[li]Write a business letter. Properly.[/li]
[li]Work a camera, digital or otherwise. They’ve pretty much all been “point and shoot” since about 1995, but if you know how to work the manual focus and the shutter speed, even better.[/li]
[li]Know something about Wine and/or Beer- even if it’s simply knowing what you do and don’t like[/li]
[li]Have some knowledge of Trivia. It’s amazing how useful it can be in everyday life, especially in conversations with people you’re getting to know.[/li]
[li]Know when to accept responsibility for your mistakes, and when to deny everything and demand proof. [/li]
[li]Travel. Even if it’s only to the next State, or even major city. As St. Augustine once said, “The world is an open book, and he who does not travel is forever on the one page”.[/li]
[li]Learn quotes from important dead people that can be used at opportune moments. [/li]
[li]Know or be familiar with quotes from: The Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama, Star Wars, South Park, Blackadder, Red Dwarf, Star Trek, Napoleon Dynamite, and any other popular movies/TV shows. You don’t have to like the shows in question, but it’s important to recognise quotes from them.[/li]
[li]Wear Sunscreen. Come on, it had to be said! [/li]
I was that close to adding “Computer Hacking Skillz”, “Bow Hunting Skillz”, and “Ninja Skillz”, you know…
Knowledge of how this country is run and how it got that way.
I can tell you all about early European exploration and settlement of Australia, from Abel Tasman to Federation, then there’s a bit of a gap until the Boer War and WWI, then another gap until the Depression, then a gap until WWII, then a rather large and embarrassing gap from the mid 1950s until… about 1995 or so, actually. (I’ve looked into it, and very little of interest happened in Australia outside the time periods I mentioned above, IMO.)
I’m much better on NZ history, and I’m also very good on British History from the start of the Age of Imperialsm (late 1500s) to the modern day. My knowledge of US History involves the Spanish Conquista, early Colonial times, something about a “War of Independence”, something about a War of 1812, then another gap until we get the start of the West and the US Civil War… then the Spanish-America War (and the West), then nothing until 1916, then pretty much everything of major importance up until the end of the Vietnam War, then not a lot until Operation Desert Storm.
Knowledge of the Federalist Papers and de Tocqueville, and of recent world history.
The Federalist Papers sounds awfully like something that a Government Committee no-one’s ever heard of has produced, in the full knowledge that no-one cares and it rather nicely justifies the 18 month paid holiday they’ve had at the taxpayer’s expense, all in aid of telling people the blatantly obvious or things everyone already knew anyway.
de Tocqueville… don’t suppose that’s a French Vinyard or anything useful? No?
World History, however, is something I’m very keen on. Just don’t ask me about the British Empire or WWI/WWII, or else we’ll be here for days.
Should be computer literate.
And have been since I was 12 or so.
Should know Hemingway from James Joyce.
Sure. Never read any of their works, but I’ve seen photos and they look nothing alike.
Should know how to drive a car well.
Well, I’ve got a driver’s licence and I drive all the time. Operating the car isn’t difficult, but it’s responding to sudden changes in condition that takes skill.
Should know how to fly a light aeroplane.
Fly? Yes. Land? Nope.
Should know how to shoot well.
Ah yes, firearms. I’m well and truly in my element here.
Should know elementary geography, both worldwide and local.
Geography is one of my strong points, although I do have some slightly anachronistic tendencies in that regard… (“I’m sorry, Mr. Enfield, but there’s no longer a British East Africa… and Mesopotamia hasn’t existed since Lawrence of Arabia was blowing up trains and Hitler was still in the redecorating business… and it’s not the Belgian Congo anymore, either.”)
Should have a cursory knowledge of both zoology and botany.
A cursory knowledge, yes. Don’t ask me for scientific names, though.
Should know the fundamentals of agriculture and corporate economy.
I know the fundamentals:
- Plant seeds
- Water
- ???
- Vegetables/Crops!
In a metaphorical way it works for corporate economy, too!
Should be well qualified in armed combat, boxing, wrestling and judo, or its equivalent.
Erm… If I was going to learn a martial art, it would be Kung Fu. As it is, I can only be a decent marksman and firearms historian OR a badass Bruce Lee wannabe.
Nunchuku aren’t very useful for hunting feral animals.
Should know how to manage a motorcycle.
I manage a motorcycle by not bothering with one, having a car instead.
Should be comfortable in at least one foreign language.
Sure. I’m Удобно.
Seriously though, I can understand a reasonable amount of written French and Latin, which is surprisingly useful. I can also read arsenal and manufacturer’s markings on Russian military firearms, which is of little practical use outside the arms collecting community.
Should be familiar with remedial medicine.
Apply bandage/tourniquet, call ambulance. (Yes, I do actually know first aid!)
Should know how to sexually please one’s partner, and how to tell one’s partner what to do to pleasure oneself.
I’m very glad I grew up in a country without a lot of weird hangups on sex, put it that way.
Should be aware of one’s constitutional rights and civil liberties, and be prepared to assert them stridently when necessary.
The Australian Constitution is 200 pages long and guarantees surprisingly little, except tedium, boredom, and a desire to invent a time machine in order to travel back to 1900 and slap the appropriate people with a deceased fish of some kind.
Let me add:
If you have a car, know how to change the oil and tyres, refill the radiator/wiper reservoirs, and change the rear light bulbs- at a minimum
Know how to write a cheque- even if you never have to, it’s important to understand how they work.
Write a business letter. Properly.
Work a camera, digital or otherwise. They’ve pretty much all been “point and shoot” since about 1995, but if you know how to work the manual focus and the shutter speed, even better.
Know something about Wine and/or Beer- even if it’s simply knowing what you do and don’t like
Have some knowledge of Trivia. It’s amazing how useful it can be in everyday life, especially in conversations with people you’re getting to know.
Know when to accept responsibility for your mistakes,- and when to deny everything and demand proof.
Travel. Even if it’s only to the next State, or even major city. As St. Augustine once said, “The world is an open book, and he who does not travel is forever on the one page”.
**Learn quotes from Important Dead People ** that can be used at opportune moments.
Know or be familiar with quotes from: The Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama, Star Wars, South Park, Blackadder, Red Dwarf, Star Trek, Napoleon Dynamite, and any other popular movies/TV shows. You don’t have to like the shows in question, but it’s important to recognise quotes from them.
Wear Sunscreen. Come on, it had to be said!
I was that close to adding “Computer Hacking Skillz”, “Bow Hunting Skillz”, and “Ninja Skillz”, you know…
Damn… must’ve hit “Submit Post” instead of “Preview Post” the first time.
Can one of the Mods take care of that for me? Please?