# What should EVERY American adult know how to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 21, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005 "2010-08-21T21:55:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/21 "2010-08-22T02:57:01Z")
If you drive a car, know how to drive in snow/icy weather. Recognize when the weather is so bad that you have no business being out on the road trying to drive. Know how to read a road map. Yeah, I know you have a GPS, but still… How to turn the water OFF wherever you are living. Same for electric. Yeah, I don’t care if you rent; you still should know where the shut-off valves/circuit breaker is. Don’t wait for an emergency to investigate. If you don’t know, look now. Yeah, now. Basic cooking. You don’t have to be a chef but you should be able to put a decent simple meal together for yourself. How to do the laundry. * * * I know how to check the oil in the car, but I’m not going to change it myself. I’m not going to be changing a tire either. I wouldn’t have the strength to get the lug nuts off that have been put on with a power thingie and I’m not going to try. That’s why I have AAA and a cell phone and don’t venture into the wilderness alone. And I’m glad I live in NJ so I don’t have to pump my own gas regularly. Yeah, I’ve been to other states and know how to do it and have done it. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/22 "2010-08-22T02:58:59Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > > [@Cyningablod](#): > > > > 1. Shoot a firearm (this includes safe weapon handling, loading/charging, and proper marksmanship basics). > > Agree. Every U.S. citizen should not only know how to shoot a rifle, but should \*own \*a center-fire rifle and at least 1000 rounds of ammo… I’m no gun control nut, and own firearms myself; Still: _Are you insane?_ I wouldn’t trust half of my fellow citizens with a slingshot and boyscout knife, much less a firearm. I agree that we should teach a basics / safety course in school though. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/23 "2010-08-22T03:02:48Z")
> [@luv2draw](#): > > I know how to check the oil in the car, but I’m not going to change it myself. I’m not going to be changing a tire either. I wouldn’t have the strength to get the lug nuts off that have been put on with a power thingie and I’m not going to try. That’s why I have AAA and a cell phone and don’t venture into the wilderness alone. > > And I’m glad I live in NJ so I don’t have to pump my own gas regularly. Yeah, I’ve been to other states and know how to do it and have done it. snip. You don’t need strength, you have the power of leverage to assist you. Step on the other end of the tire iron and the bolts will break loose. You should do this yourself at least once so that you understand the entire procedure should you find yourself in an area where reception is crappy. You can spend a half hour changing your own tire or og knows how much more time walking to somewhere with a land line. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/24 "2010-08-22T03:11:55Z")
Every adult American should be able to read or at least listen to the BBC world news. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/25 "2010-08-22T03:14:07Z")
Heh, this is wrong in so many ways. Here’s a joke: Two Muslims immigrate to America. They make a bet about who will be more American after one year. A year later, the first Muslim says his family converted to Protestantism, his kids are going to Catholic school, and he has a job selling hotdogs at Wrigley field. The second Muslim says, “Get away from me, you f’in terrorist.” What every American should know: nobody has the right to tell them what “being American” means. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/26 "2010-08-22T03:23:59Z")
Why does it matter if I can change a diaper, braid a little girl’s hair, play a musical instrument, dance, sew, drive stick, survive in the wild, etc? ---
**Author:** ![Cyningablod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Cyningablod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyningablod)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/27 "2010-08-22T03:25:38Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > What every American should know: nobody has the right to tell them what “being American” means. Methinks you’ve been whooshed. This thread has nothing to do with American national identity. It’s just things that people who happen to live in the US should know, for practicality’s sake. In fact, the only reason I mention “Americans” is just to limit the potential learning items to a specific (and to most of us, familiar) time and place. ---
**Author:** ![Cyningablod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Cyningablod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyningablod)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/28 "2010-08-22T03:28:42Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Why does it matter if I can change a diaper, braid a little girl’s hair, play a musical instrument, dance, sew, drive stick, survive in the wild, etc? Because those things are part of being a generally well-rounded adult. If you can’t do them, well…you kinda suck. 😉 (And no, de-bugging 30,000,000 lines of code or developing a better CAD program–or whatever micro-specialized skills you possess–are NOT things that a **generally well-rounded** adult needs to know how to do.) ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/29 "2010-08-22T03:29:54Z")
> [@Cyningablod](#): > > > [@Superhal](#): > > > > What every American should know: nobody has the right to tell them what “being American” means. > > It’s just things that people who happen to live in the US should know, for practicality’s sake. In fact, the only reason I mention “Americans” is just to limit the potential learning items to a specific (and to most of us, familiar) time and place. Therefore, if I don’t know how to fish, I’m not “most of us?” ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/30 "2010-08-22T03:45:45Z")
> [@Cyningablod](#): > > > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > > Why does it matter if I can change a diaper, braid a little girl’s hair, play a musical instrument, dance, sew, drive stick, survive in the wild, etc? > > Because those things are part of being a generally well-rounded adult. > > If you can’t do them, well…you kinda suck. 😉 You might be right if “change a diaper” and “braid a little girl’s hair” hadn’t been a part of that list. I call shenanigans. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/31 "2010-08-22T03:46:37Z")
> [@Cyningablod](#): > > > [@Superhal](#): > > > > What every American should know: nobody has the right to tell them what “being American” means. > > Methinks you’ve been whooshed. Anyone with more money, influence, or firepower than you has the right to tell you what being American means. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/32 "2010-08-22T04:02:31Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Why does it matter if I can change a diaper, braid a little girl’s hair, play a musical instrument, dance, sew, drive stick, survive in the wild, etc? I’d leave in driving a stick to cover all cars but I also don’t get the rest of these. Sewing a button is too generic. That’s like listing drinking from a cup. Sewing up a wound, now there’s a skill. Braiding hair is too specific. Stuff like playing a musical instrument or dancing falls under a collective bucket list and should be listed separately under “things to experience”. To that list I would add things like roller skating and skiing. I’d add to the current list: - remove a “P” trap in a sink and use a snake to unclog a pipe. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/33 "2010-08-22T05:05:00Z")
A diverse and deep knowledge of the various uses of duct tape, from wound closing to birth control, should be mastered by all people. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/34 "2010-08-22T05:15:32Z")
I would say being able to think critically, being able to deal with setbacks and interpersonal problems somewhat constructively, being able to ask for help and admit vulnerability, etc. are all important. Basically interpersonal and intrapersonal soft skills. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/35 "2010-08-22T05:51:41Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > [@Cyningablod](#): > > > > Because those things are part of being a generally well-rounded adult. > > > > If you can’t do them, well…you kinda suck. 😉 > > You might be right if “change a diaper” and “braid a little girl’s hair” hadn’t been a part of that list. I call shenanigans. The point is that a well-rounded person knows how to deal with babies and children, as well as auto mechanics. ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/36 "2010-08-22T07:54:26Z")
My comments are interspersed in the quote in boldface type. > [@Cyningablod](#): > > MY LIST (in no particular order): > > 1. Think critically. > **I agree.** > > 2. Use proper spelling and grammar, or know where to go to find the answer to a grammatical or othographic question. > **I might say, if you do any significant amount of writing, to not be afraid of editing.** > > 3. Use a computer, which includes finding specific information on the Internet, sending & receiving e-mail, creating and working with office software files (MS Office, Google Docs, etc.). > **Very useful.** > > 4. Hold a friendly, interesting conversation with a stranger or group of strangers. > **I wish I could do this.** > > 5. Change a diaper, and calm a crying infant or child. > **I hope I never have to do any of this, although with item 3, I’d probably do somewhat acceptably** > > 6. Create a good, professional résumé. > **My profession uses CVs, but generally yes.** > > 7. Select attractive, color-coordinated outfits. > **I would go with, be aware of, and do, proper grooming and hygiene. On those occasions where you need to be “attractive,” just use a friend.** > > 8. Iron your own clothing (without melting it, burning yourself, or setting fire to anything!). > **I think this fits with item 7.** > > 9. Tie a necktie. > **I don’t know if women need to do this, and if it’s not common for you, item 3 fits again.** > > 10. Braid a little girl’s hair. > **I don’t think this is really necessary.** > > 11. Take a good photograph. > **I think this is nice, but not really important.** > > 12. Play a musical instrument (the human voice counts, as long as you have the musical training to “play” it knowledgeably). > **I think some knowledge of music theory is part of a general education, but with item 3, again, it’s not like you have to sit in silence if you don’t know how to play.** > > 13. Speak a foreign language. > **I would go with, have some familiarity with a culture not your own. Language can do this, but I think it’s not usually worth the effort. Attaining any sort of fluency in another language is difficult.** > > 14. Somewhat related to the above, have some grasp of Latin, or at least a basic conceptual understanding of the modern Romance languages. > **I would throw in Greek too, so that you can figure out words you don’t know.** > > 15. Dance decently well. > **Why? What kind of dancing?** > > 16. Play poker, chess, checkers, baseball, football, and soccer (or at least know the general rules governing these three sports). > **I don’t agree.** > > 17. Sew (well enough to replace a button or mend a tear). > **Very helpful, and I wish I could.** > > 18. Cook basic meals. > **Yes.** > > 19. Select the best fresh produce. > **I’m not sure how important this is, but sure.** > > 20. Put together a healthy diet. > **I think items 18 to 20 can be subsumed under, “Understand basic nutrition and cooking.”** > > 21. Exercise properly. > **I would say, “Find some sort of physical activity you like and try to do it regularly.”** > > 22. Care for a plant, and at least one kind of mammalian housepet. > **People who don’t like pets or plants don’t have them.** > > 23. Drive a manual-transmission vehicle (a “stick-shift”). And, drive defensively! > **I agree with the second half, but not the first.** > > 24. Change a flat tire. > **Or get a phone and an auto club membership.** > > 25. Check your car’s oil level, and change the oil and filter, yourself. > **I don’t think this is necessary. There are rarely “oil change emergencies.”** > > 26. Buy a good used car, avoiding lemons, and not paying too much. > \*\*Too rare to be necessary, in my opinion. \*\* > > 27. Identify Venus, the North Star, the Big Dipper (Ursa Major), and Orion. > **I can do all these things! Orion’s hard, though, since it’s absent for half the year.** > > 28. Shoot a firearm (this includes safe weapon handling, loading/charging, and proper marksmanship basics). > **I disagree. Maybe the handling part.** > > 29. Identify key figures, eras, and places in American history. > **True, but vague.** > > 30. Know the locations and names of the earth’s continents, and which countries (generally) are on each one. Oceans, too. > **Sure.** > > 31. Survive for at least a couple of days in the wild (ie, have a grasp of very rudimentary survival skills). > **Unlikely to be important, but of course, useful if you’re in that situation. Overall, I’d say not likely enough to be important to be worth the effort if nature isn’t your thing.** > > 32. Identify threats, security risks, and physical hazards, wherever you are. > **Sure.** > > 33. Defend yourself in case of bodily assault (no black-belt required; just know a few fundamentals of self-defense). > **Too unlikely to be worth the effort.** > > 34. Swim. > **If you have been known to go anywhere near water.** > > 35. Skip a rock across a natural body of water. > **Light-hearted and learnable in maybe fifteen minutes. I’d keep this on the list.** > > 36. Fish. > **I hate fishing. I wouldn’t push that on anyone.** > > 37. Perform CPR, the Heimlich maneuver, and basic first aid. > **Yes.** > > 38. Develop (and stick to!) a household budget. > **I would expan this one to include all aspects of personal finance.** > > 39. Write a check (you know, those slips of paper that folks used to use to pay bills, before e-bills and online bill paying?). > **I disagree. Checks are no longer all that useful.** > > 40. Argue a point rationally and convincingly. > **I think this goes with item 1.** > > 41. Stay confident and assertive in all situations, even if it means faking it. > **I’m not sure of this one. Confidence has its place, but so does an honest declaration of vulnerability.** > > 42. Identify your two Senators and your Congressional Representatives, and know who presently holds the Offices of President, Vice President, and Secretary of State. > **I would add the Speaker of the House, your governor, and mayor, as well as the politcal affiliations of all of them.** > > 43. Polish boots/shoes. > **This fits with item 7.** > > 44. Distinguish north from south, east from west, all by yourself, using natural cues (no GPS, cell phone, map, or signs!). > **Not often necessary, but useful. Also this is difficult to do when it’s cloudy.** > > 45. Read an actual road map and plan a driving route. No MapQuest, no GoogleMaps!! > **No longer necessary, due to item 3.** > > 46. Understand the theory behind old-school land navigation (map & compass). > \*\*I don’t see the purpose for this one. Who navigates any distance with a compass? \*\* > > 47. Know your family’s general history, and the names of your ancestors at least 4 or 5 generations back. > **Overall, I would agree.** > > 48. Respect your body’s limits with alcohol. > **And everything else. At least by the time you’re twenty-five or so. Otherwise, how can you test your limits?** > > 49. Floss your teeth properly. > **I think this fits with item 7.** > > 50. Tell time on an analog clock. > **This one I think everyone should know before they’re ten.** I’m bored. Sorry if this is overly picky, but I enjoyed thinking about what you said. ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/37 "2010-08-22T08:46:12Z")
Well, if I can criticize your list, I should throw some ideas out, so that you can criticize mine. It’s only fair. I think I’m only going to do ten though, since it’s getting late. Also, before I get started, I think this may be the link that inspired you. > **[50 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do](http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/06/02/50-things-everyone-should-know-how-to-do/)** > > Self-reliance is a vital key to living a healthy, productive life.  To be self-reliant one must master a basic set of skills, more or less making them a jack of all trades.  Contrary to what you ma… Or maybe not. I found a number of lists with items similar to yours. Anyway, without further ado, the list: 1. Typing. I have too many bad habits when I type that do nothing but slow me down. Knowing how to type properly is most useful in this day and age. 2. Practical epistemology. By that I mean, you should understand (broadly speaking), what it is that humanity, overall, knows; what is currently out of reach and why; how mathematical knowledge differs from scientific knowledge differs from historical knowledge differs from aesthetic knowledge and so on; and have some idea of how your life, professional and personal, fits into this. This goes with thinking critically, but I don’t think it’s quite the same thing. 3. Empathy and negotiation. I think it’s wise to have some ability to put oneself into another’s place, even if you find this person odious, to have some idea of why they do what they do. These skills also let you get what you want and need as well as to understand when a deal (economic or personal) is fair. 4. Expressing anger or disagreements more generally. I know too many people that let these things fester. Nothing good comes form that. 5. Basic numeracy. You should have some ability to work with estimating, especially with orders of magnitude; how numbers fit together; why multiplying is more than repeated addition; and the limits of statistics. 6. Structure of government. This includes knowing the basic stuff like the three branches, federalism, and so on; but also how laws really get passed, the ways that interests get their voices heard, gerrymandering, and other important, but unofficial ways the government works. 7. Using tools. How to use drills, hammers, knives, measuring tapes, and the like for basic household repairs and hanging decorations and whatnot. 8. Health. What is health? How do you get healthy? What are the effects of a bad diet? What food is good for you, in what quantities, and why? What are the best ways to deal with stress? Things like that. 9. Your rights. Especially in regard to police investigations. I mean things like, never consent to a search, assert your right to remain silent, what counts as a confession, and so on. 10. Scam prevention. Know the basic scams, especially the internet ones, as well as the general techniques behind the most common sorts of scams to avoid being taken in. ---
**Author:** ![jordanr2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@jordanr2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jordanr2)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/38 "2010-08-22T16:02:34Z")
Why the driving-related items on your list? Plenty of American adults get by just fine without cars. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/39 "2010-08-22T17:22:20Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I would say being able to think critically, being able to deal with setbacks and interpersonal problems somewhat constructively, being able to ask for help and admit vulnerability, etc. are all important. > > Basically interpersonal and intrapersonal soft skills. Just as valuable, in a society that is often suspicious of softness and intellect: -knowing when _not_ to think critically. -knowing when _not_ to admit vulnerability or the need for help. -knowing when _not_ to be constructive, but simply to kick ass, including your own if required. I’ll add a parallel to something I posted earlier about the need to give and take orders – namely, the need for bullshit: -being able to bullshit. -being able to believe your bullshit. -being able to at least swallow others’ bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005/40 "2010-08-22T17:31:43Z")
> [@jordanr2](#): > > Why the driving-related items on your list? Plenty of American adults get by just fine without cars. Because sort of like swimming, there isn’t any real reason to not be able to drive. While it may not be something you do often, or hardly ever, should you find yourself in position where you _need_ to use a vehicle you should be able to do so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-every-american-adult-know-how-to-do/551005.md?page=3)