Basic Life Skills No-One Has Anymore
- Thread starter tkioz
- Start date
Recommended Videos
Most of this stuff I didn't need to be shown and it bugs me that there are people who just don't care enough to figure this shit out. Who the hell can't figure out how to change a tyre or sharpen a knife? I've known guys who are incapable of lacing their own shoes. My colleagues at work are impressed at the speed I can add and subtract numbers in my head, and the accuracy of my division - I'm not talking about hard numbers either. They're just so reliant on calculators that my arithmetic skills are like magic to them.
There's skills I've been shown of course: I learned how to start a fire, tie knots, locate a good campsite and build a shelter on it from cadets (like the scouts, but army oriented, kind of like the ROTC in America). I learned basic repairs and how to change oil in a car from my father. I learned how to sew and cook around the time I started high school as I had compulsory sewing and cooking classes in 7th grade. I tried to get my mother to teach me how to knit once when I was 10 but I didn't have the patience to learn and she didn't really have the patience to teach.
My grandfather taught me some basic carpentry (that was his trade before he retired - he made most of my childhood toys). My uncle helped me apply these skills to make billy-carts (soapbox racers for you Americans).
Then there's skills not really needed in day to day life, which are a point of pride for me anyway. I took metalwork in school and could probably still to this day build a go-kart if I had the materials and access to a hacksaw, lathe and MIG wleder. Hell, even an ARC welder would do.
People who put off learning things because they can find a replacement or look up how-tos online make me wish for some kind of worldwide cataclysm where there is no internet.
It's bad enough that smartphones have effectively destroyed trivia contests.
There's skills I've been shown of course: I learned how to start a fire, tie knots, locate a good campsite and build a shelter on it from cadets (like the scouts, but army oriented, kind of like the ROTC in America). I learned basic repairs and how to change oil in a car from my father. I learned how to sew and cook around the time I started high school as I had compulsory sewing and cooking classes in 7th grade. I tried to get my mother to teach me how to knit once when I was 10 but I didn't have the patience to learn and she didn't really have the patience to teach.
My grandfather taught me some basic carpentry (that was his trade before he retired - he made most of my childhood toys). My uncle helped me apply these skills to make billy-carts (soapbox racers for you Americans).
Then there's skills not really needed in day to day life, which are a point of pride for me anyway. I took metalwork in school and could probably still to this day build a go-kart if I had the materials and access to a hacksaw, lathe and MIG wleder. Hell, even an ARC welder would do.
People who put off learning things because they can find a replacement or look up how-tos online make me wish for some kind of worldwide cataclysm where there is no internet.
It's bad enough that smartphones have effectively destroyed trivia contests.
If my socks get all mangled, I buy new socks when I go to the supermarket. If the knives get to blunt to cut things, we get new knives. This is easier to do than repairing them, therefore we do that.
I don't know most of these basic skills, or at least I wasn't taught many of them by my parents, appart from very basic cooking. But the internet has enough basic tutorials that I don't think they needed to. When I want to cook something new I grab my laptop, find something that looks tasty on youtube and get right to it.
I will say though that my sister, who's 4 years younger than me, has a much better grasp of these basic skills. I think it's mostly about how willing you are to learn. When I'm at home I shut myself away and hang about on the interenet or play video games or read a comic or book or get on with work I need doing. When she's not watch Grey Anatomy (*blows brains out*) she's helping my parents cook or making something completely new herself.
I will say though that my sister, who's 4 years younger than me, has a much better grasp of these basic skills. I think it's mostly about how willing you are to learn. When I'm at home I shut myself away and hang about on the interenet or play video games or read a comic or book or get on with work I need doing. When she's not watch Grey Anatomy (*blows brains out*) she's helping my parents cook or making something completely new herself.
Huh. So it is odd that I'd rather sharpen a dull knife than throw it away. And patch those trousers instead of just buying a new pair (still good for non-formal/at-home wear I think). I can fix furniture as well; doors, various legged things, fabrics...
I can cook too (simple things - egg, pasta - are easy enough, the rest is doable with some planning).
Some of the gaps in the knowledge of people my own age are just shocking.
I wasn't taught by my parents though; trial and error (and the internet/common sense) FTW. So I guess it's a problem of parents being too busy (or lazy) to pass what they know on to their children.
I can cook too (simple things - egg, pasta - are easy enough, the rest is doable with some planning).
Some of the gaps in the knowledge of people my own age are just shocking.
I wasn't taught by my parents though; trial and error (and the internet/common sense) FTW. So I guess it's a problem of parents being too busy (or lazy) to pass what they know on to their children.
Jebus people, wtf are most of you gonna do when the zombie apocalypse hits? How will you take care of yourselves when the stores aren't being refilled? You realize there's at best a two day supply in any given store for its region? Less in some cases...
Zombie apocalypse aside, what happens when you start seeing cutoffs in local services, like department stores, due to major economic shifts? What are you going to do?
Zombie apocalypse aside, what happens when you start seeing cutoffs in local services, like department stores, due to major economic shifts? What are you going to do?
Make shaving lather with a soap, cup, and brush. Then shave with a straight, or even safety razor without hacking their face to pieces.
I would say no one has basic life skills anymore largely because in industrial nations, you don't have to have them anymore. Why mend a pair of socks, boxers, jeans, etc. when you can buy a new pack of socks or boxers for around 3$ and a new pair of jeans for around 10$.
People develop their skills because those skills are needed somewhere in their lives, and some basic skills just aren't needed in our modern world anymore.
People develop their skills because those skills are needed somewhere in their lives, and some basic skills just aren't needed in our modern world anymore.
I completely understand what you're saying, there's some incredibly basic shit not being taught here.
Hell I'm a product of the late 80's, which puts me in the 20's somewhere.
I had to teach myself to shave...
I'm willing to assume most people have to do this, but I was under the impression that a father figure would be the one to help learn this knowledge...
On I've constantly made notice of is a young persons (15-20) inability to use the most basic and pre-determined of skills.
Their Survival instinct
I've seen so many young people wander aimlessly into traffic, narrowly avoiding death by large metallic object on wheels...
What is wrong with these kids? When I was young I taught to avoid cars at all fucking costs, hell! When I was doing my compulsory bike training, I was told to treat all motorists like serial killers on wheels...
how has this wisdom not been handed down to this latest generation? And how have they managed to survive this long without it?
Hell I'm a product of the late 80's, which puts me in the 20's somewhere.
I had to teach myself to shave...
I'm willing to assume most people have to do this, but I was under the impression that a father figure would be the one to help learn this knowledge...
On I've constantly made notice of is a young persons (15-20) inability to use the most basic and pre-determined of skills.
Their Survival instinct
I've seen so many young people wander aimlessly into traffic, narrowly avoiding death by large metallic object on wheels...
What is wrong with these kids? When I was young I taught to avoid cars at all fucking costs, hell! When I was doing my compulsory bike training, I was told to treat all motorists like serial killers on wheels...
how has this wisdom not been handed down to this latest generation? And how have they managed to survive this long without it?
It's sad, people can't do much of anything but spend money, ***** about things, and sue the pants off of someone else.
Basic skills should be on the list of things everyone should be required to know. But heck, people don't even have manners, overall character, or common sense.
Basic skills should be on the list of things everyone should be required to know. But heck, people don't even have manners, overall character, or common sense.
Ehh, I think I'd prefer to file that under anachronism, like knowing how to ride a Penny Farthing or clean a musket. Yeah, it would be cool to be able to do those things, but, compared to mending socks they are rather worthless beyond the cool factor.gmacarthur81 said:
That is of course, if one were to end up in a post-apocalyptic wasteland surround by mutants with only a Penny Farthing, a musket and your trusty razor blade. Well, that's a different story entirely!
Same.Vhite said:
Fortunately, socks are easily replacable. I mean, Wal-Mart sells decent socks in bags, so I think it's ok.
Actually, my parents didn't bother to pass on a lot of stuff to me. Fortunately I'm a smart enough guy to pick up on them myself.
No one knows how to cook. Or even pack a lunch.
Save for me and few others, most of my classmates had their parents pack their lunch.
As for cooking, I taught myself using ramen, and then just experimented and practiced cooking other things. My parents helped me, but the urge to cook was mine.
Save for me and few others, most of my classmates had their parents pack their lunch.
As for cooking, I taught myself using ramen, and then just experimented and practiced cooking other things. My parents helped me, but the urge to cook was mine.
I had to learn how to cook meat on my own - my parents are veggies, and thus before uni my only source of meat was sometimes when I went out for meals.
Most of my "life skills" came out of necessity. Yes, my parents taught me some things, but having to do it for yourself cements it into your mind.
If I needed to learn how to cook more things from scratch, I would. I can follow a recipe, and generally know if I have to improvise/change cooking times based upon appearance. I'm also pretty good at estimating how long things need to be microwaved for
.
Saw the comment on the lightbulb. I remember as a kid figuring out how to change one - wiggling it until it came free, and then looking closely at the socket to figure out how it went back in.
For fixing socks, if I'm at the point I have to worry about that, I've probably got more on my mind than fixing 'em. Buttons, on the other hand, is a more worthwhile skill to know imo.
Most of my "life skills" came out of necessity. Yes, my parents taught me some things, but having to do it for yourself cements it into your mind.
If I needed to learn how to cook more things from scratch, I would. I can follow a recipe, and generally know if I have to improvise/change cooking times based upon appearance. I'm also pretty good at estimating how long things need to be microwaved for
. Saw the comment on the lightbulb. I remember as a kid figuring out how to change one - wiggling it until it came free, and then looking closely at the socket to figure out how it went back in.
For fixing socks, if I'm at the point I have to worry about that, I've probably got more on my mind than fixing 'em. Buttons, on the other hand, is a more worthwhile skill to know imo.
Who needs knives when you have teeth? Really.
Also, I burned cereal once! No, I'm not kidding. No, I don't know how. Yes, I did taste it.
SO, there are 4 basic needs of survival, i.e. basic life skills.
1. obtaining food
2. obtaining water,
3. having shelter
4. belonging to a community
Food is easy - if you've ever gone hiking there is a ton of food in the woods. Well, at least where I live. Also, farming isn't that hard.
Water is easy. Get some river water, and make tea. Delicious.
Shelter is the hardest, but a simple shelter can be found or made with a little help.
Community just requires the use of language, and the absence of any psychopathic tendencies. Or the illusion of having no psychopathic tendencies.
we probably have different definitions of life skills right yeah that is pretty obvious
Also, I burned cereal once! No, I'm not kidding. No, I don't know how. Yes, I did taste it.
SO, there are 4 basic needs of survival, i.e. basic life skills.
1. obtaining food
2. obtaining water,
3. having shelter
4. belonging to a community
Food is easy - if you've ever gone hiking there is a ton of food in the woods. Well, at least where I live. Also, farming isn't that hard.
Water is easy. Get some river water, and make tea. Delicious.
Shelter is the hardest, but a simple shelter can be found or made with a little help.
Community just requires the use of language, and the absence of any psychopathic tendencies. Or the illusion of having no psychopathic tendencies.
we probably have different definitions of life skills right yeah that is pretty obvious