some things every man should know how to do

[voetballeeuw]

Every man should know how to tie their shoes. Once I see a fellow gentleman with velcro straps on his feet, I immediately despise him.

 

[Heronblade]

...well, the only thing on the list I can't do well is ride a horse. I'm more apt to kill and eat one. Between my own two feet and a bicycle, though, I can outpace most horses through any terrain except open grassy plains... and I hate open grassy plains (fortunately, I don't live near any).

A horse in excellent physical condition can cover 100 miles or more in about 10 hours, with the burden of a rider. In simply average condition, 25-50 miles would be easily attainable in about half that time. A human in excellent physical condition walking nonstop for 12 hours would be lucky to hit 50 miles.

 

[MmmFiber]

You forgot "how to unhook a bra".

 

[loc978]

...well, the only thing on the list I can't do well is ride a horse. I'm more apt to kill and eat one. Between my own two feet and a bicycle, though, I can outpace most horses through any terrain except open grassy plains... and I hate open grassy plains (fortunately, I don't live near any).

A horse in excellent physical condition can cover 100 miles or more in about 10 hours, with the burden of a rider. In simply average condition, 25-50 miles would be easily attainable in about half that time. A human in excellent physical condition walking nonstop for 12 hours would be lucky to hit 50 miles.

Yet on a bicycle, a human in excellent condition can easily travel the same distance as your horse in 10 hours. 10mph is easy to maintain all day. Plus, if that human encounters a barrier that the horse can't traverse (as one is wont to do every ten feet or so where I live), he can carry his bike across it.

 

[orangeban]

...well, the only thing on the list I can't do well is ride a horse. I'm more apt to kill and eat one. Between my own two feet and a bicycle, though, I can outpace most horses through any terrain except open grassy plains... and I hate open grassy plains (fortunately, I don't live near any).

I'd be amazed if you could out-run a (decently fit) horse on foot. On a bike I could believe (presuming you were a very good bike rider) but no way could you beat one in a foot race.

Over what terrain? On pavement or packed dirt, that's why I mentioned the bike (I can maintain about 25mph for a few miles on level ground). Through thick undergrowth and trackless forest, I can certainly outpace a horse. Up the side of a cliff, they can't even follow me. Across a river, same thing. That pretty much covers all of the terrain around here. Horses are next to useless where I live.

Through forest and thick undergrowth there'd be sections where a horse would slow but it would beat you because of the speed it can hit clear sections, climbing a cliff, well that's not very fair and I would be willing to bet a really fit horse could beat you on a pack over packed dirt, definetly in an endurance.

 

[alandavidson]

?A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.? -Robert A. Heinlein

Word.

That's from tunnel in the sky isn't it?

OT: Your list is pretty good.

 

[LadyMint]

Do something without looking at the instruction manual.

As an experienced Customer Service Representative, I think both men and women should know how to read instruction manuals and reference them for getting certain things done. It would be great if they weren't needed at all, but to me it shows a great aptitude for a person to leaf through the instruction booklet that came with their device/thing that needs to be built and use it to help them accomplish something (building furniture, setting up your mobile phone, etc.) without needing to call someone. I find that a lot of people unwrap their shiny new toys and toss the instruction booklets aside, only to become confused and/or frustrated when they can't figure out how to do something on their own. It doesn't hurt to reference the manual, and IMHO, more people could stand to do so.

 

[MadeinHell]

I think you forgot about something very important in the whole "being a man" thing.

Every man should know how to breed... you know, how to create little people .

PS: Man should also be able to ask for directions if he needs to. No need for being all "I'm TOTALLY NOT LOST" in a place where nobody knows you ;P.

 

[Cheesus333]

I resent the idea that I should be able to do anything based solely on my gender. But hey, I can do most of those things at the age of 16 anyway.

 

[loc978]

...well, the only thing on the list I can't do well is ride a horse. I'm more apt to kill and eat one. Between my own two feet and a bicycle, though, I can outpace most horses through any terrain except open grassy plains... and I hate open grassy plains (fortunately, I don't live near any).

I'd be amazed if you could out-run a (decently fit) horse on foot. On a bike I could believe (presuming you were a very good bike rider) but no way could you beat one in a foot race.

Over what terrain? On pavement or packed dirt, that's why I mentioned the bike (I can maintain about 25mph for a few miles on level ground). Through thick undergrowth and trackless forest, I can certainly outpace a horse. Up the side of a cliff, they can't even follow me. Across a river, same thing. That pretty much covers all of the terrain around here. Horses are next to useless where I live.

Through forest and thick undergrowth there'd be sections where a horse would slow but it would beat you because of the speed it can hit clear sections, climbing a cliff, well that's not very fair and I would be willing to bet a really fit horse could beat you on a pack over packed dirt, definetly in an endurance.

Spoiler: I think you underestimate what I mean by forest

 

[Smooth Operator]

Attempt to carry as much weight as possible.

I work at a shop that sells 15Kg bags of sand. Now, Im not a bulky guy, i've always been pretty skinny, so carrying a lot of weight is something i probably shouldn't do often. So that's exactly what i tried to do, i managed to carry 4 bags of sand (60kg) across my arms and walk a good 25 meters to the customer with them, granted i nearly spraned my back, but it was worth it becasue i felt like a man!!!!

My dad did that, well on a volunteer farm, and sprained his back. 20 years later, his back hurts all the time. Soooo..... not such a smart plan

Well that brings us onto another one:
- a man should know his limits

 

[orangeban]

...well, the only thing on the list I can't do well is ride a horse. I'm more apt to kill and eat one. Between my own two feet and a bicycle, though, I can outpace most horses through any terrain except open grassy plains... and I hate open grassy plains (fortunately, I don't live near any).

I'd be amazed if you could out-run a (decently fit) horse on foot. On a bike I could believe (presuming you were a very good bike rider) but no way could you beat one in a foot race.

Over what terrain? On pavement or packed dirt, that's why I mentioned the bike (I can maintain about 25mph for a few miles on level ground). Through thick undergrowth and trackless forest, I can certainly outpace a horse. Up the side of a cliff, they can't even follow me. Across a river, same thing. That pretty much covers all of the terrain around here. Horses are next to useless where I live.

Through forest and thick undergrowth there'd be sections where a horse would slow but it would beat you because of the speed it can hit clear sections, climbing a cliff, well that's not very fair and I would be willing to bet a really fit horse could beat you on a pack over packed dirt, definetly in an endurance.

Spoiler: I think you underestimate what I mean by forest

Hmm, depends on the type of horse really... I know they're not horses but I've met a few trecking ponies who could at least have a good stab at getting through that.

 

[Vivace-Vivian]

How about not being a chauvinistic ass?

That is all the list you need.

 

[Katana314]

Let's see how well I stack up...

✓Fire a gun (We've all watched enough action movies. Can't say my shoulder will feel okay after the first magazine though.)
-Fish
-Hunt [Dr_Horrible]
-Gut a fish/skin an animal
✓Cook a few easy recipes
-Throw a punch
✓Take a punch (not too hard. Not that it won't be painful...)
✓Read
✓Build something
-Drink (I'm 21 and still can't find any alcohol I like.)
-Sing or play some kind of instrument
✓Use basic tools (Axes, saws, hammers & nails, screw drivers, the basic tool kit)
✓Talk to others
-Talk to someone you're attracted to (I wonder if this counts. I can talk to them, but they won't be interested in me. I should know - unlike many, I have tried.)
✓Play Chess (just know how the pieces move, you don't need to be a grand master)
✓Play poker
-Dance
-Know how to grow a decent garden
✓Ride a horse
-Build a fire [Owyn_Merrilin]
✓Repair your possessions (Oh, the number of times I've repaired my PC)
-Pitch a tent (ARGH THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT)
-Tie a tie [Wadders])
-Drive a car (automatic and stick)
-Ride a motorcycle
✓Jump start a car
-Change a tire [Wadders]
-Change the oil [Athol]
-Perform first aid, including CPR
✓Clean yourself
✓Clean your possessions (Got a feather duster for Christmas)
✓Shave [Armored Prayer]
-Know what they're talking about (Literature, art, music, history, politics) [Kukulski]
✓Open a can/bottle [Irriduccibilli]
✓Twist off a lid
✓Sharpen a knife [Owyn_Merrilin]
✓Swim [loc978]
-Operate a boat [loc978]
✓Pack a suitcase [Ledan]
✓Pack a car [Ledan]

 

[lemiel14n3]

I resent the idea that I should be able to do anything based solely on my gender. But hey, I can do most of those things at the age of 16 anyway.

How about not being a chauvinistic ass?

That is all the list you need.

Well,

I am saying that men SHOULD, not that women CAN'T, please don't confuse the two.

 

[orangeban]

I was thinking, what if your allergic to horses? Or have some kind of disablity where you can't read? Seems to me like we need to PC this list.

 

[orangeban]

I resent the idea that I should be able to do anything based solely on my gender. But hey, I can do most of those things at the age of 16 anyway.

How about not being a chauvinistic ass?

That is all the list you need.

Well,

I am saying that men SHOULD, not that women CAN'T, please don't confuse the two.

I think you should note that the third quote does not answer the first quote. In fact, the first quote is complaining about exactly what you said in the third.

 

[Captain Pirate]

Can't do a lot of them, but can do a fair amount. Still got a ways to go.
I am going to try and abide by this list though; I've always wanted to do a lot of those things and I already felt them necessary.
Except riding a motorcycle. Should be replaced with just Bicycle.

 

[Cheesus333]

I resent the idea that I should be able to do anything based solely on my gender. But hey, I can do most of those things at the age of 16 anyway.

How about not being a chauvinistic ass?

That is all the list you need.

Well,

I am saying that men SHOULD, not that women CAN'T, please don't confuse the two.

...Well, yeah, that was kind of my point. I don't really like the fact that I would be considered somehow a lesser man because I can't fulfil a list of traits and feats.

The human race is a diverse species - the male gender of that species is equally diverse. It's a little unfair to assume that all of them will be able (or even willing) to do all these things.

 

[Grond Strong]

Haha, people get offended over the silliest stuff. But I'm going to say something, if I may.

The world and society in general has tried to blur the line between man and woman as if they were the same. Like we both have the same emotional wiring, feelings, wants, needs, instincts, and attributes. This disgusts me. Taking away the adventure from a man's life does nothing but tear us down. We are MADE to be conquerers, to save the day, rescue the princess, and fight until the end. It's what we dream of and what we are built for. To rob us of our manhood is a crime against our purpose.

This is not to say we are to be disrespectful or arrogant. A real man is strong, but humble. Proud, but not arrogant. Civil and not disrespectful. Courageous, yet gentle. Firm, but understanding. Loyal and unshakable. A true man's values are made of honor, integrity, and love. He is inseparable with the Truth and will never compromise.

It's a shame that some of us use our personality to take advantage of those who are weaker. Used purely, and with a just cause, a righteous man is incredibly sought after.