25 skills every man should know
With an increase in single parent stats, we are starting to see the effects its having in our communities.
This story from NZherald I thought needing mentioning. My father lost his father at a young age. As a result, departmental effects of this are going onto me. I was never taught many things a “man” needs. I dont agree saying that im classed as a “useless moron” as the story could portray.
Schools do not teach these skills. Basically only fathers pass on to there sons these skills. If your father wasnt taught, what is going to happen to his off-spring?
Hi Jono, I can empathize; my dad died when I was 5 and I was the oldest of 3 boys. To be honest; the three of us just “did it”; i.e. skilled up on our own. We did all the chores around the house; you learn to sharpen mower blades, change oil and spark plugs etc that way. However when it came to building and decorating my first home; then that’s where “mates” and a lot of reading came in. Don’t despair – most of the 25 skills we’re being told we need you can learn from other sources. Go down to your local car work shop and just ask the guys there if you can help out to learn. You can pick up a lot of better advice from the experts by just “googling it” these days. The one essential skill missing from that list of 25 was the ability to negotiate with your wife! Most dads would rate a fail in that department I suspect.
Comment by Bruce S — Tue 10th May 2011 @ 5:43 pm
What a weird list!
Comment by Scott B — Wed 11th May 2011 @ 10:46 am
Thanks Jono,
I found the article you linked to a bit strange and certainly in a way condescending.
What tiresome arrogance to suggest men ‘man up’ thereby slavishly taking up a skillset others proscribe for them?
Personally I can think of 25 skills I highly value which have little to do with reversing a trailer, or unclogging a sink.
High on my personal 25 MANLY skills list is avoiding paying tax as much as possible so as to starve the feminist chivalrous state of the means to oppress me and other men.
Also on the list is NOT giving any valuable ideas to women who use flirting to try and pick my brains for MY hard won wisdom.
I could expand the list further, but I’ll let others have a go at adding to the list.
Comment by Skeptik — Wed 11th May 2011 @ 7:11 pm
More great thinking, thanks Skeptik. You have emancipated yourself, or at least thought about emancipating yourself, more than anyone I know from the unspoken (and spoken) sexist expectations that are still placed on men.
Comment by Hans Laven — Wed 11th May 2011 @ 9:41 pm
Thanks very much Hans.
I invite other men to contribute here to an alternative 25 skills useful to men today.
That will be much more interesting to see than some journo hacks mental confinement.
Comment by Skeptik — Wed 11th May 2011 @ 9:50 pm
My list only has “lucky” 13 essential skills, in fact I wouldn’t even call them skills…
1. Honesty
2. Integrity
3. Helpfulness
4. Love
5. Caring
6. Understanding
7. Intelligence
8. Patience
9. Conflict resolution
10. Pride
11. Drive
12. Passion
13. Goals
These are not gender specific. I think if more people had all of these things, the world would be a better place! Anything else is kinda irrelevant.
Comment by Scott B — Thu 12th May 2011 @ 9:57 am
Homnes credunt id quod volunt.
Comment by Peter — Sat 14th May 2011 @ 8:15 pm
Non feminista illigitimus tatum carborundum.
Bis interimitur qui suis armis perit!
Carpe diem!
Amor vincit omnia!
Comment by Skeptik — Sat 14th May 2011 @ 9:40 pm
Don’t let the feminists get you down!
He is killed twice who kills by his own hand.
Seize the day!
Love conquers all!
It’s been thirty-five years since my last Latin class.
Comment by Darryl X — Sat 14th May 2011 @ 10:49 pm
Daryl X,
Great job.
Very very close – you missed the word illigatimus (great descriptive word!), and carborundum means to grind down.
I was thinking of you a short while ago actually.
I understand you live in the USA.
In the latest edition of MENZ magazine (link in previous comment made today) there is a wonderful 2 page map of USA showing state by state where men are more at risk of misandric domestic violence industry practices.
I know from my American men friends and reading American sites things are very harsh for American men. Even more so than in NZ where life is pretty shit for men.
Therefore please accept the magazine link and article/map on DV therein as something that may be useful to our brothers there.
Comment by Skeptik — Sun 15th May 2011 @ 1:01 am
Thanks, Skeptik. Already on it.
May need some help.
In the US, “deadbeat dads” are referred to as “turnips” – as in you can’t get blood from one.
The American Coalition of Fathers and Children (ACFC) has launched a Facebook campaign against the CSEA (Child Support Enforcement Agency) called “Save the Turnips” in response to a broadcast of new and draconian ways to harass and bully fathers who are unable to pay child support (including jail). I think this campaign might expand into something bigger – at least I hope it will. I feel a critical mass of support aggregating and we are crossing some threshold.
The Facebook page is receiving comments on the campaign by CSEA and response by ACFC and on family law and child support in general. Moral support from New Zealand would be great. If nothing more than just a nod that you’re in this war with us. It would be great for a lot of these people here to know that this is a global problem and not just the US. Let ’em know you’re from NZ and support us.
Here’s the link:
http://www.acfc.org/site/R?i=EJCXY3L4U8e7AarxIdAknQ..
Thanks in advance.
Comment by Darryl X — Sun 15th May 2011 @ 5:21 am
Thanks Daryl.
I didn’t know about the facebook campaign.
Great to see it underway, and I’ll add my support.
Comment by Skeptik — Sun 15th May 2011 @ 7:19 am