Every man should have three skills

Demonspawn · 2013-12-17T17:49:57+00:00

My mom told me a story when I was kid. She was talking about her first husband vs my Dad. Something of hers had broken (a vacuum, IIRC) and her first husband said he would fix it. He did so by throwing the vacuum in the trash and buying a new one. This was told to me not long after I helped my dad fix the oil furnace for the house.

It stuck with me. I learn how to fix shit. If I have to call a professional, I do my best to look over their shoulder to learn.

And while mom's story set me on the path, the sex I got after replacing the hot water heater (including sweating new pipes) when a GF and I lived together cemented the idea.

Knowing how to handle shit is a very masculine thing. It shows provider status (which as long as you don't give it out too easy is something women crave). Even simple shit scores points: I pulled my neck knife to turn a soda can into an ashtray by cutting out the top and not long after that a girl I noticed but hadn't opened decide to open on me, making mention that it was impressive to her that I was so handy.

_whistler · 2013-12-17T16:00:36+00:00

This post strikes pretty close to home for me. Ever since swallowing the Red Pill, something I've known is missing from my self image is the type of everyday skill set you're talking about. I know jack shit about cars, plumbing, wiring, carpentry, laying concrete, hunting, guns, fishing...I know jack shit, I guess is what I'm getting at.

When I was a kid growing up - I have to shake my head at the sheer idiocy of this - it was a point of pride for me that I was so useless. I was always reading, and I thought acquiring a bunch of academic (read: impractical) knowledge somehow set me apart, made me special. I know better now.

It's a fucking uphill battle, that's for damn sure. When I think of all the times my father and grandfather tried to teach me some of these skills - skills I now want to gain more than anything - it makes me sick to think what a little shit I was. If I could go back and spend time in my grandfather's wood shop, or get down in the crawlspace with my dad to fix a plumbing leak...man, what I wouldn't give to smack some sense into ten-year-old me.

introspeck · 2013-12-17T20:51:10+00:00

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7Vega · 2013-12-17T18:07:29+00:00

I was gonna say fight, fuck, and cook.

lifeofburden · 2013-12-18T00:48:41+00:00

I own a small shop where I repair things. I'm a volunteer firefighter and ETT (Emergency Trauma Tech.) I grew up fishing, hunting, traping. I grew up on the water and have had my own boats since I was 10...yes....TEN. I would go camping by myself by the time I was 11. Shot my first deer that year. I can process my own meat. I live in a harsh, unforgiving area. I can cook, I can build a house, I can run equipment. I fix my own furnace (most of the time.) I'm a single dad of two teenagers. I'm in my 30's. I can NOT do my own taxes. Paperwork is my enemy and always has been. It pisses me off, to no end, how our world has created so much paperwork. I'm now uninsured (thank you Obama.) I'm a do'er and in today's world, that's a bad thing. I work hard ("why do you work like that, get a government job or something. You'll make more and only work 1/3 of the time.") I play hard. I drink (in public one or two days a week. pisses me off that in this society that is fround on but it's ok to drink a 5th something at home by yourself every night.) I can work through the worst hangover any cheap liquore can throw at me....I had better stop before I really get going.

dre_day4 · 2013-12-17T19:21:55+00:00

Those are all skills that are useless to the industrial-consumer complex. They are considered hobbies and should be learnt on your own time.

If I have kids, I'll make sure to be proactive in their development until they are 18. Unlike my upbringing, I'll actually go out and do fun shit with them where they can learn too. I don't want them to become lazy and apathetic like I was.

the99percent1 · 2013-12-17T22:54:39+00:00

Its not the skills that's important. It's the act of learning that is. Your ability to learn new skills will aid you into becoming a worthy man for society and thus, a more valuable man.

cagethepepper · 2013-12-18T01:17:59+00:00

I can play guitar and sing. I can make napalm. I can speak 4 languages.

...I'd love to be more handy though.

vengefully_yours · 2013-12-18T19:27:01+00:00

This is something I have no problem with, because I have worked at learning how, why, and where since I was ten. I am now mid 40s with a wealth of knowledge and skills. If you don't know but want to, start learning today. The internet is full of info, you only need to start looking, reading, then go do it.

Cars, marksmanship, survival, computers, technical pursuits/machining, agriculture, brewing, self defense, heavy equipment operator, professional driver, first aid/medical, power lifting, combat movement, and a few others along those lines.

Specialization is for insects.

MustNotFfff · 2013-12-17T16:23:22+00:00

Out of that list, I don't know a lot of things, and it worries me. I can't fix most things around the house.

Glorious_Master · 2013-12-17T16:42:07+00:00

repair/DIY cooking painting, hopefully will learn coding but I'm awfuly untalented in math/programming relative to the above skills but boy do I love to write interesting math programs when I figure them out.

Daddy45 · 2013-12-17T17:26:02+00:00

When it comes to basic home repair and DIY skills, I've found that it comes down to two things: 1) having some very basic skills in how to operate tools, and 2) read the damn manual.

If you want to get started, go to the library (no sense paying) and look for home repair and project books from Black & Decker and Home Depot. And if you want to work on small engines, buy someone's crappy old lawn mower on Craigslist or at a yard sale and just take it apart.

2013-12-17T21:43:08+00:00

I have a lot of skills. I can do them with competence, but I haven't mastered any of them.

So far, I've got Cooking, Sewing, Cleaning, Carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, fire making, archery, shooting a gun, building a shelter, building traps, rope and knots, origami, piano, and sketching.

I'm working on mastering piano (two hours/day). Which two should I work on mastering besides this?

dofusm · 2013-12-17T22:20:36+00:00

Got into the scouts when I was younger, skill 1, 6, 7 and 8 is mandatory, I might dare to add swimming and basic first aid to the list.

2013-12-17T22:22:18+00:00

Huge array of computer skills (web developer), musician, and amateur fighter.

kaichang · 2013-12-18T00:03:56+00:00

Two skills, and building more:

I know how to shoot pistol, shotgun and rifle with reasonable precision.
I have an EMT-level wound-care certification, so I can patch up those I care about who get injured.

In-progress: 1. Lockpicking 2. Muay Thai kickboxing 3. Sleight-of-hand magic

Basically, think about the James Bond archetype, and try to acquire as many skills as can be reasonably learned as a civilian, for someone to qualify for 00-agent status.

2013-12-18T04:12:37+00:00

I can do a lot of things, just I'm not very good at any of it. I never miss an opportunity to fix something broken, though. I've fixed a my cars, snowblower, lawnmower, furnace, water heater, sweat pipe, run a drain, gas line, electrical, computers, hung cabinets, solder, goes on.

Incompetence - when you earnestly believe you can compensate for a lack of skill by doubling your efforts, there's no end to what you can't do.

Tway_the_Parley · 2013-12-18T11:25:19+00:00

The most important skill I have is the power to learn with a humble mind.

Clauderoughly · 2013-12-17T19:08:15+00:00

I'm an IT Admin, Project Manager, and Business Analyst

Hajimotto · 2013-12-18T04:14:46+00:00

I refuse to learn 4 and 20 going by the numbers on the website. On 4 I work in a hospital and I have seen multiple people lose limbs or digits because of chainsaws and I will not be one of them. On 20 I know how to ask a man on a date and that works just fine for me.

In my family for males to be able to pick the college of their choice they have to be well versed in a trade. I picked carpentry and I am always surprised by the lack of basic carpentry knowledge most people have. One of my friends got a Walmart bookshelf that was five pieces of wood and some nails and could not accessible it. I have never seen him with a woman. I do not blame them, I would not date a man that could not assemble a bookcase from Walmart. Learn carpentry and house-building. You just need it to be a man.

Title	Every man should have three skills
Author	facingmonday
Upvotes	26
Comments	43
Date	December 17, 2013 3:45 PM UTC (12 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/TheRedPill
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/TheRedPill/comments/1t3e9c/every_man_should_have_three_skills/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/TheRedPill/every-man-should-have-three-skills.8973 https://theredarchive.com/post/8973

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