There are definite things that every Man should be able to do. I'm not saying that modern Man should be able to build a house from scratch, shoe a horse or survive in the Wild indefinitely, but he should be able to do a wide collection of things that are minimum requirements for being "Manly."
I know there are things on this list that many Men don't do because they just don't have the time, but that's Ok. Ability is what matters here, not opportunity.
The following list is made up of what I reconsider to be things that define a Man as such, in no singular order:
1- Drive a stick shift. I know, I know, an automated is easier, more convenient, rush hour, and blah blah blah... It doesn't mean you're not a Man if you don't drive a stick, just if you can't drive a stick. So many habitancy my age never learned to drive in anyone but a slushbox, finding as how most habitancy my age learned to drive in house sedans. I took my first driver's test in a small car with an automated and failed, but when I took the test in a full-size truck with a stick, I passed easily. It also enables you to control a motorcycle, and what could be more Manly than that?
2- Speaking of cars, Men should be able to do uncomplicated routine maintenance on them. Changing oil, spark plugs, filters and belts are still relatively easy and don't normally want any extra tools or equipment. Again, I'm not saying you're less than a Man if you don't aid your own vehicle, just that you should possess rudimentary knowledge of its care. This has the dual purpose of being able to save money while still using top potential parts and keeping you from getting ripped off when you bring it in for service. Plus you should be able to convert out a flat tire just on general principles.
3- Read a map. If you're not going to stop & ask directions (and what Man would?), you'd best be able to read a map, find your present location and plot your own course. With the advent of very spoton Gps systems, this is becoming less of an issue, but it's still a very beneficial skill. Learning how to refold your map is optional, though, as a matter of aesthetics.
4-Read, write and speak articulately. Nothing is more pathetic than a conversation with a supposedly grown Man who uses big words and has no grasp of their actual meaning. Non-existent words, like irregardless, or mispronunciation that adds to or ignores existing letters in a word are particularly irritating. Ask habitancy to enunciate "voluptuous," I'll bet good money at least a third will give you "volumptuous." What does that do to their credibility? Contrary to today's Mtv generation's opinion, there's nothing cooler than being thoughprovoking and articulate.
5-Defend himself from an attack. I'm not saying every Man needs to be Jet Li, but you should be able to protect yourself and any women or children in your company. Even if it's just a verbal attack, refer to #4 above. Some Police departments in America actually train their officers in "verbal Judo" so they can defuse a bad situation with words, instead of development it worse with a weapon. Learn to stop an attacker, but also use tasteless sense, because you're just not going to thwart an armed robbery. That's horrible Hollywood Bs, and it will get you and others killed.
6- A Man should be able to shoot a gun. Once again, I'm not saying you should transform yourself into Dirty Harry, but familiarizing yourself with firearms will dispel a lot of the strangeness and fear so many habitancy join together with them. The Founding Fathers notion it was foremost adequate to contain it in the Constitution, right after Free Speech. If you can shoot a gun, you should be able to safely load & unload it, disassemble & clean it and safely store it in your home. If you don't care for guns, that's fine too, a man who stands by his law is still worthy of respect, as long as your dislike is not fueled by ignorance or fear. However, this does not exempt you from #5 above.
7- Basic household maintenance. Beyond changing light bulbs and cutting grass (which I personally despise), you should be able to administrate the next step up. Installing a ceiling fan, light fixture, or other items should be part of a Man's skill set. Learn how to do uncomplicated plumbing, electrical and carpentry jobs and you will appreciate the habitancy who do these things for a living a lot more. It will also save you money and put more sentimental value in your home, at least for you.
8- Cook a meal. Hello, it's not 1955 any more! Yes, a Man should be able to cook more than microwave meals, spaghetti and omelettes. If you can cook, you demonstrate your prowess as a supplier and motion to the primitive side of a possible romantic interest. Along with a sense of humor, this is one of the original things women will appreciate for a very long time. Besides, fast food will kill you faster than cigarettes.
9-Hook up your own electronics. A Man should be proud of his entertainment system, but wouldn't that pride be underscored by knowing you put it together and made it work? I learned by a lot of trial-and-error, but I now have a totally rocking law in my home. The more ancillary devices you have, the better, even if some of your devices are last-gen, like a cassette deck or turntable.You should also be able to put a desktop Pc together and have it running in small or no time.
10- administrate your finances. If you can't equilibrium your checkbook or if you carry a equilibrium on reputation cards, get used to being broke. Knowing how reputation works will serve you well throughout your life, and I was fortunate adequate to learn this before I got buried in debt. Man told me a long time ago that "you'll never get rich working for Man else, so pay yourself first." I started doing that right away and realized how true it was fairly quickly. Don't spend money you don't have on things you don't actually need. Do I need a 60" Tv? No, but I paid for it with money that was set aside for just that reason, so no real reduce was made to buy it. Did I need it? No. Did I work out a way to get it anyway? Yes.
I know there are more than these items, so feel free to amend this list any way you like.
10 Things Every Man Should Be Able To Do
No comments:
Post a Comment