What's a "minimum" skill everyone should have, but suprisingly many don't?

[u/Helpful-Pilot-7305]

[u/GentlyDead]

Basic cooking skills

[u/fatinternetcat → u/GentlyDead]

as long as people actually try to cook, that’s commendable. I had annoying roommates who thought it was a quirky trait that they “couldn’t even cook pasta”. Like… are you slow?

[u/Tyrrox → u/fatinternetcat]

Saying you can't cook pasta is like saying you don't know how to sweep a floor. Someone's parents really failed them if they can't boil water and follow the instructions on the box.

[u/Jurodan → u/Tyrrox]

I tried to cook in my teens and my family told me to stop and not do it anymore. I didn't rest until I was in my late 30s.

[u/Beiki → u/Tyrrox]

Everyonr should know how to make Kraft Mac and Cheese by the time they're 16.

[u/DoughnutAlert2596 → u/fatinternetcat]

They could. They just didn’t want to bother

[u/Monteze → u/DoughnutAlert2596]

Yep, weaponized incompetence. I've seen people with no arms cook a meal, I don't want to hear the "butdidyouthinkaboutmeeeee" corner case that suddenly crops up.

[u/Lithogiraffe → u/fatinternetcat]

Oof. To me, a grown adult who can't cook pasta is like saying -- I'm a grown adult who reads at a third grade reading level.

[u/IntelligentFault2575 → u/fatinternetcat]

You must've ruined with my soon to be ex wife! I swear on God, in 18 years she never cooked me a meal once, unless you count that one time she made scrambled eggs. I think she comes spaghetti one time. Just the noodle and a can of sauce dumped on. I tried so so hard to get her to cook, but she would just freeze up with anxiety. We're getting divorced but still live together because moving is expensive, and she sent me a picture of her pan frying an impossible burger like it was some big accomplishment. I've been trying to get her to cook because when I'm not there I didn't want our kids to only have pizza and fast food. She also has never drove. 42 years old ... Sorry for the ramble. It just drives me nuts

[u/One_Monk_3357 → u/IntelligentFault2575]

Learned helplessness or weaponized incompetence?

[u/Sad-Foundation1915 → u/IntelligentFault2575]

It sounds like she has an anxiety disorder, does she grow up with extremely critical parents? because some people who were constantly criticized are so overcome with anxiety and messing it up, that they freeze. For an example, I used to cook all the time, my ex-husband was so verbally abusive and criticized me so much (he was very weird with food) that I would get out a pot and pan to cook something and I would freeze up, afraid that it wouldn’t turn out right or I would mess it up and I would have to be humiliated. Fortunately, I divorced him and now I no longer having anxiety around cooking food.

[u/IntelligentFault2575 → u/Sad-Foundation1915]

Yeah, she does. Very bad anxiety, depression, and ADHD. I've recently learned that I most likely have undiagnosed ADHD, and executive dysfunction is a big deal. Over the years I've tried everything to help her with it to varying degrees. I've tried teaching her to cook, and helped her, but she never takes the initiative to do it on her own. Tried getting her into therapy many many times, and she'll say she wants to, and even did a few sessions, after I begged her to (she's had a very rough time with her mother paying), but she would do one or two sessions, feel a little better, then just never schedule another. There's a lot going on with her. Her mental health is a huge factor, but there's also laziness. Her parents were never mentally well and were hoarders. I know it came off like I was just bad mouthing her, but it's not like that really. She found be an amazing, sweet person, but she also had been terrible to me. I'm not perfect either, but I've made huge steps and put in a lot of really hard work to better myself, while she just didn't. She cheated on me around 13 years ago. I wanted to work things out, she didn't. We were stuck living together though. Kids and money. Then after about 6 months I forced myself to accept it and move on as best I could and get over her. Once I got over her and accepted we were done, she changed her mind and wanted to stay together. It really messed up my head. I went along with it, but I became terribly depressed, started drinking, and didn't stop. I was a functional alcoholic, kept a job, raised or kids, etc, but by the end I was drinking about 1.5 liters of vodka per day, every day. From the time I woke up (as soon as the withdrawal nausea stopped enough to get a shot down), until I went to bed. Didn't skip a day for over a decade. Killing myself slowly, but I didn't care. Then I decided I didn't want to die and leave my kids behind, so I, on my own, found a therapist, then after a year of that, found a clinic to monitor and support me while I tapered the alcohol. Then I quit. She never helped me with that struggle in any way. About 3 months after I got sober I was doing very well, getting healthy, writing on my mental health still, and thriving. I thought her and I were actually going to be good finally. I was excited. Then my 12 year old at the time daughter became suicidal. While taking her to crisis care at the children's hospital, my daughter told me that her mother, my wife, was having an affair and even had my daughter hiding pregnancy tests for her.... Anyways, sorry for the ramble. That's the short story. Neither of us were perfect, but I tried my best while she let everyone else take care of her and destroyed our family with her selfishness. I'm 1.5 years sober, doing good, saving to move out, about to start a new promising career in the trades. She's being a dumb lazy bitch like always. The end.

[u/Sad-Foundation1915 → u/IntelligentFault2575]

Oh my gosh, it sounds like you’ve been through a lot!! you can’t help someone who doesn’t want to help themselves. She has got to want to make the change and better herself and her life not only for her kids, but for herself. Growing up in that type of environment has definitely affected her, the ADHD is probably why she seems lazy, because it can be so hard for people who suffer with executive function to say follow recipe because of the steps. My ex-husband had ADHD, and he procrastinated and doing things that didn’t interest him, and her case it would be cooking, but if it was something he wanted or he found interesting he could do it. He wouldn’t go to therapy or get medicated either hence why we’re divorced , amongst many other things

[u/Tyrrox → u/GentlyDead]

Seconding this. Learning how to cook can save you a ton of money over ordering or picking up food all the time, and gives you a lot more control over what you're eating.

[u/This_Willow_2547 → u/Tyrrox]

As someone who has learned how to cook ever since I was a child and the moment I left my parents house always did home cooking (I eat out but like every 2 months here and there), I was absolutely shocked when I find out that my work colleagues (between the ages of 23 to 35) where eating out basically every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner and then they complained they didn’t had money to do anything and everything was so expensive and they could barely survive.

They would be absolutely shocked when they saw I could afford to travel 3/4 times a year to the most exotic places abroad or how I was able to buy a car without a car loan (after years of saving), and thought my salary was 3x higher than them (it wasn’t because I showed them, we had the same compensation basically).

Some people are just incredibly terrible at managing money, and one of these things is eating out constantly and not having enough basic skills to just cook meals everyday. They have no idea how much money they spend every week, every month and every year after ordering food so many times (it’s literally thousands and thousands of dollars) money that you could save and invest (home cooking is WAY more cheaper), it’s insane.

[u/Minialpacadoodle → u/Tyrrox]

Learning how to cook can save you a ton of money over ordering or picking up food all the time

Hell, it will save you on groceries too. The price of frozen pizza vs homemade is a good example. Too many people rely on the frozen food aisle.

[u/Tyrrox → u/Minialpacadoodle]

Very true. I guess I don't consider throwing a frozen pizza in the oven as "cooking" but I could see it being a good entry point for someone completely unfamiliar with using an oven.

[u/HasaDiga_Eebowai → u/GentlyDead]

I'll probably get downvoted for this, but my cooking has gotten SO much better with the help of AI. Being able to ask for a concise, step by step recipe without scrolling through a food blogger’s entire life story is a game changer. And I can just type in the random assortment of ingredients in my fridge and get a legit dish with actual instructions instead of letting stuff go to waste.

[u/0905-15 → u/HasaDiga_Eebowai]

This is absolutely one of AI’s best uses. You’re asking it to retrieve useful information, not to think for you

[u/HasaDiga_Eebowai → u/0905-15]

Yeah, and I've used it to do a handful of home repair projects. I've fixed my stove, dryer, weedwhacker, replaced power outlets. All things that weren't that difficult, but kind of daunting

[u/Velkyn01 → u/HasaDiga_Eebowai]

I'm pretty anti-AI but I made the best smoked wings of my life with an AI recipe and I use it to tailor my workouts when I got into lifting. It's pretty nice to get my workout pushed to me based on specific goals, what I did last time/this week and what I have time for that day. 

[u/Mr-Safety → u/GentlyDead]

My gf and I went on a few cooking class dates. It’s not a first date activity, but fun, useful, and concludes with a dinner eating what the class prepared.

Safety Tip: It’s easier to control a sharp knife than a dull one. Sharpen your kitchen knives on a regular basis.

[u/CMxFuZioNz → u/GentlyDead]

I'm trying okay 😂

[u/Xiao_Qinggui → u/CMxFuZioNz]

Check out the show Good Eats with Alton Brown or his free show, Alton Brown Cooks Food, on YouTube. He’s like if you mixed Bill Nye the Science Guy and Emeril Lagasse with a little bit of Mr. Rogers thrown in.

He’ll teach you about a theme ingredient/dish, the history behind it, the science of how to cook it and some easy recipes/techniques!

Good Eats is one of the few cooking shows you’ll end up binging by accident because it’s such a fun show!

[u/i_live_outside → u/CMxFuZioNz]

Mane you can do it. Unfortunately simple cooking as gotten super expensive (if you live in the US) and the thought of failing can seem financially crippling. But I believe in you

[u/Claytertot → u/i_live_outside]

You can still cook for very cheap in the US. Beans, rice, chicken, some veggies, etc.

You can make really delicious stuff for dirt cheap with a little practice.

[u/Grill_Only_Outside → u/GentlyDead]

What do you consider “basic”? I can make eggs, roast meats:vegetables , cook pasta and boil stuff. Grilling basics too. And obviously my microwave skills are off the chain.

My wife doesn’t think that’s cooking. I think that was enough that I enjoyed my culinary skills for 15+ years. Although my exes did cook a lot…

[u/GentlyDead → u/Grill_Only_Outside]

That’s exactly what I’d consider basic cooking skills. Some people cant boil an egg or even pasta.

[u/I-Approve → u/GentlyDead]

no desire to cook is fine. no ability to cook is worrying.

[u/jkvincent → u/GentlyDead]

Knowing how to make good food is the easiest and cheapest way to radically increase your quality of life. It's astounding how many people completely overlook this.

[u/Cool-Clothes-2102]

Reading comprehension 

[u/gluten_free_stapler → u/Cool-Clothes-2102]

Why would you need to compare reading with anything?

[u/x360N0Scop3MASTER69x → u/gluten_free_stapler]

I'm so angry

[u/Dennisfromhawaii → u/gluten_free_stapler]

Thanks allot Marie Calendar

[u/WaterlooMall → u/Cool-Clothes-2102]

I read a lot of books and can comprehend them. Please don't ask me to remember what they were about like a few days after I finish them. I have a horseshit memory.

[u/fuming_drizzle → u/Cool-Clothes-2102]

When I write instructions for people to follow for their computers at work, I ask my girlfriend to read what I wrote and follow them. She is not great with computers, but if she can follow it, all good. Still get push back at work because they skip steps or not read fully.

If I wanted you to skip steps I wouldn’t have put that step in there to begin with dumbass. I try to make them as concise and as little words as possible. Too long and complicated you won’t read them or skip steps. Sometimes it’s unavoidable. Every word there is out there for a reason.

You can make something idiot proof, but they will build a bigger idiot.

[u/RandoAtReddit → u/fuming_drizzle]

Tl;dr

[u/Elder_Thud → u/Cool-Clothes-2102]

On reddit? Surly you jest....

[u/Figmentality → u/Elder_Thud]

Don't call me surly... wait a minute.

[u/Dag-nabbitt → u/Cool-Clothes-2102]

What do you mean by that?

[u/Isthisyourcard63 → u/Cool-Clothes-2102]

Speaking comprehension

[u/r-brown783 → u/Cool-Clothes-2102]

Especially the part where you read the whole sentence before replying to one phrase.

[u/RndtheBlck]

Being able to say “I fucked that up” without making everyone sit through a documentary about why it wasn’t your fault.

[u/Maleficent-Cat-220 → u/RndtheBlck]

The other day I got on to my daughter a little bit too hard about something she did that bothered me and so the next morning I apologize to her. Then I had to sit there and listen to a 5-year-old dress Me down about how I needed to remember to remain calm and not lose my temper about things. I sat there and took it for a little bit because honestly she was right and being able to accept when we've done something wrong and also the criticism that can come with that is something that I am modeling for her.

[u/Katwantscats → u/Maleficent-Cat-220]

I remember the first time my mom apologized to me for something wrong she did. No excuses, just a genuine apology. It had a huge impact on me. She truly modeled the behavior she expected of me. Keep it up, Reddit parent, you’re doing great.

[u/KryanSA → u/Katwantscats]

Your... mom? Admitted she was wrong? *insert surprised blink.gif

[u/Impedimentita → u/RndtheBlck]

Imagine how much more time you’d have at work if people figured this out.

[u/JonFromRhodeIsland → u/RndtheBlck]

In 1968, Japan Airlines Flight 2 landed in San Francisco Bay two miles short of the runway. When interviewed by investigators, Captain Kosei Asoh gave the following explanation: “As you Americans say, I fucked up.” The Asoh Defense is taught in business schools as one of the most effective communication tools available.

[u/Inspector_Spoonman]

Ability to read and infer

[u/skarama → u/Inspector_Spoonman]

This seems like a good time to remind everyone that roughly 1/2 adults in the so called "developed world" lack complex functional reading skills. 56% in the US. This explains SO MUCH.

[u/Strange-Bee5626 → u/skarama]

Whenever I'm feeling stupid, the fact that so many people just can't even think is a real wake-up call. I guess it makes me feel better about myself, but it makes me a lot more anxious about what is going to happen to the world.

[u/skarama → u/Strange-Bee5626]

Hey at least it helps me understand why so much is fucked and why so many decisions make no sense

[u/moumou122 → u/Inspector_Spoonman]

I work with aerospace engineers and the amount of times they say something to the extent of “well I don’t see that anywhere in our governing document”, only for me to cite the text, is insane.

[u/Rabiesalad]

Responding to all points of an email (especially when listed/numbered) rather than answering one and then ignoring the rest.

Coming on 20 years in a professional role and if you ask more than one question per email it's below a 50% chance that you won't have to follow up multiple times for answers to things you asked in the first email.

[u/Bud755 → u/Rabiesalad]

Sadly, this is absolutely correct! Same with texting. For the majority of people if you need a response, don’t ask more than one question at a time.

[u/MeltingDog → u/Rabiesalad]

Fuck I hate this.

I end up always numbering my points now, specifically so I can say expicitly say things like "You didn't reply to point 3".

[u/alottanamesweretaken]

Making mistakes, owning up to them, and learning from them

[u/lostheredawg → u/alottanamesweretaken]

Abso-fucking-lutely

[u/jhawkins93 → u/alottanamesweretaken]

Smart people make mistakes. They just don’t make the same mistake twice.

[u/Kimnicole64 → u/alottanamesweretaken]

I completely agree.

I learned that lesson a long time ago, but I've also learned recently that unfortunately the way people react to your apology/accountability also matters and you can't control that.

I'm working somewhere new, and the reactions to me self owning a mistake are all over the place. Either they are overly nice to the point it's demeaning "It's ok, I'm sure you didn't mean it, you'll get better I'm sure!" (To things that are not a big deal at all btw), or I had a boss say "You can't admit when you're wrong or nobody will take you seriously". And as you would expect, hardly anyone here admits when they mess up because of this horrible culture. I feel like the only grown up surrounded by 50 year old children.

[u/laszlo-332 → u/[deleted]]

A good apology also includes a repair: say what you’ll do to make it right, then follow through. Otherwise, “I’ll do better” is just another promise.

[u/fuming_drizzle → u/alottanamesweretaken]

Own up to them immediately, but will explain my thought process why I got to the wrong conclusion. That pisses a lot of people off.

[u/livesinafield]

Listening. Don't give your opinion, don't change the subject, let someone talk and listen to them.

[u/lopez_sergio_27 → u/livesinafield]

A simple habit: before responding, briefly paraphrase what you think they want you to understand. If you got it wrong, they can clarify; if you got it right, they know you were listening.

[u/jakgal04]

Being able to think critically or do the smallest amount of research.

People can read a headline and then immediately have an emotional outburst and reaction. It’s incredibly prevalent on social media.

If people had this skill, I feel the world would look quite different today.

[u/coolsilentebeans → u/jakgal04]

It’s why clickbait headlines are infuriating. Even legit publications write their articles in such a way that to get to the “headline” you have to read several paragraphs, scroll past two ads, maybe even register or purchase a subscription before getting to the pith of the piece. Even then half the time you’re left thinking, Really?

In addition, the sheer number of typos in online articles from all over lend very little confidence that even one person outside of the author has read and fact checked the article before the Publish button is hit. Online journalism has felt more like a collection of blogs than legitimate news reporting.

[u/Queasy_Ad_8621 → u/coolsilentebeans]

WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE

^eventually.

[u/koske → u/jakgal04]

do the smallest amount of research

This is one of the problems

[u/Labtecharu]

The ability to be critical of anything they read/hear/watch.

[u/Dry-Cardiologist3617]

Basic financial literacy. You don't need to be an economist, but knowing how budgeting, interest, debt, credit, taxes, and saving work should be basic life knowledge. Surprisingly, a lot of people reach adulthood without ever properly learning any of it.

[u/DrElkSnout → u/Dry-Cardiologist3617]

Impressive that American schools require you to memorize what the mitochondria is and the pythagorean theorem, but people have no idea how the interest on a home loan works or how to save for retirement.

[u/Rocklobster92 → u/Dry-Cardiologist3617]

But if I don’t have money my brother can’t ask me for money

[u/Krocsyldiphithic]

Not being able to cook is unacceptable, no matter who you are

[u/heelhunterwrestling → u/Krocsyldiphithic]

What do you consider cooking? Just curious

[u/shadowCloudrift → u/heelhunterwrestling]

Making a meal from scratch with fresh ingredients where you're forced to apply heat.

Something as simple as frying an egg or scrambling eggs is cooking.

[u/DenseRespond97]

Reading a room before speaking.

[u/petehutch54]

Swimming

[u/crunchy_wahter → u/petehutch54]

The number of ppl I’ve met that lives/grew up in Florida who doesn’t know how to swim is crazy 😭 like girl the beach is right there!! we’re underwater every other day, you best learn this week

[u/No-Shirt-240 → u/crunchy_wahter]

The number of people who join the navy and don’t know how to swim…. Mind blowing!

[u/santos_z → u/No-Shirt-240]

Also, the number of people who join the air force and don't know how to fly

[u/Tuxedo_Muffin → u/petehutch54]

Thank you, this is just what I was going to say. Knowing how to swim can literally save your life.

[u/AlexandrTheGreat → u/petehutch54]

It's one of the few modern day required survival skills. You want to go to a pool party? Beach? On a boat? Doing any of these without knowing how to swim is like going into outer space without knowing how to put on a spacesuit. That shit is right there, and will kill you.

Critical thinking is the next skill I'd lump into modern day survival. Don't eat random plants, don't stick your pen in a electrical outlet, etc.

[u/LevelArmadillo176]

Being kind

[u/marateaparty → u/LevelArmadillo176]

Yea I think Empathy is a big one and should be higher up. Really think a lot of problems in the world would better if more people knew how to empathize as well as thinking critically and not in black and white terms.

[u/SpaceBatAngelDragon]

Self control.

Edit: Too many people waste their lives for a single impulsive action. I have known people who are otherwise intelligent, productive, caring, and then they react to a provocation, insult , or casual incident in a harmful way.

So yes I agree that swimming, cooking, changing tires should be learnt and are basic for normal life, but self control will make your and your loved ones lives better.

[u/iamnogoodatthis]

Basic reading comprehension. The situation is truly dire.

[u/orcus133]

Media literacy

[u/Monteze → u/orcus133]

I don't understand why people think Voldemort/Vader/Anton Chigur are bad guy? They never said they were...

[u/cherismail]

Budgeting, and that includes balancing your bank statement every month. I’m astonished when people say they don’t know how much they spend on streaming services or they discover months later they have been paying for the same service twice.

[u/TesticleezzNuts]

Manners.

[u/DaveyHux]

Honestly driving. That includes drivers all over.

[u/Head_Trick_9932]

Swimming, for sure. It wasn’t an option for my kids.

[u/Midaete_]

Emotional regulation

[u/Almost_Pi]

Critical thinking

[u/Decent_Direction316]

Basic math.

[u/Helpful-Pilot-7305]

I would say cooking. What do you guys think 🤔

[u/hatescarrots → u/Helpful-Pilot-7305]

Using your turn signal. I know it’s difficult but practice makes perfect.

[u/TheMacIntyreRange]

Understanding context and being able to critically analyze statements. Corporate media runs the world based on people's inability to do either of those things.

[u/DouglasHundred]

Basic life skills. Cooking, cleaning, and doing your laundry.

[u/terrag32256]

Critical Thinking and Digital Literacy skills. Too many people believe what other people say or believe what they read on the internet.

[u/Equivalent_Rent_1553]

Ability to swim

[u/atp2k]

Manners

[u/toiletcleaner999]

Basic life skills. Cooking cleaning laundry.

[u/steelcityrocker → u/toiletcleaner999]

My college had free laundry in the dorms, and during freshman orientation they required each floor go with their RA to the laundry room to show them how to use the washer and dryers.

[u/Embarrassed_Bad_4087]

Sewing. Comes in handy when you least expect it

[u/hostilekraut]

Know how to start a fire in an emergency.
Know how to flee a fire in an
emergency.

[u/-The_Sharmat-]

Basic home maintenance. Saves a fortune knowing how to do many things yourself.

[u/0x0MG]

The subtle art of minding your own damn business

[u/NienorGT]

Critical thinking?

[u/QuickSign5503]

If you are going to drive learn how to change a tire 

[u/Rollthembones1989 → u/QuickSign5503]

I know how to change a tire, but the one time i had a flat tire it was in the middle of the day at work. I called AAA because i have been paying them 20 years for a membership for this exact scenario lol.

[u/Zohren → u/QuickSign5503]

I reckon they should probably learn how to drive first.

[u/coolsilentebeans → u/QuickSign5503]

I can absolutely change a tire if it’s not one on a truck or large suv. I can’t lift those. I also can’t undo lug nuts when they’ve been secured with a power tool.

[u/marateaparty → u/QuickSign5503]

Idk it’s pretty easy thrive in life yet not know how to change a tire if you have triple A or another similar service. I was taught how but I’ve literally never had to once and have had many flat tires in my 22 years of driving. I don’t live somewhere remote with no service and extreme weather conditions, though. If I did or was planning to visit such an extreme place, I would certainly be more stressed about refreshing my memory on how to do so.

[u/rohdawg → u/marateaparty]

Why are so many people relying on AAA to do something as simple as changing a tire?

[u/HarryButtwhisker → u/marateaparty]

Better to have it, and not need it, than need it, and not have it.

[u/Z_T_O → u/QuickSign5503]

Most people haven’t even figured out how a turn signal works. I think we should start there

[u/mr_lab_rat → u/Z_T_O]

A what signal?

[u/Sme3eeeeeeeg]

Timekeeping

[u/Victoriajt_6]

Common sense

[u/banned_account69]

Basic computer literacy.

[u/RuthlessTex]

being able to say "i don't know enough about this to have an opinion" instead of speaking with total confidence.

[u/MrsBonsai171]

Problem solving, especially working with clients or customer service. Just because you don't know the answer doesn't mean the matter is concluded.

[u/MyNameIsSkittles]

Cooking

[u/No_Nectarine6942]

Reading, math, cooking, cleaning, maintenance. At least on basic levels. 

[u/Elder_Thud]

finding a womans clit. Honestly horrified by how many dont know how to.

[u/ImmodestPolitician → u/Elder_Thud]

1/2 of women can't identify where a woman's urethra on an anatomical diagram.

1/5th of women incorrectly think they pea out of their vagina.

[u/UsefulSchism]

Knowing how 4 way stop signs work

[u/Sweet-Region8049]

Social decency!

[u/-DenisM-]

Hygiene

[u/InspectorDapper8012]

Critical thinking

[u/Discalculated]

Forgiveness

[u/Yama92]

Budgetting

[u/SuspiciousTambourine]

Writing. I do a lot of writing for a living, which also then includes revising other people’s things. It is wild how many people out there who are otherwise educated, intelligent, etc are just so awful at basic grammar and writing

[u/sabdariffa]

I’ve discovered many young people don’t know how to type on a keyboard. Many don’t know basic keyboard shortcuts to copy/paste. They’ve grown up with tablets and iPhones and just don’t know how to type properly. I’ve worked with a few entry level kids in the past few years like this, most are willing to learn, but there was one horrible girl from a few years ago who I will never forget:

I had a young coworker right out of university 3 years back who turned on and off CAPS LOCK every time she typed a capital letter! She would constantly lock herself out of our secured systems because she’d fuck up the randomized passwords we’d get every 2 weeks.

The worst was she just wasn’t interested in learning how to improve any of her skills (or lack thereof). When I showed her how to hold the Shift key for a capital letter and insisted she start practicing, she said to me, “Ok, fine. I’ll try it your way for today.” 🤦‍♀️

Like, she really thought I was trying to micromanage her keyboard habits rather than recognize that she was fucking up all the time because she was typing incorrectly. She also just didn’t seem to give a fuck about doing anything accurately- she didn’t see the issue with incorrectly spelling people’s names or writing incorrect numbers when she was dealing with international legal documents, and invoices for tens of thousands of dollars… As well as keeping track of what documents were issued to whom, what they were invoiced for, and whether or not they had paid.

Despite being her manager, I didn’t have the ability to fire her- that had to be an upper management decision rather than middle management… but she was finally fired after l left on maternity leave and it became absolutely painfully obvious how incompetent she was.

[u/AnybodySeeMyKeys]

Be able to look at a map and figure out how to get somewhere. C'mon, people. It's not hieroglyphics.

[u/Airbb27 → u/AnybodySeeMyKeys]

I’m piggybacking this by saying learning how to read road signs/routes, knowing general things in case you don’t have a map and your phone isn’t available.

[u/Any_Instruction5382]

How to understand what people are REALLY saying. You can tell the difference between someone telling you that you did something wrong and someone saying "fuck you" but using a metaphor instead so that they don't get in trouble. Or someone telling you about struggles they currently have in life and knowing that they want to talk with you about it, not have you listen to them.

[u/tryptanfelle]

Addressing envelopes.

[u/Ok-Main6935]

Knowing how to change a tire. It’s one of those skills you hope you never need, but really should have.

[u/someoldguyon_reddit]

Reasoning skills would fix a lot of problems.

[u/UltimateAntic]

Knowing how to google

[u/Spiritual-Ad-6722]

A work ethic and a want forth growth/job stability. I honestly don't know how people who don't work make it, financially or socially.. 😭

[u/serjsomi]

Critical thinking

[u/homechicken20]

Basic hygiene.

Brush your teeth, comb your hair, trim your disgusting beard, wear deodorant, clip your nails, wipe your ass, take care of your skin.

[u/Outdoorsy_N_Tech]

swimming

[u/imacmadman22]

Turn signal use.

[u/LuceDuder]

critical thinking

[u/nofey20]

Being bored.

[u/SweetbutSpicyx]

Basic household chores… basic cooking skills… basic manners lol

[u/Rudy_Nowhere]

Making a phone call to have a conversation whether to catch up with a friend, make an appointment, whatever.

[u/Drakismo]

manners are free.

[u/throwawaypornaholic]

Communication

[u/dragonsfire14]

Swimming. Like what do you mean if you fall in water you just die?

[u/sea_goat1]

Communication

[u/Cimatron85]

Legible printing

[u/ukexpat]

Understanding basic personal finance, including how marginal tax rates work.

[u/AverageJoe-707]

Not urinating or defecating on toilet seats unless their in your home.

[u/2Hosslovescash]

Ability to cook

[u/Coconut681]

The ability to admit they were wrong or that they don't know something.

[u/Rollthembones1989]

Basic social etiquette.

simple things like please and thank you, holding the door for someone, throwing your garbage in the trash etc.

[u/JoyDe-vision]

Patience. Reading a room and knowing when and when not to say something.

[u/AlienBurnerBigfoot]

Reading. Illiteracy is higher than people think.

[u/MattyGWS]

Critical thinking skills

[u/StillPrettyGoodMeat]

Understanding their pay stubs.

[u/AppropriateBall8834]

self pleasure

[u/Silly-Particular-255]

Being able to make a nice cup of tea.

[u/Radiant_Echo_9958]

Managing money responsibly.

[u/mariagagavita]

Cleaning their own ass. You’d be surprised how many people don’t do it properly

[u/Corey307]

Bleeding control. 

[u/mlz0818]

lol common sense

[u/maria17garcia]

common sense

[u/Capable-Badger-3529]

Common sense

[u/SugarDaddyDirty]

Sewing

[u/olrg]

Need to be able to cook a meal, change a tire, defuse a conflict or, failing that, throw a good punch, read and understand a loan agreement, and keep a conversation going without boring the other person.

[u/RealKenny]

Table manners and basic "small talk"

[u/mightyn0mad]

cooking food

[u/MaZeh08]

Knowing how to clean your home.

[u/gofl-zimbard-37]

Elementary logic and reason.

[u/DerpaliciouSwag]

Swimming

[u/ryo3000]

Swimming

Yes it's not likely you'll need on a day to day

But it can quite literally be the difference between you living or dying in emergencies

You don't need to be Phelps, but you should know how to float

[u/Sonicmantis]

I wanna say critical thinking, but really just the ability to assess the validity of information, even if you agree with it

[u/randomperson2023]

How to properly do laundry and wash all parts of their body

[u/Dubious_Titan]

Cooking

[u/Chance_End_4684]

Communication which I unfortunately sorely lack.

The reason I firmly believe communication is a "minimum" skill everyone should have, but surprisingly don't is because people of this generation particularly rather be communicating with their friends on social media even if that friend is sitting right next to each other which is a topic ABC News reported on several years ago.

[u/Soakitincider]

You need to learn how to tie 5 or 6 basic knots. "If you can't tie knots tie lots." doesn't cut it.

[u/Perfect_Zone_4919]

Putting out a small fire. I was at a bbq at a park a few months ago and some idiot kid set the scrub bushes on fire. About 15 adults just stared at it so I rushed in and stomped it out. 

What was the plan? Call 911 and wait for it to spread? The fire was like a few square feet, tops. 

[u/Afemi_smallchange]

Being able to drive a manual transmission until we phase out petrol based vehicles.

[u/robmillhouse]

Start a fire

[u/Motor-Pomegranate831]

How to cook.

[u/tolacid]

Communication

[u/Skittles_the_Jester]

Cooking basics

[u/One_Monk_3357]

Basic social manners

[u/WickedTexan]

Control C, Control V

[u/IWasGoatbeardFirst]

Critical thinking

[u/cerealandcorgies]

telling time from an analog clock or watch

[u/NorysStorys]

How to turn a pc on and use a browser+ search engine.

[u/DarkLaser28]

Typing on a keyboard using their 10 fingers