h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In line with Mr D. who has mentioned skills that have to do with interpersonal intelligence, the other set that go with intrapersonal intelligence, that is: to know yourself, to be self-critic without lashing oneself, that can be negative for your self-esteem. To be able to percecive your feelings and try to detach yourself from them, observe them, analyse them... so that your action becomes more balanced emotionally. etc.
That´s hard to achieve, I know it. But writing or talking about it helps. Children should also have a school subject only about those skills related to intra and interpersonal intelligences.

- According to some educationalists these are the skills of 21st C. citizens:
http://www.21stcenturyfluency.com/fluencies.cfm

other skills:

- Playing a musical instrument or learning to enjoy your voice singing (without any further aim, professional or any other) and having a vast knowledge of all kind of music (through direct exposure)The skill derived from that would be one that will help you to feel happy very easily and with a great intensity.

- Develop a green hand. Another skill, if not essential for survival, excellent to keep you, homo urbanite, as close as possible to the cycle of Nature.

How to swim?

(one I'd fail miserably at)

Nah! I've got something in my shirt pocket that will tell me where to go. Sometimes it even takes me to the place I *want* to go!

(My last @ Mal re map reading/navigation)

@ Icy:

Id meant to add swimming. Which I can just about do, but not especially well.

Chic Murray:
~ Now, I dont swim. I *can* swim, but I have no cause to do so in the normal run of things.~

@Maria:

The Soft Skills is another interesting area. Techniques for staying mentally health would be useful addition to the list - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Mindfulness; Meditation, even. Or - to be topical - stuff like How do I walk away from internet silliness?

Oooh! Gardening! I agree. I got a balcony a couple of years ago, and there's a lot more to keeping plants alive than you might think. Or rather, than I might think. Who knew that birds like parsley and coriander so much and that basil and dill are impossible to keep aloive in London, for example?

I think that there is something to be said for competency in gadgets and social media. I signed up for fb and twitter and such mainly because I wanted to understand how they work. As it happens, that was just for my own interest, but when my kids are older I'll keep a foot in the water just to have some idea of what I should be keeping an eye on for their sakes. If you see what I mean.

On the other hand I'd rather read a map that try to work a sat nav, although if someone gave me a sat nav, I'd probably be quite pleased.

So learning to drive is optional, but everyone should have a sat nav?

Yup! On their bikes.

Or horses, even.

A basic understanding of how to care for animals won't go amiss, either. Or just what not to do with them.

Animals. That probably comes under the care and maintenance of small children, Mala.

No, but really, many people have no idea - like all those people (like my father) who think that outstaring a dog is a good way to show it who's boss...

I think for an island nation swimming is an essential skill.

It wasn't/isn't taught in my children's schools so for 5 years I took both of mine for private swimming lessons every weekend.I gave up a lot of weekend lie-ins to ensure both of my children were proficient in swimming.

Housekeeping. Cleaning, tidying, ironing.

Also, how to put on make up.

You can learn that in theatre classes...

So it is definitely an equal opportunities skill then. Good oh.

To be fair...even in an island nation its reasonably easy to avoid the sea in most places. And you often get a warning that its coming up because you find youre walking on sand.

Now I think about it...swimming is certainly life-enhancing...but at no point in my life so far has my continued existence depended on it. If Im ever in a survival in water situation, I hope to be wearing a lifejacket.

So maybe its in the category of Very Nice To Have? Like riding a bike?

"like all those people (like my father) who think that outstaring a dog is a good way to show it who's boss"

Technically that is correct, the one who looks away first has accepted that the other is "top dog". It's making eye contact in the first place which can be problematic as *that* is a direct challenge.

And I dont *often* apply make up, either. Only at weekends. When I prefer to be addressed as Mary-Lou.

I think swimming's pretty up there. Without it you can't be confident near rivers, ponds, lakes as well as the sea. And (sorry, a little child safety obsessed atm, blame the hormones) more importantly, you can't let your children near them if you can;t swim as who would rescue them if you can't?

A nice to have skill would be walking elegantly in high heels.

Actually, are there any skills which men need and women don't or vice versa? Really?