Asklemmy

Critical thinking. Consider the intent of the source.

It's a big ask, but Empathy.

People should really know how to research. Sure, almost everyone knows how to do a google search, but there are shockingly many people who can’t research, i.e view multiple sources including those that don’t align with your views.

Basic cooking.

You don't need to be Gordon Ramsey, but in a pinch, know how to make pasta, chilli and a few other things.

Computer comprehension. You should have a basic understanding of what your pc is doing, web certificates, passwords, how to tell when youre being scammed, and how to protect your personal info. Knowledge doesnt need to be deep, just wide.

A skill is too much to ask. I just want people to move out of the way when they get off the escalator so I don't bump into their asses.

"Specialization is for insects. A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly." -- Heinlein

How to write clearly in their native language.

a

As someone who almost drowned as a child, swimming is up there for me.

Basic arithmetic to the point where you can e.g. calculate things like a budget when money is tight.

Enough understanding of statistics and probability to be able to understand what numbers reported in news stories about events and politics mean.

In this day and age, how to stay safe online and spot what are often very obvious attempts at fraud/malicious activity.

Self awareness

The ability to survive outside / without a roof over one's head.

I'm not talking surviving solely off the land type of outdoor survival, although that is an excellent set of skills to obtain.

• Learn how to set up shelter, or find shelter if a tent / tarp isn't available
• Learn how to start a fire in multiple ways
• Learn basic hunting skills
• Learn how to sanitize / store drinking water
• Learn basic first aid
• Always remember the order of operations in a survival situation: Shelter, water, fire, food

Learning things quickly.

It's totally its own skill, and you can learn to learn faster. What skills are useful changes with time -- the ones used in your career now might age like milk for reasons beyond your control.

Insatiable curiosity

How to polish and maintain your boots. On that subject, an awareness of why old school leather boots are an outstanding lifelong investment.

Basic networking skills. Most lives can be significantly improved by basic home network. WiFi deadzones, wireless printing, shared folders for basic documents and resources etc. All while being relatively secure.

A really good bullshit-o-meter.

So many issues with major media, corporate announcements, government announcements, and probably many other things can be solved with a good bullshit-o-meter.

What I really mean is critical thinking. Because there are vacuous ways to calibrate a bullshit-o-meter that lack logic entirely and tie one into some ideological goal. Then you can still claim to have a bullshit-o-meter but lack the ultimate goal of it, but it's really not a helpful tool at that point. My original meaning is a true, logic-based bullshit-o-meter.

Reading. Being able to quickly skim and comprehend text will give you an edge in basically every field.

Common sense, or better yet, critical thinking.

Food and shelter

Basic zipper merge

Ability to take breaks.
So many people burn out from stuff they enjoy. If you take frequent breaks, it helps your mental and health overall.

Cooking! We eat every day and eating out adds up quick.

Swimming, martial art, basic cooking skills and probably some other things too

The ability to set and enforce personal boundaries.

Basic social skills. Let everyone talk and try not to disturb while they're at it. Hear others point of view. I think that would solve a lot of problems.

Cope with stress

Cooking skills. It's so great to be able to make yourself a nice plate of food.

The self- and contextual-awareness and communicative ability to express consent or lack of consent for engaging in any activity.

A lot of shame, regret, and anger could be avoided if all of us knew how to do that.

Being able to maintain their own car.

Mind reading, telekinesis and flying.

Sharpening things

rooting android devices and installing a custom rom on them

Common sense