ADVERTISEMENT

As a child, whenever you had a problem, you most likely went to your parents or some other adult to solve it. But as you grew up, you learned how to do things on your own. Part of being an adult is having a grasp on certain basic life skills - however, as it turns out, not every life lesson is as basic to one person as it is to the next.

The New York Times editor Jenee Desmond-Harris recently shared on Twitter her landlord's unexpected know-how blindspot, and then asked the internet to share their own. People delivered all sorts of hilarious answers, and some of them you might be able to relate to - from social skills such a the dreaded small talk to vital work skills. Scroll down to check out some of the best responses, and don't forget to upvote your faves! And don't forget to let us know in the comments, which seemingly simple things you've missed along the way.

#2

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

nrajapakseMD Report

Add photo comments
POST
rosebona avatar
athornedrose
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

coming from a big immigrant italian family, i have the worst time scaling down recipes. everything was made to feed the whole clan. making food for like 2 people is insanely difficult for me.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Whether it’s tying our shoes, correctly reading the face of a clock or learning to swim, we’ve all had a bit of trouble getting to grips with certain important (and elementary) life skills. Some people even find basic things like fixing the plumbing or driving a car to be — well — basic. But there’s plenty of us have a lot more trouble, because we might be afraid (a lot of us may have panicked the first time we went to a community pool) or we simply might have had no need for a particular skill (we may prefer getting around by bike rather than by car if we live in busy cities).

#4

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

baddusacid Report

Add photo comments
POST
wh4ok avatar
Jonathon Smith
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes I think I've nailed this adulting lark and am now a fully formed member of the human race. Then I try talking to a stranger and realise all I've done is cocoon myself in friends who don't mind talking about D&D 24/7

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

We all know the adage that it takes about 10,000 hours to learn a new skill. However, that’s not entirely true. Josh Kaufman, known for his inspiring TED talk and author of the book ‘The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything… Fast!’, has a very different idea.

ADVERTISEMENT
#5

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

jimshorts93 Report

Add photo comments
POST
mailboxjudit avatar
Lousha
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The + sign has a bump on it. The positive side of the battery is also the one with the bump. The - sign is flat. The negative end of a battery is flat as well. You're welcome!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

KeniLF Report

Add photo comments
POST
romeyellen avatar
Stevie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once directed my friend in a car and we nearly ended up in another country....

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

According to Kaufman, the so-called 10,000 rule has been misinterpreted by the vast majority of people for quite some time now. He notes that 10,000 hours is the average it takes to become “an expert in an ultra competitive field”, which is far from the same thing as learning a new skill This is good news for most of us!

#7

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

JimLadd2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
ronelduplessis avatar
Ronel du Plessis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too!!! I feel so dumb some times. Living in South Africa I speak Afrikaans. I call kids "pampoen" which means pumpkin. Or "piesang" which means banana. I get away with it because the kids in my karate dojo thinks it is funny. don't think adults would thinks it's funny.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

Kaufman states that to get from “knowing nothing to being pretty good” takes a far shorter amount of time: barely 20 hours. That’s more or less practicing something for 45 minutes every day for around a month. Doesn’t seem so scary, does it? Of course, you can’t multitask while trying to learn a new skill — you need to focus on it exclusively.

ADVERTISEMENT
#11

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

nc_magnolia Report

Add photo comments
POST
annaannabb avatar
AnnaB
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Years ago my sister and I were taking a walk in our neighborhood and someone asked for directions to the local library. After he drove off, we realized that the directions we gave were totally wrong. We joke that to this day, you can see a rusty old car being driven by a skeleton...still looking for that library.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

emilyfiles Report

Add photo comments
POST
dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The trick is to inhale with your mouth when out of water, slowly exhale through your nose while in the water. You can help yourself with humming while in the water.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

DragonflyJonez Report

Add photo comments
POST
nvi08140 avatar
The Girl on Fire
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're supposed to tie shoes without using the bunny ear thing? Why? I never have

imbriuminarian avatar
Bunzilla
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, I don't know why people look down on it, tbh. It makes nicer looking bows.

Load More Replies...
mantramoon avatar
Erika Jones
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey, nothing wrong with the bunny ears method! I do it, and I taught it to my kids.

christinawebster avatar
Christina Webster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I taught Kindergarten and First Grade for years and the bunny ears method IS tying shoes (sometimes it even holds better and longer than the "correct" way)! Anything that gets the job done, counts! I've seen kids use the extra holes at the tops of sneakers pretty creatively, as well. Trust me, teachers don't care about the HOWS as long as it's two less shoes we have to stop and tie!

thedavids06 avatar
Brivid
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wasn't aware of the bunny ears method until I was 30 years old. I think it makes a prettier bow when wrapping presents.

erinsheppard avatar
Erin Sheppard
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is STILL Tying your shoes... the end result, still tied shoelaces. \

glowworm2 avatar
glowworm2
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I sometimes have to tie my shoes in double knots. I've never mastered shoe tying and often have to retie them every few minutes unless they're in double knots.

camillasimone avatar
cc
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've done bunny ear method my whole life (i'm 31). I didn't realise it was odd until my bf said it was childish. Now I'm too embarrassed to tie my laces in public.

johntruman861 avatar
Dr John A Truman
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am left handed and was taught a different way than normal. For some reason I just cannot do the normal way despite how many times I am shown. works fine with the left handed way though.

alexfirebird avatar
Alex Firebird
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i'm the opposite...in primary school(elementary for you americans), i did the loopy one and still do, and all my friends thought i was weird cause i couldn't bunny ear :(

natalie_freschi avatar
Natalie Freschi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm left-handed so I think thats why I can't do it that way either. Nor does my left-handed son

ljdanielsvo avatar
Lauri Jo Daniels
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

P.S. There's nothing wrong with the way you do it, but the laces come untied a lot easier that way. I've taken notice as my kids would always have untied laces unless I tied them my way.

ljdanielsvo avatar
Lauri Jo Daniels
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know so many people who can't do this. I'm 43 and everyone my age and up does it the "right" way, but I suspect at some point they stopped teaching it that way. My kids are teenagers and they refused to learn it my way bc in kindergarten they learned the bunny ear way. I had never even heard of that way!

contact_423 avatar
Riham Fahed
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Up until now, I thought bunny ears is the only way of doing it!!!

petteritaro avatar
Petteri Taro
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes! Me and my brother are still doing that, because we were both taught how to do it in the same school :D Sometimes we get shamed for it

mathieu-larocque avatar
mlarocque87
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t even know how to do the bunny ears - just the real way!

t_janine avatar
Non-New-Toni-An
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought there was only one way to do it, I don't even know how I do it but I just do it. Who cares how if it works?!!

cherie-taylor4002 avatar
daisydiamond
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do bunny ears! I just thought there was 2 ways of doing them!

lindaberg avatar
Linda Something
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

34 years old and still doing it. Never learned the other way because I just thought this did the job faster.

catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was 7 years old, and my grandmother helped me to learn.Of course my siblings told me I was stupid.

annettvikstrand avatar
Annett Vikstrand
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had never heard about the bunny ear method. Realized it is what I do when I tie the bow once more (mostly with shoes that have so long laces that they need to be tied again)

shinobishabby avatar
Shinobi Shabby
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do this! and I feel there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.. the end results the same... so whats the problem!

octavia_2 avatar
Octavia Hansen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went to velcro straps or nothing a long time ago. Saves a lot of time, looks nicer anyway.

stargal avatar
Missy Barton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Two bunny ears is how my Grandfather taught me, and I will never do it any other way

suegrigg avatar
Sue Grigg
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too. I tell myself it's because I'm left handed but I don't know what that would have to do with it. Lol.

amy_dawson90 avatar
Amy Pattie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I learnt how to tie my shoe laces in my final year of college* to impress meh boyfriend There was a mature age student who was gracious enough to teach me

debrinablackmoon avatar
debrina blackmoon
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i had an uncle who tied a double bow-still don't know how lol

holliemarie1995 avatar
Hollie Newton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was the opposite I couldn't get the hang of bunny ears it always ended up being too loose or just not working

mssilvia8 avatar
t.e.a.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

same. when i was younger my parents even bought me a fake shoe to practice on -_- still can't do it

virgilblue avatar
Virgil Blue
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like my own method better than the "official" method. Works like a charm.

lsaizul avatar
Lsai Aeon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son is 11, I'm not sure he will ever learn to tie shoes in any form.

heathervance avatar
AzKhaleesi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't do the two bunny ears thing, never could. Maybe because I learned with the one loop etc.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

cystic4real Report

Add photo comments
POST
pseudo_puppy avatar
Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too!! It's the side effect of my mother's friend terrifying me as a kid (for "fun"), by telling me that she saw a kid get their foot caught in the escalator & had it chewed off. She told me every time we went to go on an escalator. It's now an ingrained instinct, despite me logically knowing it's nonsense.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

angieptaylor Report

Add photo comments
POST
webmaster_8 avatar
Paul K. Johnson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fitted sheets are supposed to be folded? I just wad them up in a ball and stuff them in the linen closet.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

Reedbeta Report

Add photo comments
POST
dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Riding a bike is not easy. Unlike most people I know, I'll admit, I learnt it as a young adult. And I'm so grateful for it, such a useful skill to have.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

Marcia_ESS Report

Add photo comments
POST
ronelduplessis avatar
Ronel du Plessis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOL!!! I have no sense of direction. Will get lost in my own house ;-/, but time and distance... no one can beat me at that.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

JinxieB73 Report

Add photo comments
POST
s_p_barnett avatar
Steve Barnett
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I cannot say 'similarly'. It always comes out as similarily, similaly, similarlarily etc.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#21

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

iSmashFizzle Report

Add photo comments
POST
ferrybloemendal avatar
Oerff On Tour
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a problem with converting the 24h clock to 12h. Keep messing up 5 o'clock (1700h) and 7 o'clock

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

Peterb2961Peter Report

Add photo comments
POST
gdevans33 avatar
Gary
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had an instructor like that, I dumped him and found a new one. Passed my test first time.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

PatrickClaybon Report

Add photo comments
POST
mascha-claessens avatar
Mascha Claessens
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha, that's the opposite to my dad. He can ONLY float. Like, on his back with both his knees AND shoulders above the water. We've often joked that he has hollow bones, like a bird.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

SecretlyStephie Report

Add photo comments
POST
febfifteen2006 avatar
PaulV
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, "deductible" sounds like something you *don't* have to pay. And "premium" sounds like something good, but the whole thing is doubly confusing: pay a higher premium (oh no!) to get a lower monthly (oh...kay?). It's like being asked to choose the way you would like to get screwed.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

THEKIDMERO Report

Add photo comments
POST
hallabaloo_meow avatar
Katie Smith
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now this, I learned at middle school. One of the positives of having school uniforms in the UK!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

chick_in_kiev Report

Add photo comments
POST
yettichild avatar
Yettichild
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just think to myself "Write" and I automatically know which hand is right =D

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

al4exy Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#30

Basic-Life-Skills-Adults-Never-Learned

SoLooouddd Report

Add photo comments
POST
mascha-claessens avatar
Mascha Claessens
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And that's a benefit of growing up in the Netherlands: everyone gets swimming lessons. Some of us more than others, but we all do when we're little. Too much water around not to... :P

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 64 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.