The Internet can be a great place to learn new things. And it’s not only for learning fascinating facts. In some online groups, folks share advice about simple everyday things that other people might not know about. Curious to learn why your postman might put a dryer sheet in your mailbox? This subreddit’s got you!
The online community we’re covering here today shares tips and tricks that they think all people should know. That’s probably why it’s called r/YouShouldKnow. Similar to the excellent r/LifeProTips subreddit, r/YouShouldKnow is a place “to share tips and tricks that will help [you] improve on activities, skills, and various other tasks.”
#1
Image credits: alexsangthat
#2
YSK That there is a Youtuber called "Dad, how do I?" that explains everyday things that might need a father-figure to help you with.
His Dad walked out on him when he was 12, he makes maintenance vides for people with no Dad. It's just basic stuff but I know friends of mine that have watched his videos in the last couple of weeks and it has made a real positive difference to their life. He does videos from how to tie a tie to even how to check your car's oil. Very helpful stuff that everyone who doesn't have a dad or just wants some DIY tips should know.
Image credits: AlphaSyncz
#3
Image credits: nimblemind
If there's one thing most people like, it's learning new things. The 5.3 million members of the r/YouShouldKnow community is a clear testament to that. The folks of this subreddit would also like others to know that it's not for learning new and interesting facts.
Whereas subreddits like r/TodayILearned or r/Fascinating are more for facts and figures, r/YouShouldKnow prides itself on being about self-improvement and how to do things. In fact, they're all about learning something new or improving an already-established skill.
#4
Image credits: thestashattacked
#5
Image credits: griftylifts
#6
Image credits: minecart6
A subreddit such as this can be a goldmine of simple everyday advice: some of it's like advice from a family member, other advice is more serious, veering into the territory of legal advice. Sometimes, it's about basic life skills any adult should probably know. But there's no shaming – just because you're an adult doesn't mean you can't learn new things.
Take the top post of the subreddit about Rob Kenney, a YouTuber behind the "Dad, How Do I?" channel. He teaches his subscribers basic skills a person should've been taught by their father. People who grew up without a dad really resonate with his content, as his videos feature teaching others how to tie a tie, fix a running toilet, or simply shave.
#7
Image credits: istrx13
#8
Image credits: SalzyJ
#9
Image credits: Over9000Mudkipz
Kenney also published a book in 2021, named Dad, How Do I? Practical "Dadvice" for Everyday Tasks and Successful Living. He told USA Today that he didn't anticipate the kind of fame he got.
"I only expected to help about 30 to 40 people. Watch the videos to learn how to tie a tie and some car maintenance and fix some other stuff outside the house. I just wanted to leave a legacy for my kids and grandkids. Now, I've done stuff on perspectives in your life."
#10
Image credits: KissAndControlx
#11
Image credits: shortercrust
#12
Image credits: manocormen
Thanks to Rob Kenney and creators like him, people can now learn basic life skills online. The Internet is ripe with "how-to" videos nowadays. We can learn to sew buttons, do laundry, or trim a bonsai by watching other people give advice. This type of content boomed in popularity during the pandemic, as sites like bored.solutions started cropping up.
#13
Image credits: ilovepastapizzapots
#14
Image credits: RogueOps
#15
Image credits: bearjew64
And it's not only basic life skills that the Internet can teach you. We can learn new languages (although my Duolingo owl has been snoozing for over a month), learn how to code, or even take classes from professors at Yale and Harvard. One might think: "Can I really get all the basics in that Philosophy 101 class?" Well, both in-person and online learning have its pros and cons.
#16
Image credits: metropolis702
#17
Image credits: Rianonymous
#18
Image credits: ES_Legman
Many online universities and learning platforms like Khan Academy or LinkedIn Learning boast the superiority of learning online. According to them, the obvious advantages are flexibility, more frequent assessments, higher retention rates, and benefits to the environment.
#19
Image credits: grandlewis
#20
#21
Yet when it comes to formal education during the COVID-10 pandemic, it seems that experts have only bad things to say. A UNESCO report unveiled the realities of what many students faced during the lockdown. Technology promised an easier and more seamless education process, but instead, the students were less engaged, felt like they were left behind, and achieved less.
#22
#23
Image credits: SolitaryEgg
#24
However, some say that the Internet can offer alternatives to the things we learn in school. School, according to them, doesn't teach us the life skills that we need. Dr. Carol Morgan writes for HuffPost that the most important skill that we're not taught in schools is communication. Most people, according to her, don't learn to solve conflicts or express themselves well up until they're in college.
#25
Image credits: InstantlyJobless
#26
Image credits: dbreggs22
#27
She also mentions how skills like sewing, cooking, or financial planning aren't part of any curriculum. Her answer to why this happens: people think children will learn these things at home. The thing these people fail to consider is that not all parents know how to effectively communicate or have these simple life skills.
#28
Image credits: jbuk02
#29
Image credits: TerraFormer001
#30
Image credits: readcommentbackwards
Just because they're easy, Morgan writes, doesn't mean they're not important. "I think another reason we don't teach these skills is because they're 'soft.' In other words, 'easy.' But I disagree. I think soft skills are more important than most of what our children are taught."
Which brings us back to our lovely subreddit. Did you learn some new things from this selection from r/YouShouldKnow? Don't forget to tell us in the comments!
#31
Image credits: Aerisavion
#32
Image credits: grandlewis
#33
#34
#35
#36
#37
#38
#39
Image credits: [deleted]
#40
Image credits: Supertilt
#41
#42
Image credits: adimwit
#43
#44
#45
#46
#47
Image credits: Darkchyylde
#48
#49
Image credits: [deleted]
#50
#51
#52
#53
#54
#55
#56
#57
#58
#59
#60
Image credits: facu_draper
#61
#62
Image credits: [deleted]
#63
Image credits: EpicBlueDrop
#64
Image credits: [deleted]
#65
#66
#67
#68
#69
Image credits: grandlewis
#70
#71
#72
#73
#74
#75
#76
#77
#78
Image credits: no1careskid
#79
#80
#81
#82
Image credits: Velexria
#83
#84
#85
#86
#87
#88
Image credits: suprcreativeusrname
