Downtown and Community Skilling
Problem
- Downtown skilling objects don't raise my sims' skills!
Solution
This information has been copy/pasted from the EA customer help area
Although Downtown objects used at your home will allow you to gain skill, when these objects are Downtown they will not. These objects are meant only to be interaction objects Downtown, but you can use them at home to 'practice' for using them in public, thus allowing skill gain. Make sure to get a lot of practice before using them Downtown, or you may find your Sim in an embarrassing situation!
You can find a hack to make it so your sims do gain skills while on community lots by JM Pescado at More Awesome than You.
Credits
Thanks go to bairy for the original article.