Forgotten And Lost Skills, And Humanities Obsolescence

[Maine farmer]

Can anyone uder the age of 30 navigate without a GPS anymore? Has anyone tried to make a purchase at a supermarket during a power outage recently? Why is it the only people in the hardware store who can help me find a carriage bolt are over the age of 40? What's so difficult about cutting a clean curve with an acelyne torch free-hand? I have to wonder if we rely too much on technology. Once in a while I make it a point to do things the "hard way" just to see if I still can. Am I crazy?

[sanctus]

Well, I am below 30 and can still read a map and even know where north is without compass with or without sun ;-)

 

But I see your point, but I think the loss of skills is balanced with the acquirement of other skills: i.e trade map reading with efficiently using a GPS, etc.

 

The question though remains if it is a good trade off. I persoanlly think it is always good to be able not to rely on technology, but in some things one can't just get around it (like you super-market example).