What common life skills are all but extinct in day to day life now? Many many years ago, I was a switchboard operator at my college.I now sigh in recognition when I see a switchboard scene in an old movie because once, a few years ago, I was watching an old movie with a younger friend who asked me what the heck was going on.Analog TimeI was thinking about other now useless or obsolete skills recently when my good friend, Susan, a linguistics professor for a local college, told me that she told her students to take a break and come back at a quarter past two.They all came back at 2:25pm.They thought I meant a quarter, like 25 cents she said, they didnt understand the analog concept of quarter past the hour.Later my brother told me his son, ten years ago, put a clock in a credenza and none of this children (the youngest was 12 at the time) could tell the time.
(My nephew quickly brought them all up to speed.)Other outdated skillsThe end of cursive? How to use a manual transmission? Sewing at home? (A colleague has mentioned that theres a home sewing renaissance, partly due to Covid boredom and partly due to the ridiculous prices for clothing with cheap fabric and minimal style or substance.)YOUR TURNWhat outdated skills and arts do you have? What skills do you see on the way out? Share your thoughts and observations in the comments.Virge Randall is Senior Planets Managing Editor.She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog Dont Get Me Started puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City.Send Open Thread suggestions to [email protected].
Publisher: Senior Planet ( Read More )
