With age came an unwillingness to tear down a carburetor, pull a starter, even to open a plugged drainpipe by disassembly. Who stepped up? My son.
I soon found myself relying on him for far too much. He’d never received training, why was he helping people all over the map, replacing rotted floor joists, installing toilets, on and on?
Because he could, and it felt good to do it. There is a learning curve to everything, and he found a way in under every circumstance.
Your situation would seem to be economic. People who never “had to” and thus, do not.
Thankfully I’m back to doing rather than watching.
Yes, I agree. But after a while of never having to, will they lose the ability to even start to learn? This is one theme of Pump Six. Will they let the culture fall into ruin merely because it is too hard to fix? Sure, they may get by, but it is the compulsive carburator rebuilders who will save us, assuming we don't overwhelm them and hold their efforts cheap. You son sounds a really righteous kid.
It's a sad but true reality today. Most people don't know how to do much because they've been raised to rely on computers and machines to to everything for them. It also affects our brain and memory centers: people with cell phones (generally) don't remember phone numbers any more. My friend tells me that her adult daughter, who uses GPS exclusively to drive everywhere, has no idea how to get to places on her own. It's subtle and insidious.
We all seem to be Ivy Leaguers now.
Wasn’t going to comment, but I will.
With age came an unwillingness to tear down a carburetor, pull a starter, even to open a plugged drainpipe by disassembly. Who stepped up? My son.
I soon found myself relying on him for far too much. He’d never received training, why was he helping people all over the map, replacing rotted floor joists, installing toilets, on and on?
Because he could, and it felt good to do it. There is a learning curve to everything, and he found a way in under every circumstance.
Your situation would seem to be economic. People who never “had to” and thus, do not.
Thankfully I’m back to doing rather than watching.
It’s a matter of choice.
Yes, I agree. But after a while of never having to, will they lose the ability to even start to learn? This is one theme of Pump Six. Will they let the culture fall into ruin merely because it is too hard to fix? Sure, they may get by, but it is the compulsive carburator rebuilders who will save us, assuming we don't overwhelm them and hold their efforts cheap. You son sounds a really righteous kid.
Righteous, ha 😄
Then there is another story to tell...
Sounds like you're describing the plot of Atlas Shrugged, now.
Sounds like you're describing the plot of Atlas Shrugged now.
Interesting thoughts. People have commented on our increasing alienation from nature. Now, there is also alienation from doing and learning.
I saw the headline and thought, “Pump Six.” That story sticks with me as I look around at the people too lazy to learn to do things themselves.
"Teach yourself that word: autodidact". Well done. I taught myself that word one or two of your substacks ago ;)
Don't just didact, AUTOdidact!
It's a sad but true reality today. Most people don't know how to do much because they've been raised to rely on computers and machines to to everything for them. It also affects our brain and memory centers: people with cell phones (generally) don't remember phone numbers any more. My friend tells me that her adult daughter, who uses GPS exclusively to drive everywhere, has no idea how to get to places on her own. It's subtle and insidious.