I am just curious what you have to say. I admit I can be a cranky old man and a bit of a hick, just ask my beautiful bride she'll tell you. I am guilty of getting soft and the use of tech stuff sometimes but when I look at the kids and now grandkids, I just wonder. If it ever got "bad", wether it be economy failure, pandemic, martial law, grid down, natural disaster, ect., I know it would be tough. Kranky old man warning! These kids today, if they can't get an app on their phone to do it, do it on the computer, or pay someone to do it, what would they do??? Many times I do something and people at work, my kids, and whoever else say how did you know how to do that, or I wouldn't do that. What do you think are some of the things that when it gets "bad" that we would struggle with or the kids may just not know?
Well Sir, I can't begin to imagine the hysteria and stupidity that would rise to the top in such a situation. Those of us who were required to use our own brains and ingenuity to get this far in life would no doubt find a way(s) to get by. The liberal arts, hand-raised, social media platform warriors on the other hand will sit there spinning their wheels trying how to fiqure out where their next meal will be coming from, and who will pay for it. If you don't believe that, look how many of these university educated fools can now design a better umbrella but lack the common sense on how and when to open it and use it. The ever-increasing stupidity level strives toward such things as self-driving vehicles, trucks and trains, and come to think of it, may not be such a bad idea when you see how these fools drive now. I could go on and on about this, but I think I'll just sit back and watch the stupidity continue to grow in quantum leaps before it is my turn to fertilize God's green earth.
I have to admit I rely on technology (currently browsing FHC from a 'smart' phone) and the convenience it applies to life far more than I am comfortable with. However I do try to make it a point to learn how to do things the 'old fashioned' way when possible. Even if it only ever helps one time to get through something as a simple/non-chaos inducing, short term power outage it was well worth the time and effort of learning.
This is my "Society is full of bullchit" gauge. It is rising very quickly................ Since I have recently made it to the 7th plateau of my life I feel that the gauge is filling faster than I can absorb it, and I'm hoping I make it to the finish line before it drowns me....................................... and yes, the "politically correct" filter I came equipped with has fallen off many miles ago along life's highway.
It would be interesting to watch those who feel entitled and hide behind their participation trophies holding their hands out and nobody putting anything in them, wouldn't it? Gonna have to get off yer a$$ and do stuff for yourself! Won't be anyone to run crying to, in those times. Politically correct filter? ……….. rrrrrright!
Heck, it's not just the millennials, there are a lot of people out there without skills. I have neighbors that are "summer people" on their property. They have owned it for 27 years. I have more time in this canyon in 10 years than they could possibly realize. In a SHTF situation, they would probably try to get here and weather it out. In a few weeks, they'd be knocking at my door for help. Sorry, uhmm ... no. If it's bad, I have no use for a couple of "interior designers" or their skill sets. They can cut wood in exchange for food, that's about it. Now, my "good" neighbors, not worried about them. They're prepared and have solid skill-sets, we end up being the sheep dogs. Hope it never comes to that.
One thing seems pretty clear... when all of us ole guys, who actually know how to do, you know, stuff, are all gone... they's gonna be chit outa apps...
In defense of technology, youtube is a fantastic resource for learning how to fix things. My auto repair manuals haven't been opened in years. You only need to go on your local electric utility's Facebook page during a power outage to see how helpless some people are. People will literally complain that it's cold outside, and the food in their fridge has spoiled. If only they could find a way to expose their food to the cold outdoor temps. Hmmm.
I kinda think Greenstick was getting at- no Youtube, no internet, no nothing. You're in a information "blackout", would you know what to do?
Not too many years ago, the power was lost for a few days here. No probs, just went to the cottage. Got drinking water from a spring (all the time) and lake water was used to flush the toilet. Had lp gas for cooking, wood stove for heat (and cooking), hardly opened the fridge/freezer, candles/lanterns for light. Yeah, it was nice to get the power back on, but also OK to be without it.
You are following my thinkin. Mama Bear and I got married later on and the kids were basically going out as I came in. I didn't have much time to indoctrinate and they give me grief about being a hillbilly and not even knowing it. But I'm sure neither has split wood, ran a compound miter saw, plumbed in a water heater, grown a garden, scalded a chicken, picked buffalo berries to can jam, wired a garage, or put down a dog. Was it all fun, no, was it all done correctly the first try, no, do I want to do it all over again, no, but could I, yes. Maybe the world has just moved beyond me being of practical use because I am a outdated hillbilly. But it just seems when things get real and a keyboard isn't able to do it, at home/work/or in my very small realm of association, I end up a go to. I am glad that people have that level of trust in my ability to improvise and figure it out, but it makes me wonder when the bad times come if I can't for one reason or another will anyone else?
You're fine, believe me. I'm with you on everything except the canning of buffalo berries. I used to harvest a buffalo yearly, but I never touched the berries. Those were for the eagles and coyotes. You're on point with everything else, you had a situation that needed attention, you addressed it and fixed it. Or, you had a design and built it, made it work after some trial an error. But today, our society is " I want it now", and the spans of attention on any given subject are measured in seconds, minutes at most. Suggest reading a book and all you get is an I can only imagine the chaos if the grid goes down, the lights go out. 1 week, it's going to go tribal.
I guess my point is that technology doesn't always make people less capable of doing things. No, it won't available in a full blackout. All the skills Greenstick has were learned somewhere. That somewhere can be the internet for some people. It's more an issue of what people want or need to learn. I do think a lot of people have lost the desire to be self-sufficient in any way. We're all on this site because we burn wood. A lot of us probably hunt and grow gardens too. We don't do any of those activities in a vacuum. They require fuel, tools, etc. that we've purchased. But I think these kinds of activities help to feed an attitude of self-sufficiency. My power is out right now. There's a fire in my woodstove. If the power is still out in the morning I'll run my generator to power the fridge. Other people will be crying to the PUD and complaining because Lowe's is sold out of generators. It happens every time there's a storm.
You are on track , as are many of us here. You illustrated Greenstick point, that others will be "crying" if things don't get back to normal. So, the question was, if none of our current applications/accoutrements are available, what will the populace do in that situation? Does that segment possess the knowledge and skill set to survive on their own?
"it was nice to get the power back on, but also OK to be without it"... It is an enlightening experience, isn't it Dave. Every time we've gone to our cabin for winter overnights... and get water from the well/ hand pump, heat from the woodstove, cold storage from the cooler being set outside on the porch, use the outhouse... we always come back re-charged. Can't help but take us back to the 1800s when folks lived up there and... survived/thrived... and of course, our appreciation of modern appliances / elec is x100 when we get back home... Everyone should be so lucky to have a re-charging cabin...
Yup................Go outside and stand in your refrigerator, while you chew on a bologna sandwich........................
