Is anybody mourning the loss of Manly /Womanly arts?

They're giving you funny looks because you display the skills of an accomplished serial killer.

I don't think I'd include baiting/hunting etc, but this lack of practical skills in the younger generation is a noted issue.

I heard a radio piece about it a year ago or so, a school has set up in Seattle to teach practical domestic skills to college kids from wealthier backgrounds, whose entire focus till now has been on studies and social life and haven't a clue how to cook, mend, tend a home and garden, clean a place hygienically, prepare for a spell outdoors etc etc. The school charges a bloody fortune too.

Its a function of the last 100 years, our great-grandparents could stretch every penny, wasted nothing, mended everything. Our grandparents could do most of that but were better educated and had more ambitious jobs. Our parents grew up in a convenience age, where services were a huge business, but still largely retained the learned skills they saw in their parents. But when it comes to us and even moreso our kids, in the western world, we'd be useless if a major disaster befell us.

badabing106 wrote: »

I was in the Wicklow gap hunting for game last weekend. I had built my rabbit trap and was spraying it with apple cider as bait. A group of teenagers emerged and asked what l was doing.

That's why you attracted teenagers instead of rabbits. For rabbits you need to use lettuce, not cider.

I use a window cleaner. I'm not incapable
But

I have arachnaphobia, actually full blown, not just don't like spiders will vomit with panic if I get too close to a spider so can't do the downstairs outside

And

I have dyspraxia so can't do the upstairs outside cos I'd get stuck up the ladder and also, spiders

Window cleaner does the kitchen window inside above the sink cos I can't get up to that, or, more accurately, I cant get down again . Last time I did that one myself I ended up stuck on top of the kitchen units for 2 hours until someone got home and helped me down. Once he'd picked himself up off the floor where he'd been rolling around laughing at me for 5 minutes.

Tell me how wrote: »

ZX7R wrote: »

Neighbors called to me Christmas morning asking me to build there daughters doll house I kid you not.
Both a very well Educated extremely good jobs.
I am amazed that they can tie a shoe lace

Actually, this reminded me. I helped a friend assemble flat pack furniture to save him hiring someone to do it.

That's bad! Even I can assemble flat pack ! Takes me a bit longer than most but I can get it done.

badabing106 wrote: »

I was staying over in a house on Stephen's day. The house had run out of coffee filters, and were annoyed that they could not have their morning coffee. I asked them did they have any kitchen towels to use as a coffee filter instead? They had loads spare, coffee tasted just as good

Seriously?????????

Worst I have heard is a friend who is intelligent, wealthy and hard working who calls in an electrician to change a light bulb... now I am not talking something difficult, just a light bulb....

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

OP sounds like an Irish version of McGuyver, or if one wishes to be less flattering "a know it all'.

Not really, it's come to my attention over the years how little the younger generation know about basic life skills.

New guy (24ish) started in my place last year, we were having an issue with a conveyor belt guard and i asked him to get me some 9mm penny washers.

His reply was "whats a washer"?

I grew up building bikes, go karts and all sorts of things that would land you in hospital for half the summer because that's what we did as kids, sh/t even meccanno taught us about washers lol.

looksee wrote: »

On the whole flat-pack thing, generally flat packs have become so very well designed that there is real satisfaction in assembling them into a really nice piece of furniture. We had a set of shelves recently from Argos that was entirely held with wooden dowels up until the last 4 locking screws. It had to be done in order and smoothly, but it was a most impressive bit of quality construction when it was done.

Yeah, but it's not difficult is it?

hightower1 wrote: »

Although in saying that, I'm 33, my partner is 25 - went to light a fire last night and she didn't have a notion of how to go about it. Was sorta amazed as it was kind of second nature to me. I just thought "It's a fire, we mastered making these things a LONG time ago, heck, we have a whole sector of employment dedicated to putting this stuff out!"

I was going to mention the inability to set a fire. I also had to instruct a 25 yo in how to operate a front loading automatic washing machine. The same 25yo threw away a frying pan of mine she'd borrowed after she burnt some food in it. Rather than soak it and wash it she replaced it.

I've encountered blank stares when asking people if they've checked a fuse box to isolate the source of a power outage or if they've bled their radiators that wouldn't heat up fully.

Having said that, my mother could hand make clothes from scratch and both she and my dad could cultivate a garden to supply our spuds and veg. I can't do any of those things. Also, although not a tradesman my dad was very "handy" and could make basic wooden furniture and do repairs and was a fantastic painter and decorator. Again, not a hope from me beyond rubbing a roller of paint up and down a flat surface.