What is the older generations obsession with obsolete skills?

Question

For example, older people will say something like “oh it’s so sad that younger people don’t write cursive anymore!”
like why is that sad lol. It’s 2022, everything is done in emails or on computers. The last time I ever had to write out a paper was probably middle school. The only thing you need cursive for today is your signature which most people just do a scribble anyways.
it’s not a skill that’s needed. It’s not a skill that’s used. So why should they waste kids time by teaching them cursive anymore? When are they EVER going to use it?

And then it’s especially annoying when they act like younger generations are stupid for not knowing these old skills. Like oh I’m stupid for not knowing how to set up a ham radio from 1934 but you can’t figure out how to change the input on your tv. Please.

Kreneman · Accepted Answer

Today we live in a Modern way where as technology have taking over in many ways especially with the young generation (Kids that are born between the late 1995 - 2000 era present now), where as certain things that we use to do back then before the early 2000 (starting in late 2005) decade have gone which cause many of us people to forget the basics to many skills to certain things which are unique and still great even today. Writing in Cursive and Reading in Cursive is still a need (On a small scale nowadays) especially like you mentioned for signature reasons: Writing checks, package deliveries (certified mail), or certain business that require a signature plus there are many business's that don't use technology to scribble or they have it but errors can happen, and they ask for your signature or to fill out certain paperwork. Furthermore, we have a lot of old folks or young adults (depending on how they were raised or where their from) that are set in their ways that they won't use or doesn't know how to use technology. For hobbies, you still have people that write a book, personal journal or writing a report in a particular business in Cursive. When it comes to writing and reading, I wouldn't dismissed the skill of Cursive because no matter where you are in the world, anybody can come across some things that they wish they could have learned and its good to still have especially here in the U. S.

EyeKnowMeNahYou · Accepted Answer

Well such as the microwave generation. Nice seeing only you'll probably say why do we even need cars to fix when the machines can do it for us what happens when they are obsolete or when they are not considering fixing the car important you have to know a certain set of skills it's called survival. What happens when you cannot open your mouth you will have to write because I will not always be computers and technology available at your disposal. Do you know that cursive and your signature go both hand and hand. Oh rather is something even better, was the last time you will just signature in cursive Don't you know that that's your personal signature or fingerprint. That is something that can't be duplicated but you wouldn't know that because you too busy just making an electric or electronic signature. This also goes in and almost saying why are we still using vehicles that run off fossil fuels and such Well what happens when the resource of electricity is limited, or when your car is going to be controlled by computers at any given moment. I get it new generation sees progress and the evolution and feels it is a great need to abandon what they consider old-fashioned ways but you shouldn't forget foundational things specifically handwriting. But if it meets no necessity in your life Don't suggest something others abandon it that definitely isn't an unnecessary skill.

Cathy7734 · Accepted Answer

According to my grandfather:
1. The younger generation doesn't subscribe to educational magazines, such as "Forbes" "Discovery" etc. Whatever they want to know they Google it.
2. The younger generation doesn't have any hobbies anymore, like photography, star-gazing, learning a new instrument, etc. They play video games.
3. The younger generation doesn't take responsibility for their own actions. They blame others and society.
4. The younger generation feels entitled, where things should be given to them. They believe they deserve things.
5. The younger generation doesn't have any sacred relationships anymore, like respecting their elders, God and even their pets. Everything is fast and easily disposable.

SkyCastle90 · Accepted Answer

I had no choice but to learn in school and at home, so now that's all I know how to write in is cursive.

I thought it was useless up until my early 20s when I was working at a grocery store and a confused husband couldn't read his wife's handwriting. He came to me and ask if I can read the shopping list. Her cursive was beautiful and I could read it clearly; to his surprise I automatically started picking out everything on the list and place in his cart (it was 3 to 4 items). Plus, cursive came in handy when I had to write on birthday cakes too; never got a disappointed customer.

mstbooblover · Answer

According your logic, classic bikes, knowing how to calculate, read and write with a plain pencil and a piece of paper, playing music, peeling patatoes, etc. should be considered obsolete... Have you the slightest idea of how precious such knowledge and abilities can prove and always will be? Just imagine electricity not being available anymore. Reading, writing and calculating by hand are the basics of every normal education, and this should of course not exclude technologies once those basics well understood. I don't like at all the idea of being completely dependant on artificial technologies, and thus I daresay: let's not try to be more Catholic than the pope ;0)

Apple1996 · Answer

I still write in cursive so it's a useful skill in my opinion since it's easier to write that way. And it's good to be able to sign your name properly. I will probably be having to teach my kids cursive on my own since school doesn't teach it anymore.

libsaretards · Answer

Cursive is actually necessary to read older documents at their original source. The Constitution is a huge example of this. Yes, there are websites that translate the Constitution, but if you cannot compare the original CURSIVE document to the translated version, how do you know the websites did not make changes to suit their own agendas? You cannot just trust people to correctly translate the Constitution. For example, liberals have no clue about how the second amendment works. If they had their way ALL translations would deliberately exclude it.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

I think you used a bad example with cursive. But I do think it's a VERY important skill to know how to write. It doesn't have to be cursive though.

I worked in engineering for a long time. It was my job to create new technology. But not all new tech is better. I won't embrace new tech just because it's new, and neither should anyone else. Sometimes the old way really is better.

One skill I think kids should still be taught is doing math by hand. I think calculators, computers and phones should be banned in math classes.

To be honest, you sound like someone going out of your way to find things to complain about. I think you are vastly over exaggerating things and nit-picking about trivial stuff that doesn't matter.

Lliam · Answer

What's hard about wringing in cursive? Once you know how to do it, you're done learning.

I was eager to learn my ABC's before ever entering school. By first grade, I was trying to learn how to write cursive on my own by figuring out how to run the letters together and keep my pencil on the paper.

If you can't write in cursive, can you not read it, either? If that's the case, it will be a good way to communicate past you in code.

I crack up at the arrogance of kids. Yeah, I was that age once. They think they are smarter than everybody else. They think they're on the cutting edge.

I'm baffled by the laziness and sense of entitlement that makes a grade school kid think they know what they need to learn.

And what about taking notes in class?

Become literate. That means knowing how to read and write. THEN learn how to type. Then become a brain surgeon, rocket scientist, game programmer, or whatever the fuck.

KirbyFan246 · Answer

Writing in cursive is an art, a masterpiece that computers can only imitate at best, though you can type in cursive fonts.

It's obviously something that shouldn't be complained about. But they have a point. Try Writing a letter in cursive to your friend. It's fun, Calligraphy is an engaging hobby, especially with one of those special ink pens that resemble writing with a bird's quill. Or even writing directly with a bird quill is even better. Your writing becomes an artform, just as many were in the past. It's a lovely gesture, and I'll also add, since I've written letters to girls before, They all Love Letters in cursive, it's very romantic when you you do that for them, so if you have a girlfriend, she may be very captivated by such a loving gesture of artistic expression, of literature form and function.

CubsterShura · Answer

Lol I never learned cursive and it's never been a problem for me, nowadays you don't even have to write as much anymore and even when I do what matters is that it's readable and mine is. Boomers are just mad the skills they learned in their youth to have power in society don't have that effect anymore as people are discarding the stuff no more relevant to the modern days.

Anonymous · Answer

Well, if there were some massive power outage for an extended length of time and you couldn’t use your precious laptop how would you communicate with people?

Christ I just looked at your age. No wonder you feel this way.

This is just a generational divide. You’ve probably never written a letter in your entire short little life.

Cursive was used because you could write out letters more quickly than if you printed them since you were not lifting your pen off the page, and since the letters were slanted you could fit more words on the paper.

It doesn’t matter. Now people can’t even be bothered to punctuate an e-mail. People communicate in 140 characters tweets or short little social media posts, or they write in weird text speak “bcuz typin iz rlly hard.” People used to write thousand page epic novels. At the rate we’re going your children will communicate by grunting into their smartphone and twerking.

exitseven · Answer

I agree with you about the ham radio and other technologies. However you should sit down sometime and write a hand written letter to somebody. If you have a girlfriend she will appreciate it. It is a different experience putting your thoughts down on paper and send it by mail. Try it sometime.

LindsayR07 · Answer

Because these things expand the brain, besides that, there are a trove of original documents that are written in cursive. Do you understand Old English or Galic? Or Muskogee or Latin? These are all dying languages where there are immense banks of knowledge that will likely never be translated and thus someday will be lost completely or only accessible to the highly educated.

We are NOT the most intelligent creatures on this planet, we are clearly surpassed in that regard by dolphins, and possibly other primates. The advantage we DO have is our ability to read and write, thus passing on knowledge through centuries and in mass, not just from person to person.

Hellodownthere · Answer

Cursive was necessary when all you wrote on was pen and paper, which is what I was taught with. But they didn't have anything else then. I stopped writing in cursive when emails and texts and the like became common. All of my note taking I do with Samsung notes on my phone or my tablet. It's a lot better man. I don't wanna go back to writing everything in fucking longhand on sheets of paper. My cursive writing was terrible anyway. I have no need for cursive anymore so why should young people need to use it? Why not insist they learn how to use rotary dial telephones as well? Makes as much sense.

NathanDavis · Answer

when you're in the middle of such generations...

Anonymous · Answer

I think lost skills are
Humility
Respect
manners
Understanding
Patience
Self improvement
Self control.
Open minded

And I do use penmanship. I print though not use cursive. I write often even though my job is heavy electronic for documentation and communication.
While typing is a great brain developer. I would argue that writing does far more. Which includes patience, concentration and artistic skills. There is a slowing down and a breathing and a concentration on the shape and motion of the letters that can't be replaced. And from the sound of your question I think it might do you a bit of good.

Anonymous · Answer

There are a lot of things we are taught that are not technically necessary. The arts are not technically necessary. Good manners are not technically necessary.

But as someone else eluded to, these things are virtues that make someone a better human being. If you want to be a lesser human being, that's your choice, but don't criticize people who want to be better than average, or want to teach the ignorant to be better than they might otherwise be.

Your attitude is sadly common among our current generation and it's one of the factors that continues to drag the US down to mediocrity relative to our peers in other nations, which is fucking sad. Thanks for that.

Johnnyroyyall · Answer

There's a lot to be learned by older things.. there are studies that have been done that you actually physically pick up a book and read a book that you'll comprehend the book much more is scrolling on screen

In the case of writing a check as opposed to swiping your debit card.. you right out the physical check your fingerprints are on the check the person that cash is the check their fingerprints are on the check of a debit card if people could just punch your number in and take money... With the check there's actual physical contact. In case you get defrauded by a service or a product

And all actuality staring at a digital screen on subconsciously tires your eyes faster

Whatever2929292 · Answer

Do you think it is a bad thing to know how to do stuff? I don't think that it is. How do you know you will never need something? I am sure one day when emails become a thing of the past and stuff you will wonder why people don't know how to send a email anymore or whatever.

You will miss the good old days of snapchat and the good old days of tik tok and YouTube you will just trust me you will.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't know any older person that has ever said that. But some skills may SEEM obsolete. That doesn't mean they are it just means the modern world has made them not very necessary.
This is vaguely related. I was helping oversee a youth group on a camping trip and we needed to contact one of the parents and we couldn't because his phone was dead. And because the number was programmed into his phone he never bothered to learn it. To be fair I can see how this could happen to even an adult. But if you come from a time before cell phones you didn't always have that luxury.
And before anyone criticizes me. This was NOT one of the kids I was overseeing. I had emergency contacts for all the kids I was watching. I realize it was the adult that dropped the ball.

boldlyblu · Answer

I feel like I'm part of that older generation because writing in cursive has it's own unique style to the person. When you sign a document with your John Hancock ( as my grandma used to say), you are signing with the understanding that you know what it says and means. I personally feel like printing doesn't have the same effect.

MrShaun · Answer

The sad part is cursive writing still being used within society and younger people can't read or write it.

Communication is an important skill and not being able to read and write something still so common within society is terrible.

I handed a note over to an associate; leaving it on their desk. It was fairly important but the associate disregarded it because it was written. When she hadn't addressed it, the issue became worse and it all wound up back in their lap over something most educated people could have read.

If you haven't been taught cursive, there are websites and software that will help teach. Do yourself a favor and learn.

Texasgal95 · Answer

Because that’s what they grew up with and will probably end up saying the same thing when we’re their age to our kids and grandkids it’s hard sometimes when something has been the norm for so long for some people to adapt I’m at there’s things I had to help my grandparents with this because I have a technology is again I don’t think it’s an obsession is just what they know

What is the older generations obsession with obsolete skills?

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