I heard someone say the countryside is a “closed book” to people who can’t read an OS map, yet the venerable old outdoor shop near me in Reading has stopped selling them altogether. Is it such a huge shift?
I think this is far from the truth.
I think what people lack is an upbringing that exposes them to the joys of being out & about, getting lost, asking directions & finding your way again. Folk are wrapped in cotton wool; Ease of media & news access has led folk to believe there is a paedophile behind every anorak; people don’t let their children bugger off for the day (we didn’t give our parents the option, we just did it).
People are just not adventurous anymore. My wife & her brothers barely know the woodland that is a mile away. When asked why, they replied they just didn’t feel the need to investigate or have an adventure there. The exception is her youngest brother who does go there, but was considered a tearaway in his youth.
I actually despair at the lack of adventurous spirit of today’s youth. It’s just easier to get on te mobile and sit outside the shops. Actually I’ll shut up now as I feel a rant building.
One last thing; I think people have the basic idea how to read maps; Gps has enabled people to follow a route on their smartphones; people are no more stupid, they just cant be arsed.