The yoof of today….

Someone at work was looking for a stamp just the other day- no problem, I’m sure I have one in my wallet. When I found it it was one of the olympics ones from 2012.

Fortunate really, if it was a regular one it would be no longer valid.

the only thing I put stamps on is birthday cards.  Most people less than 40 probably just use Moonpig

Most people under 40 probably send them ‘grats’ on Facebook or a link to a TikTok video.

Sure they can do computery stuff but you really must wonder what other basic skills are being lost forever.

Do they ?.  I thought they are just mostly users now.

Actually creating something in code or fixing a PC would be impossible to them.

Users.

  they also had to teach them cookery and general home economics because, left to their own devices, they would live off cereal and pasta in a maelstrom of badly organised and smelly clothing.

Yeah, that’s nothing new – it’s basically the concept of The Young Ones from 40 years ago. I was a student, late 80s, and remember plenty of housemates who didn’t have the simplest idea of how to cook. One thought he made oven chips by putting the chips in a deep fat fryer in the oven!

How do you send a birthday card to grandad then?

if you’re old enough to know how stamps work your grandad has probably moved on to a higher plane.

One thought he made oven chips by putting the chips in a deep fat fryer in the oven!

typical of example of over thinking by the older generations.

@sharkbait – Moonpig are owned by a massive Tory donor so that’s a firm no from me since I found out!

A few years ago my son was living in a shared house in Fallowfield, Manachester whilst a student at the University.

He lived with five other students studying a diverse range of subjects including engineering but none of them were able to change the blown lightbulb in the downstairs cloak room. The room had no windows and so was totally dark but they just used their phones for illumination.

There was a Sainsbury’s literally three minutes walk away which sold bulbs. There was no soap in there either. Not sure if they were incapable, lazy or just very tight.

A real problem that I have found is risk assessment for the 17 and 18 yos on building sites. Most are pretty useless in risk perception. They’ll gladly walk under a crane holding a pallet of bricks in the air, forget to wear their helmet when walking under low scaffolding, walk across a muddy path when a fork lift is coming etc. This is after they have had their site induction and and ongoing training from their supervisors, they think they are immune to damage. This wasnt a problem 20 years ago, young lads, generally, knew when something was dangerous, and took precautions, today, we have to control them a lot more, and keep our eyes on them, as they just dont realise how dangerous things can be.

A matron at Uppingham school recounted to me how an ex-pupil had left and got into Oxford. Mid-term he phoned her up to ask how to iron a shirt.

I’ve made it to 50 without owning an iron, or a shirt but I imagine I’d be able to figure it out

There are probably more pressing issues…

I made such a mess of the ironing my wife just said she’d do it*….. I blame my parents.

*I can actually iron, but MrsMcF likes ironing.

This wasnt a problem 20 years ago, young lads, generally, knew when something was dangerous, and took precautions, today, we have to control them a lot more, and keep our eyes on them,

More likely 20 years ago you were one of them and had your own blind spots.

There’s been ignorant muppets on building sites since the middle ages, not just since smartphones were invented.

I have completely lost the knack of using a washboard and mangle.   Mangles terrify me, they look like right finger crushers.

I bet none of them have the slightest clue how to programme a VHS video to tape something. By ‘eck.

Although the current ones did actually know how to read an analogue vernier caliper which somewhat surprised me.

I did know how to read verynears but haven’t had to do it for at least 15 years because every measuring spanner I deal with at home or at work is electric (aside from a single exception which has a dial guage). As such, while i remember the general idea, I really wouldn’t trust any measurements I made with verniers!

*I can actually iron, but MrsMcF likes ironing.

So your love for her in creases?