The Can't Do Generation

A lot of it is also things being infinitely more complicated now than they were "back then." You used to be able to fix a car on the side of the road with a couple hand tools, now everything is computerized with 100 sensors. Instead of only having about 4 things to check on an old car if it died on you, now you've got this mess of electronic shit under the hood that even the dealerships can't seem to fix sometimes.

[mikeb]

I think it's a combination of several things.

The first one has already been mentioned - stuff (especially electronics) is manufactured such a way that when it dies it cannot be fixed. There are no parts available and sometimes the damned thing is sealed shut. This encourages the toss it and buy another one mentality.

The second thing came about because of the first thing - you've got people that don't have the knowledge or desire to fix things. Most of us old timers were raised in an era where men generally knew how to change sparks plugs and points and fiddle with a carburetor but that knowledge is no longer required. The result is that a lot of people neglect and drive cars until they quit on the side of the road before having them fixed.

The third thing that I think is going on is that people simply don't want to get their hands dirty doing manual labor anymore. The dream today is to have a college degree and a white collar job.

The last thing that's going on is the loss of votech in high schools. My high school had a metal shop, a woodworking shop, and an auto shop. I seriously doubt those shops are active these days, most likely due to liability - those spaces are probably being used for storage rooms now. So kids aren't exposed to these things anymore and don't learn them.

So it's not all old man grinching. Our country has turned it's back on the old ideas of thrift and taking care of what you have in favor of consumerism.

These fucking articles drive me crazy. I guess bitching about younger people is just the cool thing to do?

Get used to it. I remember the cover of Time in the early 90's having an article about Generation X that actually claimed we weren't worthless, which of course caused a bunch of old jackasses to get all up in arms about it. Now most of us are the old assholes, and the cycle repeats. Keep an eye out when you hit your late 30's for your friends bitching about Generation Z. It will happen.

[Baron Von Crowder]

These fucking articles drive me crazy. I guess bitching about younger people is just the cool thing to do?

Shut the fuck up.

[Probie]

These fucking articles drive me crazy. I guess bitching about younger people is just the cool thing to do?

[32vfromhell]

I like it how nowadays you have 1 person doing the job of 3 or 4 from the hayday of the 80's and 90's but they are considered "lazy".

You do realize that the Baby-Boomers were also called the "me" generation, right?

[IHaveAMustang]

Its happening far more than you think. I put my dad in assisted living earlier this year and I've had three reports of him being naked in bed with other ladies. I was over there the other day walking the halls with my dad when some of the other ladies commented 'Here comes Mr 'X' he's a player'. I was like WTF didn't even think these old broads knew the lingo.

Its happening far more than you think. I put my dad in assisted living earlier this year and I've had three reports of him being naked in bed with other ladies. I was over there the other day walking the halls with my dad when some of the other ladies commented 'Here comes Mr 'X' he's a player'. I was like WTF didn't even think these old broads knew the lingo.

Fucking greatness.

[bcoop]

Its happening far more than you think. I put my dad in assisted living earlier this year and I've had three reports of him being naked in bed with other ladies. I was over there the other day walking the halls with my dad when some of the other ladies commented 'Here comes Mr 'X' he's a player'. I was like WTF didn't even think these old broads knew the lingo.

I'd like to buy that gentleman a drink. Lmfao

[95DRGT]

Even funnier if you think they're sexting each other...

Its happening far more than you think. I put my dad in assisted living earlier this year and I've had three reports of him being naked in bed with other ladies. I was over there the other day walking the halls with my dad when some of the other ladies commented 'Here comes Mr 'X' he's a player'. I was like WTF didn't even think these old broads knew the lingo.

[JC316]

Another part of the problem I've found is a lot of things you are not able to get parts for, or it is not economically feasible to fix it. It's pretty annoying actually.

Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner. I am a chronic tinkerer. Any time something breaks, I have it ripped apart to see what went wrong. More often than not, I can find what happened, but you can't find the parts to fix the damned thing.

The one exception to this is modern smart phones. My sister's Galaxy S3 found itself heading toward a wall at terminal velocity. It ruined the screen, but the mainboard was fine. I swapped her mainboard into mine and then got one off ebay for me to cannibalize.

[Rick Modena]

This is a lot of it right here. For instance this past year my parent's a/c went out, turned out to be the compressor. They were quoted something like $5k for the compressor with a 1 year warranty, or $7k for a new unit with a 5 or 10 year warranty. Well guess what they did?

I'm assuming they spent the $5k and spent the other $2k they saved on xmas presents?

[LANTIRN]

Another part of the problem I've found is a lot of things you are not able to get parts for, or it is not economically feasible to fix it. It's pretty annoying actually.

This is a lot of it right here. For instance this past year my parent's a/c went out, turned out to be the compressor. They were quoted something like $5k for the compressor with a 1 year warranty, or $7k for a new unit with a 5 or 10 year warranty. Well guess what they did?

[BLAKE]

Wonder if your particular instance might be location based? Twenty/thirty-somethings in the tundra are some of the most helpless, entitled snots I've ever been around....

More likely situational. I don't hire lazy idiots, so it's not a fair sample, but it is an example that not everyone of a certain age group is useless.

[DamonH]

Another part of the problem I've found is a lot of things you are not able to get parts for, or it is not economically feasible to fix it. It's pretty annoying actually.