My wife and I started talking about this after she had to help an old lady at the DMV figure out how to use her iPhone to scan a QR code. We’re in our early 40s.

  • Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I feel this is very similar to working on a car. Back in the day they fixed those things up until they crumbled to dust. Pretty much EVERYONE’S dad knew how to do at least a little something on the car. But I didn’t. The car was just a tool, not a hobby, my dad would fix things when they went wrong and sometimes I’d help and learn a bit, but other than that, I had it repaired or tagged it for a new one.

    Cars were always there and easily accessible, but I had to learn DOS to play video games! Computers are now our dad’s cars.

    • kalleboo@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I think this is an apt analogy in more ways than one!

      Older cars, you really did have to keep messing with them to keep them running and if you had to go to the mechanic every time, it would be too expensive, so it was almost a necessity. Just like with computers 2 decades ago.

      These days you hear of people who drive a Honda for 100,000 miles without even changing the oil once and it just keeps running somehow. Why bother learning to fix something like that?

    • NikkiNikkiNikki@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Feel this, I was lucky(?) enough to have a mechanic living at my house who basically told me to fix it myself, he guided me through of course but he emphasized how important it is doing these things on your own.

      That guy cannot figure out how youtube works and he’s only 45.

      I’d say it all depends on how much you had to use something, while the hurdles in software may seem small to someone experienced. those who are first trekking through see it as a huge wall

    • Mawks@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Also keep in mind things are less tinkerable now, especially cars and there are a ton of added anti self repair things added that weren’t there before

      • LowtierComputer@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        100%

        My buddy bought a new BMW after decades of working on older models. The whole bottom is covered in plastic. You can’t jack it up on the side of the road without a part you have to buy from BMW. Then the brake caliper bolts were metric half size. He sold it the same month he bought it.