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What skills did almost everybody have 50 years ago, but few people have today? (slrpnk.net)

submitted 1 week ago by SolarBoy@slrpnk.net to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I suppose it would be mostly practical skills, cooking, fixing things. Usually had to be done by people themselves.

Maybe also mental things like navigating (with or without paper map) and remembering their daily and weekly agendas.

What other things would be a big difference with the people today?

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[-] lastlybutfirstly@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Glad about that. I can’t imagine living in that kind of environment for long

It wasn't bad. One of the skills lost since then was how not to be a fussy Felix Unger bloodhound. You didn't notice it. People are much more sensitive to smells today. Between the body spray and the air fresheners, the modern world still stinks, it just stinks pretty. The other nice thing was that there was a clear distinction between places that were uptight and relaxed. Today the smell of a church and the smell of a bar are almost the same.

Edit:

Also, one of the skills lost today is handling fire. Back then everybody lit a match or flicked their Bic 20+ times a day. Casually, effortlessly and elegantly handling flame was a skill almost every sophisticated adult had. Today seeing a 26 year old strike a match is like watching a 6 year old strike a match in the 80s. It's very apparent in films that are period pieces when the actor is kind of terrified of the match they just clumsily struck.

this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2026

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