Today I read about a survey which stated that 70% of UK 20-25 year olds couldn't sew on a button. Apparently a whole generation are defeated intellectually by a the workings of a needle and thread. There are even reports that many younger folks don't know where eggs come from or that butter is derived from milk from dairy cows.

I have even heard stories that young people are unaware that stars exist if taken out with of the city street light domain.

Today I even had a British Member of Parliament (MP) on the phone who appeared to be little dazed and confused about his communications setup for his office.

Whats going on? Is it an insidious downside to technology i.e. constant pointless distraction.

Apparently we now even have to warn the youngsters that drinking liquid nitrogen cocktails is a poor consumer choice.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/19866191

We've a generation still living at home because they can't afford not to. Mother still sews for them.
For 'reports'; read 'stories'. I remember in the 70s the laments that 'teenagers were hopeless'. They are in their 50s now and believing the same stories.
Stories about 'x percentage of teens' obviously includes 13 and 14 year olds who are only a few years past believing in Santa.
You'll be amazed at the astronomical knowledge of everyone if you start to ask. But is it really useful knowledge?
qjs

Sounds like they need a resurgance of the Scouting movement. Heck, don't we all?!

I dealt with younger troops during my time in the Army. I found routinely that they:

Could not sew, mainly buttons but simple darning.
Could not cook, other than microwave popcorn and stuff you could nuke
Did not know how to do laundry
Could not balance a checkbook
Knew next to nothing about simple auto maintenance

and my one favorite

Couldn't operate a lawn mower ("We had gardeners" she said)

No stories, personal observations. But to make y'all feel better, if they were my troops, they were shown how to do some of the stuff I classify as routine living.

When I was in had a Bud whose Mom was Japanese.He knew 1001 ways to cook ramen and a lot of it was downright gourmet.

I have to be careful when evaluating others skills. Frequently they have skills in areas that I do not even know exist.

People are just as smart as ever and they learn the skills they need to function in their perceived environment. Sewing on buttons just isn't one of those skills.

Nomad

I've always thought that Aldous Huxley's Brave New World was the cautionary tale we should be paying the most attention to, not 1984.


I couldn't agree more. Participation in a well run Scouting program could address most of this. Although, even the Scouts have adopted "badge magic" to eliminate the need for sewing badges on .

Denis,

TOO funny, the first time I saw that "badge magic" I thought "what the HE&&", this is so the PARENTS dont have to know how to sew. Personally, I just used it too position the badge before I hand sewed it. That way I did NOT need to pin it in positon.

Ironwood

My kids have fantastic skills with computers and tech gadgets but if we lose power they are dead in the water. I feel so old, maybe I am , when I tell them about life without a microwave, cable, cell phones and how great pong and coleco football were.

But its the same for my folks and me, they are further behind the curve than I am yet they have skills I'd die for as they lived through the depression and the hard life of the 40's. My 86 y/o mom knows how to clean, cook, organize EVERYTHING and is like a walking farmers almanac when it comes to hints and such.

As for not being able to sew, Im sure they can google that!

Some time ago I saw a documentary about the Royal Marine Commandos and their basic training. The chief instructor made a point of it. He told the recruits that their buttons will get sewn on properly, their bed will be made meeting military standards, their laundry will be done and their room will be cleaned. The only difference might be that mom doesn´t do it anymore and cannot closed the door to hide the mess. They will be thought do all that.
Those recruits were between 17 and 24. So probably their moms really failed to teach those skills.
Ironically from the people in my generation the guys who served in the military or in emergency units where much better in those basic skills than even the women who actually expected to master basic household skills. The reason is quite simple. The guys had to acquire the skills and there was no mercy when they did not master them.