quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder:
These kids haven't had to do a thing. It's not unlike how your body builds an immune system.

There are a lot of factors, but the workforce today is absolutely fucked. While I was still a contractor it was fucked, back when I was welding the interns we were getting showed the warnings signs. The bedrock is "everybody goes to college," then layered on top is participation trophies and more. The young people don't want to work or take instruction. A lot of sectors are suffering now, but the trades are in trouble. Immigrant labor will fill all of these positions, the ones AI doesn't eliminate.

Safe spaces and all this other dogshit, are building drones, not people.

quote:

Originally posted by slabsides45:
I sometimes mention considering a professional trade (plumbing, electrical, welding, etc) and almost all the time am met with an offended stare. I go on to explain that some of the most successful men I know are skilled tradesmen, have a great life and make good money. IMO society has done itself a huge disservice in trying to teach our kids to only pursue careers behind a desk, and that bill will come due sooner or later.

quote:

Originally posted by bryan11:


Some of the trades through community college at least look similar to the funnel for processing kids from public school to college to debt and questionable job options. So, how does a youth find the right path for trades?

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Originally posted by rizzle:

quote:

Originally posted by bryan11:


Some of the trades through community college at least look similar to the funnel for processing kids from public school to college to debt and questionable job options. So, how does a youth find the right path for trades?

Thanks, rizzle! We're near Des Moines, Iowa. I agree about the apprentice jobs and that's pretty much what he's looking into now. Trade schools nearby are out.

I'm asked this on occasion, Don't know your location, he may have to relocate. Any apprentice jobs in large companies. Non union mining ( copper especially) they will pay you while you are trained for 2 years or so. Couple days in class and a couple days on site each week. The training centers are up to date and you get hands on. No college debt to deal with, go right into career that pays extremely well. These companies need electricians, pump and plumbing, mechanical, every trade.
No one listens to me though, so carry on and have him go to a trade school

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Originally posted by Edmond:


If I could go back in time to 17 year old me, I'd gotten into electrical or HVAC work.

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Originally posted by Edmond:

Now 44 year old me is telling young people interested in the military to look into the Navy Seabees.

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I advise young people to learn a trade, get a job and a paycheck. Nothing wrong with earning an honest wage doing honest work.

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Originally posted by BigJoe:
I know a college kid who gets up about 6am, reads his devotional, eats breakfast, works out about 6:45 for an hour, might eat again, goes to class for 9a to 12:15 has lunch, does some school work, goes to practice for 2-3 hours, has dinner, goes back to his dorm, does school work, takes a shower, reads his devotional, by this time it is about 10pm, . Next day repeats....That's not the "American college student" as some describe here. Not many can top that....But that's my college student!

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by 41:
I find it hard to believe that they no longer learn cursor writing.

I don't see why cursive writing is such a big sticking point with older folks who want to complain about "kids these days"...

Consider the purpose of cursive writing, and why it became widespread:

A) It facilitated the use of quill pens and later metal dip pens, since it didn't involve picking up the point from the paper as much.
B) It was faster to write in cursive than print.
C) It was considered to be fancier/more professional than block lettering.

Point A) When was the last time you wrote with a quill or other dip pen?

Point B) There are very few people in the world who would be able to write - even in cursive - faster than a competent typist can type. And computers are everywhere these days, even in your pocket. Not to mention things like audio recording and dictation software as another technological alternative. There are few to no situations any more in which both a computer or other piece of technology isn't available and a writer would struggle to keep up using printed letters.

Point C) All professional writing - legal documents, legislation, business correspondence, school papers, etc. - is produced on computer now. And barring the dwindling numbers of folks who feel a hand-written letter is "more personal", even most personal correspondence is done via computers nowadays.


Therefore, there is currently little to no reason for kids to be taught cursive these days. It has gone the way of horse-drawn buggy driving. (That is: Still around, but very niche, and learning to utilize it is only necessary for those who want to be able to operate within that niche.)

Hell, I was part of what's likely the last generation that learned cursive in school, and you know how many times I've used it since I got out of school? Never. Unless you count signing my name, but "written signatures as identity verification" is also a concept that is dying (thankfully), and a printed name is accepted just like a cursive signature anyway, so there's not even an impetus there to learn cursive.