Name:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/08/25/why-your-teenager-cant-use-a-hammer/
Can you use a hammer? Probably not. I personally think that your generation spends too much time on gadgets. I honestly feel that you are missing out on a lot of things, like road hockey, building a ramp to jump off of, playing on a jungle gym, exploring in the woods, etc... If you had to could you change a tire on your car if you had a flat? Has technology taken over your world. Thoughts?
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ReplyDeleteaustin
ReplyDeleteEver since I can remember technology has been a huge part of my life. Technology has made everything easier and less work. You can find just about anything you need to know by "googling" your question. Instead of going to the library to search for a book to help you on a school project you would search your topic on the internet and end up getting a 1000 times more information then a book in 0.07 seconds. Ill be honest there are somethings like building and other trade stuff I have no idea how to do and my family always tells me that my generation is in big trouble but I disagree. We have a much different life style then our parents did when they were growing up and we have a much different way of doing a lot of things like approaching situations and problems as well as handling them. But I do agree that there will be problems with our generation when it comes to trades. I'm sure there will be a solution to fix it in the future.
Krishma
ReplyDeleteI agree that technology has taken over our world. We are so attached to our laptops and cellphones that we don't take the time to do much physical activity.
When I walk down the halls of our school, I see so many people standing in a group, texting. It's kind of upsetting that people would rather type a message out to their friends rather than talking to them face-to-face.
There are exceptions to this because many kids do get out and do physical activities but as more new gadgets come out, the more we'll be interested in them and less in outdoor activities. We're becoming addicted.
Caroline Cox
ReplyDeleteI personally feel that there are still people in our generation who are able to do all of those things, but those who can't we are able to use technology to our advantage. We are able to go on the internet and read about how to use a hammer properly, or how to change a tire. A lot of us still like to be active and play around, however technology is just another tool we can use to our advantage.
Max,
ReplyDeleteI think that this is more aimed towards city kids. Because we know how to do these things.
Name: Omar
ReplyDeleteI think this post is more aimed towards ccity kids because i know most of my friedns, in fact most of bracebridge and all of muskoka know how to "swing a hammer" and do more than just that.
Stephen Good
ReplyDeleteI think that it is only city kids that are unable to use everyday tools. Grwoing up in a rurual town, most of my friends and I know how to use tools and preform basic funtions such as turning a screwdriver the right way.
Emma
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, although i can swing a hammer our generation is so consumed in technology that soon enough everything will be some type of technology. When i look back i remember my toys being books and simple things where as now, my young cousin learns all her words from a DVD and her toys are all new and mechanical. I think that soon enough the trades workers will plummet as the article said. But who knows they might come up with technology that does that kind of work for us! This is certainly a generation where gadgets come prioritized over how to swing a hammer.
Jhana.Ellard
ReplyDeletePersonally i am able to use a hammer, but i am not very talented with one. Our generation invests a lot of time into technology. Personally i think that many people including myself have been take over by technological advances. It limits peoples drive to figure things out and to work through troubles. I have done my best to try and be active as well as taking advantage of the advances in technology so that it doesn't take over my world.
Emily Schirmer
ReplyDeleteI fully agree that technology has taken over our world. So many people these days would much rather spend their time on their cell phones, laptops, video games, etc. instead of doing physical activity. Although it can be entertaining, technology is replacing our ability to communicate with humans on a physical level. These types aren't ancient, but they've already planted themselves firmly into our lives.
Jill
ReplyDeletei think that because our generation has access to the technology of course we are going to use it, but I do know a lot of people that do all those thing such as making jumps and play road hockey. i may not know how to change a car tier because i have no use for that kind of knowledge and quite frankly i really don't care to, that doesn't mean there aren't things apart from technology that can be enjoyed.
Carson
ReplyDeleteThe other day at work, two wooden boards broke on the front deck. O proceeded to remove the boards, cut some wood to size and hammer it back in the deck. Many people in our generation are still capable of using a hammer. Technology has not taken over our world, but it is a big part of it. I use my phone and my mac everyday, but my life does not revolve around using them.
Caelan
ReplyDeleteI think that technology has really taken over our generation’s world, I think that if we didn’t come home to computers and have our phone on us all the time, we would most likely have more time to do things, and be outside more often. I necessarily don’t think that the state our generation is in is a bad thing. All of the technology at our fingertips is really helpful and we can get answers to all of our questions in a click of a mouse. Personally I can use a hammer, just not too effectively… My hammer skills could use some work.
Koryn Madsen
ReplyDeleteI think that it’s someone’s personal choice on what they want to spend their time doing. Not all kids of this generation are focused on technology, more on outdoor type things. People are also going to do what they feel takes up their time and if gadgets is what they choose then it shall be that.
Nina: I think that this article is not correct, because for a fact in kindergarden we are always taught to do things the "simple" way. In stead of cutting out three pictures one by one, put them all together and cut them out at once.
ReplyDeletewe can't be blamed for something we grew up with.
For example: My father was a very handy man, always trying to fix things before throwing them out. So of course i took on his trait. Trying to fix things, maybe not swinging a hammer but doing something for myself and knowing what im doing.
it may be difficult to know what im doing, but you learn,
Brandon Little
ReplyDeleteI Myself, have no difficulty using a hammer. I'm not a pro or anything, but i definitely am not anything special. People who work at grocery stores n stuff who are not around hammers, therefore they aren't as good. But i still play road hockey, hit jumps and hang outside with my pals all the time. But there are always going to be the kids who don't like going outside. and since our population is always growing, the number of kids that hangout inside is going to grow as well, and people don't look at the kids that do go outside. Technology, has taken over the world, but not in a negative way. For instance, people videotape themselves biking on trails, and they're still getting the exercise.
Jack Raithby
ReplyDeleteI think that many city kids lives a have been taken over by technology. But the kids who live in rural areas (like us) lives haven't been taken over. I myself know how to swing a hammer and change a tier. Just last week me and my friends changed a tier for a women in her 40s because she didnt know how to.
kyle
ReplyDeletei think this is dumb and that we can swing a hammer it just that this day and age everthing is arownd technoligy if we dident know how to use computer and programs we would be lost. and we still find out how to do things owrself other than useing the internet
Jamiee Jeffries
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think technology has taken over our world. The amount of time people are on the internet, and cell
phones, ect is crazy. I still believe that some people are still able to do things without technology, but most
people are lost without it and rely on it too much. People are so attatched to their computers and electronics they probably dont remember
the last time they went a day without it. Some teens if you took their cell phones away for a day, they would be
completly lost, and have no idea what to do. However i do feel that technology is use full, and helps quite a lot,
and teens being able to know how to use it is a great advantage.
Alex.Cumber
ReplyDeleteI am in the middle of this argument. I think that some people can swing a hammer and problem solve and some cannot without the assistance of technology. I think it all depends on how you were born and raised. Skills can also be passed down from generation to generation. I that think sooner or later technology will take over but i will pass down my skills to my kids.
Jack
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion technology is our world now. Instead of using a hammer to build something we do it on the computer and program machines to do it for us. We rely on technology to do our jobs for us. Technology has allowed us to be lazy. Instead of going over to talk to someone we can just text the person. It does help to make plans and get together but it allows us to be lazy. Cell phones are our world now, we cant live without them anymore. I remember when Blackberry and Apple were just fruits.
Brady
ReplyDeleteI think that people that don’t understand technology think its a bad thing. But I can Google a video to show me how to do anything from swinging a hammer to changing a flat tire. Technology is a good thing, as long as you don’t let it take over your life. Here in Muskoka I think that we are pretty well rounded in technology and in everyday tasks like swinging a hammer. Like Max said, I think that blog was more aimed towards city kids where they rely on technology way too much.
Name:Jon Donaldson.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that technology has become a big part of everyday life but I don’t think it has taken over. I believe that by 2020 we will not be low on people who enjoy the trades such as Wood/Auto. As for swinging a hammer or building a ramp we could use the internet to find out how to do these things and then go do them. Technology is just a tool that almost everyone over uses.
Karl Koner
ReplyDeleteI think that there are less and less kids with hands on skills these days, but there are also kids who can do thing with technology’s that previous generation can't comprehend
Shawn
ReplyDeleteI disagree with this article I myself can swing a hammer and I know lots of kids who can swing a hammer. I would agree with Omar in that this is directed towards city kids because in the article it says that there are no shop classes anymore to teach kids how to use tools, but here at this school we have many different and very good shop classes that teach many different things. I do agree that we are to consumed in technology and that is all a lot of kids do.
Eric
ReplyDeleteI personally think that this is directed toward city kids. Kids that live in small towns know how to swing a hammer and change a tire.
Heather Johnson
ReplyDeleteI personally think that the older generation is very judgmental of the younger generation- the future. Every generation will have new strengths. However they will also have many weaknesses. Inevitably the older generations strengths are now our weaknesses. But that's not to say we can't do them or that we are incapable of learning these skills. And even so, many children already know how to hit a hammer; we aren't solely focused on Xbox and our cell phones. I was a daddy’s girl and was always out with my dad, watching him build things or fix something. Or even going to work with him! I used to get to sit on his lap and help reverse the big lorry! Or begging him to take me on a wheelbarrow ride!
As for missing out on road hockey, building a ramp to jump off of, playing on a jungle gym, and exploring the woods. I have always done those activities! Minus the road hockey! I've always loved throwing on my rain boots and running out into the rain, jumping in puddles and mud. I'm lucky to live in town, but also be surrounded by forests. Even now at 16, I go for adventures through the woods. On the snowmobile trail there's a river, I've walked down to the river and jumped across the rocks many times. And it's quite the trek to get down there! The best time to go on an adventure is when the snow is melting and there are piles of mud! Or even in the winter, I throw on my snow shoes and away I go.
I believe that the older generation has blinders on. They only see what they want, what they have their hearts set on believing. Many, but not all, adults believe that we are too caught up texting, and using facebook. They don't see everything else we participate in. The new devices that my generation has are phenomenal! I personally own a blackberry, and on bbm I have my best friend who lives in Scotland-that’s 3000 miles away. I can talk to her without it costing a dime, whenever I need her. We are lucky to have such devices, to make life a little easier. And essentially for us to communicate much faster. None of this planning to go to a phone box at 6 to call people! New inventions are always being brought to the table, and they always will be. Ever since the 20’s ideas and inventions have been improved and renewed.
The older generation spent most of their time outdoors making memories. Each generation will have new devices to help them in making memories. Just because the older generation remembers all their happy times outside, building ramps and playing in the mud doesn’t mean that these memories will pass on to our generation. We have to make our own memories, but that’s not to say we don’t have some of the same memories as you!
Lily Smith
ReplyDeleteOur younger generation is different than the older generation. Our generation isn't interested in the trades, but more interested in technology. Technology has developed machines and devices that eliminate the need for labour work and created jobs that are web based and do not require any sweat. Although I know how to use a hammer correctly, I don't see the need of knowing how to use it because it will be considered out dated and a thing of that past in the near future.
Cassandra Cham,
ReplyDeleteyes, I agree that most kids now a days can't even do tasks like useing a hammer or other tools. Even though Technology is a wonderful tool given too our generation its just at the point were some kids let it take over their lives. They are so attached to their cell phone, Ipod, computers, That I personally cant stand talking to someone and they are too busy texting you just can't even have a conversational with them.
I have also read the comments and its not just city kids who can't ''swing a hammer'' I know a lot of kids from here in muskoka that can't even help their parents bring in a pile of wood.
Dylan McEachran
ReplyDeletePersonally, i think this argument can go both ways. Some of us actually get outside and muck around and others are hidden in all the latest technology. I personally think I am in the middle of it, I know how to us power tools and stuff but I also am quite sophisticated with using technology. This argument is true and false some people have no idea how to use any tools but are very good with computers and others are the other way around.
Kai Slaughter
ReplyDeleteI agree that our generation spends too much time with technology. Many kids spend most of their spare time using their phones, computers, or watching TV. I can understand why there is a shortage of skilled tradespeople in Canada. The technology we use limits the hands-on experience our generation gets.
However, I also believe that technology can be very helpful. When we need to figure out how to do something hands-on, like changing a tire, we can just “google” it. I think that the article applies more to kids that are from the city. Most of my friends and I know how to use a hammer and turn a screwdriver the right direction.
Emily Harris
ReplyDeleteIf I didn’t know how to swing a hammer, I would probably Google it. Technology is just the easiest fix for any problem that we have. For our generation, the easy fix is the fix we choose first. We don’t want to be bothered with things we don’t have to. We would rather spend a few dollars and buy something assembled, call a tow truck or hire someone to fix what we can’t rather than doing it ourselves. Personally, I can swing a hammer. I can roof a house, build a shed, change a tire and do odd little jobs. That isn’t because I had to, I just had the opportunity to learn how. Of course people in the city wouldn’t have these same opportunities. You won’t find a workshop or even a tool box in someone’s 14th floor apartment. We want is convenience. Technology gives us that.
Josh Bissonette
ReplyDeleteI myself am able to use a hammer and a variety of other tools, in fact I am probably better with these than I am with a computer. I think that it depends on where you live and who you live with when it comes to this. If you live in the city and know people who can fix things for you, then obviously you would use technologies more than you would a hammer or other tools. In my opinion I do believe that technology has taken over our lives, but only to a certain extent of it, and most certainly not completely
Cole
ReplyDeletePersonally, i don't know one person over the age of 10 that does not know how to use a hammer.
I cant fix a car, i can build a tree house, but those aren't imprtant in my life. for kids our age, there are options to learn how to build things, or repair things. those who are interested in those types of things learn those things. But for people who have no interest in building or repairing ( me for example) there is no need to learn. I am intersted ion media and movies, i use these skills to my advantage, while others, who build may not have the same skills.
A generation befor us did not have the technology that i find so interesting, so they used what they had then. Skills are skills, nione are more important than others. they are skills that benifit the induvidual, and others who need those skills.
Steven
ReplyDeleteIf i swung a hammer, i would hit that nail on the head. Living in a small town means i need to know how to use my hands. We actually have trees for tree houses and chances to learn how to use tools. For that reason, technology doesnt totally rule our lives. We want to stay connected to our friends and save time whenever we can so we use technology. It just makes our lives easier. There is nothing wrong with that as long as we still know the basics. We don't let it rule our lives but it takes up a large portion or what we do because we want it to. We enjoy being connected. Ill text you from my tree house. Ya, i build that.
Hillary Hetherington
ReplyDeleteI feel that the only way that technology can take over our lives is if we let it. In our day and age it is very easy for us to spend an entire night on our blackberry's and laptops socializing between txts, fb and twitter and not being phased by it at all. We spend hours upon hours everyweek msging each other and staying completed connected in everyway and this is the normal for us. Its normal to us because its what our generation grew up with. It has made everything we do simplier faster anywhere we want. Its changing our world and the way we interact and communitcate around the world. Its growing and outdating itself on a consitent bases. When technology is always updating, it is increasingly difficult to communicate with people who are "out of date". For example, if you have a blackberry, you are less likes to text someone who doesn't have BBM. It is like technological descrimination. I gaurentee that you would talk to your grandparents twice as much if they knew how to text. Someone's inability to comunicate convienently can almost cut them out of a person's life. We have become so obsesswed with staying up to date that we are leaving people behind.
Ben
ReplyDeleteI only got through reading about half of the replies other students made, and I just want to point out first and foremost that the article isn't complaining or pointing out that more teenagers need to know how to swing a hammer or build a model airplane, those are just examples and it's simply commenting that technology has quickly become a vital role in our everyday lives, and that possibly we're relying too heavily upon it. Technology makes carrying out tasks easier and more efficient; for example, we wouldn't have this class, or be typing this response to this article that we read on the Internet if it weren't for technology.
Not to be pointing fingers, but I do agree that it's possible the cause of this lack of ability in manual labour could be due to our upbringing. For example, being the youngest in the family I never really got a chance to work with my dad, but I'm able to help him if he needs me on projects around the house. Admittedly, I wouldn't even know where to begin on changing a tire, but because of technology I'd be able to whip out my phone and search how, or call up a friend nearby to give me a hand.
Some people mentally are just geared more towards academics rather than manual labour, and vice versa. That's not to say one group is better than the other group, both are essential. Some people just have a good hand with things like shop or auto class, others (like myself) would be completely lost, and are more comfortable working with words and people versus machines. (Same goes the other way, there are many people who are very skilled trade workers, but at the same time technologically illiterate.)
Parents are so protective of their young children these days and always looking to read up on the latest parenting trends. Their children don't really have an opportunity to just grow up, make mistakes, and learn from them; instead, they are watched upon like hawks and prevented from even getting close to a scraped knee. With this mindset that physical injuries (no matter how minor) are to be avoided at all costs, it's not likely that young adults are going to dive right in to a trade that is potentially hazardous to their health.
In conclusion, the article isn't aimed or meant for "city kids", the demographic would more likely be categorized as adults with children, taking into consideration the title and the magazine it was published to. Large generalizations such as "Kids that live in small towns know how to swing a hammer and change a tire" can't be accepted as truth, because that's saying that every single adolescent who resides in a low-population town is knowledgeable and handy when it comes to automotives and carpentry, which definitely isn't the case. To be able to read, you need to be able to understand the words you are using. Illiteracy is marked by a showing of little understanding or familiarity with a language.
Like I said earlier, some people are better with their hands, others are better with their minds. For those of you who aren't that great with books, you'd better hope you have some proficiency with a skill trade.
Russell Stirling
ReplyDeleteI agree that many kids today can't do simple tasks like using a hammer but I believe that this is because most have had no reason to learn. Personaly I learned to use a hammer when I was about seven helping my dad renevate the basement so maybe my opinion is a bit biased but learning to use a hammer takes only basic hand eye coordination. And, although many kids havent learned to do it, i believe if anyone applied themselves they could pick up on the task in less than a day. They just have to have a reason to apply themselves.
On the other hand, work ethic is deffinetly a problem in our generation. We just dont like to make the effort to learn tasks that seem so remidial and useless in a generation filled with technology. Everyone loves to procrastinate.
Drew
ReplyDeletei disagree with your statement becuse i think that technology helps us do the takes the we are put up with. in your generation you had to find out how to do things on your own. but today we can just look up how to do the task witch makes it safer to do and you finish the project.
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI believe that Macleans is right we do spend too much time with gadgets. Facebook, MySpace, Tweeter and just plan texting is taking up our time. What’s the point in texting somebody who is right beside you, why can’t you wait. A lot of kids our age don’t know how to do some of the simple things that our parents did on a regular bases. Some kids in the country side do more than those in the city because we have nature all around us not as much technology as they do in the city, but still it’s ridiculous my dad built a car in his spare time when he was a teenager and we either fix a picture on Photoshop or update our status. I’m not saying we don’t get out because we do, but sometimes we just speed way too much time with technology.
Kellyn
ReplyDeleteI agree with this article to some extent. I think that there are people that don’t know how to swing a hammer or change a tire but there are also plenty of kids that do. For me, growing up, things like using a hammer is not uncommon. With a Mr. Fix-it-all Dad, knowing how to use tools – not mechanical ones – is just something I have to know how to do. As my Dad is always saying to me, technology is great but we need to know how to do things manually for the times that it fails us. Some people believe that now that we have technology there is no reason for us to do things manually but for those times that technology fails us, instead of having to send it in to be repaired and not having it for a week(which may still happen) we’ll have the ability to fix it ourselves. And although as of right now I couldn’t change a tire myself by the time have my G2 in a month I’m sure that I will.
Eric Uhde
ReplyDeleteI agree that technology is a major part of most people's lives these days, and also that many teenagers would not be able to swing a hammer. I can personally do this, but I also admit that I am certainly consumed by technology. However, I do feel it is important for everyone to have some sense in the trades, like being able to swing a hammer or replace a tire. We should take it upon ourselves to improve our skills with tools.
KURTIS GAMGAM
ReplyDeleteI personally think that technology hasn't ruiend our generation. It has given us one more way to get learn and teach. personally i am very interested in technology, and i happen to know how to swing a hammer. therefore you cant blame technology for the lack of trade skills today.
Tyler
ReplyDeleteI think this article is directed towards kids that live in more urban areas where the need or the oppourtunity to use a hammer or other tools doesn't come often.
Kia Postma,
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I think that this depends on who the kid is, and how their parents brought them up. My parents brought me up with no satellite or cable and I wasn’t allowed to get Facebook until grade 9, or a cell phone until I was 16. So I learned to entertain myself with other activities. So even though I am very involved with technology, I still know how to live without it.
Chris
ReplyDeleteI believe that this article is directed towards people who live in more urban areas. Though technology has affected our lives completely, I know that I can still use tools, and make due without technology growing up in a rural area such as Bracebridge.
Charles
ReplyDeleteI believe that our generation has become too consumed in technology to the point where our use of general tools have become somewhat useless, although I can swing hammer to the extent where it's not a problem, I personally think that I've become too involved in technology and have almost become 'clueless' as to what I'm doing when it comes to general problems. This article can not apply to all teenagers of our generation though because there are teens that can outsmart anyone when it comes to technology or teens that can easily fix regular problems with tools, it's all depends on the individual, not the stereotype.