With the advent of computers, cellphones, text messaging, GPS navigation, etc, etc....., Do you see people losing the basic abilities, such as figuring out problems in their heads, basic directions, that one day all those skills will be obsolete from lack of use.
The other night I was trying to explain some directions to some of the younger members of my fire dept. They were like, "well I'll just go punch it in my GPS". I said what if you didn't have one? Don't you guys know North, south, east and west?? Half of them are clueless. They didn't have a clue how to use a map, and had no desire to learn how to use one either.
Have we become that dependent on devices to help us through life??
Another example (even though it doesn't pertain to general public ) we now use thermal imaging cameras to do search and rescue. Fantastic invention, it has saved countless lives. But once again, I wouldnt trust my life on it. I still remember my basics. One thing I do in training, is I let the trainees use the camera to do a search . they are all warm and fuzzy , with the safety of the camera to get them out of the building. Forgetting their basic training. Once they are in the middle of a dark smoke filled room< away from the safety of the wall they are supposed to be following, I either rip the camera out of their hands or pop the battery out. Now what are you gonna do?? Guess what, you are dead. You depended on a device that can fail. You didnt use your most basic and safest tool, your brain.
Even our cars, they practically drive and park them selves. We are getting too comfortable in them. So much that our attetion to our surroundings is minimal.
Maybe its me, I'm a big techno holdout. But I just see a scary trend happening.
Sorry for the rant.
