ANSWERS: 10
  • On the tecknical side i think it can that both men and women are becoming as you put it 'less capable.' I wouldn't say it's just men.
  • As opposed to women, in general? I know few who change their own tires, male or female, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to use a screwdriver. I think we are developing more specialized capabilities, and leaving some tasks to those with the specializations.
  • Ok I can maybe accept that some guys don't know how to change a tire, but there is no way that they can't figure out how to use a screwdriver.
  • I think everyone is becoming less capable in reference to "handy work". As things become more automated and technical, they will require more and more specialists. This has a negative effect on common sense, which is pretty much a requirement to be capable.
  • Not from my personal experience, but I could see how that may be the case for some people. I personally am female, but I can use a screwdriver and change a tire (to use your examples.) But, my boyfriend can also do those things, plus many many more. He can fix pretty much anything that's broken, and he can build things. Most of the guys I've known in my life could do the same. So although some people may fit into this "less capable" situation, it isn't true with the people I know in my life.
  • Many schools have eliminated the way to teach these things. It was called Shop Class and has gone the way of Home Ec. Which brings up the point of women having the same issue. Many women now don't know their way around a kitchen the way there mothers and grandmothers did. I think the reason for this is that everything is marketed to be cheap and be as little work for everyone. This includes household items that the men would have had to fix in the past, which is now just replaced, and also includes meals that would have been made from scratch and are now just popped in the oven.
  • This is a really sexist quesion, should women not be taught how to change a tire if men are? Or is that pointless, becasue *obviously* their place is in the home, so they would have no need to know how to change do such 'manly', useful jobs.
  • I have also noticed this. Whatever happened to the days where it seemed EVERYBODY knew at least three languages, two sciences, was politically astute, and could still find time for intellectual hobbies? I don't think that schools can help. While they can attempt to teach, it won't help unless the students want to learn. I was odd. I wanted to learn about cars and electronics and hydraulics, and all sorts of technology and tech-related things, both theoretical and applied. Kids to day are just too lazy and unmotivated to be bothered.
  • My grandfather was a handyman, but, although my father believed himself to be, he was not (we used to beg him not to fix something!) and my husband is less able than I am...I don't think that it is just men that are becoming less capable...it is everyone in the developed world. I believe that all children should learn basic needlework (buttons, hems, basic stitching) and basic repair (changing a washer, a lightbulb, a flat tyre, putting in and taking out screws, hammering etc).
  • In reality, no. Men are changing where their talents lie though. As we are not rural or agricultural any more, few need the talents of setting and stringing fenced. Do not need to know how to put in irrigation lines, till or seed crops. As for that screw driver, it could get you in serious trouble using it on a modern car that is computerized. Then we have the fact more people are renters and are not allowed to work on household items.And as far as changing a tire, might be better calling a tow. I have never been at ease changing a tire at the side of a road and having cars zoom past at 65 MPH and within 2 feet of my back. Talents have changed from manual tools to the gathering of information and knowledge.

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