The Baby Boomer generation grew up during great technological advancement and cultural change. They witness the rise of computers, the advent of the internet, and the birth of many other modern conveniences. It transforms how we live and work today. Unfortunately, however, some useless boomer skills once considered essential for daily life have become obsolete. In this video, we will explore some Boomer skills that no one needs to know today.
Useless Boomer Skills #1 Typing on a Phone
In the era of smartphones and voice-to-text technology, typing on a phone keypad is a skill that’s no longer relevant. This Baby Boomer life skill is essential when cell phones first appear. It becomes obsolete with the advent of modern technology. It is necessary to learn how to type on a phone’s keypad in the past. It’s no longer a practical or efficient way to communicate today. Instead, using voice-to-text technology or typing on a virtual keyboard has become more relevant. As technology advances, new skills will emerge, and the need for traditional skills will continue to fade.
Useless Boomer Skills #2 Memorizing Phone Numbers
Memorizing phone numbers was once a vital life skill that Baby Boomers needed to master. It’s common to have a physical address book or a mental record of phone numbers for friends and family. However, this skill is no longer necessary in today’s digital age. Thanks to the convenience of cell phones and their ability to store contact information.
While memorizing long lists of phone numbers in the past is impressive, it is no longer a practical skill. Today, smartphones store hundreds of contacts, and it is easier to search for someone by name than to recall a string of digits from memory.
Useless Boomer Skills #3 Using Phonebooks
In the past, phone companies publish a yearly directory containing the contact details of all their customers. It’ll distribute to their respective households or businesses. The directory was organized alphabetically, making searching and finding the desired information easy. Unfortunately, these directories are bulky that some people compete to test their strength by attempting to tear them in half!
However, with the declining use of landlines, telephone directories have become thinner and, if they still exist, are not common. Nowadays, people can find the contact information they need by simply searching for it online through search engines like Google.
Useless Boomer Skills #4 Sewing at Home
Sewing is a remarkable skill that has been passed down through generations. It’s too fascinating that before producing a lot of clothing, people rely on their sewing skills to make clothes. In the past, tailors and seamstresses were highly regarded, and people would seek their services to create bespoke clothing that would fit them perfectly.
In many cultures, sewing was considered an essential skill that women needed to learn to prepare them for marriage and motherhood.
Today, sewing has become more of a hobby than a necessity. With the ease of access to ready-to-wear clothing, many people have lost touch with sewing. However, the importance of sewing as a skill cannot be overstated.
Posting Seasonal Cards
The joy of receiving a card in the mail cannot be overstated. There’s something exciting about opening up your mailbox and finding a brightly colored envelope or postcard waiting for you. It’s a tangible reminder that a loved one is thinking of you and wants to share their thoughts or experiences.
Before the internet, cards were a common way to stay connected with friends and relatives who lived far away.
However, with the rise of the internet and social media, sending a message online has become the norm. It’s faster, easier, and often more convenient to send an email, text message, or e-card than to write and mail a physical card.
But while the convenience of digital communication is undeniable, there’s something lost in the transition from paper to pixels. The tactile experience of holding a card in your hands, the sound of the envelope tearing open, and the anticipation of what might be inside is a sensory experience that a computer screen can’t replicate.
Reading a Map
Reading a map was once an essential life skill every Baby Boomer needed to know. It was a time when technology was not as advanced as today, and people had to rely on paper maps to navigate unfamiliar territory. It required a certain level of patience, persistence, and problem-solving skills to read a map accurately.
Despite the challenges, reading a map had its advantages. First, it encouraged exploration, as it was possible to discover new routes, shortcuts, and hidden gems that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Today, technology has made map reading a thing of the past. GPS systems and smartphones have made it easy to find directions and explore new places without needing a paper map.
However, while technology has made travel more comfortable and convenient, it’s also changed how we experience the world. We’ve become very dependent on our devices that we often miss out on the small details that make traveling so special. For example, there’s no more stopping at the gas station or asking for directions, often leading to unexpected and memorable encounters with locals.
Writing in Cursive
Writing in cursive is a beautiful and elegant form of art that has been passed down from generation to generation. There’s something mesmerizing about the flowing curves and loops of each letter, the way they seem to dance across the page. In a world where everything moves so quickly, writing in cursive can be a meditative and grounding practice.
While technology has given us access to many fonts and digital calligraphy, there’s something special about putting pen to paper and creating something by hand. Writing in cursive requires a level of focus and attention that is hard to replicate in the digital world. It’s a skill that requires patience, discipline, and practice to master.
Unfortunately, many schools no longer teach cursive writing as part of their curriculum, deeming it unnecessary in a world where most communication occurs online.
Using Library Card Catalog
In the age of instant gratification and information overload, the idea of using a library card catalog to find information seems almost quaint. But there’s something special about the sense of discovery and adventure that came with flipping through those long drawers of cards, searching for the perfect book to help with a project or assignment.
The library card catalog was more than just a tool for finding books; it was a portal to another world. Each card represented a new adventure, a new opportunity to learn and grow. The process of searching for a book required patience and perseverance, but it also allowed for unexpected discoveries and happy accidents.
While digital search engines and online databases may have replaced the library card catalog, the spirit of exploration and discovery that it embodied still lives on.
Changing Your Oil
Changing car oil is a quintessential part of owning a car and a task that was once considered a necessary evil for baby boomers. But today, modern vehicles have become more sophisticated, requiring fewer oil changes than before. Thanks to technological advancements, cars have become more fuel-efficient, and the engine oils have become more advanced, leading to longer-lasting performance.
Car owners can now enjoy the convenience of not having to change oil as often, reducing maintenance costs and their environmental footprint.
Besides, as the world becomes more digital and automated, the auto industry has witnessed a significant shift towards self-maintenance, with cars equipped with onboard computers to monitor their performance and alert drivers when maintenance is required.
Balancing Your Checkbook
The rise of digital payment systems and mobile banking apps has made writing checks seem like an outdated and obsolete practice. In the past, checks were a convenient way to transfer funds and keep track of expenses, but now they are seen as cumbersome and time-consuming.
Nonetheless, there is a certain value in the tangible act of writing a check. It requires a level of intention and focus that is often lost in the world of instant gratification and instant transfers. When you write a check, you’re forced to slow down and think about the transaction you’re making.
Furthermore, balancing a checkbook, while tedious, was a valuable life skill that taught financial responsibility and budgeting. In the digital age, it’s easy to lose track of your expenses and overspend, but the act of manually tracking your transactions and balancing your checkbook helped to keep spending in check and ensure that you lived within your means.
Using a Fax Machine
The fax machine was once a staple in the world of business communication. It was used to send and receive documents quickly and efficiently without the need for physical delivery. But with the advent of the internet and email, the use of fax machines has dramatically declined. Why send a fax when you can simply attach a digital file to an email and send it instantly? In fact, many businesses today don’t even have a fax machine anymore. And for those who do still use them, it can be frustrating when the machine runs out of paper or ink or when the connection is lost, and the document has to be sent again.
It’s no wonder that so many people have abandoned this outdated technology in favor of newer, more efficient options. But even though fax machines are no longer essential, they still hold a place in the history of communication technology.
Getting Up to Change the TV Channel
Before remote controls, TV viewers had to physically get up and change the channel. This wasn’t such a big deal when there were only a few channels to choose from, but as the number of channels grew, so did the number of trips to the TV set. It was a bit of an inconvenience to say the least, especially if you were comfortable on the couch or in bed.
Today, with voice-activated assistants and smart TVs, changing the channel is as simple as speaking a command or tapping an app on your phone. It’s a far cry from those days of manually turning a knob or pushing buttons on a clunky remote control.
Using a Typewriter
Using a typewriter was once considered a crucial life skill, but it has since become an outdated practice. The days of typing away on an old-fashioned typewriter are long gone. Today, we have the luxury of using sleek laptops, tablets, and smartphones that have completely revolutionized the way we write and communicate.
However, using a typewriter was not just about typing itself but also how it made you think about what you were writing.
Today, we may not need to use a typewriter to get our work done, but we can appreciate its role in shaping how we communicate and write.
There you have it. It’s now time to hear from you. Let us know which other skills you think fit the list of useless boomer skills that no one needs to know today.
