How many in the USA under the age of 30 know how to prime a pump?
Have ever heard of the Farmers Almanac?
Know how to can tomatoes?
I sound like my long dead grandparents.
I think a lot of them can google instructions on doing this, complete with videos, in about ten seconds.
Ha Ha but would they even know what to ask if the pump did not produce water?
D2 knows what the Farmer’s Almanac is. Not the rest.
Phone booth?
Vinyl record?
VCR?
Well, this year for the first time, I learned to make what I hope us yummy vanilla extract.
On the other my kids are much more proficient than I in most techie things.
S does know how to iron—not sure if D does.
Well, today at work our old timers had to teach our youngsters how to properly fill out a paper form, what to include in the envelope, and where (and how) to mail the whole thing. Because when the government screws up on their end, they still expect you to do everything right. 
D2 when asked about phone booth: she knows to put in money, but when I asked how to call long distance, she said, “ Talk to the operator?” I told her we aren’t THAT old.
What a wringer washer is and how they work?
How to start a fire without matches?
Ever scored a ham and put cloves in all the diamonds?
Obviously they can find out --but only if they know what to ask online.
Not wanting to go back but sometimes it is fun to remember and just a little
worrisome to see all that is forgotten.
“D2 knows what the Farmer’s Almanac is. Not the rest.”
Same for me and I’m in my 50s! But, and I’m sure it’s true for many younger people as well, I have the brains to know where to go to find if needed and I’m 100% confident I could handle it. 
Also, canning and preserving food is having a bit of a resurgence. As are vinyl records!
Both my kids are outdoorsmen so, for them, starting a fire is no big deal. I’ve never done it, though, or used a wringer washer (not that it’s complicated) nor scored a ham and put in cloves (was never on our table as a family. Some of this stuff is as much cultural context as age related.
I prefer to freeze food over canning it, so our extra tomatoes are blanched and frozen and my kids definitely know how to help! My mom gives us a copy of the Farmer’s Almanac most Christmases so they know about that too.
Priming a pump they haven’t had to worry about (fortunately).
We came across a pay phone once and I used it to call my lad’s cell phone (even though he was just around the corner)! It was kinda cute because I took a picture of one of my other lads after I handed him the phone and he put it to his ear upside down. His generation is so far out from them that he hadn’t even noticed which side the cord should go with.
I have to wonder how many know how to saddle and/or harness a horse. Mine do.
Quite honestly, humans know what they need to know - through all generations. My parents still ask them a ton about anything technology related. My kids need to know a bit. My parents, not so much. Sharing knowledge helps both generations.
I agree that the changing world can make us feel old… My parents think so too.
I’ve had to tell my daughter more than once how to address an envelope. She also freaks out when she has to sign her name in cursive.
I often think about the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and how the populace had the ability to dig out and reconstruct.
In my old kitchen I had a corded wall phone that I used until 2 years ago. Toward the end, I’d notice how kids would come in to the house and regard it as a curiosity. It was quite useful for kitchen multi tasking. Cell phones have never worked well in my kitchens and are not as useful for multi tasking.
D is moving to a country where clothing needs to be pressed and neat. She bought some little spray bottles of wrinkle ease. I told her to buy an iron on arrival. Or steamer. We shall see how that develops.
My D1 would figure it out. As it is, she surprises me with her practical knowledge. I work with the younger generation and, for the most part, have faith in them.
My girls can build a deck, can’t use a sewing machine, but know how to use a needle and thread. They iron things even I don’t think necessarily need it. They know how to book a flight and find a cheap but safe hotel room. (D1 got herself from a 3rd world country to Africa. I dont even fully understand online tickets, lol.) She actually balances her checkbook, which I haven’t done on paper since my 20’s.
D2 has a record player.
On a light note, I’m proud they know how to clean a kitchen. And cook. D2 is a great baker. It took years, but once they were interested…
And we still have wall phones.
My grandfather was a doctor…my grandmother a high school chemistry teacher ( she graduated from college in 1923.) They lived in a large city. They would have had little interest and only some knowledge of any of these things. So based on my own cultural experience I would have no expectation of my kids knowing any of these things. I did however teach them about Margret Sanger clinics where my grandmother volunteered, how to make double baked potatoes like she made and how to call the plumber for any issue ( like my grandfather did!)
Lol @oregon101 I don’t think under 30 somethings wouldn’t think about your list. Not relevant in this day and age but they are interesting things to say you know you can do.
I saw a viral video about a woman who is making a series of videos of Italian grandmas making various homemade dishes starting with pasta from scratch (even gnocchi). She says this is a dying tradition and wants to be sure everyone can benefit from an Italian grandma showing one how to cook authentic, traditional dishes. I love this idea and bookmarked the page.
I just finished breakfast and had some delicious strawberry jam made by and gifted from a young 23 year old friend of one of my kids.
My kids are excellent cooks and big foodies. Pasta and gnocchi from scratch, all kinds of bread, sausages of many varieties, all kinds of fermented foods and drinks, etc. are all in their repertoire.
@doschicos I was wondering about supper tonight. I think I’ll accept those dinner invitations you were about to offer us board readers!
Cooking has never been on my list of favorite things to do. My grandmothers tried to instill the love in me, but failed. (They did teach me how and my kids tell me I’m a great cook with what I do, so I suppose there’s that.) In general, I’m an outdoor lover, not a kitchen lover.
“I saw a viral video about a woman who is making a series of videos of Italian grandmas making various homemade dishes starting with pasta from scratch (even gnocchi)”
My daughter is as millenial as they come and not interested in old fashioned stuff for the sake of old fashioned-ness ( she calls people who like vinyl for example “hipsters”). But she likes to cook and makes gnocchi from scratch it’s not that hard and easier than cutting pasta.
I also know the Farmers Almanac but am inept at the other two.
But sort of…so what? I could find out how to do those things - or might have a better solution. Buying canned tomatoes at Costco is probably nearly just as time efficient for MY purposes.
And I’ll bet that 20-somethings can develop a long list of what their parents can’t do so well either. All part of life/culture/choices.