I might not be the smartest person in the world, but I like to think I was blessed with common sense. More and more I'm seeing people do the dumbest things. A couple of days ago I was watching a youngish carpenter preparing to set up a 24' extension ladder against a chimney. He laid the ladder on the ground and started pull the 2 sections of ladder apart. When he started to try to stand the fully extended ladder up, I couldn't help myself and said "that's how you set up a ladder"? He looked at me and said "Yea, why, how do you do it"? I walked over, slid the 2 sections back together, stood it up against the chimney and commenced to pull on the rope to extend it up the chimney. I walked away without either one of us saying a word.
Is common sense dying?
- Thread starter nekvermont
- Start date
Common sense has been dead for several years!
People only learn if they make a mistake that costs them or hurts them. And then they have to WANT to do better.
Not my day to save the world so. ….. I usually just watch and enjoy the festivities.
Double that if they’re of the opposite sex.
That pertains to strangers, not my immediate family of course.
Not my day to save the world so. ….. I usually just watch and enjoy the festivities.
Double that if they’re of the opposite sex.
That pertains to strangers, not my immediate family of course.
![Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes, Clinically Proven, Fragrance Free, Unscented, Water Based, Hypoallergenic, Multi-Use, Hand Wipes 336 Wipes Total (6X Flip-Top Packs) [Packaging May Vary]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41KLBHu9CAL._SL500_.jpg)
bobski
Hunter
no excuse in todays world. the internet is around.
but....whats different is , we knew if we didnt learn and make ourselves worth something, we wouldnt get paid.
todays kids dont have a fear of failing.
they are living off of parents bank accounts and if they fail at carpentry, they take up making donuts...along with 3 billion other donutmakers.
but....whats different is , we knew if we didnt learn and make ourselves worth something, we wouldnt get paid.
todays kids dont have a fear of failing.
they are living off of parents bank accounts and if they fail at carpentry, they take up making donuts...along with 3 billion other donutmakers.
WalterEmrick
Bearcat
Common sense is changing over time. To some degree I think common sense is controlled by propaganda. I hear a lot of folks parroting the latest propaganda without any understanding of what they are saying. Pretty much echolalic. Another realm where I see change is that there a lot of folks that have turned responsibility upside down, e.g. everyone is supposed to ensure I'm not offended. There is a lot of "common" sense out there that is simply not going to work.
Watched this old lady yell at the cashier because she couldn't count back change.
Explained to the cashier, that she was afraid a house was going to fall on her, like the lady in the wizard of OZ, that's why she is so mean.
Then I explained to the cashier, how to count back change with my purchase, she learned something new and doesn't think all Old People Suck.
I also explained to Her "Never Trust Anyone over 30".
Explained to the cashier, that she was afraid a house was going to fall on her, like the lady in the wizard of OZ, that's why she is so mean.
Then I explained to the cashier, how to count back change with my purchase, she learned something new and doesn't think all Old People Suck.
I also explained to Her "Never Trust Anyone over 30".
But did you show him the proper ratio if the distance from the chimney for the feet depending on how far up the ladder is extended and also the proper way to go up the ladder? (sorry, I'm just messing with you..)
Also, what is a carpenter doing going up a ladder up against a chimney.....?
Also, what is a carpenter doing going up a ladder up against a chimney.....?
OR.......Maybe describe for him how to ride a ladder down from a roof. (The video should help with the description) 
Common sense did really die long ago. My husband always heard his grandparents using the term rat cheese so he uses it regularly. He has had people convinced that rat cheese is a special cheese that you can only find in gourmet shops or order online from such places and it is expensive because you have to milk a LOT of rats to get enough milk to make the cheese.
Slyk Willy
Single-Sixer
To my mind, your illustration of the ladder, is not due to lack of common sense, but rather lack of knowledge. There have been hundreds of things that I've learned over the years from others that makes things easier, cleaner and generally more productive. I don't think that shows lack of common sense, just not knowing the best way to do things.
As for me, not having a father figure in my life has limited my exposure therefore knowledge, to many such things like but not limited to how to extend a ladder.
As for me, not having a father figure in my life has limited my exposure therefore knowledge, to many such things like but not limited to how to extend a ladder.
OP
Blume, I have to admit that I don't know what that ratio is, but I've spent more time on ladders than anyone could imagine, and I never had a problem, I think common sense had something to do with that.
The carpenter had to fix some flashing around the chimney.
OP
Yea, there sure was a lack of knowledge there but to see an extension ladder and not at least wonder what that rope going from the bottom of one side, up to the top and over a pully and down the other side might be for.... that's a lack of common sense.
I've fallen off a LOT of ladders over the years....
My wife finally "disappeared" all of the when I was in my mid-60's...... we were 'newleyweds' at the time and she had only witnessed the "lesser" of the falls at that point in my life ... The one that dropped her in her tracks was when I put my extension ladder up inside the creek running along the side of the house. When she yelled that it was leaning a lot to the left, I said: "Do you see that tree over there on the left? That's my planned landing point in case it falls.".
Took me awhile to notice they were all missing......... I guess it's for the best.
J.
My wife finally "disappeared" all of the when I was in my mid-60's...... we were 'newleyweds' at the time and she had only witnessed the "lesser" of the falls at that point in my life ... The one that dropped her in her tracks was when I put my extension ladder up inside the creek running along the side of the house. When she yelled that it was leaning a lot to the left, I said: "Do you see that tree over there on the left? That's my planned landing point in case it falls.".
Took me awhile to notice they were all missing......... I guess it's for the best.
J.
Common Sense died 16 years ago.
I asked here about buying a ladder, youse guys told me to not buy one.
No, an extension ladder is not common sense. I wouldn’t know how to make one go up or down.
No, an extension ladder is not common sense. I wouldn’t know how to make one go up or down.
You can’t fix stupid
Killer Bee
Advanced Level Novice
I agree with this sentiment
at my age I would take that opportunity for a teaching moment, make a friend, and share my experience with someone who can use it to perform their work safely
and btw, it's 4 to 1
for every 4 feet of rise set back 1 foot away at base
any decent apprentice knows that
This is true in many ways. I have a small stack of leather holsters I have made that just didn't work as I had planned (didn't sit right, wrong angle, dye didn't work as planned). Gonna take them to my local FFL store and tell the fellows to give them to anyone that wants them. This is the 'cost' spoken of above. Not so much common sense but a failure of the "7 Ps".
I don't either lolI asked here about buying a ladder, youse guys told me to not buy one.
No, an extension ladder is not common sense. I wouldn't know how to make one go up or down.
But then again if I had one, I think I would learn how to use it correctly.
As newspaperman Horace Greely once noted, "Common sense is exceedingly uncommon."
cowboycopus
Single-Sixer
Back in the mid '50s one of my grand mother's favorite lines was "common sense isn't so common anymore."
Duckfart
Bearcat
“Back in the day” you had to work through a problem or THINK! Nowadays it’s just easier to ask you phone what/how to do something. An earlier post talked about counting out change. My recent experience… some tacos I bought recently came to $13.05
Gave him a $20 and he started tapping away at his keyboard. Then I quickly grabbed a nickel and said, “here is the .05 (just to make it easier on their coins and maybe save time) well, after about 15 seconds of a 1000 yard stare, smoke came out of his ears and he handed me my nickel back, then gave me my $6.95 Why?? Because his computer told him too. I tried to explain why I gave him the nickel. After 5 seconds or so, I realized I was beating a dead horse.
Gave him a $20 and he started tapping away at his keyboard. Then I quickly grabbed a nickel and said, “here is the .05 (just to make it easier on their coins and maybe save time) well, after about 15 seconds of a 1000 yard stare, smoke came out of his ears and he handed me my nickel back, then gave me my $6.95 Why?? Because his computer told him too. I tried to explain why I gave him the nickel. After 5 seconds or so, I realized I was beating a dead horse.
I think a lot of what we consider as “common sense” is actually “mechanical aptitude”. And I truly believe that as our youth spend more time building imaginary cars or armies or whatever on those dang video games- instead of building scooters or model airplanes or forts or toy guns- the general mechanical aptitude of our youth declines.
And I do believe that some part of this mechanical aptitude is inherited. My late Dad could fix anything. I’ve inherited that skill, and my daughter and grandson have too. I can’t count the times I’ve been asked by young guys how to put something back together. Also- if the parents dismiss the trades or self reliance, it seems the kids are less likely have any mechanical aptitude.
Another factor is the absolute lack of spatial awareness, combined with acknowledgement of consequences.
And…yes, lack of common sense kills. We used to live by Bend, Oregon. There is a divided parkway that runs through town. The speed is 45 and there are several crosswalks to allow pedestrian crossing. Well, I can’t tell you how often someone gets hit in those crosswalks. Do these people think that 2 lines of paint will stop a moving car? As a pedestrian it’s your responsibility to make sure it’s safe to cross- but the mindset seems to be “I’m in a crosswalk, I have the right of way, you better stop”. I guess that’s a good illustration of “dead right”.
And I do believe that some part of this mechanical aptitude is inherited. My late Dad could fix anything. I’ve inherited that skill, and my daughter and grandson have too. I can’t count the times I’ve been asked by young guys how to put something back together. Also- if the parents dismiss the trades or self reliance, it seems the kids are less likely have any mechanical aptitude.
Another factor is the absolute lack of spatial awareness, combined with acknowledgement of consequences.
And…yes, lack of common sense kills. We used to live by Bend, Oregon. There is a divided parkway that runs through town. The speed is 45 and there are several crosswalks to allow pedestrian crossing. Well, I can’t tell you how often someone gets hit in those crosswalks. Do these people think that 2 lines of paint will stop a moving car? As a pedestrian it’s your responsibility to make sure it’s safe to cross- but the mindset seems to be “I’m in a crosswalk, I have the right of way, you better stop”. I guess that’s a good illustration of “dead right”.
