Is common sense dying?

[Killer Bee]

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.

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

 

[Fox Mike]

People only learn if they make a mistake that costs them or hurts them. And then they have to WANT to do better.

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".

 

[Johnny-Baseball]

Funeral services for common sense were held several years ago.

Unfortunately, no one attended.

 

[peachhead]

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.

I don't either lol

But then again if I had one, I think I would learn how to use it correctly.

 

[Johnny-Baseball]

As newspaperman Horace Greely once noted, "Common sense is exceedingly uncommon."

 

[dannyd]

You can't fix stupid

Your right, I lived in California 40 years ago.

 

[burner]

And I bet he's a registered liberal Democrap and hasn't got a clue why...

 

[cowboycopus]

Back in the mid '50s one of my grand mother's favorite lines was "common sense isn't so common anymore."

 

[Duckfart]

"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.

 

[Randyzzz]

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".

 

[jav]

My dad couldn't fix a thing not good with his hands . Me I can fix anything lot of the credit goes to my exbrother in law Dale . He could fix anything and build anything. I remember when I was 16 he put a jack hammer in my hands and showed me how to use it good guy I miss him

 

[Ride1949]

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 now they've added this new clusterf*** on the north end of town. I've gone into Bend (Portland East) twice in the last two years. That's twice too many.

 

[blume357]

OR.......Maybe describe for him how to ride a ladder down from a roof. (The video should help with the description)

Ride1949 got me on that one... here is the video of me demonstrating this: (there is a commercial before it)

 

[Ride1949]

Glad to see you have a good sense of humor about that. Some would have worked themselves into a real snit.

 

[nekvermont]

Blume, you're a good sport.

 

[Watertender]

When I was Chief Engineer at a college I watched a texting student walk in front of a fire engine that had bell, horn, lights and sirens going full blast. The truck skidded and almost hit the kid. The kid looked up from the text, looked back down at the phone and continued texting...

 

[blume357]

Glad to see you have a good sense of humor about that. Some would have worked themselves into a real snit.

the reality is in my first post, I was trying to make a point about ladder safety, in which I'm not only trained in but have actually done seminars on it.... and then you reminded me of the irony of me actually doing this. I can't take too much serious these days.....

 

[davevabch]

Ladders and cell phones. Two of the most dangerous things that will get you killed faster than any bad guy.

 

[blume357]

Ain't that the truth and add to that the most dangerous chemical on the planet.... testosterone...
I once was watching a TV show titled dumb things people do on wheels or such.... and the first commercial was for a GoPro camera followed by one for a herbal supplement that would increase one's testosterone.

 

[Topfueler1]

Lack of common sense I see it all the time. Big part of the reason for the shape our country is in now!