Velcro: The Glue That Holds Our World Together
In “Generation Velcro”, Dorothy Woodend discusses the issue of society’s lack of knowledge, caused by things like Velcro, video games, and a general “lack of suffering” (Woodend 207) experienced by generations past. She compares the lifestyle of farmers to that of the modern generation, who she criticizes for not having the same work ethic, self-sufficiency, and practical skills. The essay presents a flawed opinion on the abilities and upbringings of today’s youth, based on the author’s disdain for modern technology and her extremely narrow definition of “practical knowledge” (206).
Woodend strongly emphasizes a loss of knowledge in the current generation. Specifically, useful, “practical” knowledge “that can be applied directly, physically to the real world” (207). People with this type of knowledge include farmers and doctors, and exclude film critics like herself. However, it seems that these skills are only useful when “the power goes off” (206) or “Walmart closes” (207). Unlike those who prepare for the zombie apocalypse that is never coming, …show more content…
In an age so different from the one she grew up in, it is easy for her to point out the lack of skills that were valued in her generation while remaining oblivious to the skills which are valuable in the current one. An example of this is the downplaying of the Internet’s potential for learning as “something of a mirage” because of one’s “inability to concentrate in a world of competing bits of information” (206). However, studies have shown that Internet use actually increases brain function (Small et al., 2008). Choosing to focus on the widespread use of YouTube, video games, etc., the author fails to realize how useful the Internet can be, where you are not limited by what is at your library or what your parents can teach
In “Generation Velcro”, Dorothy Woodend discusses the issue of society’s lack of knowledge, caused by things like Velcro, video games, and a general “lack of suffering” (Woodend 207) experienced by generations past. She compares the lifestyle of farmers to that of the modern generation, who she criticizes for not having the same work ethic, self-sufficiency, and practical skills. The essay presents a flawed opinion on the abilities and upbringings of today’s youth, based on the author’s disdain for modern technology and her extremely narrow definition of “practical knowledge” (206).
Woodend strongly emphasizes a loss of knowledge in the current generation. Specifically, useful, “practical” knowledge “that can be applied directly, physically to the real world” (207). People with this type of knowledge include farmers and doctors, and exclude film critics like herself. However, it seems that these skills are only useful when “the power goes off” (206) or “Walmart closes” (207). Unlike those who prepare for the zombie apocalypse that is never coming, …show more content…
In an age so different from the one she grew up in, it is easy for her to point out the lack of skills that were valued in her generation while remaining oblivious to the skills which are valuable in the current one. An example of this is the downplaying of the Internet’s potential for learning as “something of a mirage” because of one’s “inability to concentrate in a world of competing bits of information” (206). However, studies have shown that Internet use actually increases brain function (Small et al., 2008). Choosing to focus on the widespread use of YouTube, video games, etc., the author fails to realize how useful the Internet can be, where you are not limited by what is at your library or what your parents can teach