Is DIY home maintenance a dying art?

I’m well over 25 and my father taught me nothing (he never did any DIY) – But I re-plumbed – rewired – re plastered – regassed – put in central heating – built furniture – built several walls in my various houses . It was easy except for plastering. There have always been excellent books – now some DVDs are really excellent.

I think the decline is for a number of reasons. Years ago a much larger group of people could not purchase goods or services and had to be resourceful and make their own. This was facilitated by many more people employed in manufacturing that required some technical knowledge. Today many things can be bought with a higher disposable income than previously, which avoids having to find a solution using DIY.

In cultural terms, many modern children want for nothing and consequently do not have to use their ingenuity to solve the problems that presented themselves in the past. Regrettably, their lives revolve around technological “toys” in which they immerse themselves, that may be amusing, but add very little useful knowledge. Many games are violent and most involve ficticious figures in an even more ficticious world. This contrasts whith playing traditional games of skill or games that stretch the imagination and form the basis for DIY, such as Meccano and similar games. Many are less likely to help their parents with house repairs; building a rabbit hutch or making a garden shed.

I am glad to report that DIY is not dead in my own family. My 6 year old grandson is learning carpentry, simple engineering, electrical and science skills from his grandfather. These necessarily involve numbers, measurement, material quantification and how to get good value when buying it. These compliment knowledge learnt at school by applying both numeracy, literacy and vocabulary building. I hope these will be useful to him when the cheap goods (China factor) has run its course and prices are once again considerably higher.

What’s this about MEN’s DIY????? I’m a woman and I’ve learned my DIY skills both from my dad AND my mother!!!!! But I will admit I’m over 25…

Hands up!! Yes I do a lot of DIY – it’s enjoyable, keeps my brain and muscles working and the end result is usually OK. Strangely, my son did not take to meccano and is still duff at DIY although a brilliant architect. Dunno what conclusions to make from that! In fact when I was checking the pressure in my car tyres and using the footpump, he (at 3 years of age) found he could make a funny noise by letting the air out. Needless to say I put him right! after all he was only helping his dad!!

Yep, our whole society has been dumbed down.
I blaim the education system, no practical skills are taught anymore.
Being in my 50’s I suppose I’m from another era. I did woodwork and metalwork at school back in the 1960’s. I underwent a five year engineering apprenticeship. Ended up qualified to HND level in mechanical engineering and engineering electrics.
But now I’m not even allowed to put a three pin plug socket in my own house without have some low life NVQ tell me I’ve done it right.
Why? because more than half the population can’t even fit a three pin plug, and some not even a light bulb, so society needs protecting from itself.
I think it pathetic that society has fallen to the level where someone calls the AA to change a flat. Rather wait two hours than get their hands dirty, or worse not even know how.
What’s going to happen when we can no longer afford to pay someone for every simple little job?
What’s going to happen when the lights go out? (and they will)