Message text written by "BP - His DNA is this long."
In response to:
>>Now, here comes the rotting fruit. With regard to tradesman, I would
>suggest that the goal of all of us who work in the area of technological
>development is to eliminate or reduce to the absolute minimum society's
>reliance on craftsmanship.

Bruce writes:
>Don't agree. I think, rather, that most intelligent inhabitants of these
pre-millennium days see the necessity of a coexistent alternative to the
products of technological advancement. For instance I belong to a listserv
devoted to the lore, technology and use of hand tools. Many of our
subscribers find it comforting and productive to extremely limit the
application of powertools in their craft. There are currently over 800
subscribers (we won't talk about the workload of keeping up with the
posts), seventy percent of whom are employed in the computer or advanced
communications industries.<

Hobbies are wonderful things. They give people a respite from the mundane
in their daily lives. They provide a means for unbridled personal
expression in stark contrast to the demands of conformity they find in
their daily work. I used to be one of those guys, about 18 years ago. Then
I started a construction and restoration products manufacturing company,
and for almost 18 years there hasn't been a really boring day. 

But you don't survive long in most businesses or other endeavors if you are
not realistic. So while your listserv subscribers love to talk about and
use hand tools, 70% of'em are earning a living doing something entirely
unrelated, which is probably very realistic of them. Some people love old
tools, some love civil war era battle recreations, and some of em throw out
the food in their McDonald's happy meals to collect beanie babies. Most of
em are realistic anough to keep their day jobs, though.

Mike E.