English: A shaving set composed of brush and a safety razor. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Decades ago, when the peach fuzz on my face was barely discernible, my dad taught me how to shave. At the time, he used an electric shaver. So, like my dad, I learned how to use an electric shaver; and I continued to use an electric shaver for a long time.
Recently upon reflection, I remember that long ago, my dad actually used a double-edged razor (aka a safety razor) before going electric. Again, wanting to emulate my dad, I purchased a double-edged razor kit, along with the shaving soap and brush.
But this time, my father, who lives 17,000 miles away in Australia wasn’t there to teach me how to use this razor. So, I turned to YouTube. (Thank you apetogentlemen).
After having one of the closest shave of my life (pun fully intended), I looked in the mirror in admiration of my achievement with a great sense of pride. But as I did this, as sense of melancholy came over me. My son Charlie, who is 7 will one day need to learn how to shave. Will he turn to me to teach him, or will he too turn to the vast repository of content on the Internet?
I further wondered whether this would be a global trend of children who will not need mothers and fathers to teach them the life skills that we were taught, and our parents and grandparents were taught by their ancestors. After all, the first verb Charlie conjugated in his life, when he was just three and a half was the verb to Google!
Recounted by his mother, when Charlie asked his mother a question, to which she didn't know the answer, he confidently proclaimed that she should “Google that!”
Many readers will argue that no computer, or search engine, will ever replace the “human” and social element of our species. But the concept of “social” is quickly changing. Business meetings are being replaced with email, texts and at best video conferencing.
No doubt over time, evolution and adaptation will find a balance. In the meantime, I’m going to the store and buying a toy shaver for Charlie and show him how to use it! Excuse me, I have to dash …
