February 20, 2001    
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How many of your skills will be obsolete in 5 years?

my ability to understand my logic class.

Angela, 16
Aiken
, SC   USA

Not many. I work in computer languages that will still be around in five years, though I'll have to keep abreast of version changes, and I do object-oriented programming, which I don't think will go away soon. Personal skills, such as cooking and driving a car, don't generally become obsolete.

Jane, 60
West Linn
, OR   USA

I'm not really sure, but I hope my typing skills become obsolete.  Hopefully that will mean we have good computer voice recognition capabilities, and I won't have to type anymore.

Eric, 18
Beverly Hills
, CA  USA

i'd rather not think about something like that...it's kind of pessimistic

Tracy, 24
Ocean City
, NJ  USA

I'm not sure, but I can tell you that I barely remember the advanced features of older word processnig packages, I am starting to see that my knowledge of HTML and bare-bones Javascript will soon not be enough to manage advanced websites. Most of the intricate details of a Windows NT server environment are beginning to fade and I can barely remember how to manuever in a Windows 3.11 world. My basic understanding and skill in troubleshooting remains, as do my video skills, riding a bike, driving a car, knitting, sewing, playing the flute, cooking are all things that shouldn't outlive my life though. Thank goodness.

Felicia, 35
Lowell
, MA   USA

I have no technical skills, so none, probably.

Talia, 23
Wilton
, CT   USA

Obsolete to me personally: hopefully quite a few. To the world in general: not that many.

Alias Irrelevante

Wow. A lot I'd say. Like my ability to program in pascal, C++ and html, my love of latin, my skills with Word Perfect, my perfect score in pong and my ability to assemble a comedore 64 in nine easy steps.

Jaden, 21
Brampton, Ontario  CANADA

That would require having skills now, wouldn't it? I imagine the world will still need French and American Sign Language in five years, though, if speaking those languages in addition to English can count as a skill.

etoile, 20
Washington
, DC  USA

None of them, I think. My only noteworth skills are that I can type 60 words a minute, I kick ass at computer games and I have a knack for spending money very quickly.

Shanna, 15
Cardiff  ENGLAND

Hmmm. First I've got to figure out what my skills ARE. I can type well -learned 35 years ago. And I use that skill constantly on the computer. Never go out of style. I file. Will the alphabet ever be obsolete?

Reba, 51
Rockville
, MD   USA

I'm not a highly technical person, so I'd guess my skills will still be useful in 2006. Candle making, drystone walling and making dyes from native materials are all still practical knacks in 2001.

Jill, 60
Saylorsburg
, PA  USA

I don't think any of my skills will be obsolete in 5 years.

Jason, 21
Oneanta
, NY   USA

Any of the dumb math I do... I'll never used more than the basics, Chemistry too... I don't think anyone expects me to remember 'the mole' is 24X10 to the exponent 23... i think thats right.

Dianne, 16
Oshawa, Ontario  CANADA

Probably none of them, really. It's not like I do skilled labor that they're replacing with machinery or anything. . .

Karen, 21
Marshelltown/Ames
, IA  USA

I have no clue. I think all of my present skills will still be valuable in 5 years.

Lisa J., 22
TN  USA

wow. what a fucked up question (leave it to my man Dan. . .) i guess i won't be able to run as fast, but I'm not even sure about that. . my vision probably won't improve. .. .

mothmc, 36
Los Angeles
, CA  USA

I work on a computer and do graphic design so I am constantly updating my skills. What I know now would be obsolete in 5 years.

Janet, 42
E. Brunswick
, NJ  USA

Yesterday / Tomorrow