# Choosing to do things the old-fashioned way **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 3, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866 "2004-11-03T22:58:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/21 "2004-11-04T17:21:50Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > And skates with _wheels_! I couldn’t use rollerblades effectively if my life depended on it. Um, rollerblades have wheels. You must be talking about quads, which have two rows of wheels instead of a single column of wheels. I can’t do inline skates, they hurt my ankles - but then I can’t do quad skates, either, I fall down too much. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/22 "2004-11-04T17:24:12Z")
> [@Iris](#): > > I thought I was the only one that preferred a manual can opener. I’ve never used an electric can opener and I have no intention to ever buy one. It just seems more efficient to do it by hand. Nope. I love my Kitchen Aid hand can opener. It grips the can tightly, and is easy to crank. I’m not gonna clutter up my counter with an electric one after using this guy. Also, I’ll somethings do all the dishes… by hand. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/23 "2004-11-04T17:26:10Z")
I work with computers for a living, but I’m not much of a gadget geek. I have co-workers/friends who spend all kinds of money on the newest graphic card/cell phone/pda/mp3 player what have you just cause it’s cool. This has more to do with me being “thrifty” (not cheap!) than naything else though. I like to use manual can openers, the electric one we inherited two houses ago broke and my wife won’t buy another one, so she has to use the “old-fashioned” kind. I think she’s getting used to it. She does enjoy cooking from scratch when she has the time, though. My brother likes to use old, non-power tools in his woodshop. In that situation I’d like power tools, I think. All in all, I’m a pretty modern kind of guy though. It’s easier, and I’m lazy. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/24 "2004-11-04T17:55:23Z")
> [@racinchikki](#): > > Um, rollerblades have wheels. You must be talking about quads, which have two rows of wheels instead of a single column of wheels. I can’t do inline skates, they hurt my ankles - but then I can’t do quad skates, either, I fall down too much. In the days before inline skates, when quads were simply known as “roller skates,” I used to both ice skate and roller skate a lot. Had a lot of fun doing it too. I’m not keen on inline skates myself; I found that roller skates, having the same kind of boot as ice skates, would give where my feet and ankles needed give, and support where they needed support. The designers of inline skates, I think, have decided how my feet and ankles will work, and designed their skates accordingly. In short, I find inline skates uncomfortable, and I’d love to find a pair of quads. > [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > So many people I meet or work with prefer to read from paper rather than a monitor, myself included. Why is that? For me it just seems to feel easier to manipulate. No scrolling, no buttons to push. Just turn the page. Also, If I or any of my bosses have to proofread a document, we print it out and mark it up with pens rather than just make the quick correction on the computer. This is exactly what I do too. I’m composing my draft (the boring document I mentioned in my OP) on the computer, but to check and reread once it’s done, I’ll print it off and mark it up. I find it to be a more effective approach; and certainly, it feels more natural than the times I’ve tried to do the same task on the computer. Good comments, folks; thank you. Nice to know I’m not alone in choosing to do some things the old-fashioned way. ---
**Author:** ![robz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac8455/32.png) [@robz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robz)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/25 "2004-11-04T19:28:51Z")
I prefer walking instead of driving short distances. My wife thought it strange that I would walk to the corner store (less than 1/2 mile) vs driving. I also like to sail vs motor boat much to my sons disgust. I have never owned a snow blower even though I lived through some atrocious New England winters, ( always knew that it wouldn’t work when I needed it so why waste the aggervation). ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/26 "2004-11-04T20:40:30Z")
> [@look@hergo!](#): > > I don’t consider something “real food” unless I prepare it from scratch. Cake, soup, pie, waffles; if it doesn’t start with me getting out a big pot or bowl and the measuring cups, it’s not true nourishment. I make pumpkin pie from an actual pumpkin! My tofu starts as dry soybeans! Some friends tend to consider me a little compulsive about it, but I never hear them complain around a mouthful of my triple-layer chocolate ganache cake. This is me, too! I also make pumpkin pie from a pumpkin and I love making homemade soymilk. Everyone I know loves Trader Joe’s but I don’t really because so much of what they sell is pre-packaged pre-prepared stuff. Can you possibly share your homemade tofu recipe with me? ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/27 "2004-11-04T20:57:46Z")
I just plain can’t use an electric can opener! Never could figure them out. Hubby loves to bake - especially pies - completely from scratch. Everything you cook homemade tastes better, I swear! ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/28 "2004-11-04T22:58:29Z")
I don’t have an electric can opener; don’t see the point. I mostly cook from scratch (I have to confess to using Bisquik–although I can easily make biscuits and pancakes from scratch, I just like the taste of Bisquik). I prefer to take notes by hand, and have notebooks for various projects. For some other writing things, I use the computer, but I’m the only person in my family who doesn’t use a Palm Pilot. I’m sure there are other things, but I don’t know what right now. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/29 "2004-11-04T23:14:17Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > I don’t have an electric can opener; don’t see the point. I mostly cook from scratch (I have to confess to using Bisquik–although I can easily make biscuits and pancakes from scratch, I just like the taste of Bisquik). I make lots of things from Bisquick, but never buy the frozen pre-made pancakes or waffles. Yeah, I could easily make them from scratch, but using Bisquick or Aunt Jemima mix is easy and pretty tasty. I also make waffles on my mom’s old waffle iron and freeze them (about a weeks’ worth at a time) and then toast them for the kids in the morning. I also make my own French Toast, with my own secret recipe (a dash of vanilla and a sprinkle of cinnamon mixed in with the egg - shhh!). If I make pumpkin pie, I’ll use canned pumpkin rather than scooping out an actual pumpkin. I’ll also use a pre-made pie shell. I’ve tried and tried, and just **cannot** make good pastry from scratch. Does that count as ‘making’ a pie? At least I don’t buy the whole thing pre-made. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/30 "2004-11-04T23:20:11Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I walk and take buses. > > I clean everything with baking soda, soap, vinegar, washing soda and borax, instead of buying different products. Annie-Xmas Is that a one size fits all combination, or do you use each ingredient for a a specific purpose? ---
**Author:** ![Squire\_Trelane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@Squire\_Trelane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squire_Trelane)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/31 "2004-11-04T23:38:41Z")
I prefer to cut up wood with an ax, rather than a chainsaw. Aside from the exercise and the appealling simplicity, the ax also doesn’t throw sawdust in my face or make that infernal noise. Does this count? I exercise with barbells and calisthenics, rather than fancy machines. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/32 "2004-11-05T00:34:01Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I make lots of things from Bisquick, but never buy the frozen pre-made pancakes or waffles. Yeah, I could easily make them from scratch, but using Bisquick or Aunt Jemima mix is easy and pretty tasty. > I also make waffles on my mom’s old waffle iron and freeze them (about a weeks’ worth at a time) and then toast them for the kids in the morning. > I also make my own French Toast, with my own secret recipe (a dash of vanilla and a sprinkle of cinnamon mixed in with the egg - shhh!). > > If I make pumpkin pie, I’ll use canned pumpkin rather than scooping out an actual pumpkin. I’ll also use a pre-made pie shell. I’ve tried and tried, and just **cannot** make good pastry from scratch. > Does that count as ‘making’ a pie? At least I don’t buy the whole thing pre-made. I freeze my waffles for the kids too! Waffles I do from my own recipe, which comes out a lot lighter–I whip the egg whites. But doesn’t everyone make their own French toast? Surely French toast, the simplest food around, doesn’t come in a box? (I’m having sudden misgivings about this, but can’t remember actually seeing any in the store…I don’t think…) My mom scoops out pumpkins, but I don’t. I recently (3 weeks ago) learned how to make good piecrust; I’ve always been lousy at it before. My advice is, find someone willing to come over and teach you how to do it. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/33 "2004-11-05T00:46:22Z")
I love to make bread completely from scratch and by hand. It’s great to have this wonderful tasty stuff that you literally caused to be with your own two hands. I do not understand bread-making machines. When I was not employed outside my home, I used to hang the laundry on the clothesline outside in nice weather. Saved money and made things smell nice, too. That included, a few decades ago, cloth diapers. It goes without saying that I never bought formula, either. Electric can openers have their place, however. The right kind is a blessing for people with arthritis in their hands. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/34 "2004-11-05T00:48:15Z")
I insist on voting the old-fashioned way – with a paper ballot. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/35 "2004-11-05T11:13:42Z")
I love my fountain pen - best writing implement ever devised. I can’t write decent prose without it; computers just aren’t the same - I can’t get the flow of ideas from my brain to my hand. Back at university I used to write all my essays by hand, sometimes four or five drafts, with manual cut-and-paste - I would physically cut out and stick together portions from various drafts until it was right. Sounds laborious, but it worked beautifully. Only the final draft was typed {on an old manual}, because it was insisted upon by the department {although my shocking handwriting may have had something to do with that policy}. Oh, and microwaves are implements of the devil. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/36 "2004-11-05T12:48:08Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > But doesn’t everyone make their own French toast? Surely French toast, the simplest food around, doesn’t come in a box? Yes, I’ve seen frozen FT in the store - right there with the frozen waffles and pancakes. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/37 "2004-11-05T13:21:27Z")
> [@Squire Trelane](#): > > I prefer to cut up wood with an ax, rather than a chainsaw. I used to do that. See the [self stitching thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=282533) for the results. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866/38 "2004-11-05T13:57:01Z")
> [@trandallt](#): > > Annie-Xmas > > Is that a one size fits all combination, or do you use each ingredient for a a specific purpose? Each ingredient for several purposes, whiich is why I do it. A spray bottle of vinegar and water can be used on glass, mirrors, tubs, tiles, as a pre-spotter, and fabric softener. Soap is a great all around cleaner, and also kills bugs. Baking soda has more uses than I can list, but is a good air freshener and scrubbing powder. Borax will disinfect, so I use it to clean the toilet. Washing soda is a heavy duty cleaner, great for grease and oil. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-to-do-things-the-old-fashioned-way/272866.md?page=1)