List of things no longer needed (that we still have/do)?

[JonathanW_rivals]

I will start with:
- learning to write in cursive. Outside of learning to write your name (signature), and 99% are unreadable anyway, there is no real purpose. Kids are taught it because it was taught to us as an important thing.
- Grades or GPA system. Why reduce down to 5 outcomes (A,B,C,D,F or 0,1,2,3,4) for a class. An 80 is not the same as an 89, not all B's are the same, but in letter grade or GPA terms it is (where B- & B+ are not used). So the grade your kid got on a test (A) is the same for getting every question on a test correct, as your neighbor's kid who missed 3 of 20 questions, but got 5 extra points on a curve or for bringing something in to class. So why not just leave the grades as numeric (0-100).

What you got?

 

[WildcatFan1982]

I still get a phone book delivered to my door every few months. I didn't ask for it and don't want it.

Also I'm 40 and forgot how to write in cursive about 3 weeks after I graduated high school.

 

[funKYcat75]

forgot how to write in cursive about 3 weeks after I graduated high school.

Had to write the promissory note pledge in cursive back in 93. Haven't looked back since.

So why not just leave the grades as numeric (0-100).

There's a big movement towards standards-based grading now. It lists the skills you should have learned over the term and whether you met, exceed, or need help with that standard for the skill. Much more meaningful, but not everyone understands it well enough.

Textbooks would be my suggestion for things we don't need. There is absolutely no reason for school-age and college students to have to buy/borrow/carry a textbook. Anything can be digitized.

 

[UKRob 73]

Well IM married, so my penis. Lolz

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

pennies

 

[J_Dee]

Newspapers and magazines
Fax machines
Comic book movies

 

[UKGrad93]

paper receipts

 

[Mdnerd]

Calipari fans…

 

[UKGrad93]

Newspapers and magazines
Fax machines
Comic book movies

Medical offices still need fax machines. The electronic records systems are not standardized enough to share information between different systems. The fax is a work around. Sure, you could scan and email the same document, but email does not meet the security standards for HIPAA, but the fax does.

 

[Ryan Lemonds Hair]

Those packs of pens, sticky pads and advertisements that the local check cashing stores throws in my driveway once a month. My wife never stops and picks it up but instead runs it over crushing the cheap plastic ink pen up in my driveway. I am sorry but if I didn't call asking you to drop it off because I need it then don't throw it in my driver.

 

[MegaBlue05]

1. Coins
2. Checks
3. Physical music

 

[uk_bill]

Filing taxes - without taking party sides - just figure out a better way

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I feel like learning a 2nd language, while beneficial for your brain, isn't really necessary anymore. Your smartphone is able to translate, web browsers and applications are able to do the same. There will always be SOME need for a person to speak English and a 2nd language.. but for the rest of us? Not very important.

I remember how big of a deal schools would make about learning a 2nd language. Especially Spanish. Give the world another decade or two and everyone in the modern world will have some basic understanding of English. Might as well declare it the global language at this point.

 

[AthensCatFan]

I will start with:
- learning to write in cursive. Outside of learning to write your name (signature), and 99% are unreadable anyway, there is no real purpose. Kids are taught it because it was taught to us as an important thing.
- Grades or GPA system. Why reduce down to 5 outcomes (A,B,C,D,F or 0,1,2,3,4) for a class. An 80 is not the same as an 89, not all B's are the same, but in letter grade or GPA terms it is (where B- & B+ are not used). So the grade your kid got on a test (A) is the same for getting every question on a test correct, as your neighbor's kid who missed 3 of 20 questions, but got 5 extra points on a curve or for bringing something in to class. So why not just leave the grades as numeric (0-100).

What you got?

Some colleges, UGA for example, have moved to a different GPA calculation. An 88 might get you a 3.3 towards your GPA, an 85 would be 3.0, and an 80 would be 2.7. The thing that sucks is there's no ability to earn above a 4.0. So a 95 and 100 would be treated the same, but a 90 would get you a 3.7.

 

[UKGrad93]

Some colleges, UGA for example, have moved to a different GPA calculation. An 88 might get you a 3.3 towards your GPA, an 85 would be 3.0, and an 80 would be 2.7. The thing that sucks is there's no ability to earn above a 4.0. So a 95 and 100 would be treated the same, but a 90 would get you a 3.7.

Yep. I had that same system in grad school. Made my GPA look great.

 

[Bill - Shy Cat]

Filing taxes - without taking party sides - just figure out a better way

Perhaps having a sales tax for fed and state purposes.

 

[lex cath]

Filing taxes - without taking party sides - just figure out a better way

No offense taken UKBill

 

[cole854]

Newspapers and magazines
Fax machines

These two are used extensively all across the country. Yes, many companies, especially government, still use fax machines.

 

[SaltyCat22]

Those packs of pens, sticky pads and advertisements that the local check cashing stores throws in my driveway once a month. My wife never stops and picks it up but instead runs it over crushing the cheap plastic ink pen up in my driveway. I am sorry but if I didn't call asking you to drop it off because I need it then don't throw it in my driver.

Why is that and the paper advertisements not considered littering? I’m thinking of contacting local authorities.

 

[Hank Camacho_rivals115797]

Your smartphone is able to translate, web browsers and applications are able to do the same.

Crappily.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Crappily.

But it's only a matter of time. When you think of how far this type of software has come, even down to backend software that can translate things for a given business that we don't even think about.. it won't be long before you can speak into your phone, and have it replayed in 100 different languages with pinpoint accuracy.

 

[TortElvisII]

Awards for television, music or movies. Most subjective thing ever.

 

[Hank Camacho_rivals115797]

But it's only a matter of time. When you think of how far this type of software has come, even down to backend software that can translate things for a given business that we don't even think about.. it won't be long before you can speak into your phone, and have it replayed in 100 different languages with pinpoint accuracy.

Eh.

 

[CondorCat]

Checkbooks, printed maps, landlines, phone books, alarm clocks, graphing calculators...

 

[Bill - Shy Cat]

Yoga pants for fat women.

 

[notFromhere]

pennies

Dollars now, for that matter

 

[notFromhere]

For almost everything that once was considered necessary in a classical education model that we think doesn't need to be taught anymore, we're burning up a portion of our brains and our future. The only thing it does is make US as people obsolete

 

[notFromhere]

I'll add some things to the list

Message boards
Commercials
Human (Sports) Officials
High schools
Communism/socialism
Heroin
Cocaine
Politicians
Network news
FBI and DHS
Patriot Act
Drivers licenses
Turn signals
Car Insurance

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

Well IM married, so my penis. Lolz

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

I'll add some things to the list

Message boards
Commercials
Human (Sports) Officials
High schools
Communism/socialism
Heroin
Cocaine
Politicians
Network news
FBI and DHS
Patriot Act
Drivers licenses
Turn signals
Car Insurance

There's numerous govt agencies we could get rid of.

Department of education- 68 billion dollar budget and almost 4000 beaurocrats. Give the money to the states.

Also how many different federal police agencies do we need? Is the ATF any more necessary? The post office has their own police force too.

 

[Bigtyrone]

The 40 hour work week.

 

[warrior-cat]

Awards for television, music or movies. Most subjective thing ever.

Who watches them anyway. They are simply a gathering of narcissists singing praises upon themselves.

 

[Tskware]

Funny about the medical profession using faxes. In the legal profession it is a rare occurrence to get a fax, matter of fact, gun to my head, I don't think I even know our office fax number, have to look it up any time someone needs it, which is almost never.

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

Shoelaces. We got Velcro.

 

[TortElvisII]

Shoelaces. We got Velcro.

Nerd.

Probably an engineer.

 

[Tskware]

Who watches them anyway. They are simply a gathering of narcissists singing praises upon themselves.

X 10

Grammys have always been a joke, I hardly ever watch TV so Emmys are a non starter, and have not watched the Academy Awards in probably ten years. Couldn't even tell you any current movies out right now. Something about water, I think?

By the way, make note that miracles do happen, warrior-cat and I agree on something. There may still be hope for peace on earth, good will towards men.

 

[warrior-cat]

X 10

Grammys have always been a joke, I hardly ever watch TV so Emmys are a non starter, and have not watched the Academy Awards in probably ten years. Couldn't even tell you any current movies out right now. Something about water, I think?

By the way, make note that miracles do happen, warrior-cat and I agree on something. There may still be hope for peace on earth, good will towards men.

I read this a while back but passed out from the shock and could not reply until now.

 

[BankerCat12]

Like someone said above, the phone book but even worse, who would pay to advertise in one? That sales person needs to be commended for a job well done.

Why are there still retail stores selling DVD's, sometimes at $30 per movie?

Alarm clocks

Land lines

 

[TortElvisII]

Blockbuster

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

Blockbuster

There’s only one left. Surprised it’s still active.