PSA: Back in the day, we learned by doing, not watching videos.
I miss the days when new guys would shadow us on the floor, getting their hands dirty right away. We'd show them how to read a tape measure by actually measuring cuts together. I remember spending hours with an apprentice, fixing a dovetail joint until it was perfect. Now, it feels like management just hands them a tablet with tutorial videos and expects them to figure it out. The shop used to be loud with chatter and saws, but now everyone's got headphones on, focused on their screens. It's harder to build that team spirit when you're not solving problems together in real time. Sure, the digital stuff speeds up some parts, but we're losing the craft of teaching face to face. I worry the next generation won't have the same gut feel for wood that comes from years of side by side work.