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Wahaha wrote

That ship has sailed, too. I can make pretty much none of the things I use. I don't know how to build a house. I can't make a screen, toilet, frying pan, dish washer... looking around me right now, I see exactly zero things that I could have made myself. Not even a bottle out of glass or a simple book. Nevermind the clothes I'm wearing. I can't even make the fabric the cloth is made from.

Thinking back, it started around the time the pocket watch was introduced. So some 200 odd years ago? At least I think basically none of the people owning a pocket watch could have made it by themselves.

I don't think it's a bad thing, either. Someone that knows how to make pocket watches can make a living from it because basically no one else has this specialized knowledge. And everyone else isn't forced to waste time acquiring not only the knowledge, but also the skill to make a pocket watch. Everyone wins.

It's when there is major gatekeeping going on to prevent others from becoming pocket watch makers, that there is a problem.

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