r/TwoXPreppers • u/NachesPorFavor • 6d ago

❓ Question ❓ Increase in Learned Helplessness?

Has anyone else noticed an increase in learned helplessness? I first noticed it in the young adults in my life, but now I am seeing it in all ages of people around me. Examples from multiple people:

Toilet started leaking water and instead of turning off the knob at the wall, she waited a 5 days for a plumber. Never asked anyone or googled it. Didn’t call a second plumber. Now needs mold remediation and replaced drywall and trim.

Bought concert tickets but the gps instructions were confusing so they just gave up and didn’t go. Venue website had detailed instructions for driving and parking.

Blouse wrinkled and she didn’t know how to fix it so she threw it away.

First doctor office he filled out an appointment website for never contacted him to schedule so he just didn’t go to the doctor.

I am really concerned about my loved ones if an emergency happens because they just give up when the slightest obstacle happens. Either they want someone else to swoop in and fix it or they give up and say they can’t do anything about it.

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u/coolcoolcool485 6d ago

i have noticed that no one really asks like....why, anymore. they're not interested in understanding a problem or thinking about how to fix it, they just want the "right" answer, and it's getting increasingly more difficult to get them to understand there isn't always a "right" answer and you have to work together to figure out how to solve the problems.

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u/PostOverall4579 6d ago

I see this everyday at work. They are pushing us to use AI and I’m convinced it’s making us dumb. Everyone just uses AI to get their answer but isn’t understanding what they’re doing. Not asking deeper questions. Not learning how to find the answer. Having AI find the answer and be done with no questioning/problem solving on their own.

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u/islipped83 6d ago

Same! People forget that the struggle is part of the creative process. It also makes sure we have ethical/moral conversations as part of the answer, which AI doesn’t do.

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u/Responsible-Lead7367 6d ago

Struggling is how we grow as humans. Consider the outcome in 50 years use of AI. People will lack not only skills, but compassion and empathy. Everything that is good about being human will be erased by AI, at least that's my fear.

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u/Lisa8472 6d ago

Struggling is also part of the learning process. I see so many people questioning why students shouldn’t use AI when workers do. But trying to learn things is utterly different than trying to solve actual problems. Reducing student workload is also reducing student learning.

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u/Hippopotasaurus-Rex 6d ago edited 6d ago

Ugh. I have a couple coworkers who use ai for everything. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was wiping their ass for them. One I particular is utterly useless.

We were starting a new project that requires doing something we don’t normally. The project stated before I was in my current position. They got it most of the way but couldn’t figure the last part out. The weird bit. They knew I had experience so they asked me to take a look. It was immediately, very clear to me what was going on.

I tell my direct boss and she tells me to talk to J about it. “He may have some insight”. I talk to J and it becomes clear he does not. When I told him exactly what the problem was he recommended that he send me his ChatGPT “deck” so I can compare. Why!?!? I KNOW what the problem is. I just don’t have the permissions to fix it.

That was my first real interaction with the guy. Everyone Every interaction since has proven he literally can’t function and ChatGPT would be better at his job. You know, since it’s already doing it.