this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2026
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I suppose it would be mostly practical skills, cooking, fixing things. Usually had to be done by people themselves.

Maybe also mental things like navigating (with or without paper map) and remembering their daily and weekly agendas.

What other things would be a big difference with the people today?

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[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You look up a street name. That entry tells you which street it begins from. If you don't know that, then you look up one further. And repeat until you get to such a main road you'd know it even after looking at a map.

So basically you'd look up the street and then browse back and after you'd have a sort of gps like instructions. "main road until you see X street, then turn there, then drive until you see Y road" etc.

I had several in the car I drove, for all the nearby cities/towns. Many in same covers. So it'd cover the main city and outlying towns. Never had to use a map. (Although again, I can if needed.)

[–] stoy@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't think I have ever even seen a street directory like that, only a street register showing the placement on a map.

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I hadn't either before driving a taxi. (pre-gps)