Migration of conventional wisdom

There used to be time when wisdom was all about age, we have a saying in Nepali “आगो ताप्नु मुढाको कुरा सुन्नु बुढाको” which meant “for fire use timbers for knowledge listen to the elders” (not exact, but close enough translation). The idea was that with age a person garners lot of knowledge & wisdom based on their experience. I grew up with that mind set, especially when you are forced into believing that elders are always correct.

Now call it a generation divide or information technology boom, the conventional wisdom seems to be fading. Don’t believe me? simply look around the kids, think of the conversation you had with them (and remember yourself at that age).  Elders are no longer the sole providers of knowledge, there are numerous other sources.

When it comes to philosophies of life (for example relationships) elders might still edge out in wisdom; but don’t expect the kids to buy the notion that “elders are always correct” as they definitely have edge in knowledge.