Change is hard. Really hard. And, don’t ever believe anyone that says that anyone, except 20 and 30 year olds, finds change fun and invigorating. Change, even if it is for good, takes generations. I point to the end of the Civil War in 1865 as an enduring example.
And, of course, everyone has their own definition of good. The examples are replete, so I won’t bore you with the details. Besides, my idea of good is better than yours 😊 .
I was faced with this age-old fact when renting a car in the UK. As it turns out in the United Kingdom 90% of the cars are manual, with clutches, simple gear boxes, and only a moderate need for maintenance. This, of course, is good for whoever wants the additional complexity and bravado of driving a clutch car.
So, here is where my definition of good comes in. We make progress as a society when people can use tools easily, quickly, and efficiently. This is only my bigoted value . . that we want to make progress and improve as a society. I could point to medicine. And, of course there is improved longevity; although, on this one, I’m sure it’s a mixed blessing for Pat and Kevin.
But, anything that makes life easier and/or richer for the greatest number of people, is what I consider to be good. Now I don’t want to disparage those that want to calculate on their fingers or ride in buggys. I am happy that they know what makes themselves happy, and I truly support them and wish them a full and rich life.
So, my thought on the stick shift is this. It is a stage of growth in the world culture. It is a transitional technology which has helped more people find a richer life. Automatic transmissions allow more people to participate, not to mention the fact that it frees up one level of mental processing to focus on things like peace on earth.
Everyone has their own view of progress and the desire change from something old to something new. I have only one thing to point out in this regard. Tang.