Google, Siri and AI can provide all the knowledge, but Elders can share wisdom

Many of you know I got hoodwinked into reading the Pickles daily cartoon by a good friend. Usually, I am put off by the creator’s obvious agist attitude, but on occasion, there is a good one.

So, a recent edition showed Earl commiserating with his grandson, Nelson. He said that when he was growing up, the kids always looked up to their Elders for life advice and how to fix things. Elders held the vast majority of knowledge, and other than that, you had to depend on an encyclopedia, dictionary or the library.

But the last frame takes a twist and shows Nelson teaching his grandpa how to turn off his computer! So much for having all the knowledge.

For those of us who believe knowledge is power, our kids and grandkids may have the jump on us. Today, all you have to do is ask Siri and, instantaneously, you have an answer. What used to be reserved for highly educated and experienced adults is easily available to an 8-year-old.

In my day, if Mom and Dad didn’t know the answer, it meant a trip to the library and an understanding of the Dewey Decimal System to get answers. Have you given thought to what a difference that makes in the interactions between generations?

Being a "know it all" takes on a different meaning. So, as a seasoned Elder, you know how to fix a broken chain on a bicycle. Now, YouTube has thousands of instructive videos on that subject.

Want to prepare Julia Childs’ famous beef bourguignon? You can not only get the recipe in a flash, but videos of the preparation are available. Knowledge is readily available at the tips of our fingers.

What can the older generation offer the youngsters if the internet has it all?

The obvious answer is that we have our history, experience and our wisdom to share. What Google cannot teach is our personal insights into a life well-lived. The treasures are within and are learned through trial and error and with many more failures than successes. Elders can teach perseverance, how to overcome disappointment and how to move on after a disaster.

Siri cannot teach ethics, morals, determination or forgiveness, but we can. Nelson may know how to use the computer, but his grandpa knows the lessons that life teaches over 80 years.

There is a difference between being an Elder and being elderly. Not every older person develops these nuances of life. But knowledge alone brings no joy, no happiness and certainly is bereft of meaning.

So, if Google, Siri and AI can provide all the knowledge we need, perhaps our time is better spent pursuing wisdom. In my estimation, that’s what the world needs most.

Nelson, listen to your grandpa; he has a lot to teach you.

Find Connie’s book, “Daily Cures: Wisdom for Healthy Aging,” at www.justnowoldenough.com.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Google, Siri and AI can provide knowledge, but Elders can share wisdom