Reading through this interesting thread it does appear that most people are accepting (however regretfully) of some cultural losses from generation to generation (except perhaps in the most 'traditional' societies). Probably this phenomenon has been going on since human beings left the security and familiarity of the cave. It does appear that change means loss as well as gain. Does the www (say) make up for the decline in the study of Shakespeare or Latin? Does the efficiency and relative comfort of modern-day transport balance out the loss of the romance of sail and the steam train?