Lost skills and capabilities.

[oldrider]

Of all the skills and capabilities I have had to endure and accept the loss of as I have aged, I think the one I feel the greatest loss, is the ability to be able to communicate on an equal footing with younger people. Especially strangers.

No matter how equal and respectful I may feel internally toward young people it never seems to pan out in reality when I attempt to communicate a serious situation to them.

What is it that we older folk signal to them that makes them immediately go on the defensive rather than walking the same path.

I usually try to defuse any of this by asking a question that requires a simple thinking answer then you don't sound like you are accusing them of something. This seems to be getting less and less effective as I get older.

Where I live there is a large area set aside for trail bikes with a good range of degree of difficulty spread across it.

I was instrumental in securing this area as a trail bike exclusive over 35 years ago and while I have no authority over it anymore I do maintain a keen interest in it's well being and continuance of purpose for bikes.

All of my own children and countless others including holiday makers have had the benefit of this area over that time and now my Grandchildren are using it too.

I am too old to blat around on the tracks now but every now and then I ride up and have a look how the riders are going and how well the area is being used and to keep it from being taken over by campers and the like etc.

Today I went up for a ride and to have a look at the trail bike area and there were campers invading the bottom end of it again so it is obviously under threat again. Huge number of campers here this year.

There were quite a few trail bikes roaring over the tracks looking good and showing a fair amount of skill and daring too, it was really good to see.
I noticed a huge dust cloud suddenly growing around a group of young people
with their bikes and cars parked in the middle of the area.

There were a couple of boy racer types in their cages roaring around spinning and racing each other around not harming anyone but drawing a lot of attention to their behaviour, as they do.

I was concerned that if they came to grief and had an accident in the cars that the outcome could influence the anti-bike brigade into putting pressure back onto the council etc to have the tracks closed. They are still around constantly mouthing off about motorbikes and wanting more area for campers.

Unfortunately in my attempt to enlighten these young people of the dangers of what they were doing I completely fucked up and ended up getting a round of abuse and accusations which did not stop as I rode quietly off either.

The bikers rode all around and past me showering me and my bike with gravel and dust just to show me how clever they were. I was not concerned or afraid because they may have got a surprise of their own if I had got stuck into my bike too.

Many of them had no helmets gloves or protection gear so I guess they will be learning about that for themselves sooner rather than later but that is their prerogative.

I am not really very annoyed with them so much but I am annoyed with myself in not having better skills in communicating with them. I don't think they were doing much wrong in the immediate other than to themselves but I was concerned about the long term results of their actions. It amazes me just how paranoid against bikes public figures like councilors etc are.

I feel really pissed off with the fact that as we get older we just seem to alienate ourselves from the younger generations. What is it that we do so badly. It's not a power thing, damn it I know my place. I was a rooting tooting fighting son of a bitch years ago but shit a brick I couldn't fight my way out of a wet paper bag now so I don't feel very threatening. I just don't want them to loose something that they will never get back if they are careless with it.

Any suggestions advice thoughts or comments would be welcome as I feel this loss or deterioration of communication with younger ones is extremely disappointing and I'm fucked if I know what to do about it. Disappointed, John.

[froggyfrenchman]

Its not so much you as them. They would have done the same to anyone of any age attempting to make them think. If it makes you feel any better, theres plenty of us out there that are quite willing to speak on an even field regardless of age. In fact i for one find the knoledge of "codgers" great, especially bike related. As im into classic pommy bikes, only the aged have any idea how to fix them and what the best mods to do are.

[Mad Cow]

[QUOTE=froggyfrenchman]Its not so much you as them. They would have done the same to anyone of any age attempting to make them think.

I agree, I don't think you have the lost the ability to communicate I just think they have not yet learnt the ability to listen.

The significance of peer pressure in this group is huge - they may have all individually listened but as a group it is "uncool" to give you anything but grief!
The only way to keep up those skills is to keep using them, there will be some who tell you to piss off but there will be the odd one who listens and that is what you are doing it for.

[froggyfrenchman]

I agree, I don't think you have the lost the ability to communicate I just think they have not yet learnt the ability to listen.

The significance of peer pressure in this group is huge - they may have all individually listened but as a group it is "uncool" to give you anything but grief!
The only way to keep up those skills is to keep using them, there will be some who tell you to piss off but there will be the odd one who listens and that is what you are doing it for.

Thats a good way of putting it, cheers

[madboy]

The youth of today have it in spades.

I'm 30, and I can't communicate with the f***ers, so sorry John, but you're piddling into a gale mate.

[LXS]

[QUOTE=Mad Cow]

Its not so much you as them. They would have done the same to anyone of any age attempting to make them think.

I agree, I don't think you have the lost the ability to communicate I just think they have not yet learnt the ability to listen.

The significance of peer pressure in this group is huge - they may have all individually listened but as a group it is "uncool" to give you anything but grief!
The only way to keep up those skills is to keep using them, there will be some who tell you to piss off but there will be the odd one who listens and that is what you are doing it for.

Well put Mad Cow, I am one of these younger ones; I have a lot respect for people older than me.
Arrogance is one thing that annoys me, eg. I've been on this earth xx years, who the fuck do you think you are? What do you know?
I was in Vietnam while you were just a twinkle in your dads eye etc etc etc.

I just think a bit of mutual respect goes a long way, i.e. listen to me, I listen to you.
This is just my 5 cents, not directed towards anyone in particular.

John, don't think your doing anything wrong, keep on trucking.

[Skyryder]

It's the Generation Gap Oldrider. The gap gets wider as you get older. Unfortunately there's not a lot that can be done about this as the cure is getting harder to find. It's called respect and there's not a lot of it about anymore.

Skyryder

[WINJA]

it's the generation gap oldrider. the gap gets wider as you get older. unfortunately there's not a lot that can be done about this as the cure is getting harder to find. it's called respect and there's not a lot of it about anymore.

skyryder

thats quite true bitch

[Virago]

It's the Generation Gap Oldrider. The gap gets wider as you get older. Unfortunately there's not a lot that can be done about this as the cure is getting harder to find. It's called respect and there's not a lot of it about anymore.

Skyryder

I'd agree on the Generation Gap, and also think that it is so much worse these days.

The problem now is that the parents of teenagers who indulge in anti-social behaviour, will agressively defend their offspring's "right" to "have a bit of fun". The teenagers who were part of the "Me" Generation in the '80's, now have teenagers of their own. I have no doubt Oldrider, that if you'd tried to talk to the boy-racer's parents instead, the abuse and threats would have been worse.

Ask any cop who has confiscated cars under the "boy-racer" laws about the abusive calls from outraged parents....

[avgas]

Bullshit about anything to do with a generation gap. If that were the case then 70 year olds would have problems with 40 y/o.
People cant learn shit from other peoples banterings......education is something you ask to recieve, not forced.
People act 10 ft tall etc, and will immeadiately reject all things opposed to them....age has nothing to do with it. I know 60 y/o that do it.
It is a shame oldrider that you had to deal with these dipshits.....and they will realise this in the future. Do not be so hard on yourself, its their fault not yours - you did atleast try.
As for the whole youth of today bs thats getting flung.......what did you expect when the policies are in place to make wankers rule the country? Unemployment to be a trend? and the Police set up as a tax agency?
This place is set to collapse

[Skyryder]

Bullshit about anything to do with a generation gap. If that were the case then 70 year olds would have problems with 40 y/o.
People cant learn shit from other peoples banterings......education is something you ask to recieve, not forced.
People act 10 ft tall etc, and will immeadiately reject all things opposed to them....age has nothing to do with it. I know 60 y/o that do it.
It is a shame oldrider that you had to deal with these dipshits.....and they will realise this in the future. Do not be so hard on yourself, its their fault not yours - you did atleast try.
As for the whole youth of today bs thats getting flung.......what did you expect when the policies are in place to make wankers rule the country? Unemployment to be a trend? and the Police set up as a tax agency?
This place is set to collapse

It is usually acknowledged that the generation gap refers to teenagers and any generation above. For you to compare it with the difference between two older generations is to misunderstand the meaning of the 'generation gap.'

As for your excuse of blaming government policies, politicians, and the police as a tax agency for the undisciplined behavour of many teenagers, I put it to you that that is bullshit. Until the wowsers in out society acknowledge that an indaviduals behavour is the direct result of his/her own decisions and not some waffle from, counsellors, shrinks and a host of hanger-ons' who blame everything and all but the indavidual, then this behavour is not going to get better.

Skyryder

[Virago]

......Unemployment to be a trend?.....

Unemployment to be a trend? - What country are you living in?

[Pixie]

one doesn't lose the ability to communicate with the young,
the young no longer achieve comprehensability.

[Badcat]

.........
As for your excuse of blaming government policies, politicians, and the police as a tax agency for the undisciplined behavour of many teenagers, I put it to you that that is bullshit. Until the wowsers in our society acknowledge that an individuals behavour is the direct result of his/her own decisions and not some waffle from, counsellors, shrinks and a host of hanger-ons' who blame everything and all but the individual, then this behavour is not going to get better.
..................

Skyryder

so very true.
THANK YOU skyryder.
it seems to me that RESPONSIBILTY to your community and peers is the casualty of modern society.
i'm so sick of hearing excuses for stupid behaviour.
thanks for putting it so well.

ken

[Hitcher]

Young people are like so way amazing.