TUBACHRIS85 wrote:(I'm kidding, cause either i'm slow, or some of your post's seem random to me)
Neither. Bloke's posts are seldom random, but they often contain references that even the brightest teenager would be unable to identify -- and sometimes sufficiently arcane that some of we old people have a tough time, as well. Usually if you wait a couple of posts you'll be able to put together enough context clues that you can at least go to google and figure out where Bloke is going.
[rant]
Chris, don't take this as directed at you any more than any other teenager; teenagers today, as in any other time, simply behave as they've been taught to behave. But most teens today are too quick to
pass judgment on the words of their elders without a full understanding of the context. Back in the day, I worked summers on my grandfather's farm. We'd often take a break in the afternoon and drive to the feed store for a bottle of pop, and I'd listen to Grandpa talk to the other men. At first I understood none of it; but by keeping my mouth shut and my ears open, I eventually learned a fair bit about farming. Today, most teenagers haven't been taught to respect the knowledge and wisdom of their elders. They consider themselves equals in every conversation -- often, in fact, consider the conversation to exist only for their benefit -- sometimes, in fact, consider the conversation to exist only
as an outlet for their expression! Consequently, all too often they keep their mouths open and their ears shut, and learn nothing. This is rude to the elders, but just as bad it disserves the young, who lose the benefit of their elders' experience.
Frankly, I think there's a sweet spot somewhere in the middle, where youngsters are free to ask questions and express their opinions, provided they don't monopolize the conversation, and provided they respect the value of the answers given -- even when those answers shoot down the youngster's opinion. I've seen a handful of teenagers on this board that were pretty much on that mark. Almost all the teens here come a lot closer than most of the teens I encounter in the population at large. But it's something to think about if you're in the company of more experienced folks, no matter what your age.
[/rant]
______________________________
Joe Baker, who at age 43 spends a fair amount of time around senior citizens, and endeavors to follow his own advice.
Talk about shrinkage.
