Old School vs Generation Y

[PlukaDuck]

Here is an email i recieved recently which pretty much sums it up.
Gen -Y"s think they know it all, but the old school know better.

Good for a laugh , but also true.
All comments welcome.
The Green Thing
For older/or slightly more mature folks (like me) to read & enjoy
Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman that she should bring her own shopping bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days."

The cashier responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milk bottles, pop bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every shop and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.We didnt need electric cars made of plastic and have to build nuclear power stations full of radioactive material to run them. Our cars where steel and leather which are bio-degradable , not plastic, and glue, and nasty chemicals and batteries that destroy the planet. Our cars produced carbon that made the trees grow.

But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the post, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank water from a fountain or a tap when we were thirsty instead of demanding a plastic bottle flown in from another country. We accepted that a lot of food was seasonal and didn’t expect that to be bucked by flying it thousands of air miles around the world. We actually cooked food that didn’t come out of a packet, tin or plastic wrap and we could even wash our own vegetables and chop our own salad.

But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the tram or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart-*** young person.

Remember: Don't make old people mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to **** us off.

[Kryton]

The funny thing about these sorts of emails, and the people that get all "feel good" about it and try and take the moral high ground of "back in my day we used to....", is exactly that - you USED to.
If your old enough to remember "back in the day" when you "used to", and think "oh how dumb the next generation are", unless you still do everything that you did in the "old days" your no better than the dumb check out chick.
Infact, your probably worse - youve had a life time to see what impact you have on the world, yet here you are, doing everything the "next generation" does.
Multiple TV's, disposable razors, escalators, "300hp" cars to drive 2 blocks, eating unseasoned food etc etc etc.
If you really wanted the moral high ground, youd still do things how you did in the "old days" and you wouldnt even be on a computer now - since it uses disposable parts and a heap of plastic to make it work.
Technology: complain about it, yet you cant live without it.
From some smart **** young person to you old selfish bastrds.

[Peuty]

I feel sorry for the cashier who had to put up with that rant!

Escalators were invented in the 1800's, plastic was Invented not long after in the form of Bakelite etc etc. So don't blame GenY, we haven't invented squat! But that's an issue for another day....

[babyf6]

i wonder what that situation would be like in 50 years......

[greencapri408]

Lol that sounded like my grandmother when she was alive

[Geez Louise]

A good read BUT who do you think created generation Y? All us old timers...that's who

[MWTB]

Originally Posted by Geez Louise

A good read BUT who do you think created generation Y? All us old timers...that's who

I wish my old man understood that.

I'm 21 and work two jobs 45-50 hours a week (6 days...and 12 hours minimum, 6 days a week at my previous job - 72 hours minimum a week) yet he still thinks I don't know anything about working because 'kids these days have it too easy with their mobile phones and internets'.

I work at ARB on a mandrel bending machine worth around $600,000. I don't think he'd be happy unless I was bending the 76mm pipes myself with my bare hands, because that's what he would have had to do in his day.

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by MWTB

I wish my old man understood that.

I'm 21 and work two jobs 45-50 hours a week (6 days...and 12 hours minimum, 6 days a week at my previous job - 72 hours minimum a week) yet he still thinks I don't know anything about working because 'kids these days have it too easy with their mobile phones and internets'.

I work at ARB on a mandrel bending machine worth around $600,000. I don't think he'd be happy unless I was bending the 76mm pipes myself with my bare hands, because that's what he would have had to do in his day.

I know this is off topic but I also work at ARB, at the smaller Bayfield Rd site though, in the Polyurethane section. You in the pipe section? I haven't noticed your car there.

[Chopped]

And yet it is being sent via email........

It's easy to reminisce about the "good ol' days" BUT most of the changes to society have been made by "old schoolers", either in business or government.


We all know Gen X rocks
Boo-Yah

[2011G6E]

They're exactly damn right...

The running costs have come out of electric cars...and they're shocking compared to ordinary cars. They didn't include the "as yet unknown" future resale value...but the outlook wasn't good.

Yes, I can go in and buy a brand new four stroke lawnmower for under $200...will it last as well as the twenty year old Victa I also have in the shed? Doubt it. Will it outlast the fifty year old Pope push mower I also have in the shed...like buggery it will.

Yes, I have a house full of computers, TV's, DVD players, and other electronic devices of a wide and bewildering variety...but back when we looked forward to such a future, it included very cheap and easy electricity from nuclear power stations. The only way cheap old coal fired power costs so much is because of artificial means like a carbon tax and government regulations.

Yes, my brand new four liter six cylinder G6E gets better economy than my 1982 Toyota Celica four cylinder five speed...but will the G6E still be rolling along like new in thirty years? Doubt it.

[OffRoadFalcon]

Originally Posted by Chopped

And yet it is being sent via email........

It's easy to reminisce about the "good ol' days" BUT most of the changes to society have been made by "old schoolers", either in business or government.


We all know Gen X rocks
Boo-Yah

... and Gen Y sucks, in many ways anyway, IMO. Despite me being it...

Can't get a good lot of my friends away from a screen now! Maybe thanks to you old timers for inventing them :P

[washoutbeach]

Its always a laugh to see Gen Y or Gen Q or whoever feeling proud and haughty about their prancy hybrid cars.

Of course they are actually catastrophic for the environment and their batteries are glow- in- the- dark toxic.

Toyota spewed when an independent report found that over comparable life-times, thirsty Hummers are much better for the world than Prius's.

But it seems to me that in the battle for hearts and minds, it seems people are more interested in image and impressions as opposed to fact.

Now the two big problems with the feral greenies:-

1. They think their views and beleifs are more correct than ours-which is basically disrespectful and wrong.

2. They don't offer environmental solutions that prevent old, poor and sick people from suffering.

You see the very wealthy dont care about the carbon tax, because they can
afford it. Such is life. But for the vast majority of us its painful, distressing and inhuman.

It makes me sick to think that pensioners and struggle-street folk will have to freeze or boil because of lack of resources ( in a country with massive wealth). Its a disaster that people are looking to discard their beloved old big cars because some cardigan wearing woofta doesn't like the look of them.

And if we are honest, Carbon tax, hybrid cars, most of these green ways-do nothing for the environment at all. They appeal to people who are basically stupid, selfish and have an ego problem.

Freedom, liberty, voluntary care of the environment is OK.

But all this hard line environmentalism feral champaign socialist stuff- no sir, I do not agree.

I dont own one, but I will defend anyones right to own a Massive v8 and drive with air con up full bore full with the windows down!

[karj]

Originally Posted by washoutbeach

Its always a laugh to see Gen Y or Gen Q or whoever feeling proud and haughty about their prancy hybrid cars.

Of course they are actually catastrophic for the environment and their batteries are glow- in- the- dark toxic.

Toyota spewed when an independent report found that over comparable life-times, thirsty Hummers are much better for the world than Prius's.

But it seems to me that in the battle for hearts and minds, it seems people are more interested in image and impressions as opposed to fact.

Now the two big problems with the feral greenies:-

1. They think their views and beleifs are more correct than ours-which is basically disrespectful and wrong.

2. They don't offer environmental solutions that prevent old, poor and sick people from suffering.

You see the very wealthy dont care about the carbon tax, because they can
afford it. Such is life. But for the vast majority of us its painful, distressing and inhuman.

It makes me sick to think that pensioners and struggle-street folk will have to freeze or boil because of lack of resources ( in a country with massive wealth). Its a disaster that people are looking to discard their beloved old big cars because some cardigan wearing woofta doesn't like the look of them.

And if we are honest, Carbon tax, hybrid cars, most of these green ways-do nothing for the environment at all. They appeal to people who are basically stupid, selfish and have an ego problem.

Freedom, liberty, voluntary care of the environment is OK.

But all this hard line environmentalism feral champaign socialist stuff- no sir, I do not agree.

I dont own one, but I will defend anyones right to own a Massive v8 and drive with air con up full bore full with the windows down!

I think one of the problems with the whole evironmental debate is that we've essentially got one vocal extreme debating another vocal extreme. Apocalyptic scenario vs nothing is wrong.

It's always going to end in tears.

When you look at who is overly vocal on the issue... it's sort of like... we've got Al Gore & Tim Flannery in one corner, debating Andrew Bolt and Alan Jones in the other. A career politician and a paleontologist debating a journalist and a radio broadcaster on enviromental science. WTF?

As for an ETS not doing anything for the environment, that's not quite correct. Emissions trading has been around for years and used very successfully in the USA to control emissions that caused acid rain. It is not an economic model spawned to deal solely with climate change. Emissions trading was developed to be 'flexible regulation' so that change could be achieved without draconian regulation that stifled industry or caused skyrocketing prices. Voluntary care of the environment doesn't work.

At the end of the day though, an ETS will cause prices to rise... and that's what people on the street living their day to day lives really care about. I remember saying to my brother back in 2007 when most people believed in climate change... 'just wait till they find out it will cost them money'

As to the orginal post though... I don't really buy into generational warfare. Some things previous generations did better and some things the new generation do better. Just a fact of life.

[Pedro]

Originally Posted by MWTB

.......... I'm 21 and work two jobs 45-50 hours a week (6 days...and 12 hours minimum, 6 days a week at my previous job - 72 hours minimum a week) yet he still thinks I don't know anything about working because 'kids these days have it too easy with their mobile phones and internets'.............

I only read the first page of this thread and am not interested in getting into a "we're better than you" argument.

All I can say is good on you mate.
I'm an old dude but I admire young people like you that are not afraid to do the hard yards to get ahead.

[Hell Cat]

I'm gen Y (24 next month).

I've been living away from my parents since I was 18, I ran my own business for the past 3yrs (just stopped at the start of this year to work for a different place), I will start my business up again in a couple of years.

My mrs & myself have just brought a house, the house is a cool early 60s modern style house.
I own a brand new Citroën work van, an xp sedan & an xm hardtop, don't own a credit card.


Damn I'm lazy,

[cs123]

Originally Posted by Geez Louise

A good read BUT who do you think created generation Y? All us old timers...that's who

Exactly right. Back in my day when we recycled bottles it was our parents generation that did it. My generation is responsible for what happens today. My kids will be responsible for tomorrow.

[Iggypoppin']

You old timers invented easy credit too. How's that working out for the world?
Tongue in cheek

[Franco Cozzo]

I see this thread getting locked, but I'll bite the bait

Yeah, except cars back then made half the power and used twice as much fuel, they still had lead acid batteries to start the thing, generators up until the 1960s on cars were very inefficient, fuel had lead in it, carbon monoxide emissions where through the roof out of the exhaust, that one CRT TV probably used as much power as the 5 LED TVs in a modern household, they burned brown coal back then like they still do today to generate power in Victoria, most cars are still made out of steel, except they have plastic bumpers and interior trim, I still have a clothes line which gets used.

[302 XC]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I see this thread getting locked, but I'll bite the bait

Yeah, except cars back then made half the power and used twice as much fuel, they still had lead acid batteries to start the thing

They were made for the purpose of the time
Dont ever remember the prehistoric GTHO being to shabby on power, slow by todays standards, but it didnt have multi cam, injection, turbos, a computer running it
I dont think the new breed of V8s with all this,injection, computers, maybe turbos are to shabby on their emmissions, economy,power either

Considering the old school cars were as simple to make , as simple to maintain(you didnt need a science degree to do an oil change) they seem to have been goin for along time , many been round the clock many times

The new breed dont have as many non servicable parts in them , the part works or it doesnt , non greasable moving parts, thats a step forward ......

[jpd80]

look at the cars at +2 or +3 years into each decade and they appear light years ahead of predecessors
ten years before but the gap starts to narrow as we progress through the decades...
XA to XL,
XE to XA,
EB to XE,
BA to EB
FGII to BA

And yes I deliberately skewed the models and rules to prove a point..

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by 302 XC

They were made for the purpose of the time
Dont ever remember the prehistoric GTHO being to shabby on power, slow by todays standards, but it didnt have multi cam, injection, turbos, a computer running it
I dont think the new breed of V8s with all this,injection, computers, maybe turbos are to shabby on their emmissions, economy,power either

Considering the old school cars were as simple to make , as simple to maintain(you didnt need a science degree to do an oil change) they seem to have been goin for along time , many been round the clock many times

The new breed dont have as many non servicable parts in them , the part works or it doesnt , non greasable moving parts, thats a step forward ......

Yes it was fast for its time, but you'll find even modern V8s are a lot cleaner with what comes out of the exhaust. Remember when Top Gear Australia put the GTHO around the track and a FG XT beat it? Thats the thing, back in the 70s it was amazing, not by todays standards.

I wasn't around in 1970, hence why I don't really appreciate the cars from back then.

New cars aren't hard to maintain, oil and filter is still easy, most cars these days have HLAs, so no checking/adjusting valve clearances.

Modern engines also have much tighter clearances, use thinner oils and go longer between each oil and filter change.

EFI was invented because of emissions regulations, carby simply wouldn't cut it anymore, there are a lot of benefits in regards to everything when it comes to EFI; power, emissions, cold starts, etc. Being able to time precisely how much fuel and exactly what time it goes in and managing spark has its benefits.

Everyone thinks new cars aren't reliable, but in over 300,000km we haven't had many issues with the old mans 2003 Mazda 323, or in 250,000km my mums 1999 WF Festiva, my 2010 Focus had an issue with a dodgy battery but that wasn't the cars fault.

How many people would go back to driving a car from the 60s/70s as their main car after the last 40 years of improvements?

[Trek]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I wasn't around in 1970, hence why I don't really appreciate the cars from back then.

I am by no means trying to be harsh/insult here, however, there's a lot that could be said, but it's like you can't draw a connection to what excites a large percentage of the members around here. You're missing out until you experience it. I know others have said similar to you, but you insist on just questioning it - maybe you never will understand in a way that makes you also interested in real cars.

Modern cars are largely stale in appearance and feel - but this difference really only becomes apparent when you know from personal experience.

At least I can find peace in knowing that others younger than you haven't forgotten/failed to learn what is so great here - especially the ones doing up/driving XB's and XC's (and any other Falcon predating the XD - Same also applies to those driving Pre-Commodore Holdens/Chrome bumper Mopars)

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Yes it was fast for its time, but you'll find even modern V8s are a lot cleaner with what comes out of the exhaust. Remember when Top Gear Australia put the GTHO around the track and a FG XT beat it? Thats the thing, back in the 70s it was amazing, not by todays standards.

I wasn't around in 1970, hence why I don't really appreciate the cars from back then.

New cars aren't hard to maintain, oil and filter is still easy, most cars these days have HLAs, so no checking/adjusting valve clearances.

Modern engines also have much tighter clearances, use thinner oils and go longer between each oil and filter change.

EFI was invented because of emissions regulations, carby simply wouldn't cut it anymore, there are a lot of benefits in regards to everything when it comes to EFI; power, emissions, cold starts, etc. Being able to time precisely how much fuel and exactly what time it goes in and managing spark has its benefits.

Everyone thinks new cars aren't reliable, but in over 300,000km we haven't had many issues with the old mans 2003 Mazda 323, or in 250,000km my mums 1999 WF Festiva, my 2010 Focus had an issue with a dodgy battery but that wasn't the cars fault.

How many people would go back to driving a car from the 60s/70s as their main car after the last 40 years of improvements?

mate I think it’s one of those if you have to ask you won’t understand type moments

I personally think new cars are extremely reliable but they are Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo booooooooooooooooooooooooring, but this in my opinion isn’t a bragging right when talking with your mates

Honestly if distance between servicing is an important factor in what car we own I really have missed something, I have never considered a car a good car simply because it hasn’t had any issues, yea I’ve had cars that have never let me down, but they were as forgettable as their plastic hubcaps and easy care cloth trim.

New cars lack a feel, a style, it’s difficult to explain but just sitting in one makes you feel alive, you can’t add that with an aftermarket stereo or Bob Jane alloys it’s in the honesty (or dishonesty) of its creation, from a time when we did judge things with spec sheets, we looked at things and had an opinion.

I was around in the 70’s (born in 72) but I didn’t really notice cars until the XD (a car I’m not overly fond of), the cars I love are from long before my time a time I really can only imagine and is based on conversations with old blokes at BBQ’s and so on.

Every chance I get I drive an old car, yea I drive a 3 month old car every day but it is a real yawn fest, but if I go somewhere after work I take an old car, every Friday I drive my wife’s 38 to work just cause I can, its slow, it’s got a side valve motor buggy springs beam front axle drum brakes and cross ply tyres, it’s an hour each way and I love it.

Damo do yourself a favour, find someone with a cool old car and ask to go for a ride, you won’t look at a new car the same way again.

[washoutbeach]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

mate I think it’s one of those if you have to ask you won’t understand type moments

I personally think new cars are extremely reliable but they are Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo booooooooooooooooooooooooring, but this in my opinion isn’t a bragging right when talking with your mates

Honestly if distance between servicing is an important factor in what car we own I really have missed something, I have never considered a car a good car simply because it hasn’t had any issues, yea I’ve had cars that have never let me down, but they were as forgettable as their plastic hubcaps and easy care cloth trim.

New cars lack a feel, a style, it’s difficult to explain but just sitting in one makes you feel alive, you can’t add that with an aftermarket stereo or Bob Jane alloys it’s in the honesty (or dishonesty) of its creation, from a time when we did judge things with spec sheets, we looked at things and had an opinion.

I was around in the 70’s (born in 72) but I didn’t really notice cars until the XD (a car I’m not overly fond of), the cars I love are from long before my time a time I really can only imagine and is based on conversations with old blokes at BBQ’s and so on.

Every chance I get I drive an old car, yea I drive a 3 month old car every day but it is a real yawn fest, but if I go somewhere after work I take an old car, every Friday I drive my wife’s 38 to work just cause I can, its slow, it’s got a side valve motor buggy springs beam front axle drum brakes and cross ply tyres, it’s an hour each way and I love it.

Damo do yourself a favour, find someone with a cool old car and ask to go for a ride, you won’t look at a new car the same way again.

I second the sentiments expressed above.

From time to time I have had older cars I could trick and improvise with and it was a lot of fun experimenting and experiencing the results.

At the end of the year, I will be looking to buy an older car, probably pay a bit too much for it and then enjoy many happy hours bringing it back as close as I can to its "feel" when it was new.

And apart from the mechanics, I will enjoy restoring its interior to as pristine a state as I can manage.

No rational economic reason at all, no safety reason, no show-off reason. I am going to enjoy the journey and then the results.

I cant get anything near this experience in a newish car. Wouldn't even bother getting my head around tarting up a VZ. Cant feel the love at all in that proposal!

[K93George]

Wow, if you're going to make a point at least know what you are talking about (refering to author of the email).

Cars today are plastic are they? I wonder why I have to touch up that stone chip or it'll rust... Maybe my plastic front quater panel is defective or something.

How do you "burn up 220 volts"? Are you refering to power V x A = P (watts)?

I won't bother going through each point because I have already lost interest as my generation does, we lose interest in things quickly and that.

[babyf6]

Originally Posted by PlukaDuck

And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

Thats so we don't drive around and waste time. Some of us are efficient like that.

[Mickxr8]

Originally Posted by babyf6

Thats so we don't drive around and waste time. Some of us are efficient like that.

In 500 meters turn left and watch/listen to your silly satnav telling you what to instead of having a bit of a plan before you even set off , yep that makes sense ( paying attention to the road is optional if you use one of these )

[K93George]

Actually is it too late to jump on the old school band wagon? Just read a post on this thing called Facebook, a friend of mine uploaded a pic of his car tipped over and writes "Yeahhhhhhh boiiiii". I just don't understand...

[mik]

well i liked your post plucka, maybe i`m one of those non green oldies, i can remember having to chop wood to fire up the kitchen stove in the mornings(which was also our hot water), riding to work 8 k`s as a young buk on a bike that i saved for by picking up beer and soft drink bottles for the refund, and walking 2 miles to school at one stage, selling newspapers for pocket money....dam no credit cards back then .
MWTB a 72 hour week is a good weeks work, good onya mate, not out of the ordinary for some jobs though, and pretty common in the old days.

[MWTB]

Originally Posted by mik

MWTB a 72 hour week is a good weeks work, good onya mate, not out of the ordinary for some jobs though, and pretty common in the old days.

Thanks mate. I couldn't deal with it, it was way too much. Waking up at 4am (not an issue, I still wake up early where I am now, but early wake ups, late nights 6 nights a week left no time for anything else) and getting home at 8pm or later 6 nights a week destroyed me. I had no time to see my girlfriend, my mates, couldn't go to pub night on Wednesday with the boys anymore, it sucked. And for $1000 a week after tax, it wasn't worth it. I don't make much less than that now working where I do, and I don't have to pay for eastlink, and I use 1/4 of the petrol I did, so the loss of income is made up for.

Something that ****** me off about a lot of people my age is they seem to think it's okay to not work and to just sponge off of mum and dad. I've got so many friends that have never worked in their life and claim they can't get a job because 'no one is hiring'. I made a point to make a facebook photo album and fill it with help wanted signs from shops I find. Its just laziness.

I don't think its fair to have a go at folks back in the day for not being as enviro-conscious as we are these days. Its not an issue that they knew about in such detail as we do now. You can't blame them for that.