"True, JP, but I have met lots of young folks interested in our cars as well. My fear is that we are producing kids totally unable to keep old cars on the road or drive a standard transmission. Or, for that matter, in the future, being able to afford a hobby car."
True, though we might be part of the problem, I learned to tinker from my father. And yes, we are still seeing kids interested in the hobby - though many of the cars of their youth are just much much more complicated beasties. And I realize that we need to remember that the cars of our youth are "gateway drugs." - EG. The Midget was built when I was 15. The Vauxhall when I was 9 (I have no recollection of ever seeing one until the last couple of years). The Fiat was built before I was born and the Austin before my mother was born, so, it grows! Affordability is an issue though I would say there are still bargains out there - I also find that hipsters drive curious cars - 70's Mercedes sedan/ Malais era cars. Yesterday I saw a guy with an early 80's vintage mazda 323 coupe in magnificent condition - it was even brown - with a baby seat in the back!
"You mean ... gasp ... giving our kids everything they want, fixing all their problems, paying their bills, and preventing them from learning how to take responsibility might have negative consequences? Egad!
(As we say at Sturbridge Village: imagine how much more intelligent/creative/capable the farm animals would be, if we didn't corral them, keep them protected, and give them their food and water.)"
Never ever forget, they are our kids (and grandkids) we made them what they are!
Yes, I gripe too about snowflakes, but, I am continually astonished by the imagination and abilities of these kids. My daughter was judging a computer design event this week where the winning presentation was an app that could revolutionize prescription drug safety for seniors and visually impaired. Yesterday my nephew presented (with the rest of his Engineering graduating class) his research at a show - a cheap and easy test to detect septic bacteria in hospital patient bloodstreams (50,000 people die of this every year). And that wasn't even his main interest. I see kids graduating with $50,000 + debt and unable to get jobs and when they do they are contracts with no pension, no benefits and little hope.
In spite of this, the whole "maker" phenomenon is amazing and growing like crazy - just wander around youtube for a bit.
Mostly though, if we want kids in the hobby, we have to be welcoming. I love BCF, it is my favourite forum on the web, people constantly remark on the tone and welcome the receive (Thanks boss!) But millennials are not welcome here. We say they are but, almost all of our "young people" posts are some variation of "Millennials are useless (but my kids/grandkids are great!)" If I were a young person trying to get into the hobby, I would have no reason to hang around here (sorry boss)
Don't believe me - punch "millennial" into the BCF search bar and see what comes up (and full disclosure, my name comes up too).
In the church, this is a constant issue - we want young people but we really want them to behave like us and have the same values as us and most of all do things the way we think they should - and then we are surprised when they aren't interested.
Don't want to sound too grumpy on this, but, just last night I was talking with my mother and remarking that they came to Canada in part out of the hope/expectation that their children would have it better than they did. This has always been the hope/expectation until now. For the first time in literally generations, our kids will have it worse than we did - and it's not their fault.
crawls back under rock.
Hi Guest!
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
