Younger members (Page 3): 83...

dhsackett

jerryc41 wrote:

Curmudgeon is right. Many online forums have members who are "not young." I watched a video that a YouTuber posted about a trip to a train show - lots of old men. I used to go to the motorcycle show in NYC, and there were lots of old men there, too, although the younger crowd was well represented.

Come to think of it, every group I've belonged to has consisted of "mature" members.

We could take a survey of the ages of our members. I'm 79.

83

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

jerryc41 wrote:

The same applies to hot rods. Go to a car show featuring hot rods, and you'll see lots of old people. When I was a kid, it was the teenagers who modified their cars.

Problem is so many micro processors and programming challenges make hotrodding difficult and there’s always the specter of EPA and other government minions

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

jerryc41 wrote:

Curmudgeon is right. Many online forums have members who are "not young." I watched a video that a YouTuber posted about a trip to a train show - lots of old men. I used to go to the motorcycle show in NYC, and there were lots of old men there, too, although the younger crowd was well represented.

Come to think of it, every group I've belonged to has consisted of "mature" members.

We could take a survey of the ages of our members. I'm 79.

I'm 85

Warhorse Loc: SE Michigan

I guess I'm an example of a younger member here, I am 69.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

jerryc41 wrote:

Seeking knowledge from their elders is not a trait of youth.

It is how I spent most of my time in my teens and 20s.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

jcboy3 wrote:

Not a chance. I can't imagine young people wanting to. And I doubt that older members would tolerate the changes needed to revamp this site and make it attractive to young people.

What sort of changes do you think would be needed?

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Blenheim Orange wrote:

Do you think it is possible to attract younger members to UHH? Or is that a hopeless cause? What would it take?

Like Jack said
and most don't have an attention span longer than a Mouses Ahem!!!

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

jerryc41 wrote:

Curmudgeon is right. Many online forums have members who are "not young." I watched a video that a YouTuber posted about a trip to a train show - lots of old men. I used to go to the motorcycle show in NYC, and there were lots of old men there, too, although the younger crowd was well represented.

Come to think of it, every group I've belonged to has consisted of "mature" members.

We could take a survey of the ages of our members. I'm 79.

As Groucho Marx said "I don’t care to belong to any club that would have people like me as a member."

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Manglesphoto wrote:

Like Jack said
and most don't have an attention span longer than a Mouses Ahem!!!

so if that's what you think of them, why would you want them to come here?
More importantly, why would they want to come here?

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

larryepage wrote:

They are legitimately interested in photography, but they don't care much about the attitudes and rigidity of old people.

I think you may be right.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

fourlocks wrote:

I belong to a radio control airplane club and my w... (show quote)

I just started running a conservation non-profit and we have the same issue.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

davidrb wrote:

Photography requires hard work and dedication. Those are traits not often associated with our younger generations. Why do you express interest in attracting new members who don't share those interests?

I can remember some older people saying the same thing about us back in the 60s. They were wrong.

PhotoMono123 Loc: Houston, Texas

Ah, the lament of specialty clubs — where are the young?

We are having the same problems with our local photography club and art league. Both are populated by the superannuated. And we also are trying to attract younger folks. But it is hard.

Why? Well, both spouses work. Since they both work, housework, chores, and errands are shared. Evenings and/or weekends they are chauffeuring the kids to all sorts of activities and practices (spare us the "in my day..." comments). Of course that also means they are hanging around these activities because they also have to get the kids back home. The bottom line is the young are already running their asses off just keeping up with life.

Think of it. How many folks put their hobbies aside until the kids leave home or retirement comes? I suspect it is an awful lot of us. I know that's how it has been for me. The RV waited until my daughter was in college. The boat waited until she was out of college. The camera waited until retirement. I am guessing a similar story can be told by many others.

Warhorse Loc: SE Michigan

Blenheim Orange wrote:

I can remember some older people saying the same thing about us back in the 60s. They were wrong.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

PhotoMono123 wrote:

Ah, the lament of specialty clubs — where are the ... (show quote)

Good comments Don. Thanks. I am reading Last Child in the Woods. The author describes how life is very different for young people over the last 20 years or so then it was 50 years ago, more regimented, much more time spent indoors.

Everyone I knew had plenty of time for hobbies when I was in my teens and 20s. The various clubs and organizations had memberships with wider age ranges - rail fans, music, photography, conservation are some groups I was involved in.