Maybe I'm just getting too old!

When I was going to school, we had to make mathematical computations using our brain. Then in the 70's, Texas Instruments introduced the first pocket-sized calculator and many kids stopped learning how to apply the functions of math. In the 80's, a few parents sued teachers and school boards because their poor Johnny was forcibly dragged to the Principal's office after he had just beaten up another kid. Kids were very quick to take advantage of this. Forget corporal punishment! Now a teacher can't even look cross-eyed at a student for fear of being sued and losing their job. In the 90's, the personal computer and the internet made it easier for the kids. They didn't have to study anymore. All they had to do was learn how to Google a subject.

So, it seems that we have a lot of young collectors coming here applying these same useless standards thinking that everything they do is okay. I've been taken to task more than once for coming down too hard on some of them. I'm sorry, but I'm "old school", and I don't believe that coddling the children serves any useful purpose. I've always known that I would never make a good politician because I always say what is on my mind.

So, in closing this rant, let me leave you with this one thought. If a kid who knew nothing about firearms was holding a Glock and he pointed it at you, would you tell him politely that he should never point a gun at someone because the gun just might be loaded? I sure as hell wouldn't because he'd probably pull the trigger to see if it was loaded.

Chris

 

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Not sure what you mean. If I were you, I'd encourage more young people to start collecting & asking questions. If you don't want to answer them, then don't. Or you could just delete new accounts, mine is a new account too. Don't be like MBT. You know, dang whippersnappers don't know the difference between 2 bits and a quarter!
I helped my old boss begin a stamp & coin shop. He'd collected 50 years, I merely helped him set up eBay. Stamp collecting is long DEAD. Just old collectors, no new collectors. Seems like many stamp shops stabbed each other in the back and just ceased to exist (Jacksonville, FL).

 

I'm treading in different waters. I'm thinking that we're getting better all of the time. If you don't believe me, read a few articles about the life in the 19th and 20th centuries. Life during the civil war, spanish american war, war I, war II, korean war, and vietnam war were far worse than today. Obviously, kids were not growing up to be responsible adults or they would have figured out how to prevent them. If you would prefer another century before those, be my guest, read about them, they were even worse. I vote for living now. I would like a coin from over a century ago though.

 

Chris,
I hear what your saying and all to often do I see it. As a matter of fact I have been wanting to say this for a while now especially with new people coming along and ask "what's it worth"..99% of the time I google part of the info they give and their coin pops up (numerous hits!) and think to myself..really was it that hard. However I choose not to say anything because I am afraid to hurt someone's feeling.

The ways of the world today have made people lazy..why? It's not like when I were in school where we needed a book to get information and actually work hard to get good grades (I think when MPC/RLM/Duke and a few others didnt use books for they werent invented yet..think it was stone, maybe hehehe ). Like you mentioned they have google now but wont even do that much when they can "ask" others to do work for them.
Sometimes getting a kick in the butt / slap in the hand does everyone a good every once in the while.

thanks chris,

Shrek

 

I do not have a clue where you are coming from. There may be some who pop in for a post or 2 that may have a vague resemblance to you description, but most of the ones who stick around for a while impress the ever loving @$%!#$ out of me. I would not even be surprised if there are not one or two you do not even realize are "kids". The ones I am referring to know the king's English better than 90% of those here, are significantly more courteous and polite than most, and, to top it off, know a lot more about coins than I (and probably most of us old timers if we are honest with ourselves) when I was their age. If that ain't enough, try comparing them to a couple of our agitators of late.

 

Phil
In certain ascepts you are completely right especially between 19 and 20th century. However there are some basic fundamentals that are falling behind, i.e. respect, working hard for your money, curtiousness just to name a few. Also I agree I vote for living now, however if you dont learn from the past, how can you move forward (or I should say, history will often repeat itself?)

my three cents

-Shrek

 

Although I agree with the main idea of what you are trying to say. Comparing this situation to that of a child hold a strong gun that has no idea how to use it is absolutely ridiculous.

 

There is no question that the technology today is far superior to anything in history, but how can you equate that to a better quality of life?

World Trade Center?
Oklahoma City?
Anthrax?
Somalia?
Uganda?
Chernobyl?

Just to name a few.

Chris

 

I love learning and teaching.

I know how you feel, Chris. I find it far easier to teach the earlier generation (5-12) than kids in their teens or early twenties. I go through a lot of frustration at work with employees that don't know how to use the phone book, or don't know how to make change, or don't know it's rude to check your cell phone while taking food orders from a table of customers. (I actually had a server tell customers to "hold on" while she read a text message!)

I don't mind helping a noobie with a question he may have. Some of them respect your time and effort and thank you for it and learn from it when shown where to get the information next time. The one's I have no patience for are the ones that will argue because the information they got wasn't what they wanted to hear.

I'm getting old(er) and would rather spend my diminishing years sharing knowledge with those who will benefit from it than to waste my time with someone who wants to argue because of his own ignorance.

 

I will give you something to mull over. Try this quote. Most interesting when you look up the author.

BTW, is there anything on you list that compare to the holocaust? The American Civil War? The middle ages? etc.

 

Awww, Chris, you're not getting old; you are old, old buddy!:hug:

 

If you are going to start another thread like this. you ought to put it in the general discussion forum. Would not be surprised if this one doesn't get moved there.

 

Thanks for posting that. It's one of my favorite's considering who the author was.

 

Kinda gives a whole new perspective to kids and problems, doesn't it?

 

Yeah, It show's that I'm not the only one that's gone through that!

 

Plato, 4th Century BC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato

Very nice RLM...had to have a refresher history lesson.

thanks!

Shrek

 

You're missing the entire point of the analogy. Sometimes, it can be dangerous to be nice, or as some people might say, "politically correct", rather than yell at them to put the damn gun down. If you try to be nice, kids today are more likely to test the options, i.e. pull the trigger, rather than think logically about the repercussions of their actions.

Chris

 

Purposefully not! One of the posters mentioned the better quality of life that we enjoy today, and I was wondering if the events that I listed were part of that quality of life.

Chris

 

I know what you mean it seems that kids think they can just learn something from the computer or their phone. They don't know how to use a reference book or a card catalog at the library. It has can also cause problems Adults and kids they look on the internet and see a MS-66 Morgan for $250.00 and they think theirs looks the same and it ought to be worth at least that. The don't do the homework to find out theirs is a common circulated coin that is at best on a good day in dim light an XF coin. Ice

 

At least I don't get squeamish over hard shell crabs.

See, you made me bring that up again.