Disdain for Younger Generations of Shooters: What's the Deal?

[Zaydok Allen]

This is an interesting topic.

I'm 34 and my interest is primarily in SA/DA revolvers. Now, I'm sure not as young as I used to be but I often get surprised looks from older gun counter workers when I ask to take a look at a Smith or a Ruger. They seem even more surprised when I actually look at the bc gap, check the lockup, and other various revolver checks before purchase. They also seem surprised when I ask what they have for pinned and recessed Smiths. I do look younger than I am, so that may contribute.

Then shortly after I ask to look at an HK or Sig.

All guns interest me regardless of my age, and that's how it'll always be. Any preconceived notion that all younger folks are fool hardy or mall ninjas and tacticool morons is completely wrong. I have a young man working for me (age 23) who is more logical, honest, and hard working than most of the people I work with who are twice his age or older. He wears a flat brimmed hat, skateboard clothing, and works a ski hill in winter. I'd sooner trust him to get things done than guys my own age with a retirement plan. Why is that? It's because his behavior and attitude is respectable and warrants dignified treatment.

Video games are irrelevant. I play video games and I have no such violent or war glory fantasies. Video games do not breed violence. Poor upbringing, a lack of morality, or mental illness do.

Why do I play them? I play them because they are an interactive form of story telling, and because I haven't met the right woman yet. I find them more interesting than sitting in front of the TV and watching BS reality TV and crappy sitcoms. I don't care much for social media either as posting your entire life on Facebook is irrelevant to most folks, and Twitter....... Well, twit is in the name for a reason.

Act appropriately around older shooters, and they will show you respect. Heed their advise and they will see you want to learn. And if a person is a D-bag, regardless of their age, then walk away.

Discriminating against younger or older shooters is just as foolish as racism or homophobia. Base your assessment of a person and your attitude towards them on an individual basis, not on preconceived notions. If a person is an ass, all it means is that person is an ass. It in no way reflects on any particular group they are affiliated with.

Ok, I'm putting my soap box away now.

 

[zeke]

Took good young guy and his girl shooting several times, and to sight in his new pistol and her new rifle. Really nice kids. Am old enough to call mid twenties age people kids. Or mid 30's people for that matter.

Then let the guy shoot an old favorite, a ruger Mark II with bull barrel and good aftermarket sites. SOB shot it more accurate than I can currently.

After all I did for em Reminded me of someone I knew over 20 years ago, when he could actually see theme small little targets.

Yepper , was wearing a cap backward more than 40 years ago. If told some whipper snappers what we were up to 40 years ago, they would realize how tame they really are!

 

[Rodentman]

I'll hit full retirement age in 2 weeks.

The vast majority of young people I see at the ranges are responsible with firearms and that makes me feel good. I DO have issues with the young folks and their "devices" but I'll leave it at that.

My kids are 35 and 31. Neither is much interested in firearms except for what they can get for the collection when I go to the shooting range in the sky.

 

[Derry 1946]

The Greatest Generation were mostly a bunch of kids when they answered the call to arms and sacrifice. Sam is right; the Ancient Greek philosophers bemoaned the collapse of civilization occasioned by their slacker progeny. I figure it's a two-way street. Don't assume I'm irrelevant and extinct merely by virtue of my superannuation, and I won't assume the young whippersnappers at the range are immature ne'er-do-wells. Kidding aside, God bless our young generations, for they hold the future of our nation and world in their hands. And what a world they inherit.

 

[Radagast]

I knew I was turning into my father the day I started complaining about the music kids listen to these days.
I found gun forums right after Al Gore invented the internet, I was a callow youth and couldn't wait to buy my first polymer handgun. I was in awe of the experts. I had the thought that one day, if I stuck around, I would be the expert. Nearly two decades later, I search for quality blued steel and walnut and fake being an expert fairly well.

As for video games? They create new shooters. Probably why Mrs Gore hated them.

 

[guyfromohio]

Part of the problem may arise from the way guns were introduced to the youngster and the respect gained. The older generations were typically taught by a father/mentor in the real world. Many youngsters now became interested in firearms by seeing cool stuff on the screen and are learning the realities in reverse order. Can't say that it has any cause to bother me. As long as you don't shoot me or an innocent person, live and let live. Just please quit putting stupid stuff on your guns.

 

[Mostly Lead]

I could be that my jimmies got rustled because I am of that age group

Yeah, don't you just hate it when someone judges others based on belonging to a particular age group? :banghead:

(as an older guy, I'm sensing some irony here.. )

Corpral_Agarn - welcome! Don't worry to much about us "older folks", you'll be one of us before you know it. Sort of sneaks up you when you're not looking.

I like talking to younger guys/gals at the range. Nice to hear hope and optimism from people who still believe they can do anything! Cheers me up every time.. And if they turns out they want to learn a couple pointers to reduce their group size on target, I'm always willing to share a few tricks. (before taking advice from one of us older folks though, check our targets to see it it works! )

Meanwhile, enjoy the ride! You only get the one ticket.

 

[Al Thompson]

I like talking to younger guys/gals at the range. Nice to hear hope and optimism from people who still believe they can do anything! Cheers me up every time.. And if they turns out they want to learn a couple pointers to reduce their group size on target, I'm always willing to share a few tricks.

I try to drag youngsters to the range every chance I get. At 55 and with a full head of gray hair, I find young folks (around here) appreciate someone taking some time to coach them in the ways of shooting, regardless of the firearm type.

 

[bikerdoc]

C A and all you other young guys.
If someone gives you a hard time in a post hit the report button. We expect tolerance, respect, and the ability to disagree politely as core values of The High Road. Period. Amen. End of story.

) and in defense of curmudeons, Im the coolest 67 year old you ever met!)

 

[243winxb]

I like young adults with there new toys, as I am not buying many at age 70. Safety is my only concern.

 

[DeepSouth]

It seems that playing video games as children is believed (by some) to be the cause of an inability to be responsible with firearms.
So by that logic people who played video games = not responsible with firearms.

I figure that because 99.9999% of all serial killers drank milk as children then we can conclude that
Drinking milk as children = serial killer

or not, seeing as correlation does not equal causation...


I want to know what's up.

I'll try to explain something that I've seen.
When you have video game "nerd" (for lack of a better word) they frequently know nothing about firearms, but they use them, and learn about them in said video games. So they may well go out and buy one based mainly on gameing experience, then they have this awesome gun and little to no real world experience. So they do what comes natural to them, use it like they do in a video game, a place where safe handling is a non-issue, where the more rounds down range at the highest possible rate is desired.

It can be bad, and can certainly put a negative impression on other more gun savvy shooters, and rather than try to educate them they simply get annoyed and then stereotype the rest of people in the same age group, or people that play video games, ect, ect.

I'll admit this comes solely from my own personal experience. And my best, but not only, example is When a coworker of mine once asked me if he should buy a SCAR or an ACR. I told him I had only shot a SCAR once and never even seen an ACR, but from what I understand they are both very nice, reliable guns but I probably wasn't they best person to ask with my very limited experience and knowledge.
Then he said, "yeah, they're both awesome. I'm leaning toward the ACR because it has a higher rate of fire." Then I looked at a little funny, because I was confused and he just started telling me about some video game guns.

Yep, he was doing exactly what I described above, he owned one gun which was a Taurus .40 that he talked about frequently. He knew little to nothing about guns, I once loaned him a NAA mini because he was considering buying one for his wife and wanted her to shoot one. He returned it the next day with two shots fired and empties still in the cylinder. I had given him a 50rnd box + the five in the gun. When I asked him how he liked it he said it was awful, he said his wife shot it first and just started screaming, and he couldn't figure out why so he shot it (brilliant right, best diagnostic tool ever) and said to me "man that thing is so fing loud, you can't shoot it!" Huhhhhh some people just don't need guns.

He eventually got the SCAR and I can only imagine how he handled it, shortly after he got it he found other employment but being beside him at the range would probably be interesting

I recognize all people are individuals and should be judged accordingly, but I believe their are lots of people like my friend out there and after people meet a few of they begin to generalize and stereotype them.

Then again I could be totally off base.

 

[Tirod]

I'm 62. I'm going to point a finger -

When growing up, I played with plastic guns. The '60s were the heyday of plastic guns, they were popping up everywhere, the toy departments were full of them. Replica '03A3 with working bolt action that snapped caps and loaded and extracted a cartridge. Lever action carbine that actually loaded cartridges that were propelled from the barrel and hit your brother in the eye - my neighbor had the better version that cycled them from a tube magazine. Thompsons with pull back handles that could shoot loud bursts. Lugers, 1911's, and later, HK VP70's which shot pellets.

We were awash in cheap plastic guns and just go check the prices on them in fleabay. OMG I've let my kids growing up trash thousands of dollars worth. Secret Sam briefcase, the Man from UNCLE set, what have you, we were AWASH in plastic guns.

Anyone over the age of 55 who complains about "kids with plastic guns" have better grown up in an extremist anti gun peacenik household to avoid them. They have three fingers pointing back as the old saying goes.

And what did we do with them? Played Cowboys and Indians - there's simulated genocidal holocaust reenactment there. Or the Civil War? How about Cops and Robbers, a notorious example of privileged society arming thugs to beat down thugs, if you take that slant. (I was MP in my last serving tour - I get it.)

Why a generation gets more conservative is basically familiarity and a distinct effort to be different than their children. And the children are simply taking what their parents allowed and pushing it to the next level. It's been like that every generation. What one group disallowed - dancing, rock and roll, tight skirts, hot rods - another generation embraced - The Monkey, heavy metal, the bikini, Muscle Cars.

Here we are, oldsters, your sins are visited on you. Ranting about plastic guns and tackycool rifles? Played with them as a kid. Pwn'd.

Don't let my contemporaries try to bluff you, just nod and move on like we did then. As time goes by we learn we don't know it all, we become more aware of what we don't know. And school didn't stop the day we left it. We have pretty much lost the Flathead generation, and the DOHC guys are the muscle now. Enjoy what you had - because there's always another generation coming.

 

[jmorris]

I am not young but I look at them as toys to be played with, have fun and learn from.

"Toy" and "play" might have different meanings to some but there are a lot of "toys" out there that can kill people if not played with correctly. Non commercial aircraft being the first to come to mind. Weekend motor cycle and boat users, etc...

 

[X-Rap]

I've been at the brunt of youth prejudice back when I was 25 so I know what it feels like.
I also know that character, work ethic, knowledge and being a quick study will get you by but experience is king if you learn from it properly.
Just because your old doesn't mean your smart just like youth doesn't mean your not wise but living a full life and learning every day makes for a well rounded individual.

 

[Sunray]

Ever use the derogatory term 'fudd' when referring to your elders?
Like Walkalong says, it goes both ways and always has.
No such thing as video games when I was a kid. Play 'em regularly now. Need a new one too.
Did have several plastic guns as a pup though. A Win 94 that fired wee plastic bullets, a Thompson SMG with no stock, a the Johnny Seven(that still lives in my bed room, but all the projectiles are in the Twilight Zone), et al. And a few all metal cap guns.

 

[Sam1911]

Ever use the derogatory term 'fudd' when referring to your elders?

While I suppose some youngsters might use that term for any older shooter, the term "Fudd" carries a much more specific connotation these days.

To wit: Someone who does not value and/or help fight for the gun rights of all shooters and for all kinds of guns. The gun owner who loves his hunting rifle or duck shotgun but denigrates "tactical," competition, self-defense and/or other shooters and does nothing to protect the right to the weapons they use.

While insulting anyone is probably pretty counterproductive, regardless of justifications, this particular epithet has a much more exclusive meaning than simply age specific.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Ever use the derogatory term 'fudd' when referring to your elders?

No sir.

My Momma would beat me silly if I disrespected someone who didn't earn it, doesn't matter how old I am.

And if they earned it, I wouldn't being calling them 'Fudd'. As a huge fan of Bugs Bunny and all his buddies, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Like Walkalong says, it goes both ways and always has.

It absolutely goes both ways. I guess the most recent example for me was Older having disdain for younger and I have experienced it in person first hand.

I am an Instructor for the Range and it can be an uphill battle at times.

 

[jlr1962]

Talkin bout my G G G Geration?

It has been passed one to the next. You will do the same.

 

[tarosean]

One thing is for certain OP. You will be old before you know it, wondering where the years went.

Dont sweat the small stuff. Especially not some anonymous user on the internet.

 

[SSN Vet]

The OP suggests that there is a bias and disdain against young people by older people.

Did someone just not get there Geratol that day or what?

And then proves that he walks on a two way street and has his own biases and disdain.

Respect is earned by speaking respectable speech and doing respectable acts... whining is not usually included in either category.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

One thing is for certain OP. You will be old before you know it, wondering where the years went.

Dont sweat the small stuff. Especially not some anonymous user on the internet.

oh, I know it!
according to my wife, I have been an 'old man' for a few years now.

'One foot in the grave,' she says!

I am not sweating it too much, but I thought it could be a good discussion and thought others may benefit from the topic being brought to the forefront.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

The OP suggests that there is a bias and disdain against young people by older people.



And then proves that he walks on a two way street and has his own biases and disdain.

Respect is earned by speaking respectable speech and doing respectable acts... whining is not usually included in either category.

You have miss quoted me, sir.

What I said was:

Did someone just not get there Geratol that day or what?

Please take special notice of the

I was making a little joke to try and lighten up the thread. The only reason I know what Geritol is is because of a couple of old timers I used to know that would make Geritol jokes.
I still laugh when watching old Red Skelton shows when the Geritol commercial comes on.

 

[SSN Vet]

Jokes are disdain cloaked in the wrapping of a smile... I find that most often, what a person thinks is funny, tells a whole lot about their own personal biases, etc...

 

[CoRoMo]

I'm in my late 30's and I don't like anyone that is younger than me.

I also don't like people who are older than me either, and it doesn't matter if they are men or women. Even if a shooter is the same age as me, if they don't think like me, I won't like them at all. And even if they think my way and believe all the right things like I do, if they don't do the things right like I do, I don't like them either.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Jokes are disdain cloaked in the wrapping of a smile... I find that most often, what a person thinks is funny, tells a whole lot about their own personal biases, etc...

Hang on, what?

I am not sure I buy that.
People that make distasteful jokes that have a similar punchline over and over again, then yes, that could be (ie: racist jokes, etc) but a single joke about Geritol?

I think that you are taking the joke far more personal (and further) than is necessary. People tell a lot of jokes. I tell a lot of jokes, usually making fun of myself. I don't have disdain for me.

I thought that would be an appropriate way to lighten the thread.
I got that idea from two 70 year old men who used to joke about being the 'Geritol Twins' in front of a group of 400 people. Weekly.

The joke actually serves two purposes:
First, lighten up the thread so thing don't get to heated/serious (poking fun at 'old timers' in a lighthearted way. The same way people make light jokes about us 'whipper snappers')
Second, as a way to recognize that that was one person being rude.

If I said 'did someone just pee in that guys cereal this morning or what?' would that have been better? Last I knew cereal was a meal that everyone (regardless of age) participated in.

That joke wasn't meant to be offensive, but if you choose to take it that way, I guess that is how its going to be.

I work with a guy on a regular basis who is an older gentleman. He gives me trash about all sorts of things ('you gonna hit that nail, or just try to scare it into the board?') and I give him trash about being old. We have a good time. He is my favorite person to work with. We both have respect each other (actually I respect him a great deal and hope to be like him someday) but have a good time working together.

He's my Dad.

Thanks for participating in the thread.