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> not something you take on For parent's generation it seemed to be very much something they took on. Or there was an expectation to progress through phases of

> not something you take on For parent's generation it seemed to be very much something they took on. Or there was an expectation to progress through phases of life/clothes/attitudes. As I've got older it's apparent just how much wider the gap was compared to us and the next generation. To look at my parents I see a different world, with the kids it's very much the same world we just disagree on some details. Tattoo? Probably not - but for the same reason I didn't in my 20s either. I change mind on what I'd like too often to commit to skin! I agree on tinkering, the enthusiasm has faded a fair bit. I can't remember the last time something seemed genuinely new rather than yet another variation on a theme. Yes I can see how pointing out the latest framework is a silly idea might get interpreted as killjoy! It does get too easy to see the negative sometimes. On IoT and security, to name but two, a little less blind optimism and a bit more criticism wouldn't be a bad thing! I've long known I think a little different. I prefer a healthy diversity and range of perspectives to homogeneity. If I were recruiting at a company of mostly 50 something males I'd be hoping to bring in some women and younger people. By the same token most startups of 20 somethings could benefit from the odd wise uncle or aunt even if they don't have reaction times to win games sessions!

dalke 10y ago
Perhaps we have different ideas of "take on." First off, what you describe fits neither my father nor my grandfathers. As far as I know, none ever played even a round of golf, much less pursued it. Golf has a reputation of being a rich (upper middle class or higher), white, suburban sport, for people with plenty of leisure time to get in a full 18 holes. The working class and lower middle class sport was bowling. That makes me think it's more likely associated with social class dynamics of the mid-20th century than waiting until one turns 50-something to take on a certain role. That is, did your father at age 20 decide that at age 50 he would get a cardigan and slippers? Or was it an image that was was marketed to members of the professional class, which he adopted? 30 years previous, when he was 20, were the 50 years olds also doing the cardigan, slipper and golf thing? Because I don't think that was the case. I don't think he took on the role that was established for 50 years, but rather helped establish the culturally correct role for people of his social class. I agree with the "different world". While many like to hype the speed of change in the modern world, I am of the minority view that the world has changed less, in the social sense, in the last 40 years than the previous 40 years. Earlier this year I was reading some letters written in the late 1940s, where the family was deciding to buy a fridge. The mid-20th century brought so many changes that Toffler's 'Future Shock' became an international bestseller.
- anexprogrammer 10y ago
  The golf was maybe of our location, there was a council course nearby. He took it up sometime in his 50s, and I guess 5 years after he left the council for the private sector. Maybe it was to progress at work or just for the friends. We certainly weren't rich, going on the house and lifestyle, though with a car not poor either. That highlights another difference, he'd never talk about work much and money not at all. With our kids we were far more open about work, less so about money - they don't need to share mortgage worries. Of the rest I think you're entirely right, especially as he grew up in the 30s. The post war world would soon be unrecognisable. From the 30s through to the typical home of 1970, the changes were dramatic and fundamental moving from poverty to consumer society with healthcare.
- dalke 10y ago
  "was deciding to buy a fridge" should be "was deciding to buy their first fridge".

dalke 10y ago

Perhaps we have different ideas of "take on." First off, what you describe fits neither my father nor my grandfathers. As far as I know, none ever played even a round of golf, much less pursued it. Golf has a reputation of being a rich (upper middle class or higher), white, suburban sport, for people with plenty of leisure time to get in a full 18 holes. The working class and lower middle class sport was bowling. That makes me think it's more likely associated with social class dynamics of the mid-20th century than waiting until one turns 50-something to take on a certain role. That is, did your father at age 20 decide that at age 50 he would get a cardigan and slippers? Or was it an image that was was marketed to members of the professional class, which he adopted? 30 years previous, when he was 20, were the 50 years olds also doing the cardigan, slipper and golf thing? Because I don't think that was the case. I don't think he took on the role that was established for 50 years, but rather helped establish the culturally correct role for people of his social class. I agree with the "different world". While many like to hype the speed of change in the modern world, I am of the minority view that the world has changed less, in the social sense, in the last 40 years than the previous 40 years. Earlier this year I was reading some letters written in the late 1940s, where the family was deciding to buy a fridge. The mid-20th century brought so many changes that Toffler's 'Future Shock' became an international bestseller.

anexprogrammer 10y ago
The golf was maybe of our location, there was a council course nearby. He took it up sometime in his 50s, and I guess 5 years after he left the council for the private sector. Maybe it was to progress at work or just for the friends. We certainly weren't rich, going on the house and lifestyle, though with a car not poor either. That highlights another difference, he'd never talk about work much and money not at all. With our kids we were far more open about work, less so about money - they don't need to share mortgage worries. Of the rest I think you're entirely right, especially as he grew up in the 30s. The post war world would soon be unrecognisable. From the 30s through to the typical home of 1970, the changes were dramatic and fundamental moving from poverty to consumer society with healthcare.
dalke 10y ago
"was deciding to buy a fridge" should be "was deciding to buy their first fridge".