The Old Generation versus the New Generation: What's it all about?

Day 560, 17:25 • Published in Australia Australia • by Ranger Bob

To begin this article, I start with an anecdote:

A very self-opinionated school age student at a recent football game, took it upon himself to explain to a senior citizen sitting next to him why it was impossible for the older generation to understand his own.

"You grew up in a different, actually almost primitive, world," the student said loud enough for the whole crowd to hear. "We young people today grew up with television, jet planes, space travel, man walking on the moon, our spaceships have visited Mars...We even have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with light-speed processing ....and uh.."

Taking advantage of a pause for breath in the student's litany, the "wizened" one said, "You're right, Son. We didn't have those things when we were young........so we invented them......you arrogant idiot!!

Now......what are you doing for the next generation??"

I have been increasingly disturbed about this widening rift between the "older" generation of players and what is now increasingly being called the "newer" generation. I'm sure people understand what I mean.

There are the 'old folks' who were here for the RW, helped free and reunite much of Australia, reestablished order when regions were returned and for that, deserve the respect (and quite rightful) adoration of the masses for their immense contribution to eAus.

Then, there are the 'upstarts' and 'newbies' who weren't here, have arrived mid-way into the return of eAus to the eAustralian people, are arrogant, seemingly (at least to the older crew) non-appreciative, always more than willing to argue with their seniors and wanting to go about changing things.

I had an epiphany about this last night - how is that different to real life?

The gererational debate has raged on before any of us were born in RL, let alone on this game. Fact is, neither side is completely right. The old people can be set in their ways, and (perceivingly) rigid by the younger, and perhaps more ignorant new player as they weren't there "back in the days". But the newer generation can have a different look on things - a new way of thinking and perhaps come up with new directions the older generation haven't thought of.

Fact is, the new players can see, but perhaps not fully understand the perspective of the old players, just like I found it hard to understand my RL grandfather when he talked of how tough it was in Melbourne back in the 1920's.

Each side will ALWAYS fail to fully and completely appreciate the side of the other...

So, how to go about correcting this old school/new school view, in a way that recognises both sides of the debate? Can we go about fixing this?

I for one am tired of the flaming and mindless debate. And yes, seriously I have considered my place in this game over the last few weeks, and whether I should bother trying to or just leave quietly - either from eAus or the game entirely. I have spoken to several people trying to understand why we can't get past the fact people should be entitled to their own opinions, and let the people as a whole decide.

I don't want to lose the vast experience, wealth of knowledge and contribution the older players can make. I don't want to lose the fresh views, committment and enthusiasm of the newer players. But, I fear we may eventually lose both, through the flaming and the failure for people to appreciate other's views.