Freaking rednecked old timers

[Potashminer]

Geeze, those old Boomers again! Seems only yesterday they were a bunch of young punks. I wonder if that trend will continue?

... .

The bolded part is too funny - next month I go to a 50th reunion for an exchange program that I was on, out of high school. Of those of us still living, the younger ones of us are now in our late 60's - the older ones are into their 70's - have been sharing pictures, etc. from "back then" - and for sure, most of us sure looked like "young punks"!!! That is, until we had to get our hair cut to leave Canada ...

 

[RRCo.]

Time wanes swiftly away, and so do we.

Some of the worst linger on and on, but considering where they're headed it's no surprise they want to be the last to go.

 

[Potashminer]

RRCo. - as time has gone by, I have had acquaintances taken out by machinery they were operating, or by other operators, also by medical conditions - like abdominal aorta aneurysm - none were past fifty years old - if at all - so, dying is not always by choice - sometimes it happens - especially if one works or plays in the "hard world". Some of us that "linger on" do see that as "surviving" - and we are just waiting our turn ...

 

[RRCo.]

I was thinking more of some of the moral pygmies that currently strut their little hour on the world stage.

 

[4star60]

I don't think the criticism is on target at all. The old guys(I am one now) tend(ed) to treat the young guys with some disdain. Did you ever think of how many young guys show up, do nothing for the club, and criticise how it is run? Plenty. and the old guys see this repeated over the years. Any club I have joined and belonged to for a while has not been a redneck club or racist. You can call it racism but get off your butt and work for the club like the old guys have and you won't see the "racism" any more. Not saying you but I have seen a hell of a lot of young people show up and have no clue what it takes to run an organization, Shooting is not the only hobby/sport where this criticism occurs. You may not be "entitled" but you sound like it. Any safety infraction is serious so your comment reflects badly on you.
I could go on and on but get your ass in gear and do some work. I can pretty well guarantee it would be appreciated. And don't use the excuse you work for a living. I have been very involved in various sports and hobbies over the years and got tired of people who were not available in the evening because by the time they got home and had supper............pack a god damned sandwich like I did and get out there and instruct or labour or whatever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES even had some young guys show up one time and get help over a few days and that was the one time our facility was broken into with some good kicking and robbed, They never showed up after that so we have to assume. Gives you a little slant on things.

 

[Cocked&Locked]

That’s the ####z, I know I often have my blinders on and miss a lot of cues. My wife, who was born here but parents immigrated from China, picks up on dirty looks and subtle remarks. I got a little taste of it finally when we took a trip to San Francisco and walked around Chinatown, then I was getting the dirty looks as the Lo Fan guy with her. My point being that it doesn’t take much from people with racist attitudes for others to feel it.

I don’t know if your club has members meetings but it would be worth it to bring up, just even to say that new members should be welcomed if the club expects any long term sustainability of the sport. And new people will be nervous and sometimes less than perfect in their safety rules so the experienced members should be coaches and not hostile, overbearing jerks ready to pounce on people. Safety is important but close monitoring and calm direction works better and doesn’t get the newcomers all jacked up.

Consider bringing it up at a meeting, if you think it would be better received you don’t have to go hard on the racist angle either, just the fair treatment of prospective new members. We were all noobs at one time and the learning never stops.

How about people grow a thicker skin.
These Indian immigrants, if they ever want to earn their place in North American society, need to work at it to fit in. Prove themselves to be competent, skilled and safe shooters. If they are good people they will be accepted as equals.

This is nothing new.
Just one or two generations ago, my German relatives here had to prove themselves. Lingering anti-German sentiment from the war was still held by some. They didn't speak great English for a while, and got lower level jobs at the start until their skills and education could be vetted. They were grateful and happy to be here and didn't complain.

Let's act like grown ups, not eternal victims as is so trendy now.

 

[Falconflyer]

Not all of the stories of new young shooters are bad. We held a Sporting Clays weekend recently and a young guy came along with one of our regulars, he started shooting trap a couple of years ago and this was his second foray into the sporting world. He shot on my squad on Saturday and Sunday, after shooting he hung out with us and when we got up to do some work he quickly pitched in to help without being asked. He was open, modest and respectful, he earned my respect right away as well as the respect of others and turned out to be a delightull young man to be around.

 

[Anthony Nardelli]

I'm Italian by descent and recall some intolerance directed at me and my family growing up. However, I didn't think it should inhibit my ability to work in the established milieu of the time. It's only in later years, I realized that I have my own prejudices and bigotry to contend with. The roots of racism and discrimination towards those who are different from us is innate. I accept this as a human condition and try to focus myself to exercise tolerance towards others. Despite my personal limitations, I managed to establish quality relationships with all types of people.

 

[Ashcroft]

I'm Italian by descent and recall some intolerance directed at me and my family growing up. However, I didn't think it should inhibit my ability to work in the established milieu of the time. It's only in later years, I realized that I have my own prejudices and bigotry to content with. The roots of racism and discrimination towards those who are different from us is innate. I accept this as a human condition and try to focus myself to exercise tolerance towards others. Despite my personal limitations, I managed to establish quality relationships with all types of people.

Well said Anthony.

 

[nowarningshot]

It doesn't seem to matter which club it is, most of the work is done by a handful of people and someone is always unhappy with how the club is run. We had a couple of guys show up at a range maintenance day, and they were upset that they couldn't shoot. They were informed that the maintenance day was posted on the club schedule for the past month, but as long as they were here, they were welcome to help out. The reply was that they didn't have the time to help , even though they had time to shoot.

How's that go....90% of the work is done by 10% of the people.

 

[bluelynx]

I'm Italian by descent and recall some intolerance directed at me and my family growing up. However, I didn't think it should inhibit my ability to work in the established milieu of the time. It's only in later years, I realized that I have my own prejudices and bigotry to contend with. The roots of racism and discrimination towards those who are different from us is innate. I accept this as a human condition and try to focus myself to exercise tolerance towards others. Despite my personal limitations, I managed to establish quality relationships with all types of people.

The bigoty and racism usually end when you go hunting or shooting.

My father took an immigrant Italian named Alphonse moose hunting around the Parsnip River in the middle-northern Rockies during the mid sixties. My father sold an Enfield to Alphonse for 15 dollars.

Initially, Alphonse did not like the Enfield because some German's and Italians might have been at the end of the barrel at one time, but after shooting some very excellent targets at the gun range Alphonse loved his new beautiful piece of British engineering.

Alphonse with his trusty new Enfield wanted to going hunting big game. A luxury reserved for only the elite Trudeau kind in Italy. So, my father father took Alphonse moose hunting.

Alphonse became lost and found his way to the Parsnip River. Scared, hungry, and thinking that my father had just got rid of another Italian immigrant and had left him to die. My father found Alphonse, and later Alphonse bagged his first moose.

Alphonse, with his first moose had my father take a pile of pictures for him to send back to Italy. Alphonse was now a great hunter in British Columbia according to his relatives in northern Italy.

My father also introduced Alphonse to goose hunting. He even got lost in a grain field north east of Dawson Creek.

Long story short. Alphonse became a close friend to my family. And his home made wine was exquisite. My mother never needed that little yellow pill (Rolling Stones). Even in the early days of vine yard production in central B.C. Alphonse used to order grapes and have them sent on the PGE by the crate load.

 

[OneBarfly]

It’s all good guys, I appreciate all your comments. Food for thought.
My apologies if some of my content was offensive and harsh, perhaps caught up it the moment.
Flame on if you desire or maybe add some useful dialogue and defend your redneck ways.

It's been my experience that everyone is welcomed in the shooting sports and while racists are going to hate, they do so everywhere. You're perhaps a racist or at least a race-baiting troll with a big chip on your shoulder. If so, F-off!

 

[emerson]

The old guard generally assume and attack as a response to any criticism, regardless of the source. I’m 50. In 20 years most of the old timers will be gone and I will be one. Hopefully I will not become the same way. The assumption that I’m a lazy whiner means I just wait for the cranky folks to pass and interact with the personable ones. Retirees seem to flop toward helpful and encouraging, or miserable and inflexible. Those of us still with day jobs often don’t get much respect. If you old guard folks actually give a ####, reach out to your grandkids and spent time doing whatever will bring you together. Many of your peers can’t be bothered. Don’t even both cranking at me here. Showing your family you care what they are doing will have a better return.

 

[3macs1]

The old guard generally assume and attack as a response to any criticism, regardless of the source. I’m 50. In 20 years most of the old timers will be gone and I will be one. Hopefully I will not become the same way. The assumption that I’m a lazy whiner means I just wait for the cranky folks to pass and interact with the personable ones. Retirees seem to flop toward helpful and encouraging, or miserable and inflexible. Those of us still with day jobs often don’t get much respect. If you old guard folks actually give a ####, reach out to your grandkids and spent time doing whatever will bring you together. Many of your peers can’t be bothered. Don’t even both cranking at me here. Showing your family you care what they are doing will have a better return.

You are making one huge assumption that you will make it to their/ my age and if you do not change. Most change with age. Know I sure did
No idea what this has to do with grandkids or family they are treated just fine
You get what you give and have to earn respect
Cheers

 

[sillymike]

You are making one huge assumption that you will make it to their age and if you do not change. Most change with age. Know I sure did
Cheers

While we're all getting older (and I don't think I've reached the old-fart category)... as time goes by, my level of tolerance for non-sens is certainly going down... just like my tolerance for people who complain but do not offer a meaningful solution.
- On the bright side, I find I can get along pretty good with just about anybody with an ounce of common sens.

 

[Falconflyer]

The old guard generally assume and attack as a response to any criticism, regardless of the source. I’m 50. In 20 years most of the old timers will be gone and I will be one. Hopefully I will not become the same way. The assumption that I’m a lazy whiner means I just wait for the cranky folks to pass and interact with the personable ones. Retirees seem to flop toward helpful and encouraging, or miserable and inflexible. Those of us still with day jobs often don’t get much respect. If you old guard folks actually give a ####, reach out to your grandkids and spent time doing whatever will bring you together. Many of your peers can’t be bothered. Don’t even both cranking at me here. Showing your family you care what they are doing will have a better return.

So you want to crank at others but don't want to be cranked at... that's the same approach that the woke looney leftists take.

 

[3macs1]

While we're all getting older (and I don't think I've reached the old-fart category)... as time goes by, my level of tolerance for non-sens is certainly going down... just like my tolerance for people who complain but do not offer a meaningful solution.
- On the bright side, I find I can get along pretty good with just about anybody with an ounce of common sens.

You summed it up nicely . Exactly the same here
take care

 

[Westward1]

While we're all getting older (and I don't think I've reached the old-fart category)... as time goes by, my level of tolerance for non-sens is certainly going down... just like my tolerance for people who complain but do not offer a meaningful solution.
- On the bright side, I find I can get along pretty good with just about anybody with an ounce of common sens.

The old farts don’t think they have reached the old fart category. That’s the beauty of it.

 

[Rod B]

The only time I think of myself as an old man (77 yrs) is when I look in the mirror.

 

[cath8r]

My club is your stereotypical trap club, run by old white men, and to call a spade, the majority are bigots. Hopefully this is localized to my club, but it doubt it.
Almost all of the new interested shooters at my club to come out and try are of Asian/India decent. There’s a new handful every week. None return. Their reception is passively hostile, and they quickly figure out what’s what. It’s easy to spot, the disgruntled tone of the old guys voice and their glaring looks are blatantly obvious. They wait to pounce on any little safety infraction and then act with unnecessary aggression. It’s beyond embarrassing.
It’s not easily addressed without making enemies (which I don’t care about) and it’s darn near impossible to gain ground dealing with a pigheaded majority.
So all you rednecked old timers out there pull your head out of your ***es (edited, poor choice of language, my apologies) so we can try to get memberships up and make shooting enjoyable again. Accept the fact that all of Canada has changed, not just the big cities, and like it or not the future of shotgun sports depends on including everyone.

Thanks for reading.

Agree 100%!
Local clubs are typically dominated by 'old wasp fudds' that truly are, for the most part, an embarassment to the sport. Sad to say.