Ruminations Of A Crochety Old Fart

bill r

All through my teens and twenties and thirties and forties, I had a vague awareness that quite a few of the males of our species seemed to have a more and more sour, quick, disgruntled disposition as they grew older into the greying and white hair age.

I'm now 56. Today I was searching through my own posts on here, and I realize its happening to me, too! Funny, though; I feel just as open and friendly and gregarious as I've ever felt in my life. So why does my stuff not come out that way? I've just accumulated so many experiences that I've learned to short circuit easily predictable dialogues when I already know where they will eventually wind up -- and to skip to the bottom line. I've learned to avoid entire paragraphs of conversation because I already know where its gonna wind up. I've learned to use fewer words to say more. I've learned to answer the right question, even when the wrong one is asked. That habit has to be the most aggravating to the youth. And I'm OK with that.
So:
(telemarketer), "...AND DO NOT CALL HERE AGAIN!" or
(what's the best credit card?), "YOU DON'T NEED ANY CREDIT CARD!" on and on

They say that 50-somethings gain weight, not because they slow down, but because they learn to eliminate wasted moves, or to accomplish their activity with less energy. More efficiency. I guess it applies to communications as well.

Now I'm aware that this sounds brazenly arrogant. It is not meant to. I have nothing to feel arrogant about. I don't deserve credit because I've been here longer. It is simply a fact. Old people have already been there, seen it, done it, argued about it, fixed it, so its not as mysterious, or as worthy of lengthy discussion. Not because they're smarter or better; they've simply been at it longer.

The ultimate example of the accumulated knowledge of seniors is the poignant awareness that there is no way a youngster will ever really learn to take advantage of his senior coworker's experience. He won't really absorb the lesson, whatever it may be, until he's discovered it for himself, the hard way. That's why the old timer won't volunteer to explain stuff, unless asked. He was young once, and remembers what an old fart looks like when you're young. Why waste your energy trying to give away priceless knowledge when you know the other guy is not really listening?

It's just the rhythm of life. It's sweet, huh?

dougchips

Lots of words for someone who is old and wise enough to use fewer words. (I couldn't resist)

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bill r

I think this should qualify as talking to myself.. old farts are allowed to do that. Besides, every word is dripping with wisdom

(mumbling to self) young smart-axxed whipper-snapper

dougchips

Bill, to be honest with you I look at old farts two different ways.

#1. They have age and wisdom. They have pounded more nails than I will ever see (I use a nail gun when I work).

#2. They are like a mule, they pound nails because they have always pounded nails, they are afraid of new tools and methods. They do not adhere to manufactures guidelines because they know better and I will lose a warranty claim because of it.

I have never been able to keep old farts because they will not follow my guidelines. Since I use subs, I can not dictate how the job is done per say but I have guidelines, follow them or hit the road. Gone are the days that you call customers back at the end of the week.

The young ones can be even worst "I've installed 100 doors" really means that they watch Bob Villa once and read a few pages in the homecreapo how to book.

I dislike everyone young or old until they impress me.

__________________
To get the best replacement windows, or sun rooms contact the replacement windows experts at FHI Vinyl Window Company.

bill r

Doug, Thanks for reading the nonsense. Believe me, I would not want to manage a bunch of curmudgeons like myself -- God!

And you're right, the knowledge we become so certain of sometimes becomes obsolete.

The website sets up an interesting mixture of young and old and it incidentally reminds me that I'm accumulating some age, even though I feel like a teenager. I am continually surprised to find that I sound more and more like my father. But I also understand better and better where he was coming from when I used to receive his 'guidance'.

dougchips

Funny, everyone in my family tells me I am just like my father. Last year a light bulb went off in my head....my father was a salesman for 30 years before becoming a preacher man. I was paying a mint for sales training and never thought about asking him for advice! I was raised with a silver spoon because he was good at selling and I never once seeked his knowledge.

I had to turn it around, "dad why didn't you offer to train me to sell"? Some reply about me being hard headed.....but I got some really good advice from him.

__________________
To get the best replacement windows, or sun rooms contact the replacement windows experts at FHI Vinyl Window Company.