Car culture vs. iPhone culture.

[whiteworks]

Picked up my daughter from her tutoring session last night and we grabbed a burger at a 50’s themed restaurant. The walls covered with license plates, and era specific decor with oldies music playing (music K Earth 101 played before switching to my eras music ) my daughter was telling me that this place always makes her happy and she has positive memory’s of the times we’ve been here and had a burger and a milk shake.

We unpacked the whole theme a bit and came to the conclusion that her eras culture is centered around iPhones and not the automobile. Cars were the connector for teens in the 50’s/60’s/70’s/80’s/90’s, you had to get in one to go see your friends, hang out at the local pizza place, taco spot, or burger joint. These were central gathering places, now it’s tick tock for them, they don’t need or want cars that are fixed up, any corner they can sit down in is with phone in hand is adequate, an iPhone case that’s unique is fine. If they need a car they push a button and some jackass in a clapped out toyata Camry will drive them someplace for a few bucks.

We talked about the different decades and coming of age during them, it seems that the 50’s in America may have been a really special time to be a teenager to me, drugs were not really on scene yet, other than the Beatnicks smoking some grass but they were outliers. Kids really had freedom and the automobile played such a part.

It’s kind of scary to see how disconnected people really have become in the age of information and connectedness. I see my folks getting older and actually becoming more disconnected as they could give a shit about the internet or technology, the shit on tv is some spoon fed narrative of red or blue they have seen play out a half dozens times now over decades. If you’re not plugged in and online there really isn’t much connection available anymore. Everything is stored in the cloud, photos, documents, etc…. When the lights go out all that goes poof and disappears in a second. This current generations whole world goes away and there is no trace of them other than a bunch of obsolete devices that will end up in land fills.

I’m no doom and gloom type person, I’m also not some wack job like the unibomber who’s gonna go off the rails, however I have read his manifesto and dude has some very valid points about the effect of technology on society. Are we leaving this world better than we found it for future generations? Will there be a cultural shift away from technology at some point or will we as a species just run it hard (like they do in Beaumont) until the wheels fall off the bus?

Seeing the disconnect that the older generations are having due to not being tech savy is very concerning. At some point it will be us who is wondering wtf happened and fumbling around lost. I see a generation who was actually involved in something aging out now, what happens to the iPhone generation as they age out, they have never done anything to begin with. Will there be a vintage tick tock website for them to look at old reels and postings from 2023 while they sit in a corner alone?

How’s that thought for a Tuesday morning LOL

 

[Runs2rch]

Great post.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

But it’s Wednesday morning.

 

[whiteworks]

But it’s Wednesday morning.

Fuck me, lost a day, how about that LOL

Better go get the motorhome out and start packing up for this weekend, thanks for the heads up

 

[Shlbyntro]

What is this car culture you speak of??

pic taken at the old house. Its not often but when Im at gatherings I often find I am one of the youngest there at 33yo and in a sea of retirement age persons. Its kind of sad to think about.

 

[Taboma]

Picked up my daughter from her tutoring session last night and we grabbed a burger at a 50’s themed restaurant. The walls covered with license plates, and era specific decor with oldies music playing (music K Earth 101 played before switching to my eras music ) my daughter was telling me that this place always makes her happy and she has positive memory’s of the times we’ve been here and had a burger and a milk shake.

We unpacked the whole theme a bit and came to the conclusion that her eras culture is centered around iPhones and not the automobile. Cars were the connector for teens in the 50’s/60’s/70’s/80’s/90’s, you had to get in one to go see your friends, hang out at the local pizza place, taco spot, or burger joint. These were central gathering places, now it’s tick tock for them, they don’t need or want cars that are fixed up, any corner they can sit down in is with phone in hand is adequate, an iPhone case that’s unique is fine. If they need a car they push a button and some jackass in a clapped out toyata Camry will drive them someplace for a few bucks.

We talked about the different decades and coming of age during them, it seems that the 50’s in America may have been a really special time to be a teenager to me, drugs were not really on scene yet, other than the Beatnicks smoking some grass but they were outliers. Kids really had freedom and the automobile played such a part.

It’s kind of scary to see how disconnected people really have become in the age of information and connectedness. I see my folks getting older and actually becoming more disconnected as they could give a shit about the internet or technology, the shit on tv is some spoon fed narrative of red or blue they have seen play out a half dozens times now over decades. If you’re not plugged in and online there really isn’t much connection available anymore. Everything is stored in the cloud, photos, documents, etc…. When the lights go out all that goes poof and disappears in a second. This current generations whole world goes away and there is no trace of them other than a bunch of obsolete devices that will end up in land fills.

I’m no doom and gloom type person, I’m also not some wack job like the unibomber who’s gonna go off the rails, however I have read his manifesto and dude has some very valid points about the effect of technology on society. Are we leaving this world better than we found it for future generations? Will there be a cultural shift away from technology at some point or will we as a species just run it hard (like they do in Beaumont) until the wheels fall off the bus?

Seeing the disconnect that the older generations are having due to not being tech savy is very concerning. At some point it will be us who is wondering wtf happened and fumbling around lost. I see a generation who was actually involved in something aging out now, what happens to the iPhone generation as they age out, they have never done anything to begin with. Will there be a vintage tick tock website for them to look at old reels and postings from 2023 while they sit in a corner alone?

How’s that thought for a Tuesday morning LOL

View attachment 1220509

As one who experienced childhood during the '50's and finally the realities of adulthood by the late '60's, your comparison is dead nuts on.

This is exactly what I was stating in another post yesterday, when I confessed how blessed I felt to have been so fortunate to have enjoyed grown up during those amazing years.
I only wished I'd have savored and appreciated living it then, as I do the emotional journey of recalling those fading memories now.

Funny how easy it is to take things for granted at the time, then scold yourself later when you finally realize just how fortunate you were, or are for that matter.

Wonder what today's youth will feel 20,30, 40 years from now ?

Anyway, thanks, I enjoyed reading that.

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

Picked up my daughter from her tutoring session last night and we grabbed a burger at a 50’s themed restaurant. The walls covered with license plates, and era specific decor with oldies music playing (music K Earth 101 played before switching to my eras music ) my daughter was telling me that this place always makes her happy and she has positive memory’s of the times we’ve been here and had a burger and a milk shake.

We unpacked the whole theme a bit and came to the conclusion that her eras culture is centered around iPhones and not the automobile. Cars were the connector for teens in the 50’s/60’s/70’s/80’s/90’s, you had to get in one to go see your friends, hang out at the local pizza place, taco spot, or burger joint. These were central gathering places, now it’s tick tock for them, they don’t need or want cars that are fixed up, any corner they can sit down in is with phone in hand is adequate, an iPhone case that’s unique is fine. If they need a car they push a button and some jackass in a clapped out toyata Camry will drive them someplace for a few bucks.

We talked about the different decades and coming of age during them, it seems that the 50’s in America may have been a really special time to be a teenager to me, drugs were not really on scene yet, other than the Beatnicks smoking some grass but they were outliers. Kids really had freedom and the automobile played such a part.

It’s kind of scary to see how disconnected people really have become in the age of information and connectedness. I see my folks getting older and actually becoming more disconnected as they could give a shit about the internet or technology, the shit on tv is some spoon fed narrative of red or blue they have seen play out a half dozens times now over decades. If you’re not plugged in and online there really isn’t much connection available anymore. Everything is stored in the cloud, photos, documents, etc…. When the lights go out all that goes poof and disappears in a second. This current generations whole world goes away and there is no trace of them other than a bunch of obsolete devices that will end up in land fills.

I’m no doom and gloom type person, I’m also not some wack job like the unibomber who’s gonna go off the rails, however I have read his manifesto and dude has some very valid points about the effect of technology on society. Are we leaving this world better than we found it for future generations? Will there be a cultural shift away from technology at some point or will we as a species just run it hard (like they do in Beaumont) until the wheels fall off the bus?

Seeing the disconnect that the older generations are having due to not being tech savy is very concerning. At some point it will be us who is wondering wtf happened and fumbling around lost. I see a generation who was actually involved in something aging out now, what happens to the iPhone generation as they age out, they have never done anything to begin with. Will there be a vintage tick tock website for them to look at old reels and postings from 2023 while they sit in a corner alone?

How’s that thought for a Tuesday morning LOL

View attachment 1220509

Very well said sir

 

[Ducksquasher]

I agree with your points...but my question to you is: how was Legend's Burgers?

I love that place!

 

[Crazyhippy]

I truly appreciate the irony of this being posted online... Potentially via iPhone!

 

[bk2drvr]

I think you’re right about everything you wrote. I have a couple comments on this as this matter swirls around in my head when I’m driving around alone and thinking about life today.

I think there is still a passion for cars by young people. I have teenage and early 20s kids and cars are a big deal to them and most of their friends. They aren’t tearing apart motors or doing the big repairs but non the less the passion is there and it’s refreshing to see for me. I also think a passion for cars is somehow engrained in our DNA so car ownership and enthusiast will live on long after I’m gone. There is certainly a large number of people today that could care less about a car and that is hard to understand, I know.

The iPhone is a terrible thing for all the things you mentioned. The youth today that live on their phones their entire childhood is creating a weakening of our society and will be a bill that has to be paid for later. I’m not sure what the answer is. I like to think that it isn’t like this all over the United States. Big cities certainly it’s an issue but I think the issue may be less severe in places in the mid and upper midwest and the south kids are out doing things other than sitting in a corner with their phone all day. Like hunting, fishing, working on cars, off-roading, boating on the many lakes in the US, mud bog parties, etc…

 

[monkeyswrench]

@whiteworks , I've seen some of your "works", and have been truly in awe of them. You, not unlike the car culture of the past, are a type that is being lost to time. Yes, you may use modern tech to do it, but the artistic eye, the "vision", is something that is genuinely human. Custom cars are different in the skills required, but still an active representation of the creator's ideas.

I built cars and motors starting in the 90s. We learned from older guys, and a lot of trial and error. Nowadays, everyone looks on Google or YouTube to "learn". By doing this, all it is is a copy of actions, no creative problem solving. There is very little in the way of critical thinking. The answers are there in a moment. The problem is, people "learn" how to do things, but rarely learn why other things won't work. People are afraid to try new things because they've never seen it online. The modern world, not just the youth, are in a creative rut. Most "innovation" is basically just tweaked versions of old ideas. Doing things faster and easier, but not new.

 

[GreenEnergy28]

Problem is that this is what "car culture" is becoming.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Problem is that this is what "car culture" is becoming.

Nope, not car, "click" culture. Everyone viewing through the phone, and posting online.
Our roads suck here, so we don't have that. Some dirt road daredevils, but nothing like that.

 

[coolchange]

@whiteworks , I've seen some of your "works", and have been truly in awe of them. You, not unlike the car culture of the past, are a type that is being lost to time. Yes, you may use modern tech to do it, but the artistic eye, the "vision", is something that is genuinely human. Custom cars are different in the skills required, but still an active representation of the creator's ideas.

I built cars and motors starting in the 90s. We learned from older guys, and a lot of trial and error. Nowadays, everyone looks on Google or YouTube to "learn". By doing this, all it is is a copy of actions, no creative problem solving. There is very little in the way of critical thinking. The answers are there in a moment. The problem is, people "learn" how to do things, but rarely learn why other things won't work. People are afraid to try new things because they've never seen it online. The modern world, not just the youth, are in a creative rut. Most "innovation" is basically just tweaked versions of old ideas. Doing things faster and easier, but not new.

I believe if I had the internet when I was growing up I would have probably killed myself. Having to figure stuff out on my own, or decipher magazines that were lying to sell you something, or learning from older guys probably kept me slowed down a bit.
But that’s what made it fun. Trying things on your own. Also made it expensive lol.

 

[ChrisV]

Problem is that this is what "car culture" is becoming.

Sadly but true. Got pulled over the other day and officer asked if I “swing” my car. They really kill the car scene.

 

[GreenEnergy28]

Sadly but true. Got pulled over the other day and officer asked if I “swing” my car. They really kill the car scene.

View attachment 1220555

Yeah, you slide with drag radials and a shoot! LOL!!!
My wife and I were just talking about how we used to wash and detail our cars every weekend when we were teens. My car was and always will be an extension of my personality.

 

[ChrisV]

Yeah, you slide with drag radials and a shoot! LOL!!!
My wife and I were just talking about how we used to wash and detail our cars every weekend when we were teens. My car was and always will be an extension of my personality.

I still do that. Kid joins sometimes too. Gotta have clean stuff.

 

[Taboma]

I still do that. Kid joins sometimes too. Gotta have clean stuff.

Nice "Sleeper" I can't imagine with wearing that chute you'd get far and not get pulled over. By some, because to them you'd scream guilty, to others they'd be curious to take a peek under the hood.
Around others I drove my 5.0 Miata like a saint, the typical old guy with the cap doing 65 in his Cobra just out for a Sunday cruise, that usually worked out OK so long as I stayed off the pipes and kept the DBs down.
Most my encounters is when I'd get spotted gassing up, cop would roll up, be really cool and ask nicely if I'd pop open the hood just because he'd heard about these conversions but never seen how they cram a pushrod 5.0 in a Miata, the whipple was a nice accessory.

Beautiful car sir

 

[ChrisV]

Nice "Sleeper" I can't imagine with wearing that chute you'd get far and not get pulled over. By some, because to them you'd scream guilty, to others they'd be curious to take a peek under the hood.
Around others I drove my 5.0 Miata like a saint, the typical old guy with the cap doing 65 in his Cobra just out for a Sunday cruise, that usually worked out OK so long as I stayed off the pipes and kept the DBs down.
Most my encounters is when I'd get spotted gassing up, cop would roll up, be really cool and ask nicely if I'd pop open the hood just because he'd heard about these conversions but never seen how they cram a pushrod 5.0 in a Miata, the whipple was a nice accessory.

Beautiful car sir

I live in Orange and cops here are dope. It was when I went to Santa Ana but I have out of state plates. So couldn't do anything.

Thanks man

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Teens tend to reject their parents ideals. It is kind of amazing car culture has held on as long as it has, I guess teens relish independence more than throwing off mom and dad.

It's interesting to look back and compare that with today's kids. My generation was literally the last of the car culture where I grew up. We would "drag main" every Friday and Saturday night. That is what you did. My brothers were 4 years behind me in HS, by the time they got their license, dragging main had stopped. I remember going in to town to meet some friends after we all turned 21. Main street was a dead when we all walked into the bar. Seemed so odd to us.

To take this further, I don't see a whole lot of kids even riding bikes around. I was treking into town on a regular basis on my bike when I was 11. My best friend lives 6 miles from me and it was nothing for one of us to ride over to the others house. Or ride the 10 miles to the pool in the summer.

My oldest only sees a car as a means to an end, "I need a ride over to Jen's house" or a ride to volleyball practice. My youngest is the opposite and loves cars and anything mechanical. So who knows... the youngest is till "off line" though. All that could change when she gets a phone one day.

 

[skifaster]

Your timing of this post is ironic. Last Saturday we took my Mom to my Son's baseball game and then to Bob's Big Boy for dinner after. My parent's first date was at the original Bob's. It was a trip down memory lane for my Mom. By chance, they had a car club gathering about to leave when we got there. And by car club, of course I mean beautiful 57 Chevy's and such. Not the annoying rice rockets gathering in the parking lot at Lowes in the middle of the night like we had last night in Corona.
It was cool to see the cars and show my boys.
My Mom shared how every weekend everyone would go to Bob's, basically wait in line for 2 hours to get a chocolate coke after the football game or whatever. Just a very different time. Car culture vs Iphone culture, well said.

 

[ltbaney1]

im doing my best to keep my kids in the car culture. the last picture is special to me. thats Ed Iskendarian "Isky" a couple days after his 100th birthday, holding my boy a few months after his 1st birthday. Ed will still tell me stories about him and my grandfather running around in the 50's and 60s.

 

[ltbaney1]

What is this car culture you speak of??

View attachment 1220510

pic taken at the old house. Its not often but when Im at gatherings I often find I am one of the youngest there at 33yo and in a sea of retirement age persons. Its kind of sad to think about.

I know that sad feeling.

 

[spectras only]

It all depends where you live. My town of OK Falls has around 3000 residents, many rednecks and hotrod guys. The other day, my son took the totally non street legal Radical racecar out for a test drive around the corner to check the transmission it seems to skip 2nd gear. Mind you, there's a elementary school right on his street. Not speeding, but an ear piercing engine to boot. Cop drove right by him, putting his one hand on his side of his face, blinding himself, purposely ignoring my son. haha. My son just about shit himself how lucky he was. If I drove the car, cop would have put the car on a flat deck and charged me to drive non street legal car. We sometimes take our Formula cars to the local OK Falls vintage car shows Wedenesday nights that's right around my sons house at the Legion. I'm sure some cops must know about our shenanigans playing with cars..

 

[Western Flyer]

Great post and observation.

 

[HBCraig]

Picked up my daughter from her tutoring session last night and we grabbed a burger at a 50’s themed restaurant. The walls covered with license plates, and era specific decor with oldies music playing (music K Earth 101 played before switching to my eras music ) my daughter was telling me that this place always makes her happy and she has positive memory’s of the times we’ve been here and had a burger and a milk shake.

We unpacked the whole theme a bit and came to the conclusion that her eras culture is centered around iPhones and not the automobile. Cars were the connector for teens in the 50’s/60’s/70’s/80’s/90’s, you had to get in one to go see your friends, hang out at the local pizza place, taco spot, or burger joint. These were central gathering places, now it’s tick tock for them, they don’t need or want cars that are fixed up, any corner they can sit down in is with phone in hand is adequate, an iPhone case that’s unique is fine. If they need a car they push a button and some jackass in a clapped out toyata Camry will drive them someplace for a few bucks.

We talked about the different decades and coming of age during them, it seems that the 50’s in America may have been a really special time to be a teenager to me, drugs were not really on scene yet, other than the Beatnicks smoking some grass but they were outliers. Kids really had freedom and the automobile played such a part.

It’s kind of scary to see how disconnected people really have become in the age of information and connectedness. I see my folks getting older and actually becoming more disconnected as they could give a shit about the internet or technology, the shit on tv is some spoon fed narrative of red or blue they have seen play out a half dozens times now over decades. If you’re not plugged in and online there really isn’t much connection available anymore. Everything is stored in the cloud, photos, documents, etc…. When the lights go out all that goes poof and disappears in a second. This current generations whole world goes away and there is no trace of them other than a bunch of obsolete devices that will end up in land fills.

I’m no doom and gloom type person, I’m also not some wack job like the unibomber who’s gonna go off the rails, however I have read his manifesto and dude has some very valid points about the effect of technology on society. Are we leaving this world better than we found it for future generations? Will there be a cultural shift away from technology at some point or will we as a species just run it hard (like they do in Beaumont) until the wheels fall off the bus?

Seeing the disconnect that the older generations are having due to not being tech savy is very concerning. At some point it will be us who is wondering wtf happened and fumbling around lost. I see a generation who was actually involved in something aging out now, what happens to the iPhone generation as they age out, they have never done anything to begin with. Will there be a vintage tick tock website for them to look at old reels and postings from 2023 while they sit in a corner alone?

How’s that thought for a Tuesday morning LOL

View attachment 1220509

My son is a total car guy at the age of 17. I gave him my f150 for his 16th birthday and he is always wanting to upgrade it. Exhaust, LED lights, intake etc. It's pretty cool to be able to share car stuff with him.
To your point about the phones it's really scary to see teens can't set it down

 

[QC22]

Fuck me, lost a day, how about that LOL

Need a newer model iPhone to keep track.

 

[Taboma]

I live in Orange and cops here are dope. It was when I went to Santa Ana but I have out of state plates. So couldn't do anything.

Thanks man

HA HA HA --- glad to hear that Orange Cops are now DOPE.
In about '69 my older cousin and I were returning from OCIR one afternoon in my '68 428 CJ Cougar. Due to some water in the gutter, I'd chirped slightly when I left the light by Selman Chevrolet crossing Tustin Ave. Bang, I was pulled over before I could blink twice.

Fat-ass Orange cop walks up with chip on his large shoulders and barks out "License and Registration", I reach for my wallet, I ask my older cousin Ray to grab my Reg from the glove box. Cop freaks the fuck out and shoves his piece in my ear. Now he's off on a raging rant, swearing like a mad man.
Demands to see my cousins ID as well. OK, cuz hands it to him, his face goes pasty white and he re-holsters his weapon.

Ummm, "Mr Br***s ?' he asks, " Yes officer" my cuz responds as he leans over to let the cop get a good look.

Right then the white skin tone had turned to bright red, because my cuz just happened to be his kid's elementary school's Vice Principle, who this cop had met previously at some school function and again during a meeting after his kid had fucked up.

It was right then, this cop became as you say --- Dope, extremely dope and an extremely friendly and smiling LEO.

Despite growing up on the North Tustin side of Fairhaven, that was my one and only encounter with Orange PD

 

[Taboma]

Teens tend to reject their parents ideals. It is kind of amazing car culture has held on as long as it has, I guess teens relish independence more than throwing off mom and dad.

It's interesting to look back and compare that with today's kids. My generation was literally the last of the car culture where I grew up. We would "drag main" every Friday and Saturday night. That is what you did. My brothers were 4 years behind me in HS, by the time they got their license, dragging main had stopped. I remember going in to town to meet some friends after we all turned 21. Main street was a dead when we all walked into the bar. Seemed so odd to us.

To take this further, I don't see a whole lot of kids even riding bikes around. I was treking into town on a regular basis on my bike when I was 11. My best friend lives 6 miles from me and it was nothing for one of us to ride over to the others house. Or ride the 10 miles to the pool in the summer.

My oldest only sees a car as a means to an end, "I need a ride over to Jen's house" or a ride to volleyball practice. My youngest is the opposite and loves cars and anything mechanical. So who knows... the youngest is till "off line" though. All that could change when she gets a phone one day.

Every kid I see out getting exercise riding a bike, has an EV Bike, I guess pedaling was old school and required way to much effort.

 

[RandyH]

We tried a new Brew house and food joint last week. It said seat yourselves. So we did. After sitting down there is a card with a QR code and you need to download an app, then you can see the menu, then order, then pay, credit card blah blah blah. We sit there looking at each other. Both capable of all this with our newest iPhones but just wanted a menu and someone to serve us. Meanwhile all these purple/pink haired server people standing near the bar looking at us waiting for the automatic tip i am sure. Screw it. we left.

 

[Western Flyer]

Every kid I see out getting exercise riding a bike, has an EV Bike, I guess pedaling was old school and required way to much effort.

I think I, and those here would've been all over a self propelled bike when young. Look at the bike morphing into a mini bike, go kart, etc...
But yeah, getting a teen on a bike now, nope.

 

[Cdog]

I've been going back over this for the last two hours between calls with thoughts on the subject. I'll apologize up front for the random rant. LOL!

Back when I was a kid in the South Bay/Torrance CA car culture was hot rods and the Cruizin 50's car show my grand parents were part of. My uncle, his brother and much of their social group were made up of the same folks. My parents were divorced and my dads side were way more down to earth while my moms side were budding yuppies. It was like two different worlds.

It was a lot of fun on a cruise night. Always had more fun when my younger cousin Jack was with us. Even as a kid I noticed how those folks seem to live in those times. 50-70's. Their cars, music, their attitudes & they way they dress. These were the days when you waited till the new Recycler paper came out to find out whats for sale. HAHA! Hell I think that's how I found my 67 Camaro & my Schiada.

Seems the gen X crowd got tired of hearing the 50's be bop bubble gum music and broke off to do mini truck clubs, V dub clubs etc....I myself have never had a car show worthy car really. I'm more into racing them than polishing.

Being 46 now I definitely understand that perspective of wanting to keep that old way state of mind when you cant make sense of whats going on today. Also people grouping together based on their interests. For instance look at the different factions on boaters. Parker verses Havasu verses upper river people. The go fast stuff. Big & small potato chip boats. I/o's, Jets & V drives. The dock killing wake board roll cagers, the slow and BBC deck boats. The offshore guys who make fun of all the lake pussies. LOL! Not to mention the New money don't know shit about boating show offs, bath tub boats and fishing dudes. Hell I don't even own a boat now and I'm here on RDP!!

My best guess is the modern iPhone is just the vessel of today that allows access to your interests. Much like the car was to previous generations. There are nefarious and good uses for both.

It does seem that there is a huge poser culture though. I've met people that spout off all these exotic car names and models and look at me like I'm the dumb one because IDK WTF they are talking about. I don't pay much attention to stuff that's beyond my reach. But I'm very knowledgeable in what I have and what's on my next list. Meantime these types are like groupies for things they'll never own. I think this insecurity is a product of video games/escapism’s like the guitar hero game. Instead of picking up a guitar and learning an actual instrument these posers spend countless hours playing a game chasing fake praise. Congratulations you know nothing useful......
I've been playing real guitar since I was in Jr. High in the late 80's early 90's.

While we did full immersion with our kids and tech. iPads & iPhones we do allow them some latitude to see how and what they will naturally use it for. You raise them for the world they will live in. Not the world you grew up in. They get straight A's. Club volleyball & Swim. Have lots of friends and so far no problems with boys. I guess you have to take this one step at a time.

I tell people all the time. You know how to fix your social media problems. Turn it off.

 

[Taboma]

I think I, and those here would've been all over a self propelled bike when young. Look at the bike morphing into a mini bike, go kart, etc...
But yeah, getting a teen on a bike now, nope.

I propelled anything and everything I could find a motor for as a kid, but still rode my 10spd to school until I had my first car and on day long explorations up into the local foothills with my buddies.
Seems to me looking at many of today's youths, they could sure use the exercise.

Looks fun, I must admit. The way the blow across the middle of parking lots scares the crap outta me.

 

[ChrisV]

Gotta take the kid street racing. Then he’ll be hooked.

 

[Taboma]

I've been going back over this for the last two hours between calls with thoughts on the subject. I'll apologize up front for the random rant. LOL!

Back when I was a kid in the South Bay/Torrance CA car culture was hot rods and the Cruizin 50's car show my grand parents were part of. My uncle, his brother and much of their social group were made up of the same folks. My parents were divorced and my dads side were way more down to earth while my moms side were budding yuppies. It was like two different worlds.

It was a lot of fun on a cruise night. Always had more fun when my younger cousin Jack was with us. Even as a kid I noticed how those folks seem to live in those times. 50-70's. Their cars, music, their attitudes & they way they dress. These were the days when you waited till the new Recycler paper came out to find out whats for sale. HAHA! Hell I think that's how I found my 67 Camaro & my Schiada.

Seems the gen X crowd got tired of hearing the 50's be bop bubble gum music and broke off to do mini truck clubs, V dub clubs etc....I myself have never had a car show worthy car really. I'm more into racing them than polishing.

Being 46 now I definitely understand that perspective of wanting to keep that old way state of mind when you cant make sense of whats going on today. Also people grouping together based on their interests. For instance look at the different factions on boaters. Parker verses Havasu verses upper river people. The go fast stuff. Big & small potato chip boats. I/o's, Jets & V drives. The dock killing wake board roll cagers, the slow and BBC deck boats. The offshore guys who make fun of all the lake pussies. LOL! Not to mention the New money don't know shit about boating show offs, bath tub boats and fishing dudes. Hell I don't even own a boat now and I'm here on RDP!!

My best guess is the modern iPhone is just the vessel of today that allows access to your interests. Much like the car was to previous generations. There are nefarious and good uses for both.

It does seem that there is a huge poser culture though. I've met people that spout off all these exotic car names and models and look at me like I'm the dumb one because IDK WTF they are talking about. I don't pay much attention to stuff that's beyond my reach. But I'm very knowledgeable in what I have and what's on my next list. Meantime these types are like groupies for things they'll never own. I think this insecurity is a product of video games/escapism’s like the guitar hero game. Instead of picking up a guitar and learning an actual instrument these posers spend countless hours playing a game chasing fake praise. Congratulations you know nothing useful......
I've been playing real guitar since I was in Jr. High in the late 80's early 90's.

While we did full immersion with our kids and tech. iPads & iPhones we do allow them some latitude to see how and what they will naturally use it for. You raise them for the world they will live in. Not the world you grew up in. They get straight A's. Club volleyball & Swim. Have lots of friends and so far no problems with boys. I guess you have to take this one step at a time.

I tell people all the time. You know how to fix your social media problems. Turn it off.

"The offshore guys who make fun of all the lake pussies." ---- Ha the true pussies are these LAM poser "Offshore" boaters who've inundated the previous small boaters paradise of Havasu and the adjoining rivers with their 37 + foot mega boats driving from channel to bar, to bar, to channel to the trailer, all pompus and shit thinking "Yeah, we be bad" we can conquer the Havasu wind chop in our ocean racers and CC's with six engines.

Oh the new breed of offshore boater will dip them in the salt on occasion of a light offshore condition with smooth seas and warm temps. Maybe get brave along the Florida coast, get caught on video making a few passes in and out of the Haulover Inlet, or running with an entire Poker run group, then duck back inside hoping to miss the real slop.

Oh boy, this rant will land me in the shit for sure. Big guy himself who's become and big-ass boat advocate won't be happy with me --- AGAIN
I'd best quit while I'm behind.

There's very few of the true old school offshore boys left around, they're either dead or in prison for running drugs.

 

[propcheck]

Dont worry there is still hope for the next generation my kid is full gearhead, goes through more spray wax in a weekend than most use in a month. Good car/truck meets are still happening you just know who organizes a good one and who invites the troublemakers. Industrial complexes are still active at 3am and cell phones are way better than walkie talkies for police alerts

 

[Cdog]

"The offshore guys who make fun of all the lake pussies." ---- Ha the true pussies are these LAM poser "Offshore" boaters who've inundated the previous small boaters paradise of Havasu and the adjoining rivers with their 37 + foot mega boats driving from channel to bar, to bar, to channel to the trailer, all pompus and shit thinking "Yeah, we be bad" we can conquer the Havasu wind chop in our ocean racers and CC's with six engines.

Oh the new breed of offshore boater will dip them in the salt on occasion of a light offshore condition with smooth seas and warm temps. Maybe get brave along the Florida coast, get caught on video making a few passes in and out of the Haulover Inlet, or running with an entire Poker run group, then duck back inside hoping to miss the real slop.

Oh boy, this rant will land me in the shit for sure. Big guy himself who's become and big-ass boat advocate won't be happy with me --- AGAIN
I'd best quit while I'm behind.

There's very few of the true old school offshore boys left around, they're either dead or in prison for running drugs.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I believe if I had the internet when I was growing up I would have probably killed myself. Having to figure stuff out on my own, or decipher magazines that were lying to sell you something, or learning from older guys probably kept me slowed down a bit.
But that’s what made it fun. Trying things on your own. Also made it expensive lol.

Well, that's the bad thing. With cars, a kid can buy a used car now that can run 11's...but never learned how to really "drive". A kid can download tunes, and stability and traction control are on most. Sometimes those things give a false sense of talent.

 

[Taboma]

Well, that's the bad thing. With cars, a kid can buy a used car now that can run 11's...but never learned how to really "drive". A kid can download tunes, and stability and traction control are on most. Sometimes those things give a false sense of talent.

At least most of those newer used cars also have some built in safety protection my 60's muscle cars were certainly lacking.
But we had lap belts

 

[Western Flyer]

Well, that's the bad thing. With cars, a kid can buy a used car now that can run 11's...but never learned how to really "drive". A kid can download tunes, and stability and traction control are on most. Sometimes those things give a false sense of talent.

Regardless of the primitive vehicle I learnt and owned, it was still more than I knew to responsibly drive in '75 and I'll wager most others here.
As soon as I figured out how to tweak something, it was on, damn the learning curve.

 

[Your ad here]

It a social freedom thing. Back then a drivers license and vehicle was your social freedom, which led into creating your own life and being able to take care of yourself. Having a vehicle cost money and requires a decent job, in the beginning. Nowadays social freedom comes in the form of a phone. Instant happiness at the swipe of a thumb and doesn't cost much nor motivate anyone to do anything beyond that happiness feeling.
People like to customize stuff. Accessories for vehicles because that was your social device back then. These days its phone cases and whatever crap that can be glued on them.

 

[Big B Hova]

But it’s Wednesday morning.

If he was paying attention to smart phone he would know what day it is

 

[ltbaney1]

We tried a new Brew house and food joint last week. It said seat yourselves. So we did. After sitting down there is a card with a QR code and you need to download an app, then you can see the menu, then order, then pay, credit card blah blah blah. We sit there looking at each other. Both capable of all this with our newest iPhones but just wanted a menu and someone to serve us. Meanwhile all these purple/pink haired server people standing near the bar looking at us waiting for the automatic tip i am sure. Screw it. we left.

i would of done the same thing. just get up and leave.

 

[pronstar]

im doing my best to keep my kids in the car culture.

Same with me and my boys.
Plus traditional American values, including firm handshakes with eye contact, and - gasp! - hard work and showing up on time (which means early).

I think kids with a modicum of real (not just online) social skills will set them apart in a positive way. At least I hope…

 

[poncho]

im doing my best to keep my kids in the car culture. the last picture is special to me. thats Ed Iskendarian "Isky" a couple days after his 100th birthday, holding my boy a few months after his 1st birthday. Ed will still tell me stories about him and my grandfather running around in the 50's and 60s.
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Thats so Bad Ass, words would be a waste.

 

[poncho]

At least most of those newer used cars also have some built in safety protection my 60's muscle cars were certainly lacking.
But we had lap belts

My all stock 69 Chevelle SS was the most ill handling dangerous car I ever owned, lots of people feel different.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Regardless of the primitive vehicle I learnt and owned, it was still more than I knew to responsibly drive in '75 and I'll wager most others here.
As soon as I figured out how to tweak something, it was on, damn the learning curve.

You still had a learning curve though. A 15yo in 1975 isn't much different mentally than one now. When I was 16, I had a car that was stock 225hp. Cam, heads, exhaust...all of a mighty 275? Then, someone showed me the all mighty blue bottle. In a weekend, I think I bumped up to 350, 400, 450 and probably right around 500hp by Sunday night. Kids now jump into a 400hp grocery getter.

 

[WAAZ]

im doing my best to keep my kids in the car culture. the last picture is special to me. thats Ed Iskendarian "Isky" a couple days after his 100th birthday, holding my boy a few months after his 1st birthday. Ed will still tell me stories about him and my grandfather running around in the 50's and 60s.
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Damn, Ed looks great for 100, that’s awesome!!

 

[Bigbore500r]

Picked up my daughter from her tutoring session last night and we grabbed a burger at a 50’s themed restaurant. The walls covered with license plates, and era specific decor with oldies music playing (music K Earth 101 played before switching to my eras music ) my daughter was telling me that this place always makes her happy and she has positive memory’s of the times we’ve been here and had a burger and a milk shake.

We unpacked the whole theme a bit and came to the conclusion that her eras culture is centered around iPhones and not the automobile. Cars were the connector for teens in the 50’s/60’s/70’s/80’s/90’s, you had to get in one to go see your friends, hang out at the local pizza place, taco spot, or burger joint. These were central gathering places, now it’s tick tock for them, they don’t need or want cars that are fixed up, any corner they can sit down in is with phone in hand is adequate, an iPhone case that’s unique is fine. If they need a car they push a button and some jackass in a clapped out toyata Camry will drive them someplace for a few bucks.

We talked about the different decades and coming of age during them, it seems that the 50’s in America may have been a really special time to be a teenager to me, drugs were not really on scene yet, other than the Beatnicks smoking some grass but they were outliers. Kids really had freedom and the automobile played such a part.

It’s kind of scary to see how disconnected people really have become in the age of information and connectedness. I see my folks getting older and actually becoming more disconnected as they could give a shit about the internet or technology, the shit on tv is some spoon fed narrative of red or blue they have seen play out a half dozens times now over decades. If you’re not plugged in and online there really isn’t much connection available anymore. Everything is stored in the cloud, photos, documents, etc…. When the lights go out all that goes poof and disappears in a second. This current generations whole world goes away and there is no trace of them other than a bunch of obsolete devices that will end up in land fills.

I’m no doom and gloom type person, I’m also not some wack job like the unibomber who’s gonna go off the rails, however I have read his manifesto and dude has some very valid points about the effect of technology on society. Are we leaving this world better than we found it for future generations? Will there be a cultural shift away from technology at some point or will we as a species just run it hard (like they do in Beaumont) until the wheels fall off the bus?

Seeing the disconnect that the older generations are having due to not being tech savy is very concerning. At some point it will be us who is wondering wtf happened and fumbling around lost. I see a generation who was actually involved in something aging out now, what happens to the iPhone generation as they age out, they have never done anything to begin with. Will there be a vintage tick tock website for them to look at old reels and postings from 2023 while they sit in a corner alone?

How’s that thought for a Tuesday morning LOL

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This is a great observation!

I can tell you, i've really noticed lately that being on my phone makes me anxious, stressed and in general pissed off at mankind.
It pushes content in front of you at a high rate of speed, and it's just junk but your keep scrolling up to get to the next clip hoping it's interesting.
Most of what is presented to you are "fail" videos, bimbos doing a 7 second shimmy in front of a camera with some stupid text across the screen, or dramaticized posts over current events painting an end of the world message.

I'm about ready to cold turkey put the fucker down. Easier said than done!

 

[coolchange]

My all stock 69 Chevelle SS was the most ill handling dangerous car I ever owned, lots of people feel different.

It’s called the A body shuffle lol