The MV Hobby, De-Mob

[chris vickery]

Ed, todays generation of Millennials scares the crap out of me for more than one reason. Not all of them, mind you, but most.
Its easy to assume that as we get older we become our parents, simply complaining about the way today's youth acts, their attitudes etc.
This time though, I really think kids are different, and in a bad way.
Self entitlement, lack of empathy, no morals, unable to maintain personal relationships, the list goes on.
Time to hide under a rock.

[Lang]

Well,

I was starting to think the same thing but realized there is hope.

When we started the Military Jeep Club of Queensland (all military vehicles and possibly the largest Military club in Australia) back in 74 we used to have serious bush runs. Often with 30 vehicles with mud, steep country, creek crossings or beach runs. These were family oriented and heaps of kids came along.

A large number drove vehicles in controlled situations away from the road. My daughter could drive a blitz easily at 12 years old.

As time went by the kids grew out of going on trips with their parents and the club changed to a membership of paraders and showers, not users. I think this was a combination of the increase in cost and an ageing group.

Many of the old crew who did not mind getting their vehicles dirty continued but runs became smaller and definitely more sedate.

I was starting to lose interest but quite suddenly those kids of the 70's, 80's and 90's started to re-emerge with their own kids after a break to make a living and raise a family.

We now have strong bush camping often with more than 50 vehicles, very family oriented with herds of rug-rats in their mini-jeeps, climbing trees, exploring the bush, falling in the creek and getting covered in mud. You can see the great majority from about 8 years old being taught to drive a jeep by their dad. By the time they reach 14 or 15 they are full-on driving off road and dad just sits there beside them.

I do despair about today's button and screen do-nothing generation but when I see those other kids I think there is hope for the world.

Lang

[Gordon Yeo]

Golly Chris, your assessment of todays youth sounds like an indictment of the parents! The old expression is, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Lang

I hope your version of a MV hobby is a growing reality. We've seen some what the same growth of the hobby when we were in our 30s and 40s . We would have 30-40 vehicles going out on trail rides and lots of people showing for parades then as that core group aged the numbers dropped. The trail rides got to be dirt roads rides but we kept going.

Recenctly here in the US I've been seeing a growth in the hobby with a group of younger people getting into the MV hobby. If you have not checked out SteelSoldiers web site do so.

I'll dig out their URL address and also find their demographic page. My only lament with SteelSoldiers forum is that they don't use real names using web handles instead. Which for me takes away from the community feeling I have for MLU. But that may be a reality of younger generation and the internet.

But again thanks Lang, your next to the last paragraph gives me hope.

Cheers Phil

PS Link to SteelSoldiers demographic https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...iers-users-age
General forum web address https://www.steelsoldiers.com

Also our big summer rally has seen growth in the last few years, with an infusion of people of younger people coming with thier kids.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Could we close this poll anytime soon??.....as I am slowly approaching the second biggest age group.....making the poll result totally useless

Alex

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Could we close this poll anytime soon??.....as I am slowly approaching the second biggest age group.....making the poll result totally useless

Alex

Lucky you. I am only a couple years from leaving the largest group.

[colin jones]

Now this is an interesting poll. Perhaps Hanno you could get it place it in a predominate place at the top of the forum so everyone can put their vote in considering how many are registered here. This is the first time I saw it.