I guess I’m having one of those moments. I did what I was told by the good Sisters, obeyed the rules, worked hard and paid my dues. Where does that leave me today? A Nation, I swore to protect and love; I can’t figure what happened. All the things I was taught was right, is now somehow wrong or not “woke” still don’t get that. I remember days of Democrats being Tip O’Neill, JFK and Harry Truman, not what we have now. Donald Trump may have been mean, angry, and tweeting something some pussy, whinny, millennial asshole would’ve not liked, but where are we? I truly fear where we are going, I’m on the down side of life, old but not too old, but I don’t have 40 or 50 more. A President who claims who counts the votes is more important than the votes. Really? I’m everything bad under the sun because I’m not brown or black, because I worked my life, really? I guess the country moved on without me. Yet, I will not ring the bell.

I've always thought the Pink Floyd lyric "chained forever to a world that's departed..." describes me best.

Old yes. Obsolete perhaps. Relevant? To my family my relevance is very important. And, that's all I need.

One empathizes. But one possible positive perspective: as bad as things are, we haven’t reached a point so terrible that a civil war is triggered. It’s possible the country will recover before that point.

Expendable yeah, therefore most surely not worthless.

.

I understand your despair, and I occasionally fall under its spell. However, I am an essentially optimistic person and I look for the light at the end of the tunnel. In this case, the tunnel is pretty long, but there will be an opening at the end. I also trust in God, and believe that He will help us find the way.

flashguy

It's up to us to bring our country back to reality.
Fuck this new woke, retarded shit. They must come up with this shit when they are blown out of the mind on a drug trip.

No other way to explain the stupid we have to deal with today.

It is hard to hear so many young people whine and complain about whatever faddish inspired-by-guilt-for-having-whatever-they-want nonsense, especially when many of their elders, in an attempt to defray or deny their inevitable aging, jump on the bandwagon desperately trying to be hip.

But "they" are not all like that. I recently volunteered a couple of shifts assisting at an IWLA air gun practice. The kids and coaches I met really inspired me to recognize that there are good ones out there, and not just a few of them. One parent shared with me the frustrations his 14-year-old daughter expressed in the wake of the woke movement, how she felt nobody would listen to her. So it isn't just us old pharts who are frustrated with the way things seem to be headed.

I would urge those who feel marginalized by the media and leftist propaganda to get involved with youth groups, scouts, 4H, HS gun clubs, etc. who are giving kids an alternative to guilt and recrimination. It really comes down to having to work hard to achieve something one wants, and the rewards you get from doing that. If you can help others, especially young people, attain that understanding, you will be far from irrelevant.

Old and showing signs of wear, yes. Relevant, we'll see.
This crap is just like a pendulum and gravity wins in the end.

It's my belief that this is exactly what those pulling the strings want us to feel. I have very strong belief in God and so very thankful that there are those who are way smarter than I know exactly what is going on and have plans in the making to curb this direction were going. I cannot say it's going to happen in my time left, but I have faith that it will happen. There are a heck of a lot of good people who feel the same, I hear it being expressed more all the time. I try to do in the least one thing each day to better our world if possible, mostly unnoticed but significant nonetheless.

Old - absolutely. Obsolete and not relevant - just the opposite. I’ve earned my age like many here with pain, effort, smarts and work. I’m currently building out a new business after leaving a company I had been with since 1997 - in part because I was the old white guy. That said, did not recognize the company and I’m better off now going my own way.

The customers and partners seem to prefer this too so life is good. Personally, I fix my neighbors & family’s cars. My kids look to me for answers, my wife and I continue to build a life together after 34 years. I know and do so many things that many cannot…but more likely will not.

I watch the events of the world, answer my kids questions and know a)I am on the “right” side of all this and the adults will be back at the table soon b)all the “hey boomer”, ageism, etc. is just noise from spoiled kids. Easy enough to ignore.

It’s a big world, lots of time for some change and I continue to work hard to stay on top - in my own way. I suspect this is true of many on this board. Individualism, strength, and hard work marks everyone on this board - but also the ability to learn and adapt. We have all learned a lot this last decade and that has made me MORE of an individualist…more of an American as I viewed Americans as kids. Sorry for the long winded response but this smells like defeatism and is a sore point. I think most here are fighters, most get angry rather than sad, and most have a depth of giving and heart for their fellow man that seems to be lost today. It is not lost - it is just the crazy kids yelling a bit louder before reality sinks in.

Not yet, but sometimes I feel *really* old when a smooth-elbowed gal in her early 40s pointedly calls me Sir ...

Don't feel bad...I'm only 37 and because of the people I grew up around and the way I was raised, I feel the same way.

I'm "old school", this woke bullshit doesn't compute. I struggle mightily dealing with the younger generation and even people my own age that never got knocked down a peg or two by their parents when they got out of line.

I'm hoping it'll swing back our way like others have stated. I can tell you the young folks are fucking up this across the board in multiple industries. Everyone I talk to says the same thing...kids coming out of school with Engineering degrees are trying to standardize everything to make their lives easier and they're too stupid to realize in manufacturing there are too many moving parts and other factors that make this impossible...but then again they figure if blue collar folks can successfully perform the work, the monkey must be able to do it.

I deal with it everyday...I used to explain why it needed to be done a certain way, but the kids take offense to this and feel disrespected when you don't agree with them and just go behind your back. Ultimately, they end up fucking up and looking like the dumbshits they are. After a few conversations and dealing with their temper tantrums, I said fuck it. Do it your way and fall on your face...and don't call me to bail your ass out of the mess you created.


As Robert Duvall said in Days of Thunder..."there's nothing "stock" about a stock car"..

...and there's nothing "standard" about skilled labor.

Screw em...let them learn the hard way. I no longer let the jumped up little SOB's raise my blood pressure.

Watched my old man retire, bought a tv, sat down and became a shuffling old man in 2 years. I refuse to not let that happen to me.

I should have said "and I refuse to let that happen to me"

spunk I know how you feel and think there are a LOT of us in the same camp but know this we all have your back.

Hold onto your point of reference, is the key. If you refer to the ever-changing opinions in the outside world as solid, you'll never be happy.

OTOH, if you continue to question and analyze the whims of public opinion, using logic and good judgment, not to be taken as correct, inevitable, or bedrock, but as randomness to be subject to criticism and analysis, you'll find both solidity about your place in the world, and also a healthy skepticism about the trends.

To make that position matter, do what you can, and don't worry about the rest. You can help accelerate good things, and put bits of sand in the gears of bad things. Donate in affordable amounts to support candidates with logical outlooks/oppose the worst pols. When people state nonsense in your presence, pose challenging questions. If companies support illogical candidates/ 'charities'/ organizations, then feel free to take your business elsewhere and share your reasons.

In short, nobody is obsolete or irrelevant unless/until they themselves decide that's what they are. Everyone can make a difference. Unless they give up.

Not a lot of 'give up' in SIGforum members.

Well, what the fuck. If you're spineless enough to believe that about yourself maybe you are old, obsolete, and not relevant.

So, either you're hopelessly wallowing in the shit that people have been forcing down your throat or you just need a wake-up slap to bring you back to reality. I can also understand what it's like if you're surrounded by gas lighters and you start doubting yourself and believing their bullshit.

If your last line about not ringing the bell is is a reference to SEAL school; this isn't SEAL school. In that school, what they make you go through is to build you up. When you ring the bell, you don't get thrown in the trash heap, you still get to be a productive member of the navy. School is out for you; there's no bell to be rung. It's sink, swim or tread water.

I despair over politics in our broken country, but life is good. I'm personally doing as well as I ever have and I'm fortunate to have a healthy body. I do believe many people are suffering mental exhaustion from the relentless propaganda Americans are bombarded with daily.

Ok, you've had your down. Now cowboy up and get back in the fight.

You have every element of character necessary to make a difference. You have education, morals, patriotism, and commitment, all expressed by a lifetime of hard work, national service and faithful dedication to your beliefs.

Do not discount those things. Get out of your house. Go volunteer at something that matters to your community, and bring your values with you.

Write to your state representatives locally and in Washington. Make your voice be heard. When you send a letter, request a reply. If you don't get a reply, call the office and ask what is going on. Make noise. It may only be minor noise, it may only be one voice, but it is a voice for right. It is a voice of experience.

If you don't like where things are going, then get out front and lead.

Now, get back in the fight.

I have no plans on giving up, I'm just wondering where I missed the boat. Not self pity, but how is it the hard work you do, the sacrifices you make and the way you're taught to live your life all become the opposite of what you know they are? Am I too old that I can't grasp the now, being an old school man, not the nonsense that passes as being a man? Am I obsolete that I believe in working hard for everything I've wanted or will want is how to get it and not expecting it to be given to you? Does my relevance depend on me being woke, or not white, Christian and male? That's what I'm getting at. I am Cowboying up, but I'm just wondering if I'm in the right rodeo some days.