I don’t facebook, I don’t tweet, I don’t text, I don’t do morse code either, which I equate to the low tech of texting. Prefer instead to read in paragraph form what people have to say. But the new pnet format keeps me away from here as much as I am on other more traditional forums.
I have already forgotten p.net although I sometimes briefly remember the guy in tje desert who couldn’t keep his name straight. I hope he didn’t check out when Trump was elected.
Guess I’m an “Old timer” since I started on P.net 2000 or 2001? I try to look here once a week. I have to budget for time because I have slow internet living here in the sticks, and all the pictures slow the loading time for me. Threads with “Pictures of…” are impossible for me to visit. And a link to a Vimeo video, forget it.
Also, the old forum format was easier on my old eyes. Seems like it is just so “Bright” now?
But let’s face it, the owners need to target a younger demographic to pay the bills; the younger, newer paddlers are the ones whom advertisers are targeting. It’s probably not good “Business” to target us old fogies that used to hang around P.net’s “Virtual campfire” here and tell stories and give advice?
Everything in life changes and evolves or it dies off. This website is no different. I miss the old format, but that’s life. I also miss my crotchety old grandma and many family and friends whom have passed on. But lamenting their departure won’t bring 'em back! So I’ll only be an infrequent visitor from now on, but I wish Brent and Brian the best and hope they have continued success with this website!
The website is slow with so many ads and pictures opening. And there are quite a few glitches. I could not access the message boards at all with Firefox until I deleted Firefox from my computer and reloaded it. And many seem to have gone missing. I suspect a handful will show up over time, but I suspect many have just decided that dealing with the new site is not worth the trouble.
But yes, I do understand the reasons behind the change.
@String said:
I have already forgotten p.net although I sometimes briefly remember the guy in tje desert who couldn’t keep his name straight. I hope he didn’t check out when Trump was elected.
Close, String, close…desertbivalvesupremeyakGary had a stroke. He’s over on the bicker forum I think, not sure, as I don’t hit that too often either. We were FB friends, but that didn’t last. Last I saw on FB he was more obstinate than ever.
Anyways, my first post since the new pnut…Hi Pete, Erik, Bob, Chip, Glenn, Andy yadayada…saw a post I had from 2005. Time flies. Don’t paddle like the lunatic I once was, on to other things past few years. Life’s a journey, it’s all good.
Younger demographic? I don’t see much evidence that paddling – other than whitewater kayaking – is populated by many people under 40.
When I look at all the clubs I’ve paddled with all over the U.S., I see mostly middle age to older folks in rec kayaks, SOT’s and some canoes. Freestyle symposiums are geriatric affairs. Raystown, I only went once, but I’m sure the average age was upwards of 45.
I always had the feeling the active crowd on the old pnet was over 50ish. Was there ever an age thread? I don’t recall. I did an age poll on another canoe site and, with about 100 responses, the median age is probably mid-to-high 50’s.
To ignore the AARP generation would be to lose the most active paddling segment and the one with the most disposable income. It’s also the most literate generation – able to communicate with eight more fingers and thousands of more words, and better punctuated, than the millennial anti-social media addicts. A discussion forum like this one will not appeal to that crowd. It needs the 45-85 year old paddlers not only for their communication skills, but for their reservoir of experience to give advice.
The algorithmic tyranny of social media has created a generation of uninformed, lemming thinking, tribalistically partisan, angry, intolerant, and illiberal young people. Social media is dividing our citizenry and destroying our culture. Maybe when they grow up and reach 40, they’ll take up paddling and contribute to a forum like the old pnet.
Rant paused . . . .
@Glenn MacGrady said:
Rant paused . . . .
No, Glenn! Don’t hold back–More! Tell us how you really feel!
Great post Glenn!
@Glenn MacGrady said:
The algorithmic tyranny of social media has created a generation of uninformed, lemming thinking, tribalistically partisan, angry, intolerant, and illiberal young people. >
I’m not sure what algorithmic tyranny is, but I really like the turn of phrase! And, I can’t argue with the conclusions, although they are not all illiberal as the many young 'uns attracted to Bernie Sanders demonstrated.
I long ago concluded we are an aging demographic. This I chalk up to older folks having more time and money for paddling. It’s a different challenge when your weekends consist of taking the kids to their sports events. And then you have folks like me that have less physical capability. I had to give up running events when the wheels went bad, but they are good enough to get me in the boat.
~~Chip
Stay tuned to this channel for the next episode of “Grumpy Old Men”.
I’m not grumpy, but will be 65 next week. Being old has its benefits. I’m retired, can do almost anything I want to, anytime. …Well, the wife has some input on that. I worked hard all my life and am reaping the fruits of that hard work. Have all the boat’s I want or need, have gear for year round paddling. I’m sitting right now in my other house, having a vodka martini. Wife is in the other house. Typing this on my smart phone. Life is good!
Well then, in the words of Herman Melville: Thou art too damned jolly.
@Andy_Szymczak said:
I’m not grumpy, but will be 65 next week. Being old has its benefits.
You’re off by nine years at least:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/03/15/old-age-does-not-begin-until-74-researchers-suggest-in-a-new-rep/
The phrase “change is inevitable, progress is possible” leaps to mind more and more when I look at Pnet these days. I miss the old forum’s ability to trace all the tangents that inevitably develop in any “virtual campfire” sort of discussion. On the other hand, the ability to include photos in a post is nice and there are some pretty decent photographers here. Photos can certainly be useful to illustrate some things that are being discussed. That might bode well for the future of Pnet since, if a picture is worth a thousand words, many in these days of twitter, facebook, etc. seem to have lots of Iphone pictures and lack time (apparently) to write or read a thousand words. (How many characters might that be, even without punctuation, anyhow?)
Sorry to hear of SA’s stroke. That’s something I’d wish on no one. I was hoping he’d post so I could ask him about (and here’s a tangent) the drought in the southwest dropping the level of L. Powell enough to expose the upstream parts of Glenn Canyon. Now there’s a worthy paddling destination if ever there was one.
I’d rather be out on a river with you “Gandalf”, and a couple of the “hobbits”, than sitting around a virtual campfire.
BOB
I remember that boat!
I remember it too…Mad River Flashback I.
I bought it; then spent about 16 hours doing restoration, and re outfitting.
PJC gave me a song and dance about how much he “needed it”; then basically stole it for what I remember as a mere pittance. It’s a vintage, Royalex “collectible” don’t ya know!.
I missed it; God knows why, I don’t.
Found another one; another 16 hours of restoration and re outfitting.
Very small canoe, with a fairly steep learning curve; thrill a minute.
First time I took it on moving water it took me undernearth a
log of it’s choice, and swept me off t
he seat, like a broom sweeping a dustball .
Vic in what I believe is a Mohawk Solo 14, and me in the Flashback gives an idea of scale.
Vic & I are approximately the same weight & height.
BOB
Bob, If it’s any consolation, I’ve taken more swims out of that boat in the couple years I’ve owned it than I did in the preceding couple decades. It is a “thrill a minute” as you say. I was looking for a nice Made River Guide when I bought it; now a guide seems dull. (Though dry…)
I’m glad to see that old age starts at 74. If my back would only get the message!