O/t sick of not being taken seriously because of my age

Do the guys that know your work and knowledge base respect you? If so, that's all that matters. If they don't, you should stop complaining and learn from them.

 

If you've got the talent and drive,age doesn't matter..I've known guys who could build,do bodywork,and paint with the best of 'em before they were 20..once you've proven yourself,nobody will care how old you are,unless they're jealous..
We respect you..
Now go to your room,it's past your bedtime....

 

your always going to be the low man on the totem- after a while you just block it out. do what makes you happy and dont stress about anyone else but yourself, its not worth it.

quick story about fuckers who think they know:

I took my old lady to pick up the christmas tree this year in my 1948 buick roadmaster fastback. it was fun, it was cold, we had a blanket and hot chocolate on the drive there. when i went to go hoist the tree up on the car i hear "OHHHH NOOOOO"

i turn around and heres some middle aged ass wipe saying "did your dad say you could put the christmas tree on his car this year? thats wrong just wrong" he went on to start to say some shit about how i didnt deserve my car and all this crap - for gods sakes i dont know this guy from a hot rock

the combination of christmas, my sweet girlfriend and cold weather proved to be his saving grace. i flipped him the bird and told him to have a merry christmas and i was on my way.

in short- do your own thing and dont let anyone tell you otherwise.

 

Man, that is one wild dashboard crucifix.

 

nice projects! great to see a younger guy building hot rods!dont let ignorant people get you down

 

I pretty much agree with most of the guys here in their advice...but look at the other side of the coin, as well.
Youthfull arrogance might lead you into thinking you know it all, and can do it all, when there is so much more out there to be learned and experienced!
I built my chopped 55 Olds back in '81, when i was 23 years old. I did have the help of some older guys, and especially John Pazsik, a customizer from way back when, who was teaching me custom paint and bodywork (I could do all the standard stuff already).
While I did most of the work myself, in a time when chopped tops were pretty rare, and almost ALL of those were Mercs and shoebox Fords, I thought I was pretty good.
Now, at age 50, I realize how much I DIDN'T know, and how much I've learned over the years, and am STILL learning!
John used to say, " when you really think you're the best, you'd better get out of the business". While in his older years, he didn't like to change much (still using brass to put cars together) he still tried new things, and tried to better his work each new project.
No matter how much tou THINK you know, there's a lot more you don't.

 

Good attitude! Hey guy's,this is my nephew,he's another young HAMBer,who is building his own "Traditional Rod",a very serious "time period" ride with Caddy flathead and LaSalle stick. His welding and fabricating skills put many old timers to shame,as well as his determination,to stick to "authentic early"parts. Many of the older guys have been quite generous with advice and good deals,because of his"good attitude"and "traditional respect". In return,he earns it! Yes,i'm proud. That's how you overcome the stereotypes,from people that matter,the rest of them don't matter,so don;t let it bother you Chckencoupe.

 

some old people might be lucky to have finished 1 car, yet they think they know everything becuase they are old.
you might be mig welding and they will insist you hammer the weld as you go and you are like "f@(k off and leave me the f$#k alone"
I am picky who i get advice from, if i like the way they have done something i will ask, if i dont like the way they did something or sense bullshit i dont wanna know about it.
i am 32 and still get shit, much constructive but alot seems to be just people trying to make out they know a better way when they have no idea.

 

1. Stop whining.
2. Ignore them, if you let them affect you, they have won.
3. Rinse, repeat.

 

forget about it. I was young, now I'm old, young is better.

 

Nobody is born knowing everything, and if you think you know it all,there is still somebody who knows more than you.If you're one of those guys who thinks the younger generations aren't competant,then I think you're trying to make up for something.

 

I'll admit it, I've been quilty of it. Alot of it stems from people acting like they know what they are talking about. Usually the guy that knows what he's talking about shows you in his actions rather than words.

My son deals with this at his job everyday. He's worked for me for along time helping me paint houses and doing stain and laquer jobs. The boy has learned alot between working for me and working in a paint store. But since he's only 20, his new boss thinks that he is a young idiot, so he just sits back and watches them mess up, then laughs inside when they have to redo stuff.

Just ignore the idiots.

Larry

 

i get it all the time....I'm 26
just be honest with people, they'll respect you more for keeping your cool and letting your work speak for itself

good luck
Zach

 

Here Is A Thought, Just A Thought Of My Own. Tell Them To Fuck Off And Go On With You're Life. Life Is To Short To Worry About Other People's Ideas. As Long As You Are'nt Hurting Any Body Just Keep On Doing It How You Want.

 

I think it comes with the territory. I thought I had overcome those age discrimination obstacles years ago, but as I "advanced" into other realms of car related avenues, I still run into it. Case in point: I've been working my way into this Vintage Stock Car Racing club around here and I am "the kid" all over again. It used to piss me off, but considering I was not even born yet when 99% of these dudes were raising hell on dirt tracks, I have to respect how they view me. Even though I have to EARN their respect, I'm humble enough to listen to what they have to say between the insults and presumptions based on my age. There are nuggets of gold between the layers of bullshit. Once those dudes are gone, their hard earned knowledge and memories will be lost forever. It's the duty of the young (us) to listen and learn AND take our lumps in the process. Carry on Little Brother.

 

I was a teenager in the early 60's and it was tough hangin with the older guys. Not may of the hot rodders accepted the kid, and my peers didn't understand me, but I learned to keep my mouth shut and my ears open. The older guys had alot to teach me about cars and life, and I'm a better person for it. My Dad always said, "The man who never learns never lives" then he would add "try to LIVE each day".....
Chin up dude, we've all been there. Hang with the guys that'll have ya and ignore the others.....

 

i cant believe only one or two posts even came close...

im gonna be "nice" and say if you want respect, earn it. so far, cryin the blues about how you deserve respect has net you negative points on the respect scale here.

im glad you show some talent, and have done what you have already with your skills. but your maturity level shines through with posts like this, and most of the time, we are judged not by the measure of our achievements, but by how we show ourselves to others. image seems to be everything to you, so build a better one. wish ya luck

 

I know 'zackly what you mean! I am 62 and I'm in the same boat. "Dumb ol fart, doesn't know what he is doing!" "Hey, grandpa, why don't you get a real car, like a Honda!"

 

Dude it does not matter how old you are there will always be someone who thinks they know more than you or they can do it better. The best thing you can do is have them show you how to do it, not tell you, show you. That will usually separate the ones that know and the ones that think they know. I am 35 and fairly new to rods, I have always done the offroad truck thing and an pretty knowledgeable about that area but I try to absorb as much info as I can and try to sort out the bs from the good stuff. If it makes someone feel big or better to put the younger generations like us down then so be it, take it with a grain of salt, and don't let it bother you. Oh, and another thing you can do is ask to to see thier car, most of the time "it is not here today" or "it is not done yet" and if it is then you can check out what they really know! Good luck and keep building em!

 

don't worry about it. we've all been through it and besides, you'll grow out of it soon enough.
good for you for getting an early start. you can't have too much knowledge.
good luck,
dan

 

To reiterate much that has been already said...

I've been on the HAMB since I was about 23. I didn't mention my age on here for a long time, for much the same reasons as you are experiencing. Just because I was young, I felt that I wouldn't be taken seriously. All it takes is for you to show that you have some idea of what you're doing...and have the desire to learn and to become even better at your craft...and you will eventually earn the respect of your peers and elders.

I think that's the problem that a lot of young people have today..they expect respect to be given without being earned. Earn it, and it will come. But also try to remember that some people will try to force you down and put you in a 'mold' no matter how hard you work. For some that's human nature...just try to look past those people's opinions and keep working on bettering yourself.


With any luck, you'll start balding at an early age and people will think you are much older than you actually are. haha

 

Try being a girl with this passion and see how many people take you seriously

 

Most people are just assholes, regardless of age.
What you will find out is that as you get older, they are still assholes, but you will just care less.

When you get older you will find that inner security of not giving a shit.
How your life turns out will be based on what you do, not what you or anyone else says.

 

respect goes both ways, i did a quick search of all of your previous posts, none come across as "respectful knowledgeable young man". i don't see much difference in the way you say you are treated and the way you treat others. plenty of calling out shitty workmanship, calling other people bandwagon jumpers, etc. and above all, i saw no indication of you sharing a great wealth of knowledge of history or techniques of hot rodding. like others have said, EARN that respect.

 

Like above said earn it. I'm 18 and you get it al to.l people that can't believe a kid "nowadays" has real skill and other times you get the kind where even if you are right somebody will just say your wrong cause how much can you know really, your just a kid.

 

I have had the same problem, I oversee a laboratory for my daily. Basically most of the people who work for me don't know how old I am, and I don't tell them. It can be interesting when you are a managing people with Master's degrees, Phd's, or kids older than you. I let my performance be their toungues guide.

On the car side of life, I just let everyone have their opinion. Try not to step on to many ego's, as I have done way to much of that in the past.

On a final note, don't rush to grow up. As you will find out in the end, rushing to anything will only lead to mistakes.

 

That happens at all ages.

Here is a sure fire way to avoid criticism..


Say nothing,
Do nothing,
BE nothing.

Hell, even that don't work sometimes... they'll find you anyway.

Do your own thing and feel sorry for the others who can't.

Isn't that why you do this car thing anyway?
You are proudly saying "I AM NOT YOU, AND I LIKE IT."

Don't stew on it. You have the fun and let them generate their own ulcers. Chances are they just don't know....

If you are rude, they will hate you forever. Just be nice and they will end up envying you in the end.

 

This works the other way as will,Lot of guys think,(what the hell can that old guy know?)

 

It's kind of like the old story...

A fellow rolls into a gas station with a U-Haul. The old boy pumping gas say's, "Where you headed?"

Traveller: "Just moving to town, What are the folk like around here?"

Attendant: "What were they like wher you came from?"

Traveller: "Horrible!, Couldn't wait to get the hell out of there. Some of the most sour people you ever met in your life."

Attendant: "Well, I figure you'll find folks a lot like that around here as well."

A little later another fellow pulls in with a loaded down station wagon...

Same conversation ensues except...

Attendant: "How were folks where you came from?"

Traveller: "Man I really hated to leave, we made so many friends while we were there, it was really hard to say good buy. I'll tell you the folks back there were the salt of the earth."

Attendant: "Well, You gonna find that folks around here are just like that. Welcome to town."

You get what you give, Respect given, respect returned.

An attitude will get you nothing but more attitude.

Just my opinion, Sorry for geing so long winded.

GV

 

Yeah, no one listens to the elderly either. They get very little respect.