We're loosing the younger generation !!!!

I think some of you "nice guys" are completely unaware of how much fun it is to light up a smoke, drink that last swig of beer, then throw the bottle at the little punk ass bitch that's pissin you off.

 

I've tried a new aproch to reach a new guy using the R-word or other non-HAMB subject matter. I simply PM them and fill them in what's happening here and how to handle it. They can take the advise for what it's worth. I was raked over the coals, when I first came here on the HAMB and fought back and gained some respect. I enjoy the site very much and have made a lot of cool friends.

CRUISER

 

A little patience goes a long way with the younger bunch. Let's not let a few self appointed bouncers run the kids off. Us old farts used to be dumb and young, too. Keep your cool, and correct them kindly.

 

I understand where both sides are coming from as some of the "newbie bashing" keeps this board on point. But why these posts keep coming up is the fact that people getting into this hobby will have questions and sometimes stupid ones. Reading and researching is almost always the best first option but sometimes that just doesn't happen. I am a FNG but joined about a year ago with the intention of just reading and learning. I have done so and now post but can see why people might shy away from posting certain questions or topics. I get the mentally of "pay your dues" but understand that sometimes the only way to learn is to ask questions.

 

ya know after reading some of the posts in here, there are some of you who look to fire up the fng. That's fine with me, but you'll never earn my respect, I don't care how much you know. PAY MY DUES you say? I paid my dues. You want some one's respect Lead by example. Explain to them what is expected. You want to drive them off treat them like shit!
Either Lead, Follow or Get the Hell out of the Way

 

I'm a fng from last year and just lurk to learn.
THIS POST is the reason I never ask questions.

 

Can't really blame you, especially since his response didn't seem to have a damn thing to do with what this thread was about.

 

Obviously neither one of you understand the irony of my statement. Having been through it myself.

 

Newbs get flamed because they don't pay attention or read the rules.

I read the rules, followed them and have not been flamed. I see why there are rules, I moderate a message board for non-hamb cars and things can get out of hand if not policed properly, especially with the amount of members on here.

I've learned a LOT from this place, I was swearing at the windshield trim on my '48 Fleetline tonight, came on here, used the SEARCH function and found what I needed.

Newbies get flamed for posting the same shit that has been beaten to death because they couldn't use the search function.

I lurked here a long time before I signed up and have seen the same stupid questions asked over and over again. The latest version of the "How is the price of fuel affecting your engine choice" thread came up a day or two ago.

Why bother helping someone who can't be bothered to look for the info in the first place. I've got a guy on the o/t message board that treats it like an online service manual. Go buy a damn service manual instead of asking people to post the info that you can find in your local auto parts store (these are 1970's cars I'm talking about).

Stupid people deserve to get run off. People who don't know any better but are willing to learn should always be welcome.

Shawn

 

That's funny as hell!!! I just happen to know this cat that has Early Hemis---Lots of em LOL!!!! Poverty must be offline. --------------------------------------------------!!! Now back to what this post is about. I see FNGs come on here and ask fairly smart questions and for the most part they get fairly smart answers. But when they come on to stir shit up and insult others let the bashings begin. For the most part if you want to blend in here pay attention,show us some cool stuff once in awhile and enjoy the history and the tradition of Hot-Rodding. And if you get the erdge to hang a FARMALL grill on your ride I don't think I'd post any pics on here wanting our opinion on how it looks >>>>.

 

I didn't read the whole thread, but I can tell you guys this.

When I decided to get back into "Rods" I was after the "rat rod" look. Then after spending a year building my "traditional" A, being on the hamb, and knowing what a "rat rod" really was, I started to take offense when people called my ride a rat.

After a while I just figure they were like me and didn't know. Give people a break. Terminology isn't everything. Be appreciative that they like your ride. If someone notices some bad ass fabwork, tell them thanks and let em know it's not a rat and how many hours you put into it.

Most people are just trying to give you props, not bash your ride.

 

I've PM'd a few new members,after reading their intro,too. If their approach appears misguided(R-word),but they state a desire to learn,respectfully educating them through a PM has "earned me",many interesting and thankful responses. If it wasn't for one of those young guys (youngrodder1929) i might never have found this site,and i know I'll continue to learn from that same young hot rodder,since his skills are certainly surpassing mine. Remember,when people think they know it all,they never learn anything new!

 

To the OP I dont think so, im 19 and i love every minute im in my hotrod. Yea people my age are more into crotch-rockets and tuners but i see quite a few around the shows.

 

I've been in the hobby since 1961 nothing bugs me more than the "We're Loosing the Younger Generation" BS it is equal to Rat Rod if Rat Rod bothers you. Nobody took my hand when I was 10 years old and force feed the car hobby to me.........I discovered it all by myself! The Antiquers dumbed down their end of the hobby with the 25 years old and it's an "Antique" sure hope Hot Rodding holds the line on Pre 1965 built rides. There are lots of young guys at shows & swap meets and if they come across as interested and knowledgeable I'll give them a brake of parts. You can't force people to be interested in the cars we like, either you get it or you don't.

 

I'm one of those young new guys. I kept quiet here for a long time, until I felt like I had something useful to contribute. I knew a lot about what I was building at the time, but not hot rods. So I just listened. I still listen, but I feel I can contribute something useful from time to time, and I try to do so.

I'm 20, and I own a custom fab shop. I don't think we are loosing the new generation. I have a few friends close to my age with several older customs. They run an upholstery shop. I think there is still hope for the new generation. But I think most of this generation lacks a work ethic, which I believe translates directly into hot rodding.

 

Man, that's kool that you took your grandma for a ride, even more so that she liked it. My mother was born in '32 as well, 40 years before I was brought into this world...she used to look forward to taking me to Hangin' Dice in Ft Smith before I was old enough to drive, she's always liked old cars.


I don't know how common it is for a 76 year old woman to like Metallica, Hank Williams Jr instead of Sr (a point on which we never agree), and to have beaten up a former marine (today was the 15th anniversary of that little incident)...but that's my mom, I love her and I wouldn't trade her for any mother ANYWHERE.

now, my on-topic rant.

I just mostly lurk around here these days because of having very little time to post. I've been a FNG two or three times when the board switched around in the past, but my first HAMB experience was back in 1999. I've seen people come and go, watched some newbies become arrogant bastards, while some turned out to be pretty kool, and others just drop away.

I love the HAMB. The few petulant individuals scattered amongst us aren't going to cause me to stay away. They're common on the internet, and they're the reason some sites have an ignore feature. We're a little more thick-skinned around here though...I've not looked to see if there is indeed an ignore button?

 

I think a lot of people here talk tough b/c this is a message board. No real names, no address and no having to confront people in person. I think people talk tough b/c it never escalates past a war of words. And usually the guy with the highest number of posts in the toughest motherfucker on here. I kinda think the opposite is true...if you have 300,000 posts that is a lot of sitting at your computer...not lifting weights...not fist fighting and sure as hell you are not throwing bottles at people. But i am sure i am wrong b/c i am an FNG.

On a side note when i needed help figuring out my rear end swap on my mercury there was a lot of helpful posts and BadBob pm'd me to give his advice. So the HAMB helped when i needed it. I get a ton of information off this board about cars i was never into and things i never knew existed. It is educational and useful.

 

I am really amazed how many on here automatically asume that fngs are always young guys. FNG means F'n New Guy, not necessarly a young guy.

I think a lot of the blasting comes from other new guys, or comes out of a responce to stupid statements or bad attitudes. When I came here, it was common for the old guys to blast anyong new, just because they were new. Maybe I was lucky, I never got blasted, but then again, I didn't come here telling everyong how great I was and how much I knew.

I also do not understand why someone would be afraid to ask questions. Are you so weak as to let someone you don't know and does not know you hurt your feelings by what they can type on a message board? Really, now?????Ask your questions, disreguard the stupid responces, sort through the BS and get the answers to your questions. 30 years ago you had to ask your questions face to face, about 1/2 the time the answer you got was pure BS. You had to man up and ask many guys the same question and finally a few would give you straight answers. Here all you have to do is type the question and sort out the answers. Its a lot easier to take a typed bashing then to take a verbal bashing from a guy looking you eye to eye.

The bottom line is, there are many guys here that are going to give you the straight answers every time because we want to help you learn. Shouldn't take very long before you figure out who those guys are and you can block responces from the jerks if you want. Gene

 

"Are you so weak as to let someone you don't know and does not know you hurt your feelings by what they can type on a message board? Really, now?????"

EXACTLY!!!!!!!

It's about freakin time somebody came along that isn't wearing his little feelings on his shirtsleeve.

 

I have been into cars, bikes and motorcycles since I was about 7yrs old when my aunt sent me a box of bike parts and I built my first stingray. At 10 I worked on my first car a 59 Pontiac that my grandmother had sitting in her driveway, I pulled the intake bolts and carb bolts out before she caught me! By 15 I was doing body work at home, When I was 18 and working in a bodyshop all the guys were in their 60's, and would get a good laugh watching me pull dents out and stuff and would rib the hell out of me, well I had a short temper and told them to get bent one day. One of the guys came up and said why are you so bull headed and don't ask any questions, so I said I did not want to ask stupid questions, (thought I knew it all) and he said The only stupid question is the one you don't ask, Stupid mistakes cost money stupid questions don't!! after that all was well. I look back now and am glad they did that, that one answer helped me learn more than I think I ever could have. so if some fng asks a question and it seems stupid I think back and remember how I was. no mater how much we all think we know their is always something new to learn.

 

Yup, hope that turd reads this and looks into himself an sees the dark, dead, lonely twisted emptiness that is his soul.

Man I was handed my arse on a solid gold platter when I first joined the HAMB, hell I even lurked for a few months until I thought I had it sorted.
Funny but I read the rules, did look into what was go and what was no go. Opened my mouth and because of the chrome steel wheels on my coupe I was hammered!
But fuck! I got over it,must have taken me all of three seconds but I did it. Guess I'm just somewhat more mentally tough than a good proportion of they who get flamed these days.
You all know, the 'sensitive new age HAMB' but hell I still love the place.
Yule61met speaks of a certain point of training.
You cannot hold a soldier to a standard that he has not been taught.
Thats good, but the rules are well advertised here and you are told to read them first before joining.
So do we flame for nothing? NO. Kinda simple really.
You want to talk about a Rat Rod, Volks Rod, VW et al, the rules are clear. Das is Verboten! Thats why I flame.
Another thing that gets me is people talking of respect? Built from posts on a board? WTF?
Actions people, its what guys do off here that wins respect. Its one thing that can never be demanded and only ever given voluntarily.
So do I piss you off? If you answered yes, harden up. Its life, you think I'm a cranky mean hearted prick? Well yeah, but I learned from the best of them in the service myself.
At the tender age of 36 I have fought on 4 different continents, and 6 separate conflicts. I have been wounded in combat and fucked up in a parachute accident. Im a disabled Special Forces Veteran. So, yeah I am a cranky prick but I like to think I earned it.
So, now that Ive managed to wander waaaaaay O/T lets get back to it.
I'm also a third generation Hot Rodder. Never known anything different, I look around at the young guys and think our lifestyle (I'll be fucked if I will call it a hobby) is in pretty good hands and growing strong.

The points have been made, If you love the cars, flaming will mean nothing to you. You will stay, if it affects you that much we don't need you here.
So now you all know where Im coming from, flame away.
Life sucks.
Harden the fuck up.
singed,
The JERK.
Doc.

 

Hey Doc,

Just tried something new. I read the first post and had to agree with a lot of it. Then I read the last one...yours...and I agree with a lot of that too!

It's my new technique for reading long threads, and I just invented it. I feel good because I haven't read reams of crap, I agree with everything I've read so far and now I can go and read something else...Fantastic

Pete

 

I've said it before. A little flaming will weed out crybabies and whining. But where do you draw the line. I'm 33. I have friends from 20 to 70 all into Hot Rods. some of them even call them rat rods. Sometimes I correct them, sometimes I dont. The ones that call them rat rods the most are the older guys. they want to fit in with the younger crowd. I think if you truly love hot rods Me Doc or anyone else isnt going to change that. I guess I was lucky nooene really messded with me too bad on here. I feel a litle sorry for those who do, but it's life. If you wanna come here to learn and talk about cars or buy stuff its a great place. I try to treat people the way I want to be treated. Lifes a lot easier that way.

 

LOL Doc! Well put!

The younger generation seems to feel entitled to, well, everything, because they 've gotten nothing but positive re-enforcement all their lives.

The HAMB isn't PC like that, thank god. I've read other boards, and if those are the members that we're losing, well we're better off for it. The cream of the crop is here.

MOST flames are well deserved, and if the FNG cries about it, so much the better, we've gotten rid of another one that didn't have any character.

I hardly ever see a guy that has an honest question about his build get flamed for it, unless its just totally unsafe or OT. From what I've seen, nothing gets you more respect around here than actually working on a car and not just talking about it.

If you have delicate sensibilities, Morrissey, then just lurk or go write a song or something. If you're really a car guy and have a question step up but obey the rules. Do a search before you post. Don't whine. Don't post O/T crap. Don't brag, unless you do it with humility If you can't take the heat, there's plenty of other places you can post.

If you get burned, keep in mind, you *probably* deserved it, so don't quibble.

How else will we separate the wheat from the chaff?!?

There are lots of other boards you can go to, but I'll guarandamntee you none of them have the depth of knowledge and talent this one has. It's only reasonable that you have to actually *earn* the priviledge of being accepted here.

And even then you can still get flamed!!!

Gotta love it!

 

Pretty much sums it up.

 

guys who get all worked up over the word "RATROD" need to get a grip, or as so many of them like to say,"get over yourself". people who innocently use the term probably just dont know any better.alot of you need to stop being so angry at people who dont see eveything through your blurry "traditional" eyes!

 

Well I guess I'll throw my hat in the ring for a flogging. Yes I'm a FNG I'm 45 and fairly new to this. I built my first rod, a 31 4dr A last year, just to see if I could, I am now on my 4th rod a 41 Ford Coupe that wont fit in either catagory, Rat or Finished show car because I lack the skills to make it a perfectly smooth "Shiney" and its far too good to be considered a Rat so maybe a Jalopy. I've been a rodder since before I could drive but money always kept me out of it for the most part. I have been lurking on here for a long time and dont post often mostly because I dont have alot of good avdice to give but if what I know fits I'll post and hope it helps someone out. As my name implies I am into the Rats and love to see and build them, mostly because around here there aren't too many, hell around here there isn't too much of anything. I suppose if I were to admit it I enjoy the notice it gets me, I have been to shows a fair distance from me and somone will ask if i know the guy from Centralia that builds Rat Rods and I am proud to say "why yes thats me" and then the questions begin.

Well now that I am way O/T let me get back to why I said anything to begin with. I read the HAMB everyday, I havent officially become a member yet but will get to that sooner or later, yea I listen twice and speak once, and I am shocked as to why some of you jump on the newbies so hard, yea its only words but as it has been said in this thread it can put some guys off. I was taught that the only stupid question is the one not asked and if you continue to berate these people they will stop asking and therefore not learn. If some of you "long timers" wish to pass on the art and knowledge that you have you should hold off on the written beatings and actually try to help, unless you cant then just leave it alone. Sometimes you tell the newbies " thats already been discussed, pull a search" well that may be true but the search function on here is not the greatest and won't find what a person need sometimes, trust me been there done that.

As to the use of the terms Rat Rod, Jalopy, Hot Rod or Old School Rod whats the difference what I want to call my creation, its mine and I'll call it what I want. Actually it bothers me when someone tells me my finished car is a good start and it will look good when its done, sometime I correct them and sometimes I just agree and let them walk away. If they dont recognise it for what it is then they arent as smart as they think they are, but then again around here these are a fairly new concept.

Well I guess I have ranted long enough, been wanting to do this for some time, now I feel better. So go ahead let me have it I have a tough hide and you wont drive me away that easily this is a great site, with great people for the most part, and I have learned alot and hope to continue my education.

 

Read the first post.. skimmed a couple and came to the last page.. Read Docs post.. and yeah i agree with him too.

I got my ass handed to me as well.. got flamed beyond belief but hell.. i said to myself fuck it. Got my next project, posted it up and guys were lovin it and postin pics of their own. Off to a better start..

I agree with what Doc's sayin.. if someone can't harden up and take some criticism once in a while.. don't join the HAMB and definately don't build a Hot Rod.

To me.. Criticism and Hot Rods tend to go hand in hand.. Especially when your on the buildin end of it all. But thats how ya learn.. especially when your new to it.

Also.. seems unlike a lot of other newbies on here and myself.. i've been a lurker for a long time and a poster for certianly not as long.. but i know the difference between a peice of shit Rat Rod.. a stupidly high dollar and rather unattractive Street Rod.. and a perfectly styled and proportioned Traditional Hot Rod. Same goes for Kustoms..

Eh.. The way i see it is.. if other kids my age (I'm 19..) can't tell the difference between a Model A and a Deuce.. and if they'd rather billets on their old car than a nice set of period mags or steelies / wide whites.. then i don't want em in our scene / lifestyle / hobby / whatever.

Perhaps they just need a little.. pushing in the right direction..

Oh yeah Mr Doc Watson.. ya cranky old bastard .. I HAVE GOT to come see that Gasser of yours sometime Gimme a few months mate and i'll bring my EK around and we can talk shit for a while.

Nick.

 

No worries mate, your welcome anytime.
Doc.

 

I guess I'm a FNG at age 55. I've been lurking on here for 6 or 7 years. I found the HAMB thru a link on the Ford Truck Enthusiasts...My 51 f-1 has red wheels(and a green one) just so it's a roller. It's also in black epoxy primer where I've been patchin' and fillin' but it ain't no ratrod yet. That will be after I get it on the road!
You see guys & gals, I got hung with the monicker RATT nearly 50 years ago. I just enjoy reading mostly because I dont like to type..