[PAX] Old guard vs. new

[Gaze]

There's always something lost when a new group, system, or way of life takes over. And there are things gained from changes created or developed from interaction of the old and the new, or new things are simply introduced to replace the old ways which are often seen as outdated or irrelevant.

However, we always miss or regret something from the past that we felt worked well and didn't think should be changed or there are qualities of the old guard that were dismissed and thrown out as old hat and not seen as valuable or appreciated by the new, while the old guard may be unwilling to appreciate what new systems, models, or ways of thinking or being has to offer.

What do you think was lost from old guard or old way of doing things that should have stayed or should be kept, and what aspects of the new guard do you think have been great changes or additions to how we do things or see the world?

Please avoid any political debate or argument in this thread. Thank you

 

[Flavus Aquila]

A lot of the old guard seem to be either entrenched, or reactionary-revolutionary about their culture.

They make it difficult for the good things from the past to be passed on to the new guard. Stick-in-the-mud types make it impossible to selectively pick out some things, while abandoning other things, making transitioning difficult. Burn-everything types sabotage the past with exaggeration and misrepresentation.

You either get "the good old days", or "our shameful history."

The new guard, possibly moved to contempt by the unclear representation of the past can fall either way, adopting a false love, or false hate for the antecedent culture.

Few individuals can seem to comfortably integrate what actually worked from the past, with their own ideals for their present and future.

A good example is child discipline. The new guard has not yet come to a position that works as effectively, or better than previous generations... but nor do we want to use some of the previous techniques.

I suspect that a moderated version of old guard discipline may be both effective, and more palatable.

 

[the]

What inspired this thread that requires the current political atmosphere be be removed from the topic. Politics is probably the most relevant subject matter for this topic right now!

 

[acd]

What inspired this thread that requires the current political atmosphere be be removed from the topic. Politics is probably the most relevant subject matter for this topic right now!

That's what I was thinking...

 

[Sinny]

Is this thread about life or forum life?

 

[invisible]

Professional world (theoretically) stresses reflective practice, lessons learned. Sometimes people get so set in their ways that they forget all about that. They're change resistant, they like things the way they are, even when those things don't function properly anymore.

 

[Sandie33]

Agreed. The prevailency is part of the current divisiveness.

They're change resistant, they like things the way they are, even when those things don't function properly anymore.

 

[Flavus Aquila]

Is this thread about life or forum life?

The ambiguity makes it possible to comment on either, according to preference.

I like that some of the curmudgeons of the early forum days, like me are still around... but this hasn't ever been a forum of grouchy temperament, even if we have been tolerated the entire time.

As forum "old guard", I think the old dynamic of the forum angels occasionally being sassy with the forum assholes; plus forum assholes occasionally being sweet is a good olde recipe for fun and mutual appreciation.