I hope that if people that think like myself and Frank and others that get the magnitude of the issue at hand that simply sweeping things that aren't easily solved away will have a worthy alternative- keeping at it- and influencing others through efforts of our own. So I'll keep preaching- and not just to the choir. There's truth in what is quoted below. But if one stops at that and resigns themself to being swept along by the tide of inertia and "things beyond our control" then that becomes a self-fulfilling end. I must point out I'm not attacking anyone for their view. What I am doing is respectfully disagreeing and by so doing laying out my position and reason for it. People are free to believe and do as they wish as a result. Before moving ahead a short introduction is necessary. I'm Steve Avery and have been an active AMC owner for thirteen years. I also have been an active participant in the online AMC world over the same period, starting out on the original AMXfiles in 1998. Over the years personal enlightenment and folly, as well as a mixed reputation have followed, hand in hand. If the name menas anything to any of you and it has positive connotations that is naturally wonderful. If the connotations are negative, well it is what it is. If the name means nothing, that is the best as we are starting with a blank slate. The thing about "kids" ( and for some 40 is a "kid" ) and instant gratification is that it truly is abroad brush to paint our "inheritors" with. In making the statement about why it's not worth passing the torch onto others that view, that the problem can't be solved, and will only worsen, is an example of instant gratification speaking. And that's good! because it means that no matter what one's age or background some are always going to expect things instantly. It's not a generational thing per se, but a personality thing. And in that, lies salvation. For every one that expects instant, trouble-free results, are those that dig deeper and work with adversity. The so called "kits" for today are fraught with the same limitations as back when many AMCphiles were younger or even now when they are still modifying Ramblers. If it ain't factory, personal input is required for parts that did not originate to any automobile at hand. There are those that will throw their hands up in disgust when something doesn't fall into place and there are those that will persevere. To assume that today's young uns all would rather text than teach or play computer games rather than play with the limitless possibilities in each day means someone needs to get out more! To be continued... Steve "All true, however...... The problem with kids is they have a very short attention span. We all did as kids but it seems to get worse now that kids have instant gratifiction with all this computer garbage. How that relates to the AMC world is there are no "kits" to drop in that 750 Ci, 30,000HP crate motor that is in every car featured in every magazine. When you tell the average kid that he will have to do some metal fabbing, welding, measuring, figuring, etc, well his eyes start to glaze, he scratches his head and plugs in his Iphone. I may be painting todays kid with a broad brush but I talk to kids and they all want to buy the stuuf and bolt it in. You can't do that with our Ramblers. You need to stay in the family in order to "bolt things together" and there is not enough AMC flash featured in the magazines. And kids love flash. CC tossed us a bone, thanks for that, but they are back to featuring Camaros and Cudas. I don't see kids learning to weld and fab. Back in "the day" we had to scramble over each other to get into the shops in school. We leaned over a fender watching our neighbor tune his car or pull the head to do a valve job. No. I see our Ramlers in the near future being tossed in the heap, if they aren't already, and forgotten as legislation against home car repairs and modification ?marches on, crusher laws expand and gated communities continue their oppression. This may sound just like a?grouchy old man telling kids what it was like back in my?time, but I have been seeing this for a few years and it just gets worse." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://list.amc-list.com/pipermail/amc-list-amc-list.com/attachments/20110324/b8554a83/attachment.htm> _______________________________________________ AMC-list mailing list AMC-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com