Sometimes when you get involved with something, you get to love the way it is, and
you get annoyed/frustrated when it starts to change in a way you don't like. Welcome
to the real world
But there is a bigger picture here. Marketing has become an extremely sophisticated
and subtle force in our world. We now have several generations who have grown up in
a world where we are taught that self-gratification is good... instant gratification is
better, and anything that gains the attention of your peers, no matter how stupid or
offensive, makes you an instant superstar. Go to Youtube and look at what gets posted
there... consider what "goes viral" and collects a million likes... quality stuff huh ?
Ask yourself why is Facebook free to join, when all they ask in return is that you share
with them all your likes and dislikes, places you go, food you eat, clothes you buy,
where you live, went to school, birthday, email and telephone numbers. As someone
on this forum is fond of saying... information is power. And when Facebook knows all
there is to know about you, they use/sell that information for commercial purposes.
People are the cash cows; marketing and technology are the milking machine. If you
grow up in a world where all this is considered normal, you accept it without question.
However, if you are from an older generation, you can see how the dumbing down
process works. You refuse to sell your soul to the devil just to gain a million likes, and
you lament the passing of an old friend.
You want the forums to be the way they were "back in the day", but you can't wind back
time. The AE86 will become one of those "funny old cars" that your kids will point out
when you are out driving to the mall in your androgynous, computor-designed, wind
tunnel shaped, eco-friendly, recyclable, hybrid Bitzer. And groups of old men will get
together once a month to reminisce and swap hard to get rusty old AE86 parts.
This is the Natural Order of things... it has been happening since the automobile was
invented, and it will continue. The only thing that keeps forums alive is the love and
enthusiasm of the members. But unfortunately, as with all organistaions, when the
owners/administrators lose their enthusiasm, the feeling filters down to the membership,
Add to that the fact that these days anyone coming out of school and wanting to get
into the car scene has multiple choices. There are plenty of cars that are just as cheap
as a half decent AE86, but are faster, better handling, safer and more likely to get
parental approval to park in the driveway.
So, by all means hang onto the things you love, but don't expect the new generations
to share your love. Getting older can be a bitch sometimes
Cheers... jondee86
PS: Yes, cold and wet here today, so I am stuck inside
