In defence of younger players

[Helm]

I am really tired of the endless bashing of the younger players that join our community.  I find this bashing 10 times more childish then any antics that a younger flyer does.  I find the term “squeaker” offensive and irresponsible.  
    In the summer of 1998 in Air Warrior a Father and a Son joined our squad, the boy was 13 at the time.  The father’s interest waned and he soon stopped flying.  Yet his son continued on with us until the Winter of 2006.  
    The young man become a great flyer and got better and better as time went on.  His attitude was very positive and he was always ready to join in what ever the squad was up to.  
    At the age of 16 this young man took flying lessons and obtained his private pilot’s license.  He then began working on his instrument flying  ratting which he accomplished.  He is now in college and working towards a masters degree.
     I feel strongly that the example set by myself and the members of our squad helped to shape this young man’s future.  We always treated him as an equal and provided guidance and leadership to him.  I think he enjoyed having adults he could hang out with and talk to on a 1 to 1 basis.  
    The fact is that parents can’t do it all for a child.  It is also our duty and responsibility as Men to show youngsters the path to manhood.  In today’s society many young men are raised alone by their Mothers and have very little contact with their Fathers. (wisdom of judges?)  This is a void that we in this community can fill.  Young Warriors need to be shown the path, not berated for their mistakes.  Set an example, make a difference in a young man’s life.  

Ask yourself: ….”What have I done to help a young man mature and follow the way of the Warrior” ?

     To those of you who help shape the leaders of tomorrow, I salute you all!  Remember this:  …”Today’s Rookie, is Tomorrow’s Superstar”



Sincerely

Helm

[Tigeress]

I totally agree with that.

It's the same for young women as well.

Were it not for my Father who was a B-17 crewman in WWII (390th Bombardment Group Heavy), I would never have gotten interested in combat flying. He was a 30 year career man who served in WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam.

Father flew in the same squadron as the Memphis Belle and he logged 35 missions and returned alive... one of the B-17s he flew in was "Lady Faithful/They Have Had It". It had two names; one one each side.

You fathers who have daughters... consider that they too can benefit from flying in Aces High. And, perhaps the guy myth of some circles ...that women can't fly or can't compete ...will be dispelled. We really are so much more than a toy and, in my experience, many men understand that to be true.

Combat flying (sim or real) is not exclusively a man's domain

Hopefully this post will not be viewed as a thread hijack... I am just expanding it to include all young people.

-TIGERESS

[The Fugitive]

I think you misunderstand the term squeeker. To me a squeeker is a person who wants it all NOW! One who will not take the time to learn the game, read the help info and continually demands that everyone supply him/her with everything they need and want NOW!

 You example was of a young man that was respectful, and listened because he wanted to learn more. On top of that he practiced, and worked along side those that knew more and again learned from them.

If you spend your time gettiing questions like "how do I fly?", or "how do I shift gears in my tank", and when somesays go "here" and read the help file, and you get the answer, "Just tell me!", you met a squeeker. If on the other hand, they say, ok, I'll be back soon, and they log off to go read it, then you have a young person who wishes to learn the game. That person I'll help.

[hubsonfire]

Those who behave well have never had to defend themselves for doing so.

[Shifty]

Originally posted by Helm
I am really tired of the endless bashing of the younger players that join our community.  I find this bashing 10 times more childish then any antics that a younger flyer does.  I find the term “squeaker” offensive and irresponsible.  
    In the summer of 1998 in Air Warrior a Father and a Son joined our squad, the boy was 13 at the time.  The father’s interest waned and he soon stopped flying.  Yet his son continued on with us until the Winter of 2006.  
    The young man become a great flyer and got better and better as time went on.  His attitude was very positive and he was always ready to join in what ever the squad was up to.  
    At the age of 16 this young man took flying lessons and obtained his private pilot’s license.  He then began working on his instrument flying  ratting which he accomplished.  He is now in college and working towards a masters degree.
     I feel strongly that the example set by myself and the members of our squad helped to shape this young man’s future.  We always treated him as an equal and provided guidance and leadership to him.  I think he enjoyed having adults he could hang out with and talk to on a 1 to 1 basis.  
    The fact is that parents can’t do it all for a child.  It is also our duty and responsibility as Men to show youngsters the path to manhood.  In today’s society many young men are raised alone by their Mothers and have very little contact with their Fathers. (wisdom of judges?)  This is a void that we in this community can fill.  Young Warriors need to be shown the path, not berated for their mistakes.  Set an example, make a difference in a young man’s life.  

Ask yourself: ….”What have I done to help a young man mature and follow the way of the Warrior” ?

     To those of you who help shape the leaders of tomorrow, I salute you all!  Remember this:  …”Today’s Rookie, is Tomorrow’s Superstar”



Sincerely

Helm

I think your intentions are noble. I don't bash the youngsters while flying. I do squelch the inpatient  bothersome ones when they get annoying, or fly out of  their vox range as soon as possible. Plus it's not the ones asking for help, that are annoying. It's the ones that scream for attention, or pork the text buffer with JOIN MY MISHUN 40 times, the list can on and on.

I believe in helping anybody with the game, that wants help.

A few places in your post you leave the planet.

"It is also our duty and responsibility as Men to show youngsters the path to manhood."

No, it's not. I've fufilled that responsibility with my own four sons. This job belongs to the young man in questions father. Besides the child's father may not agree on your path to manhood.

"In today’s society many young men are raised alone by their Mothers and have very little contact with their Fathers. (wisdom of judges?)  This is a void that we in this community can fill. "

Judges don't keep fathers away from their sons. If a father doesn't spend time with his son, it's his own fault not a judges. I don't pay $15 bucks a month to fill voids. Theres plenty of things like that you can do in your real life community that would be real help to young people in need. THIS IS A GAME, not a social aid society.

"Ask yourself: ….”What have I done to help a young man mature and follow the way of the Warrior” ?

Again, THIS IS A GAME. We are not here to teach young men to be warriors, nor should we be. It's foolish to equate this game with real warriors, what they go through, or the character it takes to be a real warrior. This is not real war.

" To those of you who help shape the leaders of tomorrow, I salute you all!  Remember this:  …”Today’s Rookie, is Tomorrow’s Superstar”

You do you realize there's a real world outside? Other than a couple of thousand of us internet airplane tards, the rest of the world is unaware of any supposed rookies, superstars, or leaders, in this GAME.

I'm all for being polite to the youth in this game, until they display behavior that is disruptive. I'm in favor for helping those who ask for it. I'm also for keeping this game in perspective.

[Tigeress]

Originally posted by The Fugitive
If you spend your time gettiing questions like "how do I fly?", or "how do I shift gears in my tank", and when somesays go "here" and read the help file, and you get the answer, "Just tell me!", you met a squeeker. If on the other hand, they say, ok, I'll be back soon, and they log off to go read it, then you have a young person who wishes to learn the game. That person I'll help.

I agree with that also. If young pilots can be directed to how to learn (RTFM as Dad would say) they will get ahead faster in life.

It's amazing to me how so many people, young and old, don't want to invest the time to RTM and then complain when they are behind the 8-ball.

I will disregard whines and, in my humble capacity, will help younger or older new pilots who appear to sincerely be trying without the whines.

TIGERESS

[Yeager]

I honestly prefer not to know the age of the players in game....makes for a more seamless experience.  However, this whole approach gets blown to HECK when little johnny snotty pants uses his best prepubescent squeeky voice on vox to scold me for not covering his suicide dive.

Still, I dont mind the kids.

[croduh]

This game is not just a game for a long time now.

Just felt i had to say that.

[Jackal1]

I think I have a tear in my eye. No wait.............it was sweat.


Vote YES on mandatory 12 month school year.

[Vudak]

I always assumed that most people using the term "squeeker" were doing so as a light-hearted jab or a bit of a joke, not a derogatory "I hate you, die," term.

If you really find that term so offensive, well, I honestly don't know how you've made it this far in life.  The world's cruel.  This game really isn't.

[reeb]

SAVE THE SQUEAKERS!!!

how many more of these threads are we gonna have...whats this like the 3rd 4th one this week?

[BaldEagl]

Really.  Squeaker is just a joke.  The very same people who post squeaker posts fly alongside and very often help same said squeakers in the arenas (at least those who are willing to put in the time to learn to play and get better).  It's no more or less offensive than dweeb, noob, cherry-picker, vulcher, HO tard, Ram tard... you get the idea.

And no, it's not my job to guide a dweeb toward non-dweebhood just as it isn't my job to guide a squeaker to adulthood.

[thndregg]

My view on helping kids learn the game: If they do thier best to act mature, then I will help them. If not... bye.

[DamnedRen]

Originally posted by Helm
I am really tired of the endless bashing of the younger players that join our community.  I find this bashing 10 times more childish then any antics that a younger flyer does.  I find the term “squeaker” offensive and irresponsible.  
    In the summer of 1998 in Air Warrior a Father and a Son joined our squad, the boy was 13 at the time.  The father’s interest waned and he soon stopped flying.  Yet his son continued on with us until the Winter of 2006.  
    The young man become a great flyer and got better and better as time went on.  His attitude was very positive and he was always ready to join in what ever the squad was up to.  
    At the age of 16 this young man took flying lessons and obtained his private pilot’s license.  He then began working on his instrument flying  ratting which he accomplished.  He is now in college and working towards a masters degree.
     I feel strongly that the example set by myself and the members of our squad helped to shape this young man’s future.  We always treated him as an equal and provided guidance and leadership to him.  I think he enjoyed having adults he could hang out with and talk to on a 1 to 1 basis.  
    The fact is that parents can’t do it all for a child.  It is also our duty and responsibility as Men to show youngsters the path to manhood.  In today’s society many young men are raised alone by their Mothers and have very little contact with their Fathers. (wisdom of judges?)  This is a void that we in this community can fill.  Young Warriors need to be shown the path, not berated for their mistakes.  Set an example, make a difference in a young man’s life.  

Ask yourself: ….”What have I done to help a young man mature and follow the way of the Warrior” ?

     To those of you who help shape the leaders of tomorrow, I salute you all!  Remember this:  …”Today’s Rookie, is Tomorrow’s Superstar”



Sincerely

Helm

Does he wanna fly? I know of a regional jet outfit that is hiring almost offf the street. 250 hours and a lil twin time or 400 cessna time. Answer the interview correctly and yer in. In a year you'll be a regional jet captain. In another 1.5 years and you meet the mins for any major airline in the USA. They have kids that are waiting to turn 23 so they can upgrade to captain. My bud is one of the sim instructors there.

Pay sux...the CEO can into a class and told them "I want you to have fun, cause you're not earning much" LOL. Where else can you go from cessna to airline in 3 years today???

[SIK1]

I for one get really tired of the little Napoleons demanding that I join their mission, or why didn't anyone give them a check 6, or who needs a gunner/someone cover my bombers be it a squeaker or an adult, and usually it is a squeaker because they have yet to learn to interact properly in society, and if it's an adult then they will never learn.


As for your implication that it is our job to raise these kids I have to whole heartily disagree. I didn't agree when Hillary said that "it takes a village to raise a child", and I don't agree with you when you say "It is also our duty and responsibility as Men to show youngsters the path to manhood." That would be the job of the little brats parents who for the most part are failing their children and society. I don't pay my $15 a month to babysit someone elses kid.

The young ones that do play this game and act with respect get no grief from me, and will get my help if needed, but those seem few, and far between.