So how DO we encourage learning and mentoring?
Thats the million dollar question, right? Here’s some ideas, but feel free to comment below if you have others, and I can add them to the list:
- Convince museums, shows, and other “exhibit” type of displays that hands-on and physical exhibits are much more engaging than “screens”
- Get younger generations to these museum and events
- Getting more docents and others to volunteer to share their knowledge and experience on topics at museums, events, and even online
- Encourage younger generations to seek out and talk to those docents, museums, and shows; don’t be afraid to ask questions, and keep trying even if you encounter an undesirable interaction
- Encourage older generations to understand that younger generations may be different; talk different, act different, and thats OK, talk to them and not only answer questions, but encourage more questions. Talk about your experiences too!
- Youtube is great, but younger generations need experience too. In-Person events are crucial
Example of what to avoid
A few years (ok fine a decade ago) I acquired a payphone that was still locked, and from reading and interacting in some online bulletin boards (remember those?), it was known that there was a guy who was the “expert” at how the locks worked and the numbering of keys. I went to a local show where he was supposed to be attending, and tried to ask about getting it open. I think I had forgotten to bring the phone with me. Based on the tone of the reply I got, my first impression of this guy that I was bothering him, and that I should try to learn more about the phones before bothering people. Naturally I left there, and sold that phone off as I completely lost interest.
I feel like this may be a very common experience in today’s world. The advice I got may have been genuinely valid, but the body language, tone of voice, and other cues, likely due to that generation gap, were very off-putting to me at the time.
(The silver lining was that I later found a phone that had keys and was in great shape).
Its not all generation gap
My final comment I always mention is that not everybody who’s knowledgeable are great teachers either. Sometimes they’re just bad at expressing that knowledge, but unfortunately humans are humans, and a poor interaction may not always be due to generation gap. Some people…just suck. Unfortunately there’s not much one can do about that, but I still encourage anyone who wants to learn to keep trying, keep asking, and get your hands dirty.