The job of the young is to believe that everything they do, and everything they think and create is new. They should do this with vigour and without fear. All that is good and just how it should be.
When older people listen and comment on the young, sometimes it is with a degree of scepticism, their raised eyebrows often resulting in the young becoming frustrated, irritated and, on occasion, inspiring a tenacious desire to prove the older folk wrong.
There is little in the world that is new, when I was in the young group I simply wouldn't believe that, I believed that my thinking was unique and that I could change the world, I took it by it's shoulders and shook it for all I was worth, my passion for change sometimes scared others (sometimes still does, but that's another story) yet remained the most important challenge.
However, this generation really is different, they do have something which is new, which has never existed before and offers almost limitless potential, it is, of course, the World Wide Web and the Internet.
What happens from here is what will, for future generations bring about the New World; essentially it changes everything.
How the young will use all the new technology, information sharing and extraordinary tools freely available will determine the degree of sustainable change that they will develop.
Getting back to the ages though, and being very firmly in the older age group I would encourage the young, in whose hands all this wonderful new stuff mainly is, to talk to the older age groups. Whilst the technology may be new, people are not. It would be the most terrible disaster if, with all the opportunities now available we simply re-create the past, but in a shape-shifting kind of way. To the young, I would like to say this;
Try to avoid making too many rules - for each rule, you eliminate some people.
Think clearly and carefully about whether to exploit the commercial potential of each new development - where there is cost, you eliminate some more people. With value, you attract some people.
Consider whether what is being created is just another version of something which previously existed, but in another form - for each re-hashed old idea, you eliminate some people (remember, people don't change and often have long and accurate memories), many people want new, if new means better, and if better means for all, and a tangible better too.
Try not to get too caught up in 'jargon heirarchy' - "He/she who knows the latest jargon knows more." This is a time wasting pointless game to play, you never win - someone else always knows more, and you eliminate some people.
You have the most extraordinary opportunity now, to bring whole groups and communities together, to share, educate yourselves and others, to develop, create, have fun and grow. We, older group may not always know what you're talking about, we sometimes get a bit lost in all the new developments, but bear with us. What we do have is many years of knowledge and information which you just might find useful, and we do 'get it', eventually and with gentle coaching. Remember, you too will be the older group one day, and hopefully will see the positive impact of what you made, there will be lessons too, and yes, probably the odd raised eyebrow when you listen to someone and know that you have seen this before. You will remember, and laugh to yourself; it's a milestone.
This is what's so wonderful about change and the ageing generations, we have so much to offer each other, and this generation has the real diamond, something truly new to the World and people who, whether they understand it all or not, would like to offer their contribution. The wise young will take that opportunity, and we will embrace it - with love.
