Old people ruining social software. Young people ruining the workplace.
I had a good chat yesterday with someone who noted that consumer social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace continually get “ruined” when the old people show up and make it not cool. Sorta like then the cops showed up at your high school cul-de-sac beer drinking party. Then you’d drive around until you found a new place to hang out.
His observation was that this was the exact opposite at work. At work, a bunch of young people have suddenly showed up. There it’s the old people wanting these 23 year old social software know-it-alls to shut up and stop trying to change the workplace.
While I think that can be true, my observation is that “old” and “young” are more mindsets then actual ages. Especially in the workplace. Some of the most amped up power users I know are in their 50s.
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I would imagine it has more to do with your capacity for change, your tolerance of trying new things that might not work and your satisfaction level with the current status quo.
I also believe that a lot of the perceived “age difference” come from a matter of perspective and those with vested interest in not changing things. Like say an investor who wants you to keep doing the same thing lest you disrupt the return on his hard earned cash. Those with less to lose will always be more ready to adopt change.
As a 28 year old trapped in a rapidly-approaching-fifty-year-old body, I have often wondered if I’m no longer “cool” enough to play with the kids. Much of that comes from looking around at other folks my age. They’re old! Somehow, I’ve been able to maintain an attitude of innovation and creativity that belies my age.
I say, bring it on!
Been there, done that,……
Been there, done that, got many t-shirts. It’s so weird to have the mind of a 25 year-old in a much older body. I see other 25 year-olds doing things and being excited about things and they don’t really think much differently than I do, but…
Reminded me of a chat a few years back with a then small (now huge) user generated video startup about whether they’d be interested in some mathematically advanced video filters & compression that would auto-magically improve uploaded video/audio production values, significantly reduce storage requirements and smooth playout. The reply was “our youth audience likes the current video quality and storage costs are not an issue for our investors.” I asked “what about when your customers get older and need glasses?” Crickets.