astronomy is an old men's game? part 2

[ghswen]

Because of the number of posts to this tread it has been split.

Here's a link to part 1:

http://www.astronomyforum.net/amateu...mens-game.html

[loki41872]

I just turned 39.

I don't consider myself "old".

I think astronomy WILL become an old man's game, there's too many things for the kids to do now, and sitting outside all night looking up isn't one of them.

My kids are 16 and 14. I think they have spent a total of about 2 hours their whole lives at the eyepiece, and the equipment is available to them anytime. They choose to facebook, text and play the Wii.

[newman]

Give them time. At that age I wasn't all that patient either, and patience is the one thing this hobby requires the most. Well, money's not a bad thing to have, especially if you like to see that green text on the barrels of your ep's I find I'm just starting to have enough patience to properly get into the hobby at the age of 31.. but then I had to grow past the fascination with computer games and similar instant-gratification past times. Even though I had an interest in astronomy (and pretty much anything space-related) since I was a little kid, I very much doubt I'd find faint views of distant galaxies or nebulas too satisfying back then, and having found them myself wouldn't be a satisfying challenge but a chore - a time I could have spent playing computer games

[dmbryan]

I love astronomy for many reasons, but being 41 with kids is one of the great reasons to love it. I spend a lot of time with the kids out in the driveway (better than being at the bar ). I think some kids will really get into astronomy. My ten year old son is hooked and it makes me smile when my seven year old asks to go look at the moon or the spongebob cluster ( whatever that is). Thier attention span is not as long as mine, but that works out well. I can play with them for awhile then get down to bidness.

[parrishskies]

I recently celebrated my 45th while camping and star gazing under dark skies with Matthew in Ohio.

For those who have read any of my past threads, I am blessed with the opportunity to share this wonderful hobby with my son. (Actually, it is more like he shares it with me).
With the amount of enthusiasm that Matthew has for astronomy, I would like to think that the trend will continue.

Tom

[Aloicious]

I'm 30...I can't remember a time that I wasn't interested in the stars, planets, etc...however, I haven't been able to afford the proper equipment until recently....no one in my family really had an interest while I was growing up. and now that I've got a house of my own out in the country with some good skys close by, I can finally get my astronomy geek on...the wife thinks looking through the scope is neat, but she'll only be entertained for 20mins of it or so.

where's that spongebob cluster located at dmbryan?

[garfields]

well being 17, and also playing lawn bowls, which is considered by many to be "an old mans game" i am constantly hearing comments that im am like an old man because im interested in all these things, but the reason i feel these are all placed under the branch of "old mans things" is for the reason that there isnt enough focus on it during school, i am coming up to my final year in school and the closest weve came to discussing astronomy was separating stars from planets, (which surprised me at how many people didnt know the difference between them) in my opinion, if they introduced astronomy into schools, even at secondary schools, although i think itd be better to catch them younger, then alot more younger people would be interested in it and even the playing field between young and old

[Jazza11]

I'm only 16 and have been into astronomy for 2 years now.

[fogfire]

My daughter is 7 and loves the telescope and stars.. but we went to a local Astro group and joined and except for another grown daughter.. most members were well past 50...

I think in the Internet and graphics age.. it takes imagination to appreciate the fuzzy smudges...

Maybe we need a 3D scope!!!

[laney50w]

I just turned 45 recently, and I've been into Astronomy since my first days in Elementary school with my very first science book! I was fascinated then, and still am now. I remember being in High School (9th grade) and our High School had it's own Planetarium! However, 2 days after I signed up, the classes were canceled, and they took the Planetarium OUT of the school!! ....I WAS ANGRY!!! I honestly couldn't believe that NOBODY signed up for this class!!! And this was around 1981 / 1982???

So....Is Astronomy an old man's game? I don't know...Sometimes it sure seems that way, yet, every now & then, I see some kids that are really into it. But, very few....

But, like "loki" just said in an above post, kids today live on Facebook, Twitter, or many of the ones I see live on Video Games & Red Bull....Times sure have changed. Sure seems like many kids today are in their own little "21st Century" bubble with no clue of what is around them.

I do think that a vast majority of kids today are certainly missing out on a lot of things....I don't know....maybe it's jut me? Maybe I'm a bit old fashioned??? But, I do feel that a hobby such as Astronomy really has a lot to offer....I'd love to see more kids get into it.

Chris