Letter On Millennials From NMRA President

The reason Millennials are AWOL from so many traditional places is because we old farts are not only hanging on today, but will be for several more decades, meaning the new generation has to wait its turn to put its imprint on everything.

I guarantee, with the passage of time, such changes coming that will amaze those of us who will still be around. Its a seething volcano, waiting to erupt.

Again?

Am I ever feeling unwanted!

Millennials are between 15 and 32 years old, yes they are our future, but they are also in the those key, college, new family, early career years, in fact most data shows Millennials have had a slower start due to the economic meltdown of 2008 than any group in post war America. They are getting settled, slowly, into career, family, etc.

My question would be why all the concern about 20 somethings, have 20 somethings ever been the core of this hobby or any hobby?

Why not focus on those of us between 32 and 64, born in 60's and 70's, the children of baby boomers, who saw Dad's old PW Lionel around the tree at Christmas or who had a small layout in the basement. We're in our prime earning years, have young children of our own to share the hobby with, and have lot of good years ahead of us.

There are a whole lot of us, non-baby boomer, non-millennnials, out there with established families, careers, and homes. To bad we're so quickly written off.   

OK, I've got a other name for this age group:  BORG!  Jean Rodenberry was spot on with that alien race when they were placed in STAR TREK:  THE NEXT GENERATION.  

I thought it was interesting regarding from whom it was issued. Sort of a mixed bag that was optimistic and yet regarding the whole thing as a challenge. I honestly think no one can read the future. I think putting it in a generational context was a mistake as it was too much of a broad brush. I thought it was also interesting that some of the views presented on the forum were echoed by the NMRA. 

I'll probably be dead anyway by that time the Thomas kiddies come around. I might haunt the York meet just to satisfy my own curiosity.Did that engine move on it's own? 

Call in the Ghost Busters.

We never got a fancy name that looks good in print. Kids-Of-The-Babyboomers just doesn't ring any bells! Without a fancy name people can't hangtag us and tweeter about us on Face Tube!

  Sure you did!  Generation X.  What could be more mysterious than that?

Generation X

Gene Roddenberry...

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, this thread about i-Pads is currently running.

Rusty

Guess it's not all that great a name if I didn't know I was one. lol

Don't despair.

I have 2 babies in my home most evenings.

Best way to keep them happy without holding them?

Dim the lights and Run the TRAIN (Steam Engine with freight cars).

Blow the whistle, ring the bell, they love it.

Keeps them entertained for about a half hour when most things only get attention for a couple minutes.

Children ARE the future of a hobby, but you have to wait about 40 years for it.

In order for the hobby to continue and grow in the new age of Millennials, the interest has to be even larger than it is with the Boomers like us.  Consider this:  There is a certain percentage of us who are involved in the hobby.  Of course, we are the largest bulge in the total population; so that percentage translates to a lot of people.  By contrast the Millennials are smaller as a generation compared to us.  Therefore, in order for train manufacturers to survive in the future, there has to be actually a higher percentage of Millennials involved with the hobby than us just to sell the same amount of trains and accessories that manufacturers sell to us now.  Given the fact that there is not the same identity with trains by the Millennials as well as the fact that many who ARE interested, will probably inherit much of the stuff when we Boomers depart from this life, translates to shrinking sales.  The answer:  higher prices and limited production to offset lower demand.  Manufacturers are not going to go broke making prices cheaper for a market that is naturally dwindling.  Lower prices will not stimulate sales in an uninterested market.  So be prepared for higher prices in the future.

The millennials are exactly where I was 20 years ago.   That age range isn't into hobbies.   They are into finding a job/career, family, actively playing sports etc.   I took a break from model trains from age 12 until age 35.  

So like was said above.   Target the 35+ age group and the 15 and below.   Once they hit 16 and get a car...  well...  game over for a long while.

I'm a baby-boomer who evidently is not as into O-gauge railroading and worried about the future of the hobby as many are on this forum.  I joined about 3 months ago and am finding that this forum has become as much entertaining as it is learning about O-gauge railroading, especially with a thread like this one.

So, keep up the good work forum members. Coming here for my daily edification and amusement is most enjoyable. 

"I think putting it in a generational context was a mistake as it was too much of a broad brush."

I'd say you're right on the money; if not indeed understating the absence of a clue on the part of the NMRA president.  

Again? X2

This same topic comes up time and again in my other hobby, RC airplanes. How to get the kids involved... Ad nauseum.

Why can't it just be an "retired guy's" hobby, with a few middle age guys, the occasional 20-something straggler, and the preteen mascot around to lift heavy stuff for the old timers?

How many of you got your first train set as a kid and stayed in the hobby continuously? Very few, I'm sure.

Most of you got a train set as a kid, played with it a while, and put it away. You came back to the hobby at the "empty nest" stage of your lives.

Why does this generation have to stick with it straight through? You didn't.

Whats also interesting is that it was sent via a news letter to not only O gauge folks but over the entire spectrum of the hobby as a kind of the sky is falling but no,...it's not. Talk about a confused message. I don't think anyone has a handle on this "issue" and the NMRA President is no exception. All I can say is that it's sort of a viral infection..worrying about the future. I can think of more things to worry about than this.

Yes the hobby could shrink or is shrinking but if you look at the figures from the hobby association itself...it is not that bleak. It just struck me as sticking one's neck out far enough to get it chopped off in terms of branding millennials as this or that.

Thats what irked me..what are we going to do about it? I like how the burden is placed on us ( Not) Why doesnt he take his concerns to the manufacturers? Irksome and goofy.

As a millennial, I don't think we have too much to worry about. Yes, we like our technology (I am sure most of you guys do too), but we do other things too. People say we don't like things that don't give us instant gratification. Well, if that were the case, why would so many young people be working on their car? Nothing is instant about fixing or modifying something on your car. Come to think about it, hasn't ever generation done that since the car became common? How about cooking? Sewing? Or even just working?

A lot of things have changed, but a lot of things haven't. I know many people my age that are interested in trains, but don't have the time, money or space to pursue it. We are struggling through college (both the classes and how to pay for it), hunting for a job (which right now is no small task), and starting our lives. Give us time to get settled in for life before you write us off.