After a late night last night laughing with the very excellent Tim Vine, I was going to share the joy of laughter with you this morning. That can wait until another day because instead, I’m delighted to introduce the lovely Ben Lumley from 6aliens.com. Until I came across Ben’s blog, I hadn’t heard the phrase ‘life hacking’ but Ben’s blog is devoted to doing it with a twist. Ben, over to you …
Hello 
I thought I would use my first community post to talk about something very dear to my heart and something Eleanor and I were discussing recently. We often feel that we want to take on the world and affect a massive change. We look for volunteers and ideas from people in our immediate circle before trying to widen our reach looking for like-minded fellows.
It’s obviously a sensible idea. When you try to take over the world, you often look to those around you to help. But when we want to grow and develop we often look for fellow adults to help us along the way. I want to suggest another way.
Young people get a bad rap. Lazy, offensive, drinking, mardy layabouts; we often see the worst in them. I work with around 10,000 young people each year, ranging from the ages of 11 and 18. I get to see young people from all kinds of backgrounds and walks of life and I’m here to say that yes, young people can be lazy, that yes, they can be rude at times, yes they can get themselves into mischief when they shouldn’t, and yes, they can be mardy but weren’t you at their age?
But do you know something? Most of our young people today are; wait for it…..bored! They haven’t got much to do if we’re honest. The gap between the generations has grown and young people can now very easily distract themselves with many things we as old ones don’t agree with.
The very cool thing about young people, though, is that they have amazing ideas and are really rewarding to work with. They can come up with solutions to problems that us wrinklies could never get to – all you have to do is tease it out of them and give them an outlet. I’ve seen kids ,who usually struggle and are disruptive in a structured environment, flourish in a creative situation where they can have direct input into what’s going on.
So when you’re wanting to take over the world and you need help, look to young people and you’ll be surprised at what they can do.
That’s kind of refreshing really Ben, thanks!
I think the deal with young people (only just having almost qualified to not be one) is that, you’re right, we’re bored all the time. More than that though, there’s division between young people (especially if you happen to spend a lot of time around adults) which basically means that even within our agegroup we look down on certain behaviours, etc etc. Not the best situation, but I think that if they had something to do that they genuinely WANTED to do we’d see a lot of these ‘problems’ disappear.
All in all being young is hard enough without being looked down on for it
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Daydreams; Responsible for paint-covered Tai Chi practitioners in ninja suits =-.
Twitter: benlumley6
Exactly right Heather.
I sadly see so many down trodden kids who don’t deserve it.
So of the things young people can do is amazing. They just need a little direction and an outlet most of the time.
I’m assuming it’s the same everywhere, but in towns like the one I live in (where there’s literally nothing to do unless you like bowling, or have money to travel to another town) there’s a HUGE gap between ages… I’ve seen times where, because I was home educated for part of my teenage years and therefore wasn’t in school, I’ve gone to the shopping centre in the middle of the day and been given the most dirty looks.
Ain’t right really.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Daydreams; Responsible for paint-covered Tai Chi practitioners in ninja suits =-.
Twitter: benlumley6
No it’s not really.
Maybe we should get Eleanor to take over the world and get everyone to Give a Brick?
Lol, possibly start with a town. Funny thing about that.. if a town gets it right and the media notice, it tends to snowball.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Daydreams; Responsible for paint-covered Tai Chi practitioners in ninja suits =-.
Twitter: benlumley6
Maybe we should all get behind Give a Brick then. I honestly think Eleanor will make a massive difference
Yep, already am in my own way. Worth it
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Daydreams; Responsible for paint-covered Tai Chi practitioners in ninja suits =-.
Twitter: GiveABrick
Wow! I nip off to school to pick up my young man from meithrin and come back to you guys setting world on fire
I think Heather, you make a very valid point. It could be done a town at a time. It reminds me of the film Evan Almighty. Evan wanted to change the world and ‘God’ (Morgan Freeman!) told him to do it with one act of random kindness at a time.
But words without action is rubbish. What to do first?
Fabulous post Ben. Thank you
Twitter: benlumley6
Thanks Eleanor.
I think opening up Give a Brick to local young people would be an extremely cool thing to do
Twitter: GiveABrick
Well, seeing as the first project has already been identified and started, it makes sense to start with the young people in that area. We have half term here next week and the rest of this week is already full for me. However, I’ve just emailed the secondary school nearest to our first project to set up an appointment with the head. I did actually did something I hate to do – I rang them! I detest using the phone and was let off the hook (no pun intended
) when they asked me to email them with more information.
I’ve bcc you in that email Ben since you’re a bit of a pro at the whole young enterprise stuff. Too late if you think I’ve messed it up but can learn for next time
Twitter: benlumley6
I think it’s a great idea Eleanor and the suggestions you made were perfect.
As I’ve said in my email reply, if I can be of any help please let me know
Twitter: GiveABrick
We need some younger voices on Heather. Any time you want to, feel free to submit a post. Just click on the ‘login’ button at the top of the page
First is usually the information gathering stage lol, then you make your plans based on that
As for posts – I’d be happy to Eleanor! I’m due to send one James’ way first (waiting on survey results) but I’ll see what I can come up with.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Daydreams; Responsible for paint-covered Tai Chi practitioners in ninja suits =-.
Twitter: GiveABrick
Sounds wonderful, thanks Heather
No probs ^_^ Thank you for the chance! Any idea what sort of theme you’d like?
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Daydreams; Responsible for paint-covered Tai Chi practitioners in ninja suits =-.
Twitter: GiveABrick
Nope. You’ve seen what we do on here. I feel confident to give you a free hand. Drop me an email if the blank canvas gets too daunting though
Will do then
Thanks again!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Daydreams; Responsible for paint-covered Tai Chi practitioners in ninja suits =-.
Twitter: TheDrEgg
Goodness me, guys. Been in meetings all day and only just alerted to all that’s been going on today by Eleanor’s tweets. I’ll read in more detail later on the train but just the sheer volume is speaking volumes!
Now this is interesting to me! As others may know, I am the biggest kid on the block and I am 54! BTW had to google ‘mardy’ I have mardy moments I must admit, so do young people. I have had to learn one major thing, allow young people to have an ‘off’ day just as we do! It is too easy to play the ‘adult’ card and then wonder why the young person becomes frustrated. I have seen this happen many times. ‘cutting a little slack’ goes a long way. Also younger people don’t want Adults to try to be ‘cool’ its just wrong.
NB>*** must get an avatar- fed up being a blue star***
Twitter: ralphcarlson
Bored, eh? Where are the workhouses? Kids today have it too easy. Everything has to be a video game or they aren’t interested.
.-= Ralph´s last blog ..The offensive ‘HE’ =-.
Twitter: benlumley6
@Ralph Personally I don’t agree.
Kids just have it different. While working with around 10,000 young people every year I met a massive percentage of them who don’t have it easy. It’s just a different way of living that’s not any harder or easier.
A lot of kids retreat into things like TV and Video games because as adults and as parents we don’t engage with them and interest them. It’s very easy to say that kids aren’t interested when we expect them to entertain themselves all the time.
We need to engage these kids and get them involved. They are far more social aware than we used to be and have got a wealth of different ideas and approaches to life because of it.
Thanks for commenting Ralph
Actually… video games are only part of it; we get bored of those too. Not enough outside activities or action I think.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Daydreams; Responsible for paint-covered Tai Chi practitioners in ninja suits =-.
Twitter: benlumley6
@DR Egg Yeah it’s a bit busy on here
Twitter: benlumley6
@Roy – you’re right. We all have off days but because we see that kids seem to have a lot of off days we think it’s a major issue.
Yeah never be cool around kids. Just be yourself – they appreciate and respond to that much better.
Twitter: travisamorgan
Ben,
Good post!! As a “young’n” myself, I can testify that we are bored. We’re looking for a greater cause, something to live for, to die for.
“…young people can be lazy, that yes, they can be rude at times, yes they can get themselves into mischief when they shouldn’t, and yes, they can be mardy but weren’t you at their age?…”
I’d have to add to this that… as difficult as it may be to hear, guess where we learn it?
Enough said…
Travis
.-= Travis´s last blog ..The End Justifies the Means =-.
Twitter: benlumley6
Oh Travis, completely! Young people only learn things like this from one place…us oldies. We’re responsibly which is why need to act upon it.
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