Am I just Getting Old?

I had to buy a Skid Steer. You know, four wheel drive has a big bucket for digging in the dirt, forklift tines, construction equipment. The sales guys were so happy to have me try out a new model that had all the controls on both hand levers. Now, you old guys well know that a skid steer used to be operated by both hands and feet to get all the equipment to turn go forward and reverse and bucket up and down and dump.

The first thing I noticed was that if you could pull both control levers close together all the buttons and little tiny joysticks would match up to an Xbox, Playstation control pad.

Even ancient manly construction equipment is being modified to accommodate our youthful brethren who could not drive a stick shift to save their lives. ;(

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Originally Posted by Mike Blue

Even ancient manly construction equipment is being modified to accommodate our youthful brethren who could not drive a stick shift to save their lives. ;(

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I agree! I'd love to see my son or either daughter (who can easily use a stick) try their luck on a non-synchrony tranny. "Double Clutch Dad? What do you mean? Do you need two clutch peddles)? :rofl2::roflmao

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

But to be fair to me :), I do think if these Xboxs had been put somewhere recreational I think I'd have been fine with it. What gets me is that they are in the "Student Learning Centre". Learning. Unless we've suddenly added a "Halo 4" major to our BSc., it strikes me as massively inappropriate and sending a really bad message to students.

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Believe it or not, game consoles can actually be beneficial to students. No, really, they can!

There have been studies done on the effects of surgeons and medical students who game constantly and they showed that their super fine motor skills improved a great deal. Also, in terms of the psychological effects gaming has, other studies have shown that they can help improve one's ability to think on their feet and problem solve as well as study the environment around them and Macguyver a solution for a problem with little to no resources.

I never would have thought that playing video games would have these types of effects on people when I was a kid playing Contra or Zelda. Kinda cool, huh?

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Originally Posted by Mike Blue

The first thing I noticed was that if you could pull both control levers close together all the buttons and little tiny joysticks would match up to an Xbox, Playstation control pad.

Even ancient manly construction equipment is being modified to accommodate our youthful brethren who could not drive a stick shift to save their lives. ;(

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On the other foot I find the computer mouse with 2 buttons complicated. And Jimbo thought he was getting old. ;)

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

On the other foot I find the computer mouse with 2 buttons complicated. And Jimbo thought he was getting old. ;)

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I dunno... You could be an Apple fan. I actually think there was a joke floating around about this... something like how do you confuse an Apple user?

Tell them to right click and hit control+v...

Lame, I know...

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Originally Posted by crouton976

I dunno... You could be an Apple fan. I actually think there was a joke floating around about this... something like how do you confuse an Apple user?

Tell them to right click and hit control+v...

Lame, I know...

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I am indeed. Actually that can be done quite easily. Macs have a control button & a command button. :)

Oh yeah?!? Well... uh... erm.... LINUX FOR THE WIN!!! :)

Or, to stay on topic, COMMODORE 64!! :)

Heck folks, old is a state of mind. I've known 35 year olds that were older than their grandfathers. Not that playing all the gamer games makes you young, its the state of mind and openness to new and innovative ideas that keeps you mentally alert and open. You don't have to be actively pursuing change, you just have to be open to it when it drops in your lap. And change can be nothing more than a one degree shift in any direction from where you are at the moment. (Now if I'd only take my own advice.)

Obligatory drive by remark from a 50 year old grouchy old goat and graduate student: If they've got extra time to lounge around playin' video games they need to get their asses in gear! Way to prepare them for the real world. Are they supplying beer on tap and the devil's lettuce as well, after all it is a business and if you're attracting Gen Y, that would be good bait. :) Gruff comment over.

It's called progress son, progress! Like I listened to music my Dad couldn't stand...then it was my kids turn...and the world keeps turning