What I see all too often is someone so hidebound in their opinions that they discourage a less experienced person from asking questions and taking on a dream. We each needed encouragement at some point in our lives. Instead of putting up roadblocks, try smoothing the pathway.
disclaimer: not directed at anyone in this thread, just commenting in general about attitudes and life.
This is very true.
I was very young when I got serious about poultry so not only was I less experienced I was a kid.
I was breeding for show birds and everyone said you have to get a mentor. I sought out anyone that would share their knowledge. I never had a serious mentor but had a few people that was glad to give guidance.
I don't think anyone wanted to give much time to a kid. I mean how serious could a kid be and how long would they stay vested?
I did learn some stuff and picked up pieces here and there and anywhere I could.
At the time I did know sometimes I was treated as a dumb kid but sometimes I didn't feel that way so I kept putting one foot in front of the other and kept showing up to all things poultry related.
Years later I figured out something about mentors. More often then not it's not about you thinking for yourself or asking questions or really learning. It's more about someone putting their beliefs or their way of thinking onto you.
It's about their ego. Their superiority about the subject. If you play clueless and treat them like they're all knowing they will talk your ear off.
If you show you think for yourself and question things the conversation dies in a hurry.
Of course everyone isn't that way but a lot are. Too many.
Your comment was dead on. The backyard chicken movement may be booming but the poultry show world has died out drastically in the last several decades and breeding with a purpose or goals has to.
Someone needs to pass the torch to younger generations or get them excited about something.
I've always said I'm not doing anything anyone else couldn't do. And I'm not doing anything that can't be done with other breeds.
That's always been the idea behind this thread.
I started it without knowing if it would even interest anyone but hoped every now and again someone would see it and say that's really cool I didn't know you could do stuff like this. Maybe encourage them to try a project or get into genetics a little.
D@mn that was deep. I better end this here and go be stupid somewhere.
