“…within a realm of experience that is necessarily limited by age.”

Paul, I suggest an important parsing of terms here to amend your view and make it (more) compatible with David’s: the word “necessarily” in this phrase is false as a point of both logic and observation.

Deep grokking of social media may be mostly limited by age or even overwhelmingly limited by age, but it is not — cannot be — necessarily limited by age. We can say this either by abstract analogy to other situations (*some* older language students acquire accentless Russian) or by observation of exceptions to your would-be rule (e.g. Robert Scoble).

Yes, I agree that it’s about immersion; yes, a 22-year-old is far likelier to get that immersion than a 35-year-old (me), or a 40- or 50-something. All true. But this doesn’t somehow preclude your elders from grokking social media deeply.

Also, sometimes those elders will include an Ed Sullivan: an older stiff who may or may not get the music these crazy kids are playing today . . . but who wields massive influence on what the kids are doing and how they will be understood more broadly.

It’s an ecosystem with niches that are mostly well delimited . . . but only mostly, not “necessarily” or utterly.

Secondly, however, I am intrigued by your rather innocent assertion that “I recall too well being young and cocksure…” Will that always be the mantle behind which older generations hide? It’s perfectly acceptable to say a younger professional is ignorant because, “He just doesn’t know better yet.” However, if the tables are turned and the question becomes whether or not the more senior practitioner is worth their salt, will it always be that the accuser is just “Young/brash and doesn’t UNDERSTAND because of his age.” ?? At what point do the older practitioners have to take accountability for their own inexperience?

I make no claim to knowing everything. Rather, I say that I have much to learn from people within a realm of experience that is necessarily limited by age. Why is that so difficult for older practitioners to understand?

…

I’m more than willing to forgive Paul for insulting the 40somethings (or in my case 50somethings), as I recall too well being young and cocksure. The older you get the more you appreciate how much more there is to learn — and experience. I would also caution Paul about insulting potential clients. That’s bad for business.