A lost teachable moment, and why I'm tiring of tractor shows

This afternoon, I attended a local tractor gathering. It's a small but growing show, and this year they featured IH. The people that put it together work hard, and should be commended.

And of course, last night it rained close to an inch, and so when it was time to load things, there were some distributor caps taken apart, etc. And there was a beautifully painted 70 there that was having some difficulty starting. Not really weather related, but the starter button contacts most likely needed to be replaced. As I stood 75 feet or so away, a 20-30 some year old tried to start that tractor, jumping on the pedal, cursing John Deeres, frustrated as all get out. It was obvious he was angry, that he'd never had someone tell him, "no don't do that" (they obviously never told him "no don't eat that", as he had a serious obesity problem) and that he would listen to no one. SOmeone helped him get the starter engaged, and that nice 70 came to life. And of course, rather than adjust the choke a bit, the kid shoves the throttle wide open, still cursing John Deere. He did manage to get it into gear, and get it off the spot.

I felt bad for the tractor, whoever took the time to repaint it, and whoever owns it now. Whoever they had operating it sure wasn't kind to it. Nor was he trained to operate it- or at least correctly.

And I felt a bad for the person, it was obvious he has issues to address.

And now I'm kicking myself that I should of perhaps helped him... but it was apparent he didn't "want" help. I'm guessing I would have got the "who are you to tell me" reponse. And in that case I'm no one- not a dad, not an employer, just a lover of old tractors- and one that knows how to take care of one. Is that a position to get involved? It wasn't a child, wife, or dog being beaten. Just a John Deere- and from what the guy said, I think he thought less of those than mosquitos. I had two of my sons along (16 and 13), we had something to talk about on the drive home.

How would you have approached the situation?? Intervene? Or just let people do their own thing?

That's always a tough call, darned if you help, and feel bad if you don't. On a tractor drive last fall younger fellow driving an A JD was having trouble shifting, and when parked at break time left it running with the throttle wide open. Can't blame the equipment if the operator was not trained, and if you say anything the help may or may not be appreciated..

Unasked-for advise is seldom heeded. It does not sound like he wanted any help. You can not teach someone unwilling to listen. I would have left him alone.

Should have filmed him and put it on YouTube.

!!!

I go to maybe one or two shows a year anymore. There is not much fun at then anymore. The normal common sense, farm raised people are getting replaced with idiots. LOL

Your better off to NOT have tried to help this fellow. Let him break the linkage and have to fix it himself. Then he might learn some thing.

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]it was obvious he has issues to address[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Agree.

If it had not been a John Deere Model 70, then it would have been some other tractor he may have been showing.

At one of the last shows I went to, which this one probably 6 or 7 years ago, there was a guy who I have bought parts from, who has some very nice tractors in his collection, was having problems with his sediment bowl leaking. Granted there were several guys around him, and I'm sure some embarrassment on his part, but I asked him if he needed a new gasket, as I had 2 or 3 extras with me. He just ignored me and said there were too many chiefs and not enough Indians, and was really rather rude. We walked off. At this same show, a few years a earlier, this one guy wanted to make it look like he was leading the parade, which was usually done by another person. This guy slowed down to let the tractors ahead of him go on. This same guy, in fact in the same parade, wouldn't even stop to let this elderly guy cross the road.

Over the years, I have met some really great people at shows, but I have met just as many aholes in recent years

I'm with rrund, should have made a video and put on YouTube or shared with us, I see people like this all the time, not just tractor related but literally just about anything in life that doesn't go their way..

Stupidity and ignorance has a way of showing it's self in a strong way...That young man will have a hard row to hoe in life ahead..

I would have done exactly as you did ! ..including the "talk" on the way home to bring it all into perspective for the young minds.

I see this a lot in that age group. As easy as it is to criticize them it was my generation that raised them to act that way. On the other hand I also see a fair number of fine young people.
If I had witnessed the incident I doubt that I would have offered help. Uninvited help when someone has anger issues is seldom appreciated.

Sometimes you just can't fix stupid is what come to mind as I read your story. You were probably farther ahead walking away. I would have made sure he saw me shaking my head with a disgusted look on my face as I did so.
Your story reminded me a of a young lady, actually she was probably about forty or so, that set me straight a few weeks ago. She was waiting to get some big round bales loaded and I had just got my trailer loaded with some at the hay auction. I tied them down with some 2 inch ratchet straps that I've been using for years. When I was getting ready to go she ask me if I was going to push the ratchets down and lock them in. I told her I didn't realize they locked in as she showed me. I was a little embarrassed that a horse lady no less, had to show a old farmer how to do something. But I was thankful she did and thanked her for it. As I told her, I try to learn something everyday.

john wayne said "Life is tough"..."Its tougher if you`re stupid"

Oh, I disagree with you coonie, that it was a LOST teachable moment. You did the right thing NOT speaking to the guy, because, as everyone agrees, he would not have been interested in listening and learning. It WAS a good teachable moment for your sons during the ride home, talking about the jerk. And I'm sure those boys saw it and heard your explanation, and learned. And that's what really counts.

If you spoke with your sons about it, I'd say you got exactly what you needed from the situation. Now that I'm an older guy at work, I try to help the young guys whenever I can, but some I don't waste my time on.

From the information you provided, I believe you did the right thing. I, for one, do not like to pass up such moments regardless of which end I'm on. There's always someone out there smarter, better, more experienced than me, and I will gladly learn if they are willing to teach. Sometimes it's just a matter of watching from afar silently. But yes, these days far too many people do not accept that there could be anyone else who knows better. ...Like, that's THEIR tractor, so who else could possibly understand it's mechanical oddities better than them, even though the tractor model is over 70 years old!

As for making a video, thank you for not! Can't tell you how sick to death I am of clicking on a video that looks like it'll be entertaining or informational, only to find out it's people just being stupid in one way or another. Reminds me of why I hated some of these home improvement TV channels we used to get on satellite. Shows would feature homeowners trying to fix their home and doing things wrong (or worse yet, dangerous!), but then make no effort whatsoever to show a better way, or to point out the faults of the work. And then those flipper shows where people buy a wreck of a house, throw a lot of quick money into it making it "look" better, and then selling for 3 or 4 times what they have invested. Just got sick of that mess!! It was just like someone buying an old tractor with mechanical problems, giving it a new paint job and then slapping a high price tag on it.

Sounds like the lost teaching moment for that guy happened 15 or 20 years ago...when he was about your sons' age.

Could have always yelled "Hey Stupid if you don't know what you're doing get off the dang thing". Doesn't sound like he would have been able to run over and punch you.(LOL)

Well: To be Old and Wise You first have to be Young and Stupid. So maybe there's hope for that guy yet.

Thanks for the responses, gentlemen.

I had a customer like that. Knew everything about generators and controls. One day I had had enough. Packed up my tools and left. Told him you know so much you fix it. He cussed me out and told me how he would have it fixed in minutes. Two days later his wife was begging me to come back and fix it.So I went back out and she was with me the whole time. He showed up and she told him to get his butt back in his truck and leave. Got it running and showed her how to operate it. She will call me at times for questions. But it is still running fine. I think the biggest problem was him.

Billy, great story!!

Sad part about it. It is all true. My Dad always told me. Stay away from experts.They can get you hurt. Never understood why people are afraid to ask
for help.

Farm and tractor shows can be a lot of fun for me, and usually are. But--- I attended the Lanesville heritage weekend a few years ago and had a semi-confrontation with a fellow. This was so stupid. I was telling a couple of guys about an SMTA that my uncle gave me, and repeated what he told me, that he bought it in the fall of 1953. This other guy who was not included in the conversation interrupted to tell me that the SMTA was only made in 1954. Maybe so, but he became very obnoxious and followed me around the show trying to argue the point, I walked away twice and finally left. Ellis

I'd keep right on walking, life's to short for idiots.

I took my Super C to the local threshing show for 8 or 10 years, had a lot of fun, met people from miles around, tractor was a hit especially if I had the fast hitch plow or blade on it. Then some self appointed expert shows up, claims he's been around them tractors his whole life and they never had a temp. gauge on top of the hyd. controls, pointed out that was the hyd. temp. gauge and the eng. temp gauge was where they always were. We argued until we were both fighting mad, still don't think he was convinced. Then another idiot shows up complaining about my paint, they never came like that, had to remind him it was my tractor and I'd paint it any dam way I wanted. Haven't take the tractor back since.

I don't let stuff like that spoil my Fun,,on the whole I meet a lot of good people, sure they will pick at little things, like why did I paint the "Gas cap Red"...It is still not as hostile environment as the Show Car guys...those people are Nuts..

Sounds like this guy wasn't the tractor owner. Someone probly wanted their tractor at the show, and needed help doing that. This guy may of been the only option the owner had as far as getting it there and back home. Best thing to do is just walk away. Hopefully the owner gets his fill of this guy, and won't have him help anymore.

That is a Very Sharp Super "C" always thought one like yours would be handy as all I ever used mine for was a sickle mower by the way I Love the paint job
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It's possible that the tractor starting problem was the "straw that broke the camel's back" that day. Maybe he was just having a bad day and the tractor was the icing on the cake.

was it the ixonia tractor show? Small but enjoy the people their. Good show

I would like to make a comment,I am a collector of antique IH tractors,Pre 39s which still has a lot to be desired.And I have a love for all tractors.I always have to keep myself in check when it comes to John Deeres.I guess I have fell into the red-green argument.I actually owned a JD B that I bought from a yard sale in pieces,put it together,painted it and gave it away because it was green,Am I wrong,YES,Do I hate JD,noI just don't want them in the same barn as my IHs