Future of Sailing Clubs...

Spot on... I particularly like this exert:

"Before leaving the issue of time constraints, I would mention other features that compound the effects of these constraints. The first is opportunity costs – every time a person goes yachting, they sacrifice doing other things – seeing films/plays, spending time with family/friends, visiting relatives etc. As the time and time flexibility of the working person is reduced, so some of these demands require priority – such as caring for an ill parent – and cut into time available for yachting.

These competing demands on younger people’s time can lead older commentators to see them in a negative light. In the ‘Letter of the Month’ in Classic Sailor, October, 2015, Sue Farrer, Elder Gaffer and Secretary, North Wales area Old Gaffers Association, is worried about the lack of volunteers to help in the running of yacht clubs:

Most young people nowadays want everything given to them on a plate, which means always taking something out and not putting anything back in. (19)

But this is what philosophers refer to as a ‘category (or level of analysis) mistake’. Farrer is ascribing psychological motivation to individuals, rather than seeing a sociological or political situation applying to that generation and its handling of the limitations on its time, which are much greater than those of the previous generation.