Some of my elders have disappointed me. I have a theory about geriatric1927's rise to celebrity status on YouTube. I think once viewers get past the novelty of seeing an old man, they discover he likes them. He's interested in their work and their stories. He listens. They respond in kind.

Compare two points of view below. (Emphasis mine.) If you were 14, who would you want to talk with?

thank you it is truly overwhelming. I am pleased if this thing is helping to bridge the generation gap and see that there can be a dialogue between us if only the old would try to understand and respect the young.
-- Patrick, aka geriatric1927

I'm just really glad to see older people discovering the powerful tool that is video blogging. I think it can really facilitate dialogue between generations and has incredibly powerful means of conveying the wisdom of age. If kids aren't going to read books, at least we can put some quality on YouTube. :)-- Mark Shoneveld

As of this writing, geriatric1927 has 17015 subscribers--making him the most-subscribed to channel in the history of YouTube.

In today's episode, "Telling it all Part 6", Peter reveals that this YouTube experience is not the first time that he has ventured into the territory of youth. In his mid-50s, he decided to study art. When he went to the local school to inquire about adult classes, the teacher sat him down with the 14 year olds...

technorati tags: geriatric1927 elderbloggers

kziin (17 hours ago) Your introspection has made me think about my own life. I hope I have something to say when I an in your shoes.

Please go all the way back to the beginning. I want to hear about you as a little boy. I would like you to comment about what you thought then and then comment about how you see those experiences now. Talk about how your perspective has evolved over time.

geriatric1927 (15 hours ago) Yes I think that would be interesting because it was so very very different in my childhood and I think that is why so many of my generation do not want to try to understand the youth of today and keep going back to the past, thinking that their way of life was better...it wasn't better or worse just different.

gicutzu (15 hours ago) You have such a way of saying things that leaves no place for debate. Nobody here is having a debate about your videos or ideas or opinions or anything. They are just happy to see you "performing". What are you looking for anyway Peter Pan?

kziin (9 hours ago) I think the trouble goes both ways. Every generation believes that it is the first to discover love, sex and uncertainty. The young always make this mistake. I think that the situations were different...but people remain the same.

huibuhui (16 hours ago) Dear Peter,I'm a taiwanese student studying in the UK and actually found your news on our newspaper--yes,you've made the news in chinese-speaking world, too. It was to my greatest surprise to hear you saying goodbye in chinese.I feel very privileged to be part of the culture noticed by you.I wrote stories for my grandparents,too!

geriatric1927 (15 hours ago) that is wonderful news to know that. Would you consider coming onto Skype so that you could maybe teach me a few Chinese phrases? It is too dangerous to put your username on this website so perhaps you could send me a message or something, although I have 2,000 in there so may not be able to see it easily.