Favours For Boys

**sweatyhat** · July 26th, 2011, 06:17 AM

Bet you were sniggering as you clicked this link. You were, weren't you? I have the same mind as you, that's why we're both on VEF.

This thread's title was deliberately chosen for it's ambiguity, just to get you here. You'll be pleased to know it's not about dirty old men, pederasts and priests, but something far more wholesome.

Cast your mind back to that period of your life when you were a young man. For me I suppose it covers age thirteen up to my late twenties. During that time, did older men do you any favours, just because they could, and for no other reason? Were you let off entrance fees, allowed on the bus with too little money, given sage advice or shown how to do something for example? Small kindnesses you were grateful for.

I'm in my mid-forties, so now I'm the older man. I'm beginning to notice it's often now me who does "Favours For Boys."

If you've any nice stories, please share them with me.

sweatyhat

**sweatyhat** · July 26th, 2011, 06:27 AM

When I was about eighteen I unsuccessfully tried to bump start my old car all the way down the hill where I lived. At the bottom the engine kept turning-over without firing and my patience was fraying.
Two blokes were watching from a van on the other side of the road and came to help. In a few minutes they showed me how to use the sandpaper on a matchbox to clean the contacts on my car's rotor arm and distributor cap and then I was gratefully on my way.
They wouldn't even accept a cigarette each for helping.
Nice guys.

Fatvanbelly · July 26th, 2011, 08:32 AM

When I was a kid we used to get into any football match for free. You would just stand at an entrance and ask any man to "Lift me over mister?" The man would lift you over the turnstile so it didn't count you and the ticket seller and cops would turn a blind eye.

**Giacson** · July 26th, 2011, 11:51 AM

The biggest favor that comes to mind came from my grandfather. A rugged old guy who survived the great depression with a family of 3 by being resourceful. On family visits to his place, I was allowed to sneak out of the house with him at 5am to go fishing, leaving the sibblings to sleep away their morning. It was my initial training in becoming self reliant. Between visits I was honing my skills on my own (my father wouldnt be bothered with it) so I could show him what I'd learned. When my legs were long enough to reach the pedals, he also let me drive a bit once we got on the dirt roads that took us to our favorite spots. But, that was a BIG secret.

Truely my favorite childhood moments.

I've tried returning the favors (other than the driving) after becoming the adult, assisting in Boy Scout camping trips or just to some of the local kids. Its been very rewarding. Its very disheartening discovering so many parents dont seem to give a damn. They'd prefer just to throw them an X-box to keep them occupied and out of their hair.

**billybunter** · July 26th, 2011, 12:09 PM

I got a free ride on the bus once. I was 16, got on the bus and realised I had no money

the driver let me on anyway.

**ubu_roi** · July 26th, 2011, 02:46 PM

A local gentleman who was very skilled in chess took me under his wing when he learned that I was a player; I was about 11 or 12 years old. After a couple of years of his tutelage I was downright dangerous.

These days I'm mentoring a couple of younger guys (early20's) in music theory, particularly jazz harmony. I accept no payments, we just have fun. It's nice to share what you've learned.

rc_riddle · July 31st, 2011, 10:43 PM

I left school at 15, in 1964 with no qualifications. I started an engineering apprenticeship where I met the most wonderful teachers. I met men with marvelous skills who were eager to pass them on to me.
I remember the swelling pride, as time went by, when men I admired would say things , like 'You come out this September, don't you, lad?' Coming out from your apprenticeship was a major event. I blossomed under these peoples guidence and took my place, not just in society, but with a real sense of society.
Eventually, of course, I had my own 'lads', my own responsibility. It was our sense of continuity and we, foolishly thought it would go on forever.
What our father's farther's gave us, we lost in a generation!

**whop** · August 1st, 2011, 08:46 PM

When I was in my early twenties I found myself with a flat tyre on a company car and was trying to figure out what to do next (my first flat if I remember correctly) when a man appeared out of the blue, changed the wheel for me and left.
I would have worked out how to do it eventually, I had the manual and the tools, but I may just have had that bewildered look on my face.

**sweatyhat** · August 8th, 2012, 08:56 PM

Helped out a teenage employee today.

His car was making a worrying rhythmic thumping sound as it went along and between us we located the sound to the vicinity of one the rear wheels. I got the wheel off and discovered the handbrake cable was loose as a metal retaining clip had corroded and snapped off. The cable was being chafed away by a balancing weight attached to the inner wheel rim. I was able to fix it back in place with a stainless steel band tightened with my banding machine (image below). Handy tool that.

**Mal Hombre** · August 9th, 2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweatyhat

This thread's title was deliberately chosen for it's ambiguity, just to get you here. You'll be pleased to know it's not about dirty old men, pederasts and priests, but something far more wholesome.

If you've any nice stories, please share them with me.

sweatyhat

Please take note.

July 26th, 2011, 06:17 AM	#1
sweatyhat Woodwose Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: In the mud and rain Posts: 10,869 Thanks: 97,859 Thanked 187,959 Times in 10,563 Posts	Favours For Boys Bet you were sniggering as you clicked this link. You were, weren't you? I have the same mind as you, that's why we're both on VEF. This thread's title was deliberately chosen for it's ambiguity, just to get you here. You'll be pleased to know it's not about dirty old men, pederasts and priests, but something far more wholesome. Cast your mind back to that period of your life when you were a young man. For me I suppose it covers age thirteen up to my late twenties. During that time, did older men do you any favours, just because they could, and for no other reason? Were you let off entrance fees, allowed on the bus with too little money, given sage advice or shown how to do something for example? Small kindnesses you were grateful for. I'm in my mid-forties, so now I'm the older man. I'm beginning to notice it's often now me who does "Favours For Boys." If you've any nice stories, please share them with me. sweatyhat __________________ Last edited by sweatyhat; July 26th, 2011 at 12:38 PM..

July 26th, 2011, 06:27 AM	#2
sweatyhat Woodwose Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: In the mud and rain Posts: 10,869 Thanks: 97,859 Thanked 187,959 Times in 10,563 Posts	Crap Old Car When I was about eighteen I unsuccessfully tried to bump start my old car all the way down the hill where I lived. At the bottom the engine kept turning-over without firing and my patience was fraying. Two blokes were watching from a van on the other side of the road and came to help. In a few minutes they showed me how to use the sandpaper on a matchbox to clean the contacts on my car's rotor arm and distributor cap and then I was gratefully on my way. They wouldn't even accept a cigarette each for helping. Nice guys. __________________ Last edited by sweatyhat; July 26th, 2011 at 06:36 AM..

July 26th, 2011, 12:09 PM	#5
billybunter R.I.P. Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Gone But Not Forgotten Posts: 14,404 Thanks: 51,687 Thanked 252,375 Times in 14,171 Posts	I got a free ride on the bus once. I was 16, got on the bus and realised I had no money the driver let me on anyway. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

July 26th, 2011, 02:46 PM	#6
ubu_roi Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Northeastern USA Posts: 3,962 Thanks: 83,135 Thanked 43,794 Times in 3,958 Posts	A local gentleman who was very skilled in chess took me under his wing when he learned that I was a player; I was about 11 or 12 years old. After a couple of years of his tutelage I was downright dangerous. These days I'm mentoring a couple of younger guys (early20's) in music theory, particularly jazz harmony. I accept no payments, we just have fun. It's nice to share what you've learned. __________________ Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder

August 8th, 2012, 08:56 PM	#9
sweatyhat Woodwose Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: In the mud and rain Posts: 10,869 Thanks: 97,859 Thanked 187,959 Times in 10,563 Posts	Time to add to what is probably my crappest thread Helped out a teenage employee today. His car was making a worrying rhythmic thumping sound as it went along and between us we located the sound to the vicinity of one the rear wheels. I got the wheel off and discovered the handbrake cable was loose as a metal retaining clip had corroded and snapped off. The cable was being chafed away by a balancing weight attached to the inner wheel rim. I was able to fix it back in place with a stainless steel band tightened with my banding machine (image below). Handy tool that. __________________

July 26th, 2011, 08:32 AM	#3
Fatvanbelly Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 105 Thanks: 37 Thanked 685 Times in 91 Posts	When I was a kid we used to get into any football match for free. You would just stand at an entrance and ask any man to "Lift me over mister?" The man would lift you over the turnstile so it didn't count you and the ticket seller and cops would turn a blind eye.

July 26th, 2011, 11:51 AM	#4
Giacson Vintage Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 441 Thanks: 3,460 Thanked 8,762 Times in 435 Posts	The biggest favor that comes to mind came from my grandfather. A rugged old guy who survived the great depression with a family of 3 by being resourceful. On family visits to his place, I was allowed to sneak out of the house with him at 5am to go fishing, leaving the sibblings to sleep away their morning. It was my initial training in becoming self reliant. Between visits I was honing my skills on my own (my father wouldnt be bothered with it) so I could show him what I'd learned. When my legs were long enough to reach the pedals, he also let me drive a bit once we got on the dirt roads that took us to our favorite spots. But, that was a BIG secret. Truely my favorite childhood moments. I've tried returning the favors (other than the driving) after becoming the adult, assisting in Boy Scout camping trips or just to some of the local kids. Its been very rewarding. Its very disheartening discovering so many parents dont seem to give a damn. They'd prefer just to throw them an X-box to keep them occupied and out of their hair.

July 31st, 2011, 10:43 PM	#7
rc_riddle Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 235 Thanks: 1,052 Thanked 1,462 Times in 217 Posts	I left school at 15, in 1964 with no qualifications. I started an engineering apprenticeship where I met the most wonderful teachers. I met men with marvelous skills who were eager to pass them on to me. I remember the swelling pride, as time went by, when men I admired would say things , like 'You come out this September, don't you, lad?' Coming out from your apprenticeship was a major event. I blossomed under these peoples guidence and took my place, not just in society, but with a real sense of society. Eventually, of course, I had my own 'lads', my own responsibility. It was our sense of continuity and we, foolishly thought it would go on forever. What our father's farther's gave us, we lost in a generation!

August 1st, 2011, 08:46 PM	#8
whop Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 326 Thanks: 6,898 Thanked 3,278 Times in 317 Posts	When I was in my early twenties I found myself with a flat tyre on a company car and was trying to figure out what to do next (my first flat if I remember correctly) when a man appeared out of the blue, changed the wheel for me and left. I would have worked out how to do it eventually, I had the manual and the tools, but I may just have had that bewildered look on my face.