August 31st, 2025Kyle’s Rant

I am proudly Generation X and I look at the Gen Zs with a sort of flummoxed perplexity.
The little buggers are raised on high protein, high fat and participation trophies, where my generation was raised on the bare minimum, street smarts and a whack on the arse.
Don’t get me wrong, particularly in the Central Highlands I know a lot of Gen Zs who are kind, courteous with strong worldly views, but that is a result of the parents, community and the good down-to-earth education that is on offer.
But what’s going on in Melbourne with the kids breaking into houses, carjacking and general dickhead behaviour? It seems that the problem comes from the home and the community, and the demise in ability for folks to call out bad behaviour.
When I first went to the pub at the tender age of 15 (the actual drinking age was 21) I was with my father, uncles and grandfather, and you didn’t muck up. This is the sort of education that you can’t buy, it was okay to get pissed but not messy, and of course there was the odd fight, but by and large you kept your shit together.
These days, it seems it’s okay to punch old ladies in the head, carjack folks and gain money from others’ misfortune. But if I drive around in my car with a weapon onboard due to “headline fear” it is deemed illegal.
I can’t carry a weapon in a car for self-defence. Correct, the law prohibits the carrying, possession or use of weapons. And offences related to weapons can be very serious, but full confession; I always have something in my ute that could I weaponise for the purpose of self-defence.
And I wouldn’t hesitate to use it. My view on mace spray is the same and although illegal in Victoria, you bet the little thugs have a stash for a rainy-day carjacking.
You can buy it over the counter in WA and as for a taser gun, what about a piggy-prodder, that would certainly move the little dirtbags on. Last week a Richmond woman had an attempted car commandeering as she pulled her bike out of the back of her car. But weapons were quickly gathered including a golf club while the car was trapped in by other motorists – that’s the sort of response that should happen.
One thing about being a Gen X is that we are a resourceful bunch, we have had to learn about computers from scratch, even enduring Microsoft DOS where you almost had to be a mathematical genius. We grew up operating cars that were designed for people with three feet, trying to operate a brake, accelerator, clutch and light dipper all at the same time.
We didn’t experience fast food until our late teens, learnt to ride bikes while bouncing off walls and used thongs on our hands to corner at highspeed on skateboards. We played in the streets after school with our friends until dark, explored the bush and considered and still do consider sitting on our arses for three hours staring at an inanimate object (phone) and grabbing your dingdong while dancing, uncool.
If we really wanted a car and we couldn’t afford it we would put it on a hire purchase agreement at 20 per cent and pay it off in the next lifetime.
So, to the crotch grabbing Gen Z thugs who roam our streets, who think they are tough hiding behind their weapons and under their hoodies, I have a couple of surprises should you wish to relieve me of the possession of my ute.
But then again you wouldn’t because I am not female, elderly or someone you feel you could overpower. Get a life rant over…