Member Ages

First, let me thank everyone who has "registered" in our age poll.  We will keep it open for a while to see whether it fluctuates in the future.  However, I wanted to share the results thus far, and make some general observations for comment or discussion.

The largest group by far (28%) is the 15-20 group.  The second largest (19%) is the 40-45 group.  Tying for third (11%) are the 20-25 and 50-55 groups.

I would guess that the reason that the 15-20 group is largest is two-fold: (i) they are the most computer-savvy (or at very least the heaviest computer users), and are thus most likely to find and participate in sites like this, and (ii) they are the group that is most into current neo-prog, such as Dream Theater, Spock's Beard, Marillion, and some of the "deeper" European prog bands.

Similarly, I would guess that the 40-45 group is second largest primarily because they are the group that was the same age (15-20) at the time that the "seminal" prog-rock groups emerged (King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, Genesis, Yes, Jethro Tull, Gentle Giant et al).

Any suggestions as to why the 20-25 and 50-55 groups tied for third?

richardh wrote: Good to see lots of 'young uns' into good music

I'm not talking about myself of course

Alas as the representative old fart here at 55+ - I can't be the only one - I would guess the suggestions made above for specific demographic(?) groups providing the larger populations make sense.

There is that element of expendable income and those in age groups that have more of it, i.e.  without the ties of marriage and kids, and those of us who have come out of the other side, 20 or so years later. I know through my 30's it was difficult to keep in  touch with the music (no internet, and the media so anti-prog), and combined with less expedable income.... However, I guess I may be an exception since I have been just about able to maintain my interest in popular music from around 1960 to now - many others just get out of touch. With the availability of internet resources in the last 10 years  and with an excellent prog rock specialist shop 15 miles away (which will play albums from the last 35 years, before buying), I have been able to catch up with a lot of what I missed/never knew existed or couldn't afford before. As some of you know I've long hosted a radio show that features jazz rock, prog rock etc.  and I often have phone calls, e.mails etc. from folks clearly in their 40's, asking: is this music still and where can I buy it (the rest of media have a lot to answer for non- or selective communication).

Finally point: I was 14 when the Beatles appeared, 18 when the psychedelia music and the British blues boom started, 20 -21 when the first prog albums were released, so I am a tad  surprised that a few more old foogies aren't here.

>Well I´m one of the Geriatric crowd, but I´m still cute

Is that because you've found a good way of shining-up a bald pate - or found the right shade of hair dye to highlight the grey?

Aquarius wrote: People aged 20-25 are too busy building their careers, going out to lounge bars, trying to stay hip (prog is not!), trying to get into the right relationship etc.

Hmmm, possible BUT I'm 19 now and will be 20 in November and the last thing I care about is to stay hip...that's something that's not necessary for me, quite the contrary, I thing most people trying hard to be hip are, or at least behave, rediculous...

...lounge bars

People aged 50-55 have their own opinions on prog. They are not looking for discussion groups. To most only early 70s prog is sacred.

Not sure about that, the problem with people 50-55 is that they are not used to deal with PC's remember they were 35 + when the computer reached the houses of the common citizen, by that age they all had ended their careers so a big group never had the real need to learn. Rven if some of them had to learn to use it, they probably hate it, because it's not a part of their lives.

People in their late 30's and early 40's are the first generatiopn that really had use the PC to survive, and most of us enjoy it.

I'll be 40 next August, but I'm sure in 15 years you'll still see me in forums and as me, thousands of persons of my age will also.

Iván