They lurk in groups. They sneer at generational change, bemoaning the modern world. And they know exactly where that bloody apostrophe should go.
They are the Grumpy Old Buggers, and veteran radio journalist Geoff Hutchison is determined not to become one of them.
In 2022, Geoff hung up the headphones after a long career at the ABC, having hosted both Mornings and Drive on 720 ABC Perth as well as a filling in for Jon Faine on 774 ABC Melbourne.
Today, he’s an author and his new book How Not To Become a Grumpy Old Bugger explores the curious things that sometimes happen to men as they age.
From consulting experts to mining his own experience as well as that of other blokes in his life, Geoff reckons he’s discovered how we can all live a less grumpy life.
Speaking on the upcoming Father’s Day episode of the Authorised podcast, Geoff says he’s devoted a whole chapter of the book to the art of listening without judgement – certainly an important quality to have if you happen work in radio.
“That means not feeling the need – as I did sometimes on radio – to hear something and then have my quick follow-up question.”
“Now I’m a bit more interested in sitting back [and listening]. Listen without judgement, and there’s more to get from it.”
Geoff is a believer in the long-held radio philosophy of ‘Two ears, one mouth.’ In other words – listen twice as much as you speak.
In a world full of social media bombardment, niche platforms, media fragmentation and endless content options, it’s no wonder our brains are swimming.
“We’re in an age where there’s so much noise and so many people talking and so many opinions,” says Geoff.
“Some of them are informed. Some of them are nuts. There’s a lot going on!”
But there’s a lot to be gained from learning to listen – and actually absorbing what we’re hearing.
“I used to get into trouble for interrupting in interviews because I was so excited or enthusiastic,” Geoff remembers. “And then you realise that it sounds awful, interrupting all the time. What you are doing is cutting someone off mid-sentence.”
“It’s far easier for me to be a better broadcaster now that I’m not one!” he laughs.
Geoff says the thing he’s enjoyed most since his radio career finished is not living in constant judgement about everything.
“Our careers required us to have a view on things.”
Geoff was on-air in 2008 when then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd offered a formal apology to Australia’s Indigenous peoples, particularly the Stolen Generations, on behalf of the nation.
Geoff encouraged listeners to call up and share their thoughts.
“I reckon the first six callers were all blokes, and my memory is they all said something like ‘I don’t know what I have to apologise for!’”
“I was a bit disheartened at the time,” Geoff remembers. “I thought later on What a miserable attitude.”
“The truth of it for me was that it didn’t impact their life at all.”
Geoff says the trouble for all of us as we get older is that society tends to deal us out of the conversation.
Not having the same level of relevance can be a rude awakening for those no longer working in the radio industry.
Geoff – who admits he doesn’t even understand how Zoom works – says embracing the world we live in NOW is key.
“Nostalgic ideas are great fodder on radio, but for a lot of us as we get older, our conversations are all about the ‘good old days.’ They’re all about footy being better then that it is now … I don’t like this. I don’t like that. What’s this ‘they/them’ stuff? Who ARE these people?”
Ultimately, says Geoff, we end up not being curious about the conversations that happening right in front of us – and the issues which still directly affect us, whether we like it or not.
“The nostalgic thing is really fun. But it does stop us caring much about the future.”
Sometimes, he says, all it takes is a good mate to pull you into line and say “Put that in the museum of dickheadedness.”
Geoff’s advice? Keep being curious. Try to wave away those invisible potholes of life.
“Don’t collect them and don’t live within them, because it just tells the world that your attitude will always be profoundly negative.”
Geoff feels overwhelmingly positive about the future for young men today.
“They’re not as constrained by that uniform of male expectation,” he says.
“I’m excited and interested in the future.”
Now get off his lawn.
*Geoff Hutchison photo credit: ABC