Finding some people just don't give anything away

This is what I think too.

I think we come across as very opinionated and not politically correct to the younger generation (Gen z), plus maybe not much in common with regards of the stage in your life you are at?

My inlaws were like that. Fine to talk about the weather, Tour de France or Tudor history but nothing, nothing at all about things closer to home. They'd turn the TV on upon anything family related.

My DH struggled with it as much as I did if not more.

I suppose I'd need to know what sort of opinions you think they need to share for context?

If your referring to things like hard politics (Palestine/Ukraine/Brexit) or the economy (colc) etc I really think those sorts of subjects are out of bounds in casual chit chat with the aged twenty somethings. I wouldn't have had much to say about that sort of thing at that age, even though now I'm full of it on all those subjects 🤣.

If you mean they have literally no opinion on anything including the weather or what they ate for tea I'd be a bit bored too.

To be fair, maybe your younger family members are more interested in listening?

I know the type you mean OP.

My SIL is like that. It’s impossible to have a conversation with her. Ask her if she went out over the weekend and she will reply ‘yes’. Ask her if she went anywhere nice and she will reply ‘a restaurant’. She won’t say the name or volunteer anything. It is secrecy more than privacy. I stopped making the effort and answer her (numerous) questions in a similar fashion and we sit in silence.

Perhaps they're just dull? Maybe it's not that they don't want to share an opinion, but they just don't have one.

I don't think it's an age thing personally.

I'm perfectly happy just listening to someone who clearly has a lot to say, with occasional interjections.

Takes the pressure off discourse 😀🙉

That's not real life though is it? So I think that's the difference between going onto reality TV in the early days with no preconceptions vs now when people have already watched a lot and have a 'game plan'. I also think people largely go into it now trying to be famous. Whereas 'back in the day', that might have been the outcome, but it wasn't really planned

I think it's because anything you say now can be taken as offensive. You can't have an opinion that's a bit different. It's better to say absolutely nothing and be neutral.

Hmmm, I think you might find that it is because they don't share your views and opinions but they also dislike confrontation. And so they say nothing/very little. And if their opposing opinion is strong enough on something you've said, they've kind of shut down all together. So even seemingly 'light' subjects don't elicit a response.

I have noticed this watching reality shows. In the old days of big brother, Towie and Love island people were more upfront and honest but now people are really filtered. All following a script, too scared to reveal anything different

Some people are less 'open' than others. I don't find it's age related personally.

Although, I do find that the less people have to do in their own lives, the more interested they are in others lives, which does sometimes mean older, retired people can become a tad nosey.