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Original poster

The older we get, the more conservative we become?

318 replies

EddyF · 03/12/2024 18:28

Just wondering if people believe this. I’m in my thirties and although I have always had real socialist views and I have always voted Labour, I am struggling with some of my current viewpoints which lean more to the conservative way. I think I have lost a bit of societal empathy and seeing things as a ‘dog eat dog world; everyone out for themselves’.

There are so many issues I see locally (London) that I just think not everyone can be saved. The services are stretched; high streets are depressing and people have too many needs and often those needs are not isolated and are multiple. I feel less empathetic and more “can’t you just help yourself”. There doesn’t appear to be a safety net or one that is efficient enough, which to my surprise, has harden me a bit. Maybe it is age😆

OP posts:
Didimum · 03/12/2024 20:09

Age is a strong predictor of political alignment and it’s not a recent phenomenon

Willyoujustbequiet · 03/12/2024 20:08

BluebirdBoogie · 03/12/2024 18:39

I've gone completely the other way. I see so much more unfairness in my 50s than I saw in my 20s. Would never, ever vote for a right wing party.

This

My friends and I have all moved to the left. I'm embarrassed by the selfish attitude I used to have when aligned with tory values.

OutrageousImmoral · 03/12/2024 20:04

BluebirdBoogie · 03/12/2024 18:39

I've gone completely the other way. I see so much more unfairness in my 50s than I saw in my 20s. Would never, ever vote for a right wing party.

Same

HarrietPierce · 03/12/2024 20:03

tothelefttotheleft · Today 18:43

"I'm as left wing as I've always been."

I'm more left wing now than I ever was when younger.

arcticpandas · 03/12/2024 20:03

But monarchy and the Tories stink!

arcticpandas · 03/12/2024 20:02

It's true for me. My grand-parents told me I would wise up getting older and they were right. I still have as much societal empathy but it's now dosed with pragmatism.

Plastictrees · 03/12/2024 20:00

No - I’m as left wing as I ever was, I’m also in my thirties. I could never align myself with what the Tories stand for.

Beezknees · 03/12/2024 19:59

I've actually gone the opposite way as I've got older and been exposed to more of the world and different people.

Catza · 03/12/2024 19:56

ichundich · 03/12/2024 19:50

You were put in prison and, in many cases, forced into slave labour if you refused to work.

Not something we should aspire to IMO. I also grew up in a communist country and remember the empty shops, broken infrastructure, outdated technology and brainwashing very well.

Show quote history

I didn't say anything about aspirations. I am simply highlighting what all the "commy" insults the minute someone mentions social justice are extremely misguided.

BIossomtoes · 03/12/2024 19:50

Findmethesmallestviolin · 03/12/2024 19:37

No - personally got more left wing as I’ve got older and more exposed to the
unfairness of society.

Me too. I think it’s too late to change now.

ichundich · 03/12/2024 19:50

Catza · 03/12/2024 19:04

Not for me. I still believe in community, collaboration and equality. I believe that society is only as strong as it's weakest member. Do I believe nobody should be responsible for their own life? Of course not. But that does not make me more right wing.
I also have experience growing up under communism. I think people have some really funny ideas about socialism/communism being about idle people being supported by the state. Do you know that it was illegal not to work under communism? You were put in prison and, in many cases, forced into slave labour if you refused to work.

You were put in prison and, in many cases, forced into slave labour if you refused to work.

Not something we should aspire to IMO. I also grew up in a communist country and remember the empty shops, broken infrastructure, outdated technology and brainwashing very well.

LlynTegid · 03/12/2024 19:45

I think more certain and/or fixed in your views, which may not necessarily be more conservative.

ichundich · 03/12/2024 19:42

I think it's a very natural trajectory. As you get older, your responsibilities grow. I've never had so many bills to pay or so many people to look after. Therefore I resent it more when the government doesn't spend my money wisely.

username299 · 03/12/2024 19:41

I'm quite left wing, always have been.

I think your attitude is quite commonplace now.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 03/12/2024 19:41

I was quite right-wing in my teens and early twenties Blush. I got more and more left-wing after that, but have now (in my early 50s) started to slightly edge back a bit. I'd still call myself centre-left.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 03/12/2024 19:41

I'm not sure this is true for everyone. When I was young (teens), I was quite self centred and lived in my own little bubble whereas as I've got older I am far more aware of the issues and struggles facing other people. I also think that the younger people I know nowadays tend to be quite self centred, whereas older people I know tend to have a similar understanding and views as I do.

Findmethesmallestviolin · 03/12/2024 19:37

No - personally got more left wing as I’ve got older and more exposed to the
unfairness of society.

crackofdoom · 03/12/2024 19:35

Catza · 03/12/2024 19:04

Not for me. I still believe in community, collaboration and equality. I believe that society is only as strong as it's weakest member. Do I believe nobody should be responsible for their own life? Of course not. But that does not make me more right wing.
I also have experience growing up under communism. I think people have some really funny ideas about socialism/communism being about idle people being supported by the state. Do you know that it was illegal not to work under communism? You were put in prison and, in many cases, forced into slave labour if you refused to work.

Although to be fair, they also made it easier to work under communism if you had kids. Weren't there free wraparound creches?

Our version of capitalism seems to want us to put in a 40 hour week, pay an absolute fortune to have the kids looked after,then pick them up and be perfect mums and housewives. And if you can't do this, you're a failure. Yay for the free West 🙄.

JingleB · 03/12/2024 19:33

AllMyExesWearRolexes · 03/12/2024 19:25

@Crunched
I think it's from Winston Churchill?

I think it’s a bastardisation of a quote from John Adams (2nd President of the USA) that is frequently mis attributed to Churchill - among others - but he never actually said it. It appears in a lot of Misquotes lists.

Littlemissgobby · 03/12/2024 19:31

SuperGinger · 03/12/2024 19:30

Always centre right, more conservative as I've got older, although I liked Tony Blair. I'm pretty libertarian but I loathe the current Labour government, they're so dishonest.

Oh, and the last 14 years of the conservative government was very honest. In fact, I was getting to the point.
Of sick of listening to the radio whenever Boris and his mps defending his lies woukd come on.
Even sheila fogaty would eye roll?The point is, I don't think labour have been dishonest.Nowhere near as much as conservatives, you're having a laugh

Moonlightstars · 03/12/2024 19:30

I have stayed to the left not more or less.
I still believe in the common good. Don't hold much love for capitalism and consumerism. I believe the state should be a net for those who would fall and offer support to the more vulnerable.
I am now not badly off and happy to pay taxes to support the NHS, schools and social care.
I'm the opposite of a small islander see myself more as somebody who cares about the whole planet and not just my bit of it. However I do care a lot about where I exactly live and I'm very active in improving the slightly shit neighbourhood I'm in.
I'm probably a bit more mardy and less friendly than I used to be they're not sure if that is a conservative trait!

SuperGinger · 03/12/2024 19:30

Always centre right, more conservative as I've got older, although I liked Tony Blair. I'm pretty libertarian but I loathe the current Labour government, they're so dishonest.

HowardTJMoon · 03/12/2024 19:26

I'm in my mid-50s but as I haven't found my basic human empathy deserting me I'm still left-leaning. That doesn't mean I agree with every statement made by every left-wing pundit but I nevertheless think we should eat the rich.

WarriorN · 03/12/2024 19:26

At the same time we've both firmly hung on to core left ideas. It's the liberal feminism and all that kind of stuff that we do not subscribe to.

AllMyExesWearRolexes · 03/12/2024 19:25

@Crunched
I think it's from Winston Churchill?