AIBU Greta Thunberg?

[onalongsabbatical]

AIBU to ask everyone who can to get behind Greta Thunberg, even if only online, as she's now getting a lot a lot a lot of hate. She clearly threatens people - especially her polar opposites, men, rich old men, powerful men (did I mention men?). Let's all give her the lurve and support she needs.
So on FB I challenged one just now - Why are you attacking a young woman? - and he disappeared. Funny, that.

I think part of the issue is that humans like to hero worship and so more will get done with a hero/heroine on the scene than before.

I mean I’m sure the Romans used to make the same argument about Jesus: “oh I bet he’s just doing to get attention” / “oh he’s a puppet of those pesky revolutionary Jews”

Ha Coatless

As for being the vehicle she can pick and choose what she wants. No Trump brilliant her choice. Sail go for it.

She did well to get the attention of an agency. Maybe it’s highlighting how many in the media don’t get the exposure they want and are feeling put out.

Can you imagine if she’d flown over. She would have been skewered.

And Skype wouldn’t have cut it.

It’s working because having a human face leads people to act more. Which is all that matters ultimately.

And she’s always maintained that people shouldn’t listen to her but to the science.

She’s a reluctant hero.

Can you imagine if she’d flown over. She would have been skewered.
Indeed she would. But my question was why she had to be there in person at all?
Whenever an individual becomes more important than their message then I start to feel uneasy.

Ah well there’s your first mistake. Everyone’s opinion is NOT important.

ODFOD. We were talking about cultural differences.

You set yourself up there anyway by pointing out stupid things Brits say

TheSunnyDays a quick scan on this thread will give you some ;

Whenever an individual becomes more important than their message then I start to feel uneasy.

Yes but when the message is being consistently ignored, it takes a Gandhi or violence to get the message across.

Then of course naysayers criticise the figurehead or the violence for taking away from the message.

It’s a no win situation for Greta although I’m sure she doesn’t care.

Someone up thread had a go because she didn’t do something, meet Trump. People will get pissy no matter what for a whole range of reasons.

Still it’ll be better than everybody doing nothing.

Opalinksi I can't figure you out. You started commenting earlier on, all wide eyed, saying you hadn't heard of the strikes and neither had your teenaged kids, saying you get all your news content from Twitter and never access mainstream news sources. Fine. But here, towards the end of the thread, you are positively blooming with quite informed opinion, and, surprise: you work in the media. Were you just being disingenuous to start with? I think that's a bit unfair as people engage with conversations in good faith, and you have had a lot of posters trying to fill you in.
Trewsers I am not sure if that comment about environmental activism and Sweden was directed at me, but just to say, I definitely don't think that Sweden has a monopoly. I think green thinking may be higher on the agenda in Sweden generally, more mainstream, the Greens have had good parliamentary representation for decades, so I think there might be fewer environmental transgressions to protest, not much need for the kind of nitty gritty grassroots activism seen (or frustratingly not seen enough, as in the case of PNR or the Hawk Ploughshares, for instance) in the UK, where there is a proud tradition of civil disobedience and direct action. Many protests, such as the Newbury bypass, and even Occupy London, are not in living memory of the young people who are galvanised by Greta (and XR) so it's not surprising that little credit goes to those who have done the work for decades before. After all, it's not like we teach this stuff in schools... was properly upbraided by a parent last year for mentioning rising sea levels as an effect of global heating in a geography lesson

No, I do not accept that she was the "first person to start the strikes". I believe she is a puppet/public face used by someone who has seen her as an opportunity. This has been facilitated by whoever this is (organisations, parents, who knows?) and the media

It worked out fine for them all as she is obviously a really interesting young lady but you cannot tell me she is the first to ever strike, chain herself to a fence or tree, wave a placard etc. She is no more special than any other child who has done this and been passionate about their cause. She was assisted and facilitated. The whole campaign was designed. An opportunity was taken

I think it is quite naive to think otherwise

Spot on. I would imagine it's very rare that a 'face of a campaign' isn't assisted and facilitated as you said,Mrs Hinch being a prime example.

How did they do that then Pellegrino explain

That first day she sat there what had happened before? Someone asked her to?

So what if she had been facilitated she still sat there alone first day.

Hence starting it.

People really will say anything

Has been facilitated. Who chose her and when Pellegrino? After she started it or before

Tbh I think Opalinski has a bit of professional jealousy - another pissy reason to add to the list

She's got excellent PR and seems to be doing a good job of making the Instagram generation feel as though they have some say in their future, so I can't see much wrong with that. She's not a hypocrite afaik.

I do find hero worship of anyone a bit revolting though, but that's my own personal opinion.

She's a puppet for those who want to distract us with climate change whilst they plot other crap for us in the name of saving ... the planet.... western civilization... other countries in the M.E ....

Trewser

Why is her presence in the media more about hero worship than anyone else in the media?

She’s done well, she started something big she gets to speak. Not that out there. Why laden it with ‘hero worship’ and single it out as revolting?

I don't mean her media coverage, which is fine. When i say hero worship, I mean those who hero worship her!

Who cares why she’s there? The fact is she’s there and is making a difference.

I haven’t seen any of that, other than saying it’s impressive which it is

Well done to her for sailing. If she is debating or arguing at an adult level, she will get criticism at an adult level. Is it all from her or is she being coached?
It's a big ask to change the world by such a large amount over a short time and people are right to say how? And what will I have to give up, as well ask asking if I give and and d up, why are others able to not.

Who cares why she’s there? The fact is she’s there and is making a difference
Is she making a difference? My teen dds like her a lot but I don't see them turning the fucking lights off and washing their hair less any time soon

I’m not sure these criticisms are adult level.

Why don’t you have a chat with them then Trewser you’ve got your opening on the topic

I did! Last night! Dd17 really likes her and thinks she's done a great job at getting the conversation started. Dd13 is worried that she might get sick of it then not be able to live a normal life.