Why do old white men hate Greta Thunberg so much?

[MotherOfDragonite]

My 65 year old uncle and friends of a similar age (and also white, though not necessarily all British -- others are American, German and Australian) seem to talk about her an awful lot with great vitriol and hatred.

They seem to have shared views about climate change, but I still can't understand why they hate Greta so much. Not only do they comment on her, but they post unpleasant memes about her. While I understand that they fundamentally disagree with the concept of climate change, I don't really understand why a 16 year old girl with Aspergers, who does not live in the UK and who clearly has good intentions even if they disagree with them, is the focus of so much of their ire.

What is it about Greta that older men find so very "triggering"?

I am not an old man. I’m not that kind of white (I pass for white but my culture isn’t really European in any meaningful way). I know that climate change exists for a fact (because geological records show this). I trust the scientific community when they say that we are experiencing the early stages of climate change and human activities at least partially cause this particular incident of climate change (because it would be arrogant not to, given that I am not a specialist in the area and only have general knowledge of the issue). I don’t hate Greta et al but I find them really annoying. They aren’t doing anything whatsoever to help find a solution and are in fact detracting from the efforts of more intelligent and capable persons who could potentially yield an effective solution in time. I have no patience for people who waist everyone’s time and energy on signalling their own virtue. Maybe all the over 65 year old men have lived long enough to realise the same, or maybe they’re just really grumpy because their backs hurt.

As yet, I've not noticed the 90+ demographic having much to say about Greta Thunberg, in or out of government.

Who'd have thought age and race were protected characteristics in law eh?

Many posters seem to think she is merely a mouthpiece for other people’s ideas.

How are other posters so certain she did not just read the science, become very concerned about the implications for her future, and then respond with a single-mindedness that is hard to comprehend for most of us?

How can everybody be sure it’s her parents leading her, and not the other way around?

A bit of a digression but I too have had unpleasant surprises when people who I thought were my friends proceeded to let me know how much contempt for me and how little they thought of me - not friends anymore.
Thing is when I try to empathise and engage with their POV it gets thrown back in my face. Like when some of now ex-friends voted Brexit I asked about how it will help with climate change, international trade, our obligations to refugees (more ubiquitous from climate change), contribution to research and development and all I got was tumbleweeds.

You underestimate 16 year olds with natural curiousity and unfettered access to information. In terms of her conduct, she certainly outshines some world leaders and in a room with Boris and Trump would certainly be the only adult there...

Ultimately, the demographic that hate her the most are those who lack the humility to learn new information from any person, not matter how youthful. A key to being youthful is to accept that someone will always have more knowledge than you and be prepared to learn from them. It is not that strange for the children to become the teachers.

Not a fan of her either. Im Not male. Tbh ive never heard anyone mention her in rl so dont think many know her.

I'm nearly 60 and remember taking bottles(milk and pop) back to the shop, milkman etc. Mum always carried a reusable shopping bag as I've always done.
No one of any race or creed like to be told how to recycle especially by a young girl who think she knows best.

I don't dislike her... I guess I am indifferent to her as a person.
But her message about climate change is valid, it's real and happening.
But then, I have been taught about this stuff back in the early 90's at school (not UK). So almost 20 years later and still no real solution on the horizon.

Not convinced that old white men are disproportionately more likely to dislike her... Maybe they're more likely to vocalise their dislike of her than are other groups.

I find her quite annoying, and I'm neither old nor male.

OMG.

I'm not male. Or old.

But for my 8 year old DD's sake, listen to her. The vitriol towards her (as has been shown quite a bit on here) is just awful.
I could say I don't know why she bothers. She gets so much abuse. Christ, I'm 48 and I don't think I've grown a thick enough skin to deal with the trolling she has been subjected to.

I've had awful news this week. Life changing. I worry that I won't be here much longer and I'm so scared that my DD might face a horrible world ahead without me. I could cry at the utter dismissive and selfish attitudes of some adults these days.

Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas. None of us know when it might be our last.

Did anyone else hear that Dead Ringers sketch about her, the election special?

Corbyn: This is Jeremy Corbyn's answer machine. Please leave a message after the period of reflection.

Greta: Mr Corbyn, it's Greta. For a year I have been travelling all over, spreading despair in young people. But you... you managed to cause despair for millions, in one night! How do you do it, Mr Corbyn? Will you teach me??

Whilst she has a valid and relevant message I am continually irritated by her hectoring and petulant tone. A lot of people I know feel the same.

@MotherOfDragonite

How absurd. Assuming ALL 'old white men' are all full of hate and bigotry towards a teenage girl who is smart and clever and passionate about her beliefs.

That's as bad as saying that ALL young milennials and Gen Z people are angry and bitter sore losers, who can't stand being told NO, and who throw their toys out of their pram, and cry into their tofu when things don't go their way.

I mean, I wouldn't DREAM of saying they are all like that! So why say all old white men hate Greta Thunberg?!

I don't think she does spread despair - I see hope that there are enough people who care and are prepared to make sacrifices and it gives me hope that young people are more active. For me it was like swimming upstream - I did what I could and still do.
We are still getting back to where we were pre-70's before there was so much disposable stuff but this is a major change. All we can do alone is nibble around the edges - companies must do more. They must treat environmental impact and CO2 emission as much as their stock value and assets. There is too much in business and the economy that has yet to catch up or believes in the prophecy of death known as 'I'm alright Jack'.

I can't stand her. Her message has upset thousands of youngsters who think they will all be dead in ten years and the planet reduced to a ball of ash.

She looks and sounds petulant, has an over developed sense of her own importance, has no idea about the science of climate change-what 16 year old knows more than scientists, heads of state yet they all literally stand to applaud her.

I think they're afraid not to do so, to be singled out by her.

I wish I could say she is only a silly little sod but there is something darker than that about her.

I know this is an unpopular view but there it is!

@YankeeDad sadly I think that people assume she has influential parents so therefore it's a given that they 'put her up to it'
It can't possibly be that she is just a concerned young girl who actually has the guts to speak out for her generation (as much as it clearly upsets her to do so)
She is not a natural speaker. She is not overly confident in herself. She is terrified. But that's what drives her.

But you know, some folk just prefer to believe in Trump and Johnson. And pretend it isn't happening.

Entitlement.

My sanctimoniousness and didactisicm along with my hectoring tone is all part of my charm by the way.

But @ChrismassySpice-I know plenty of 16 year olds-some of whom have interesting things to say- and they can't seem to get an international platform from which to speak.

Any tips?

I dont hate Greta. I dont agree with climate change.
It's a load of malarkey to me.
She is way to young to be doing this I think.
I believe she is brainwashed.

Not sure about how you disagree with physics?

I think she is an amazing role model for young people today. Far better than the social media “influencers” posting pic after pic of bikini poses and/or healthy smoothies! She actually has something relevant and intelligent to say.

There is absolutely no way this 16 year old person is dealing with the social media accounts and responding to those, so the vitriol will not be known to her in the volume that it's at. Surely her parents and PR team would protect her from that? She will obviously see some shit on some sites at some point but I can guarantee that she does not even see a HALF of what is written about her. Absolutely no way. WE don't even see the half of what is written about her. This is "Mumsnet". I doubt very much her PR team know anything about a crappy UK parenting website.

Small fish, big ocean.

(Or small fish full of microbeads, big ocean full of Tesco carrier bags, if you will...)

I personally think it's a bit disrespectful and provocative for her to talk about having her childhood stolen when she is extremely privileged, comes from one of the richest countries in the world, has access to free education, healthcare, welfare and comes from a wealthy family when children in Africa and India, genuinely have their childhoods stolen. She doesn't know how lucky she is!

Also, you sound racist, sexist and ageist.

What was she even talking about when she was saying about her childhood being stolen? I genuinely have no idea. How was her childhood stolen and by what or whom?

Can anyone explain that particular speech to me please?

She tends to remind me of the hysterical girls in The Crucible.

I wonder how much money she has made.