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"?

It doesn't matter whether or not people like her, and I don't think she cares either way. At the moment, the world needs a Greta. If only everyone had sat up and listened 40 years ago.

She irritates me. How does a 16 year old Swede become so well known? By having someone behind them. I'm not saying shes wrong but I find this sudden rise to 'fame' implausible. Plenty of teens are passionate about things: they dont get an international platform. The trip on the yacht looks like a publicity stunt (gone wrong).
As for comparison to joan of arc.. ffs. Pretty sure being burnt at the stake contributes to climate change.

I'm late thirties and whilst I agree with her cause - I don't find I like her

From what I read on here, you are not able to LIKE GT if you are:

White, male, old, female, young, black, Muslim, Christian, rich, poor, lower/middle/upper class, university educated, high school/comp/grammar educated ET CETER FUCKING AHHHHHH

Do ANY of you 'regular 'AIBU"
posters realise how utterly irritatingly batshit crazy annoying you are?

Ugh.

11 pages, TL:DR. If she is the shrieky blonde kid, her message is being lost in her hysteria. I'm sure the planet is delighted she is doing her bit, but the palaver accompanying it just rolls my eyes into the back of my head. Good for her if the am dram works though, although not the route I choose for my teenager.

I can tell you that you're batshit annoying. (You can pay me later)

The only way that we will get action on climate change is through changing the political mood so that political leaders in western democracies feel that they need to act to stay in power. This requires high profile relentless campaigning, which is exactly what Greta is doing. The idea that she is doing nothing whilst a kid who has invented a plastic sea-bin is going to solve all our problems is wilfully misunderstanding of human nature.

We have had the technology to reduce our impact on climate change for years. This is not a technological issue but a political one.

I don't think it's just white and males that think she's a twat, in fact I know it's not.

Whilst I may be white, I'm not old and think she's a twat and should shut up.

I don't understand hatred of someone you've never met eg Megan Merkle, Jeremy C, Greta.
People need to look at themselves to see from where the hatred stems. People I know hate Bojo. I like that he has a sense of humour.
It all stems from childhood I think and/ or envy.
J Rees-Mogg I understand a bit but to me his acquired airs and graces are amusing. Some hate the sense of privilege he exudes. But it's really envy I think, of that wealth and privilege.
Greta is the bossy girl in the school classroom. As a young woman, how dare she get above herself. Bluddy women should know their place , or that's my take on it.
I could weep that polar bears in the wild will probably die out in my grandson's time, he will be gutted, he is five and loves animals. Let alone the people who will die. Greta is doing what world leaders should be doing. But, as usual what is most important to them is staying in power, so they're not going to tell us to get out of our cars and on our bikes cos we won't like it.
Thankfully, at least Greta is trying.

Whilst I may be white, I'm not old and think she's a twat and should shut up.

Your ARE old, in outlook if not body, and should do Earth a favour and pop off now. Don't let us keep you, mate.

I remember similar silly nonsense being spouted in the 1980s when my friends and I were rallying in our school uniforms at Sydney's Friday night protests for nuclear disarmament. Guess wot, you old farts, it's our planet, too, and it's our responsibility to try to save it if we can.

Go Greta!

I have not read all the posts, so I apologise if I am repeating what others have said.

First, my husband (who is an OWM) is a huge fan. He is also an individual with autism and sees Greta as a very positive advocate for individuals on the autism spectrum.

Myself, I see a vulnerable 16 year old caught up in a media machine. Not doubt Greta is talented and committed to her cause, but I hope someone is protecting her from the flak that comes from the incessant media coverage.

My 18 year old son thinks his Dad is weird for having a picture of Greta as a screensaver on his phone. To be honest, I am not too comfortable with the image, because she really does look so childlike.

Don't let us keep you, mate.

Thanks for the advice Greta 👍

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I think any man who openly hates a disabled teenage girl is a man best avoided, op. It says a lot more about him than it does her.

Apart from the fact she always makes me think of the Children’s Crusade, which ended so well , I think she’s actually a product of the same environment that gave us Brexit/Trump - soundbites matter more than expertise.

Speaking as a black woman I think if you are used to having a great deal of power and privilege you want to cling onto it.
Jeremy clarkson, Piers Morgan, Rees Mogg, Trump etc are generally racist and entitled.
Worse though are working class people, or woman who support these entitled brats who do nothing to make their lives better.

@Hopoindown31
The only way that we will get action on climate change is through changing the political mood so that political leaders in western democracies feel that they need to act to stay in power. This requires high profile relentless campaigning, which is exactly what Greta is doing. The idea that she is doing nothing whilst a kid who has invented a plastic sea-bin is going to solve all our problems is wilfully misunderstanding of human nature.

We have had the technology to reduce our impact on climate change for years. This is not a technological issue but a political one.

Well said! You are absolutely right.

My son has autism and I still don’t like her. She’s lecturing us about her having her childhood stolen. No, she’s done that herself. It’s her parents who I really dislike. If anyone has stolen her childhood, it’s them. I’d have more respect for her if she was ranting at the Chinese government. The ones who really need to do something. Not the countries that actually are.

@BenevolentEzza
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?

This excerpt from Wikipedia may help to explain that:

«Thunberg says she first heard about climate change in 2011, when she was 8 years old, and could not understand why so little was being done about it.[21] Three years later, she became depressed, lethargic, and stopped talking as well as eating, and eventually was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), and selective mutism.[21]»

Link to full article:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greta_Thunberg

She hasn't had her childhood stolen - she got obsessed with climate change to the extent of making her family give up travelling and eating meat.

I’m a young woman and I’m not keen on her either. She’s a typical idealistic sanctimonious teen, weren’t we all at 16.

I like the noise she is making.
We all need to hear it.
Go Greta!!

I think that Greta is the reasonable one in the room. Boris and Trump are the hysterical ones - what have they done to get the wheels moving that you cannot treat the land like a big pair of pants and the ocean like a giant toilet?

It isn't in their interest as it will upset their friends - what useful things do tax havens do for the environment again?

There is the technology and resources to do this - a lack of will is all that is preventing it and like it or not, the people DO pick up on the tone and behaviour of those in charge - most people are apathetic about the environment and politics even when access to information has never been easier - some people just don't want to look.

She was absolutely justified in saying How dare you! to Trump and others. And when she said she has destroyed her future - she would also be thinking of others in places where this is exactly the case.

Playing nice gets you nowhere - it does nothing to help you just make other's lives easier not yours.

The world needs a Greta - we are talking about it here - but I hope that we are also listening too. This is a time for civil disobedience but also connectivity - this current government wants to set us against each other young vs old, rich vs poor - faith schools vs evidence.

What better way to save the planet and undermine divide and conquer than to talk to each other, listen and learn?

She's a modern day Joan of Arc. There is something special about her and she frightens people.

Seriously? Now she is a fanatic, religious leader doomed to martyrdom? She irritates me for a variety of reasons - this type of response being a big one.

The Chinese have developed more forms of alternative energy than the rest of the world put together.
Winter temperatures in Beijing are -16C, you cant just switch off the power stations.
In some fields they are leading the way.
Can't link as this was on radio4