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Original poster

Why do old white men hate Greta Thunberg so much?

705 replies

MotherOfDragonite · 21/12/2019 15:57

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"?

OP posts:
BeardedMum · 22/12/2019 14:32

I find it strange when adults go online and write “I cannot stand her” about a teenager.

Aaarrgghhh · 22/12/2019 14:48

Smilethoyourheartisbreaking

I’m not a misogynist because I don’t particularly like someone who happens to be a female lol. There are plenty of women I don’t like and it’s not because of their sex.

Alexandra54 · 22/12/2019 14:55

35 year old, white, middle class female here...

Can't stand her.

I don't disagree that things need to be done to improve the world for future generations, but I don't like being told what to do by a spoilt child with no scientific experience or qualifications.

GhostsToMonsoon · 22/12/2019 15:13

Probably because climate change deniers (see this list for example) are mostly, but not exclusively, older white men. I've been in a debate with an old white man on Facebook who is a climate change denier (although he doesn't like the word denier). On the other hand, I know older men both online and IRL who are big fans of Greta.

Original poster
MotherOfDragonite · 22/12/2019 15:51

Thank you @GhostsToMonsoon, that could indeed explain it to some extent.

OP posts:
koshkat · 22/12/2019 17:04

I find it strange when adults go online and write “I cannot stand her” about a teenager.

It is truly bizarre.

BeardedMum · 22/12/2019 17:12

How is she a spoilt child? The scientific community is as far as I have seen backing her all the way. She is getting the message across in a way scientists haven’t managed.
She is also a great role model
for girls and women in my eyes.

Elfnsafe1y · 22/12/2019 18:25

to improve the world for future generations

Oh, dear.
We need to improve the world - no, wrong, we need to SAVE the world as it and us are going to die slowly over the next century or so.

coatlessinspokane · 22/12/2019 20:31

Maybe it's because there are a lot of people who WORK hard on climate change, who pay to CAMPAIGN against planet destroying things, and ENGINEERS who design and build machines to collect plastic waste from our oceans who get NO HELP AND SUPPORT from anywhere, yet this slip of a CHILD can stand on a stage and spout words and suddenly becomes the saviour of our world.

Jeez, do you really think those people care about how the message gets out? It’s not like Elvis stealing rock and roll from black musicians. It about the threat of near extinction of the human race! I’m sure they don’t give a rat’s arse that it’s a young girl who has galvanised people, just that people are listening.

JohnMcCainsDeathStare · 22/12/2019 20:35

Speaking as one of those scientists and engineers working on climate change I am glad she is out there - she is an ally not competition!

JohnMcCainsDeathStare · 22/12/2019 20:38

There is also the fact that Australia need not burn a gram of coal to fulfil both their energy needs AND be a net exporter to much of the nearby APAC region if they harnessed solar, wind and nuclear but there is too much money and power in coal such that they thing that destroying part of the Great Barrier Reef to let more boats in is a sane proposition!

JohnMcCainsDeathStare · 22/12/2019 21:50

Welp! That's me killing the thread then. How appropriate.

JamieVardysHavingAParty · 22/12/2019 22:06

It's the facts. No-one is sure how to deal with a factual reply after they've been offended on behalf of climate change scientists.

Closetbeanmuncher · 22/12/2019 22:37

Come with solutions not problems is my stance on these things, but at least the kid gives a shit about something other than spending two hours a day putting on make up and taking selfies. 🤷

Original poster
MotherOfDragonite · 22/12/2019 23:03

"Speaking as one of those scientists and engineers working on climate change I am glad she is out there - she is an ally not competition!"

Thank you @JohnMcCainsDeathStare -- I don't think you killed the thread at all. Among the posts from people who find Greta irritating because she is 'unqualified', it is really nice to see a post from your perspective saying this!

OP posts:
tillytrotter1 · 22/12/2019 23:07

What a stupid, sexist, colourist comment! That's some extrapolation made by the OP from her very limited range of acquaintances. I know of people of all colours, ages, genders who find self-righteousness such as this irritant projects annoying.

Greggers2017 · 22/12/2019 23:11

I hate Greta and I'm a 36 year old Mum of 4! She's an annoying gobshite

trixiebelden77 · 22/12/2019 23:17

I can’t imagine ‘hating’ a child, what a truly sick way of living.

Also do not get the hypocrisy of thinking she’s too much of a child to be able to contribute anything on the one hand, but not enough of a child to warrant restraining one’s vitriol on the other.

BeardedMum · 22/12/2019 23:26

Yes truly sick. Shocking. Bullying adults.

MerchantOfVenom · 23/12/2019 00:12

Love all these people coming on to claim they can't stand her.

Yes, but are you going on social media to write articles about how much you hate her?

Are you using your platform as a well known person to rail against her?

No?

Then you're not like the old white men who do do these things.

She isn't shutting up about something that's massively inconvenient for people - and the types who are shouting loudest against her do not give a shit about climate change (they know in their hearts it's real - because: eyes / brains / logic).

They know the world isn't going to end in their lifetime, so it's not their problem.

Unlike 16YOs, who have many more years on this planet.

BilboBercow · 23/12/2019 00:36

What was it Clarkson described her as again? "A dangerous individual?"

This is the guy who punched a colleague because they didn't have any hot food left after he had disappeared to the pub for hours.

Strongmummy · 23/12/2019 08:52

@Greggers2017 you hate her? You actually hate her? Why?!

Figmentofmyimagination · 23/12/2019 09:21

It is a strange thing though, to be so defined when you are so young - and to be so closely identified with a single cause and recognised worldwide - almost like a modern day Joan of Arc figure or a ‘prophet’ for the 21st C. It can’t be very positive for long term mental health, before you even consider the extreme reactions of some keyboarders. Even on a prosaic level, I wonder what sort of flexibility will be available to her in terms of leading a private life as an adult. She’s never going to be able to eg go on a package holiday or eat a macDonald’s or do any of the silly wasteful things people do, without some tabloid popping up and snapping her.

JohnMcCainsDeathStare · 23/12/2019 09:23

If I was Greta, being called a dangerous individual by Clarkson would be a victory!

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