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"?

None of the people I saw on the different climate protests appeared to be panicking, they wanted those in power to take action, as the majority of the scientific community agree they should.

Particularly awareness of how what we have done so far is not enough!

It never is for people who have absolutely no clue about what’s already been accomplished, or appreciation of what it takes to solve these problems.

People who have no clue about what has already been accomplished? Like huge swathes of the experts on these matters who say that it isn't enough and significantly more needs to be done to avert a crisis in the future? You know what Greta is saying too?

It's worth noting that many in the BBC and elsewhere in the 1960's thought that David Attenborough was a crank in trying to raise awareness of environmental damage.
Thing is we don't have 30 extra years to only just be making a start to overhaul infrastructure and economic structures.

If only it was as simple as it was in Alpha Century (The spiritual sequel to Civilization you MUST play!)

I meant Sid Meier's Alpha Centuri!

I read this referred to as “the stale pale male hegemony” the other day, and I thought that was such a great phrase.

Look at the number of flights today
-www.gatwickairport.com/flights/?type=departures
And airport fuel isn't even taxed. Those saying things are improving -I'm not so sure.

Probably because of the attitude encapsulated in the last sentence of the below from a PP:

“Does it really matter if anyone is a fan or not? She's trying to do something most of us should have been doing for past 20 years at least. Anyone that had an issue with that is clearly a bit of a cunt to be honest.”

Does it really matter if anyone is a fan or not? She's trying to do something most of us should have been doing for past 20 years at least. Anyone that had an issue with that is clearly a bit of a cunt to be honest

But what exactly is she doing?

Shouting at people about climate change, encouraging children to skip school.

What is she coming up with that is new.

Everyone knows that the planet is going to shit.

Having some teenager screaming at the people who can fundamentally change the big issues isn’t helping.

If people are saying China is not the problem and America is.

Why then does she alienate the one person who has the power to do something.

Refusing to talk to him and giving him dirty looks isn’t going to get anywhere.

Most of us have been doing something over the past 20 years.
We just don’t appreciate being screamed at and having any work towards a greener lifestyle being put in jeopardy with some teen rantings

Don't pretend Trump is alienated by Greta, he was a climate change denier long before she was on the scene, she is just a target for him.

Encouraging people to get involved, to put pressure on governments to make change. Lots more young people are active and involved in this now.

Don't pretend Trump is alienated by Greta, he was a climate change denier long before she was on the scene, she is just a target for him

Surely then you try to change minds by talking.

Ranting as she has found out gets you no where.

Thing is playing nice with politicians and their donors hasn't worked. That and the fact that people are pretty chill about upsetting people like me, those trying to use evidence to make a difference - so why should I care about upsetting them?

Civil disobedience HAS been effective in the past in effecting change - I support my boys in joining the school strikes in my locale.

malylis

Encouraging people to get involved, to put pressure on governments to make change.

Most (all?) on here agree with this this and some of us manage it without the name calling.

Lots more young people are active and involved in this now.

Where is the proof of this? How do you know that they weren't involved before?

She's young, female, and right - everything they hate.

Trump is never going to change his mind we know that.

The youth campaign has drawn pledges and policy changes from Macron in France and other leaders but you just keep minimising that. Its brought the debate into the public eye much more than it was and exerts political pressure.

"Ranting" the irony of this from people who are supporters of Boris and Trump is delicious

malylis

from people who are supporters of Boris and Trump is delicious

Another of your objective facts?

Perhaps the op has only said 'old white men' as her Facebook friends aren't ethnically diverse?
Tbh, I haven't seen anything such as memes posted about her, but in general only my white, British friends ever post anything about the environment. Perhaps we are just more vocal about the subject?

I don't like her though- I do feel sorry for her. She's on the spectrum, and probably is being pushed by her parents who seem to crave fame. I doubt she fully understands the situation she is being put in.

She's just a mouthpiece. Full of anger, but no real ideas or solutions. I think that's why people (not just old, white men) dislike her. She's not actually doing anything, just blaming other people.

Where are her parents In all.of this.. My teen has boundaries..
School attendance
Respect
Curfews and bedtimes

I give him freedom to go be with his pals.. But we have rules for his safety

Greta doesn't seem to have anyone looking out for her..

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Ranting is ranting. Whoever you support.

I think a lot of MN think that GT is great and there is an echo chamber of thinking that as the thread title says only Old White Men think she is not.

When in reality I think more people have been turned away from trying to do something because of GT rantings and the actions of XR

They don’t do their cause any good by pissing people off.

The thing about old white men would be based on their behaviour, in particular the current incumbent of the White House.

More people have definitely been turned on to doing something.

The criticism that she has no solutions is ridiculous, she is pushing the people that k ow what the solutions are and how to implement them to take action.

But like Trump, if you are in the pocket of the oil lobby that is difficult.

Older people will likely be dead before all the shit arising from climate change REALLY hits the fan.

The criticism that she has no solutions is ridiculous, she is pushing the people that k ow what the solutions are and how to implement them to take action

But they ate/were doing that anyway

I didn’t realise without GT pushing. No one was working on solutions

Because people in general don't like being ranted at by anybody telling them they are climate wrecking shits. Most average people have little control over the environment. Countries like India and China do far more damage than we do and we are at least trying with recycling, reducing car use, solar panels etc. Of course everyone needs to do more and to elect responsible government.

We aren't doing that anyway are we. Otherwise why would the scientific community be calling for more drastic action?

See maybe this is the problem, she makes you realise you aren't doing enough.