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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:
mindproject · 21/12/2019 17:13

Old white men are the most opinionated and judgmental people, in my experience. Many of them don't like women very much. Plenty of them don't want to stop driving cars, eating meat or destroying the planet, so her message doesn't go down too well either. I've heard a few talk about the way she looks, so this must be another factor.

GoodDogBellaBoo · 21/12/2019 17:14

She irritates people who does not want to change their lifestyle one bit.

Candlebarbara · 21/12/2019 17:14

‘She has done more this year than all the world leaders..’

What exactly has she done other than tell the world leaders they are not doing enough? What are her solutions to the climate change issues, both politically and practically? It’s got people talking, and the school climate strike, but what did that achieve?

Switching to a reusable coffee cup and a plastic straw may make people think they are contributing, but in reality a massive shift in lifestyle and general expectations is needed to make any difference.

People In general are not willing to make the huge personal, long term sacrifices needed to make a difference, including not having children, not travelling, not buying technology or expecting fast broadband and cheap electricity and instead think posting messages in support of Greta and reusing a carrier bag does their bit.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 21/12/2019 17:15

Lots of people dont like being told what to do by someone they feel "superior" to. Greta is just one example, you see it all the time in politics, ethical debates and just life in general. It's likely nobody respected their views growing up, and they've chosen to keep the cycle going now they're the respected "elders."

Or we’ve just realized how ridiculous and simplistic our views were when we were young and cringe at the dumb things we thought and said.

Monkeynuts18 · 21/12/2019 17:16

It’s not about agreeing with her, or even liking her. Everyone’s entitled not to like her or not to agree with her.

But OP is right, it’s the extraordinary level of vitriol directed towards a teenage girl with Asperger’s - by people who you’d think wouldn’t really be bothered by her - that’s remarkable. Something about her really gets to the very privileged. Old white men in particular do seem to have a real problem with her. I find it bizarre that the President of the United States - arguably the most powerful man in the world - is so threatened by a 16 year old girl that he needs to insult her.

TheNewSchmoo · 21/12/2019 17:17

I find her massively aggravating. White, female, 40s

peaceanddove · 21/12/2019 17:19

I find her incredibly righteous and pedantic. Can't be doing with all the scowling and the impassioned wobbly voice. Yeah, we get it. You're upset.

Why couldn't she have sailed to New York in a regular, oldish yacht? The state of the art one she used would have created a huge carbon footprint whilst being developed and tested.

Monkeynuts18 · 21/12/2019 17:20

This article says what I want to say:

www.stylist.co.uk/visible-women/greta-thunberg-climate-change-activist-sexist-stereotype-women-nice/303511

saltinesandcoffeecups · 21/12/2019 17:20

That’s the part I find sad, her parents have essentially painted a big target on her back opening her up to the criticism and public ridicule that all public figures experience.

To put it crassly. They are whoring her out for their pet cause.

Mrscog · 21/12/2019 17:21

I think she’s achieved great things, I don’t dislike her but I do find the hype irritating. I got a Blue Peter Green book for Christmas when I was 7, as did lots of friends. I’ve been mindful of the environment since then, people who haven’t are arseholes. Young people have been drawn to environmental issues.

Josette77 · 21/12/2019 17:23

How many people on your social media are other races? Sounds like maybe you just know a lot of white people. I'm not an old white man, and I don't associate with a lot of old white men. I've seen a lot of black and Asian people don't like her. I generalize over all based upon n my social circle though.

Josette77 · 21/12/2019 17:23

I don't generalize I mean...

anxioussue · 21/12/2019 17:24

Not a fan here either really, I wonder what her parents agenda is tbh.

Original poster
MotherOfDragonite · 21/12/2019 17:24

@WorraLiberty I would say that about 40% of my friends list is BAME, mostly younger and not overwhelmingly of one particular culture/race although many British of Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin and many North American of Chinese origin. And 60% white but of that probably half British and half Australian, Canadian, American.

I don't have that many older people on my Facebook friends list. More on Twitter, but coming from the particular demographic of people I follow for academic/professional reasons. I also follow quite a lot of art, design and architecture accounts run by people of colour from various countries but these tend to be people of working age.

I haven't seen personal attacks or even memes about Greta from any of those groups, even those who I know don't believe in climate change.

OP posts:
Original poster
MotherOfDragonite · 21/12/2019 17:26

TL;DR -- no, I know lots of people who aren't white and haven't seen them post anything similar.

OP posts:
PanGalaticGargleBlaster · 21/12/2019 17:27

I'm mid 40s, male AND white so according to the OP I should be frothing at the actions of young Greta. Like others, I certainly don't hate her but do find her quite irritating. I tend to think she is being manipulated by various people behind the scenes who are happy to hitch their wagon to this poster girl of climate change to advance their own agendas. The borderline iconography of her is a bit unsettling and the assumption by some that her every utterance takes on almost gospel reverence is cultish. The whole sail to New York while the return leg crew all flew there was a daft stunt that backfired. Plenty of climate scientist these days practice what they preach by speaking at conferences using Skype or other platforms without embarking on look at me stunts.

Original poster
MotherOfDragonite · 21/12/2019 17:28

I mean, I have seen people of various backgrounds post about disagreeing with her, but I haven't seen the same level of vitriol or personal attacks.

OP posts:
Original poster
MotherOfDragonite · 21/12/2019 17:29

@PanGalaticGargleBlaster you can tell me I'm wrong, but I don't think that's old!!!!

(looks anxiously in the direction of her birthday cards...) Grin

OP posts:
Laiste · 21/12/2019 17:30

Asking those who feel she has achieved something - what has she achieved? In your eyes.

Personally speaking the main feeling around me is that she's just an overindulged and privileged shouty school kid who's being given bad PR advice.

HeresMe · 21/12/2019 17:33

She could Skype her views, not even increasing her carbon footprint by sailing but this does fitt the narrative

BenevolentEzza · 21/12/2019 17:34

This thread is all sorts of wrong.

Allyg1185 · 21/12/2019 17:36

I'm neither male or old and she seriously pisses me off she's nothing but a jumped up little gobshite

firstimemamma · 21/12/2019 17:38

"While I understand that they fundamentally disagree with the concept of climate change..."

There's your explanation right there. That's why you can't understand why they don't like Greta. Their thinking doesn't follow science, logic or reason. There's probably going to be lots they say or do that you can't understand, I wouldn't half be surprised if they also thought the earth is flat!

No point attempting to try to understand people like that, just let them crack on and try not to argue with them.

ManonBlackbeak · 21/12/2019 17:38

The OP is correct in stating that most of the vitroil towards her comes from white men of a certain age.

Remember that is a 16 year old child.

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 21/12/2019 17:39

This is not a simple issue. The men you speak of seem rather unpleasant. There are issues with Greta and her followers that I find too combative and condemnatory to make me want to follow her or her example. I think she is being used and I personally do not think her cause is helped by this, Plenty of people are working so hard on this issue that cannot be sorted in a week. Screeching "How dare you" just is a turn off for me I am afraid. I am female. It is not about not wanting to hear a young female with things to say. I love listening too Malala,

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