To think younger adults are too compliant.

[antelopevalley]

We all know things have been hard for lots of people over the last three years, but so many younger adults have been shafted. From high house prices, to very high rents for substandard accommodation, cuts to schools, high student debt for poorly taught courses, closure of so many public services that supports young people struggling into adulthood, and increasing homelessness.

But the only pushback I really see is on social media where "boomers" get blamed. While in life they are getting jobs, working hard and trying often against the odds to make their life better.

Why are they so compliant? Why are they not rioting? Or at least organising against the rich? Why so little evidence of any kind of fightback?

This. They start school way too young, are brought up by wrap around childcare and overworked disengaged teachers, and forced through a series of exams that are irrelevant to their interests and needs. If thet complain they get detention. If they show initiative and give a creative answer that isn’t on the answer sheet they get marked wrong.

Maybe some of them are doing ok?

You may be right.

How many parents encourage political activism? How many have taken their kids on a rally? How many have marched with them for a cause?

How many secretly prefer a compliant child who sits watching you tube and doesn't spend the evening arguing or expounding their views?

I wish I fell into that "you" category you mean, my young days are behind me by quite a bit. I just resent the way the op is putting the onus on the young people to riot, when really we all play a role in the situation our country is in.

On that, paying cash causes me to notice if others are. I have seen increasing cash use at the supermarket over the past few months. Last week was notable as there were 3 shops in a row (mine being no 3) paid for with cash. Not small ones either. It's the British way - say nothing but do little things like that to make your point!

I've seen this too. You still see the usual 'We are Cashless' smugness (who are beyond help TBH), but I see more and more places with a prominent sign saying 'We accept Card and Cash'. And people there paying cash.

With everything that's happening, these little gestures take on a new meaning indeed. Maybe there's hope

Maybe not all young people want to riot

When I was at Uni in the 80s it was normal to go on a March at the weekend either locally or on chartered coaches to London.

Not every weekend but at least twice a month. We'd have sit ins and occupations etc
That seems to have changed a lot. I'd say in the 80s the default was to protest. In the 20s people just watch Netflix and feel disengaged and powerless maybe?

But wouldn't you be risking getting arrested for that kind of thing nowadays? I guess a criminal record is fine if you don't need a clean DBS check for work

My ds is 18 & very involved with politics & protests, he has marched for Black Lives Matter, against the new Police & Crime bill, marched & protested against local issues involving public transport, social care & local health. He also joined protests against the ban of abortion in some American states, many LGBTQ+ protests, the anti Trump protest. This is just a small part of what he does, he has been a young carer & is a trustee of the Young Carers charity in our city, he is standing as a candidate in the next council elections for the Green Party, is a candidate for the International LGBTQ+ officer for the Green Party & is an Elections Coordinator for the local Green Party. He has been involved in politics since he was 14, at 16 he got plans he designed to extend the tram network in our city accepted as a policy for development, has appeared on television & radio speaking about social & political issues affecting young people.

My ds is 18 & very involved with politics & protests, he has marched for Black Lives Matter, against the new Police & Crime bill, marched & protested against local issues involving public transport, social care & local health. He also joined protests against the ban of abortion in some American states, many LGBTQ+ protests, the anti Trump protest

So at 18 he understands all these complex issues in detail...How remarkable...

It sounds more like someone would like to make a career out of protesting. A professional protester...

It is very difficult for youngsters to fight back against older generations. It is always difficult for people with nothing to fight back against established systems, and ours is huge beyond precedence.

This problem started 20 years ago and affected young adults then, those of us who are in our 40s now. We were surrounded on all sides by power systems which told us this was fine. Baby boomers gaslit us, going on and on about how selfish and unpleasant we were for questioning their need for pensions. In jobs, we could get sacked for not giving more, and “change management” courses were a thing. Some of us also grew up in the era of the Miners’ strikes, and saw the violence and full power of the state unleashed against protesters. We have watched protests be ignored again and again. Do you forget so easily what it was like to be young and poor? You have no power.

When the power of the state and the power of older generations is against you, you need more than mild-mannered protests, you need the will to rebellion.

I wonder about this too. The young are getting shafted every which way, by the government, by the rich, by the political system, by climate change... The pressure is building. I'm surprised by the lack of resistance. I suspect when it does blow, which it eventually will, it will be one hell of a riot.

IncompleteSenten · 09/10/2022 17:20
You said exactly why.

They're busy on social media.

That's what they're choosing. Yelling on twitter, twerking on tiktok, being stupid on YouTube. 🤷“

Ours aren’t. They’re busy studying, working and learning to drive.

How old are you? Young, presumably, as you’re busy on SM atm 😁

I feel the same. Now they also want photo ID if you want to vote which will make it harder for those who can't drive/go on foreign holidays/unable to access the internet to be able to request a photo ID card to vote. I wonder which demographics will be hit hardest by these rules 🤔

Last time young people took to the streets it was about student loans & after that, the next general mass protest was on Brexit, We ve also had mass demonstrations on Iraq too.

Did any of these make any difference whatsoever?

Govts ignore protest marches, they only take notice of focus groups & select MP pressure groups.

I think the next protests will come via SM not out on the streets, what i see on line is very clever and is done to make the Tories a party of ridicule.

There is always someone worth voting for if you bother to read behind the headlines from MSM, the only way we'll get the tories again is if we swallow the Line "there is no one worth voting for"

This is exactly what they want you to believe.

I think the voter ID stuff may well hit the Tories hardest.

I dunno man, is it because when youngsters take to the streets or carry out direct action (I.e insulate Britain protests) boomers don’t like it so the Government bring in draconian anti-protest laws to appease them?

Because they are intelligent enough to understand that it is the current state of the economy, that is impacting most developed countries and that rioting and the rest won't change a thing.

Better to focus on making the most of it until the economy does recover and who knows, they might end up richer than the current riches!

Is it really necessary to bring intergenerational warfare into every single thread? You might want to look at “boomers’” history of protest - CND, Greenham women, student protests, backing the miners’ strikes - we were the generation of protesters. Still are given half a chance.

I mean, I wouldn’t, but this thread is a (presumably) boomer/gen x OP criticising young people for being “too compliant”, which is “inter generational warfare” in and of itself.

You said it “presumably”.

Society has changed, years ago young people gathered cheap bars and pubs. I was out most nights of the week, it was that or sit around watching Crossroads on TV with my parents. Young people spent a lot of time socialising, sharing ideas, watching live music etc with other young people. Protest movements started from young people getting together.
My adult children don't socialise as much, they are at home a lot more than I was, they can watch whatever they want on TV.

But it's always been like this in the UK. Not like places like France and Spain where people of all ages and backgrounds take to the streets about things. We generally shrug and go 'Ah well, could be worse'.

Whether they take the streets or not makes no difference, they are experiencing the exact same issues.