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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU: Elderly parents do not care about their impact on the environment

481 replies

Scientistathome · 27/08/2023 08:07

My elderly parents acknowledge (in passing) that the human impact on the planet is destructive and that their family's future could be jeopardized.
However, they refuse to do anything about it. They burn gas and electricity in summer to keep warm (extra jumper? Nooo!), Will not Install solar panels (they can afford it), take unnecessary flights, ... the list goes on.
They flaty refuse to change any habits despite that they know they should and could.
I get quite mad with them!
AIBU?
I know it is their choice, not mine but it affects all of us (their grandchildren are quite disgusted with them).
Are other people's parents like this?
(I know that some parents cannot afford eco-friendly choices like solar panels)

OP posts:
ClemmyTine · 27/08/2023 13:54

LauraNorda · 27/08/2023 08:11

The best thing they could have done for the environment was not have any children.

When someone says this I always wonder why they don't lead by example and throw themselves off a cliff.

WibblyWobblyTimeyWimeyStuff · 27/08/2023 14:22

I wonder where the OP is? Thread didn't go quite the way you expected eh @Scientistathome ??? Wink

Againstmachine · 27/08/2023 14:24

I wonder if your parents are actually not being environmentally friendly on purpose, after all anything that might accelerate the downfall of their eco systems of their ungrateful kids and grandkids can only be a good thing.

NannyOggsWhiskyStash · 27/08/2023 14:39

Gowlett · 27/08/2023 08:28

My mum absolutely despises Greta Thunberg.

But why?

Bethanbee · 27/08/2023 14:41

I can't understand why so many people on this thread are angry that somebody would be expected to not do as much as much environmental damage as they possibly could. It's quite scary. No wonder governments aren't doing anything meaningful to help.

Crikeyalmighty · 27/08/2023 14:47

@Scientistathome I think you just have to accept that not everyone is like yourself.

Shitzngiggles · 27/08/2023 14:48

Yet another (not so) thinly disguised elderly bashing thread. It's getting so bloody tedious on here .

Againstmachine · 27/08/2023 14:48

Bethanbee · 27/08/2023 14:41

I can't understand why so many people on this thread are angry that somebody would be expected to not do as much as much environmental damage as they possibly could. It's quite scary. No wonder governments aren't doing anything meaningful to help.

Because most of the time people who espouse all this about environmental damage, are hypocrites.

Who whilst banging on about environment, also are driving about in their huge 4x4s taking many foreign holidays and multiple kids.

You only have to look at people like Bono, Emma Thompson, the royals , Lewis Hamilton all talk the talk but often fail to actually follow it through.l

WibblyWobblyTimeyWimeyStuff · 27/08/2023 14:50

Shitzngiggles · 27/08/2023 14:48

Yet another (not so) thinly disguised elderly bashing thread. It's getting so bloody tedious on here .

I agree. And I am not elderly. - (mid 50s.)

SoIinvictus · 27/08/2023 14:51

Bethanbee · 27/08/2023 14:41

I can't understand why so many people on this thread are angry that somebody would be expected to not do as much as much environmental damage as they possibly could. It's quite scary. No wonder governments aren't doing anything meaningful to help.

Precisely nobody has said that.

We've had a virtue signalling 'splainer expecting some sort of award for not using so much plastic and turning his heating down.

He's also said he doesn't expect his kids to be eco-aware but he does expect his parents to be.

He's a bit of an idiot really, isn't he?

SoIinvictus · 27/08/2023 14:52

WibblyWobblyTimeyWimeyStuff · 27/08/2023 14:50

I agree. And I am not elderly. - (mid 50s.)

Show quote history

Agreed.

The hatred for the elderly on MN is a wet dream for those with a yob mentality and desire to "other".

Last -ism standing. Abhorrent.

FineBerol · 27/08/2023 14:55

@Scientistathome Scientistathome if your kids are that "disgusted" by their grandparents lack of eco consciousness... then I assume they won't have their own kids as that has the biggest impact overall !

Shitzngiggles · 27/08/2023 15:00

@WibblyWobblyTimeyWimeyStuff@SoIinvictus what people seem to forget, nobody is born elderly. They'll get there one day and a lot sooner than they might think. Edited as next part of post was on wrong thread. But the main point still stands.

Yoghurtpotsatdawn · 27/08/2023 15:18

No wonder governments aren't doing anything meaningful to help.

They are! They’re flying round the world in private jets, talking to other world leaders who have also flown to the same place, about doing meaningful things to help.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 27/08/2023 15:56

Oh look, we've got the 'people sound angry' trope being trotted out. AKA pesky women having opinions and stating them.

Kaz40s · 27/08/2023 15:56

Yoghurtpotsatdawn · 27/08/2023 15:18

No wonder governments aren't doing anything meaningful to help.

They are! They’re flying round the world in private jets, talking to other world leaders who have also flown to the same place, about doing meaningful things to help.

This is what gets on my goat! Do as I say, don't do as I do mentality. Seeing them & their extremely large entourage arriving to summits in their mega guzzlers & private jets to discuss how the plebs can reduce their carbon footprint pisses me right off. The hypocrisy of these fat cats is astounding 😡

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 27/08/2023 15:59

He's also said he doesn't expect his kids to be eco-aware but he does expect his parents to be

What's the explanation for that astounding illogicality, I wonder? if anything it ought to be the other way around.

QuillBill · 27/08/2023 16:02

What's the explanation for that astounding illogicality, I wonder? if anything it ought to be the other way around.

He said

Personally, I expect less from younger generations as they have less money to pay for lifestyle changes (DS has had same phone for many years!). I feel that the burden of change should fall on older generations (including myself) as they often have more resources with which to do it.

So his kids are disgusted by their grandparents but it's the grandparents who need to make the changes.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 27/08/2023 16:04

My ex mil.didnt recycle a single thing in the 9 yrs I knew her.Not my business.

NetZeroZealot · 27/08/2023 16:04

Why are people assuming the OP is male?

saraclara · 27/08/2023 16:05

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 27/08/2023 15:59

He's also said he doesn't expect his kids to be eco-aware but he does expect his parents to be

What's the explanation for that astounding illogicality, I wonder? if anything it ought to be the other way around.

To be scrupulously fair to OP* that's not what they said. They said that there was less that the younger generation could actively do, as they don't have the resources of older people (presumably the money to pay for solar panels etc).

His kids clearly are eco-aware, or they wouldn't be so appalled that their GPs aren't aware enough to be acceptable to them..

*It goes against the grain of course, but I would prefer the discussion to be honest.

scatterolight · 27/08/2023 16:09

You've been brainwashed into loathing your own parents by pure propaganda generated by people and organizations without our best interests at heart. What a sad state of affairs.

Just look at the charts comparing our contribution to "climate change" versus China. If our governments actually thought our planet was genuinely in danger it would be going to war with China to save us all. But instead it's going to tax our population into penury and leave China to continue to destroy the planet. Doesn't quite add up does it?

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 27/08/2023 16:10

He's making the (usual) assumption that all older people are loaded, isn't he? I mean, I don't blame him, it's a common misconception on here that everyone over 60 is a millionaire living in a five bedroom house and who don't need the state pension. He also seems pretty keen on spending the DPs money for them. What business is it of his if they don't want solar panels?

MetalFences · 27/08/2023 16:14

NetZeroZealot · 27/08/2023 16:04

Why are people assuming the OP is male?

The OP has stated they are a heterosexual with a Y chromosome on a previous thread regarding their spare room.

nokidshere · 27/08/2023 16:14

However, they refuse to do anything about it. They burn gas and electricity in summer to keep warm (extra jumper? Nooo!), Will not Install solar panels (they can afford it), take unnecessary flights, ... the list goes on.They flaty refuse to change any habits despite that they know they should and could.

I don't know how elderly your parents are but, assuming they are over 70 they've probably already done more than you have during their lives anyway.

For the first 30yrs of their lives they almost certainly didn't use single plastics, didn't travel as much, only wealthier people had cars, they probably shopped locally, used glass bottles, blocks of soap, only replaced things when they were broken, recycled with the rag & bone man, got paper bags at the local shops etc etc etc so leave them alone and let them enjoy the rest of their lives and concentrate what you and your children are doing to mitigate the destruction now.

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