Page 24 | "boomer" thread

Maireas · 2023-08-28T19:29:53+00:00

You've hidden this evening's offensive, ageist thread, stereotyping "boomers". Will this be deleted? Can we have a robust response to ageism on MN?

WarOnTheSlugs · 30/08/2023 01:58

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WarOnTheSlugs · 30/08/2023 02:49

Great people plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in, because they will be long gone by the time that tree has grown.

They don't chop down all the trees that all their ancestors planted, burn them 🔥💥 and then shrug and say "well kids, if you're too hot, it's your own fault! When we were young we'd just go and sit in the shade."

IClaudine · 30/08/2023 08:02

Threenow · 30/08/2023 01:25

Well, this thread appears to have been taken over by a few people for their personal agendas - what a surprise. I've about had enough of MN, time to move on methinks, and find some more tolerant people who are up for a sensible discussion rather than a bunch of zealots determined to blame all the ills of society on one generation of people.

Feeling the same here, which is a shame. But MNHQ seem to support the rampant ageism, as demonstrated by @YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet 's earlier posts. It is very depressing. But hey, all the ageists will be old soon and they'll (sadly) get a taste of their own medicine.

sunglassesonthetable · 30/08/2023 08:08

Wow. Such lovely personal attacks again. Hoping for people to be strangled now.

😁😁😁

Please

sunglassesonthetable · 30/08/2023 08:13

Kind of getting you don't understand idiom.

Itsadilemma · 30/08/2023 08:26

Reading this thread and others it strikes me that it was written to be deliberately provocative and to cause friction between us. Mumsnet has become a safe place for us to discuss our rights to safe spaces, fair sports and opportunities. What better way to undermine that than turn the generations against each other? ‘Divide and conquer’ is a tactic I see being used a lot recently; it’s in full swing on another well-known platform. There are differences between the generations, but it’s not smart to blame the failings of successive governments (left and right) on an entire generation. We were all young once, and most of us have compassion and understanding for those younger or older than us. Slurs, such as boomer, or those using female names are damaging to us all and are used to shut down discussion. We need to stop feeding the trolls.

VimtoVimto · 30/08/2023 08:28

I’ve read bits and pieces of this threads and find the assumption that a whole generation had perfect foresight of how government policies would impact future generations.
It is all very well viewing the past from the present day but it ignores the fact that the information was not readily available at the time, we couldn’t just search information online but relied on newspapers and news broadcasts.
It also ignores how much time was spent doing day to day activities that can now be completed in minutes online.

Without the advantage of perfect foresight we may have invested our time protesting about things that seemed important then such as CND, Amnesty International, Equality, Poll Tax and pit closures rather than what impacts future generations.

IClaudine · 30/08/2023 08:34

Itsadilemma

I agree. But MNHQ also need to get better at showing trolls the door.

sunglassesonthetable · 30/08/2023 08:37

I’ve read bits and pieces of this threads and find the assumption that a whole generation had perfect foresight of how government policies would impact future generations.
It is all very well viewing the past from the present day but it ignores the fact that the information was not readily available at the time, we couldn’t just search information online but relied on newspapers and news broadcasts.
It also ignores how much time was spent doing day to day activities that can now be completed in minutes online.

Very good point.

Foreseeable bandied about like sweeties.

Should read with the benefit of hindsight.

Oliotya · 30/08/2023 08:41

But why are some people so against recognizing and addressing current generational inequalities?
What's done is done, who's fault it is, if anyone's is mostly irrelevant. It's what we all do now that matters. And as a millennial, it does feel rather like we're (we being millennials and younger) being left to fend for ourselves politically and socially.

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/08/2023 08:44

WarOnTheSlugs · 29/08/2023 22:32

I have been campaigning for better climate policies since I was a child. I protested vehemently against the EU exit. I have pushed for establishing better business and tax policies, better company regulation, better economic policies that will increase productivity because that is the only way to raise living standards sustainably. I've spent most of my working life dedicated to improving these things and clearing up the mess after the financial crisis.

I have also done what I can to push for better support for disabled people to be accommodated by employers, including some work with the Equalities Office on this. Trying to shift the focus from only the obvious, visible differences like race and sex to include also consideration of the huge deficit in employment opportunities for those from disadvantaged backgrounds or those who are disabled.

I've been a trustee for various charities and do what I can through that to provide opportunities to disadvantaged young people. I have mentored young people before, run work experience programmes recruiting from disadvantaged areas, taught sessions on economics as well. I have also done charity work through various international organisations but I think the small, local ones have more impact generally.

I write to my MP and try to press for change on issues that I believe are the most important for the future of my children, rather than focusing on those that would benefit me most right now.

I'm sure it's not enough, and I would like to do more. As a lone parent to two children with disabilities, I have limited capacity right now to take on extra things outside of the essentials but I certainly try where I can. I hope to do far more in the future when I'm stretched less thinly.

I am sure my children will have plenty of criticism of me, as children do. That is life.

I'm not really sure how any of this is relevant though because again, a generational analysis of economic and social trends is not about specific individuals.

Show quote history

I have done many of those things starting in the 70s and was particularly active in the anti-racist, anti apartheid movement. I'm not saying everything I did worked but I tried.

TheAverageJoanne · 30/08/2023 08:54

IClaudine · 30/08/2023 08:34

Itsadilemma

I agree. But MNHQ also need to get better at showing trolls the door.

They're quite inconsistent.

sunglassesonthetable · 30/08/2023 08:55

But why are some people so against recognizing and addressing current generational inequalities?

Who doesn't?

I totally recognise the current inequalities. My kids are in exactly the same position as all millennials.

It affects all of us.

BIWI · 30/08/2023 09:02

Oliotya · 30/08/2023 08:41

But why are some people so against recognizing and addressing current generational inequalities?
What's done is done, who's fault it is, if anyone's is mostly irrelevant. It's what we all do now that matters. And as a millennial, it does feel rather like we're (we being millennials and younger) being left to fend for ourselves politically and socially.

Maybe because some people are offended by being told that the situation for younger people is their fault?

I totally recognise how difficult it is for the younger generation, as I have two of them living back with us. Neither can afford - any longer - to live independently.

But they'll be fine when we shuffle off this mortal coil, as they will (like many of their generation will, from their parents) inherit our property - which obviously we can no longer downsize from, given that they're living with us. In the meantime, we continue to look after them. Emotionally, physically (i.e. by keeping them warm and fed and clothed) and financially. So hardly ignoring their plights.

Lots of things happened to end up with my generation being better off financially - for which I am very grateful. But to say that it's our fault, rather than that of successive governments, is deeply offensive. Not to say goady and inflammatory.

IClaudine · 30/08/2023 09:04

Oliotya · 30/08/2023 08:41

But why are some people so against recognizing and addressing current generational inequalities?
What's done is done, who's fault it is, if anyone's is mostly irrelevant. It's what we all do now that matters. And as a millennial, it does feel rather like we're (we being millennials and younger) being left to fend for ourselves politically and socially.

I don't think anyone has denied this or doesn't want to address this. But one of the problems that millenials need to address is the fact that they don't get out and vote.

If you don't do that, the politicians are less likely to bother trying to design policies that will benefit you over their core voters. I think at the last GE less than 50% got out and voted. I found that so frustrating, as your generation could have made a real difference to how things turned out.

greenhydrangea · 30/08/2023 09:08

It is odd that Gen X does not get blamed for anything. It's as if they don't exist.

traytablestowed · 30/08/2023 09:10

And as a millennial, it does feel rather like we're (we being millennials and younger) being left to fend for ourselves politically and socially.

@Oliotya you've hit the nail on the head here. What's done is done and the blame game ultimately helps no one. Broadly speaking, people under 40 are worse off than previous generations were at the same age, and are set to be poorer throughout their lives. This is a fact that we have to accept, and we do.
To all the people on this thread disputing this - if you truly can't muster the energy to feel sorry about this, or even to reflect on your generation's role in it, the very least you could do is acknowledge it.
The best you could do is use your vote at the next GE to help support the people who need it - namely your children and grandchildren - by voting for policies that don't make them even worse off.

sunglassesonthetable · 30/08/2023 09:10

I'm Gen X.

It's nonsense really. The blaming.

IClaudine · 30/08/2023 09:11

greenhydrangea · 30/08/2023 09:08

It is odd that Gen X does not get blamed for anything. It's as if they don't exist.

Yes, I pointed that out earlier. Born 31st December 1964=horrid boomer. Born 1st January 1965=blameless Generation X.

Many Gen X would have been the Tory voting yuppies of the 80s.

traytablestowed · 30/08/2023 09:14

But one of the problems that millenials need to address is the fact that they don't get out and vote.

@IClaudine this is absolutely a fair criticism of younger generations, this will be our "legacy" that our own children will call us out over.

sunglassesonthetable · 30/08/2023 09:15

To all the people on this thread disputing this - if you truly can't muster the energy to feel sorry about this, or even to reflect on your generation's role in it, the very least you could do is acknowledge it.

Who's not acknowledging the situation? @traytablestowed

The best you could do is use your vote at the next GE to help support the people who need it - namely your children and grandchildren - by voting for policies that don't make them even worse off.

Likewise all generations get out and vote.

It's this endless cliché presumption that is annoying me.

IClaudine · 30/08/2023 09:15

traytablestowed · 30/08/2023 09:10

And as a millennial, it does feel rather like we're (we being millennials and younger) being left to fend for ourselves politically and socially.

@Oliotya you've hit the nail on the head here. What's done is done and the blame game ultimately helps no one. Broadly speaking, people under 40 are worse off than previous generations were at the same age, and are set to be poorer throughout their lives. This is a fact that we have to accept, and we do.
To all the people on this thread disputing this - if you truly can't muster the energy to feel sorry about this, or even to reflect on your generation's role in it, the very least you could do is acknowledge it.
The best you could do is use your vote at the next GE to help support the people who need it - namely your children and grandchildren - by voting for policies that don't make them even worse off.

No one has disputed it though. We have disputed blaming a single cohort of society for everything, though. Just as people try to blame refugees for everything. It is simplistic and nonsensical.

Yes, I will be voting, but most millenials won't bother. That is also a big part of the problem.

sunglassesonthetable · 30/08/2023 09:18

No one has disputed it though. We have disputed blaming a single cohort of society for everything, though. Just as people try to blame refugees for everything. It is simplistic and nonsensical.

This

Oliotya · 30/08/2023 09:19

IClaudine · 30/08/2023 09:04

I don't think anyone has denied this or doesn't want to address this. But one of the problems that millenials need to address is the fact that they don't get out and vote.

If you don't do that, the politicians are less likely to bother trying to design policies that will benefit you over their core voters. I think at the last GE less than 50% got out and voted. I found that so frustrating, as your generation could have made a real difference to how things turned out.

Edited

Show quote history

Genuinely, who should youngsters be voting for? Who is making policies for us? Who, if elected, will try and keep our votes?
Because at the moment, I think we don't vote because there isn't anyone for us to vote for. Until we have a statistical majority, no party is interested in us.

sunglassesonthetable · 30/08/2023 09:21

Genuinely, who should youngsters be voting for? Who is making policies for us? Who, if elected, will try and keep our votes?
Because at the moment, I think we don't vote because there isn't anyone for us to vote for. Until we have a statistical majority, no party is interested in us.

You've literally just told people to get out and vote.