I'm one. We inherited a world full of misogyny, prejudice, racial and sexual intolerance. We moved the needle a long way from that towards where it is today. Still not perfect and there were clearly a good percentage who didn't want to move in that direction and are still influential today. However, to suggest everyone born ore mid 60s is some sort of far right dinosaur is b******cks. Edit. I'm not claiming any individual credit here. But i get a bit tired of my generation being written off as dinosaurs.
I agree to an extent though maybe that can be confused with getting more practical and less idealistic. I'd rather reach goals in small steps than fall short in one giant leap. Although in terms of climate change something drastic is needed pretty soon.
It's an interesting one because I don't know anything about the world you (as a generation) were brought up in other than the things you see and hear on TV but that's hardly reliable and doesn't paint a true picture as a lot of things are hidden from TV and always have been. (Have you ever seen anyone go the toilet on a soap?) But sadly in my experience the vast vast majority of people I know over the age of 60 are racist, prejudiced and homophobic and of the men I know the vast majority are sexist too. I've only got 3 theories why that might be. 1. There genuinely is a much higher proportion of this kind of people in that age group. 2. They feel that as they're older they can say what they want without reproach. In other words it's the same proportion as with all age groups but while most keep their opinions to themselves they think they're older so can say what they want no matter how offensive. 3. The world was easier for them as younger adults and they resent how it has changed so hare hitting back at all those they see as 'different' who have made it worse. I've no idea which of the above is true if any but I can honestly say that the amount of people in that age group who have abhorrent views and will tell those views to anyone without shame is much higher than others. That being said I have noticed a big increase in those views being aired much more casually by all age groups in the last few years. Since around the time Nigel farage and Tommy Robinson got air time.
Agreed....never did me any harm!! As an aside...many years ago I listened to a radio phone in about the state of our young people...one chap rang to say that society wouldn't recover until capital punishment was restored in schools.....bit extreme I thought.
I'm in the same demographic, born a year before England won the World Cup. Things have changed massively for the better in my opinion. I've not really moved politically I don't think. The politics of the country have moved more to the right in terms of privatisation & the welfare state, so i find myself further left than I was. I run my own business & have done since the mid 90's, so I'm hardly what I'd call hard left. I'm more anti globalisation & in favour of the NHS & social care being funded properly, even if that means a slight increase in personal taxation for those of whom can afford it. I'm not in favour of returning to the tax rates of the 1970's though, far from it.
You're right, politically there's a worrying worldwide swing to the right though that seems to be a phenomenon of the 2010s. When you look back to the 50s 60s and 70s though society has moved hugely forward in terms of sexual equality, rejection of racism, working conditions etc, etc. I'm just hopeful we continue to edge forward in the right direction.
Being a boomer myself (only just) all I can say is that it’s a shame all the older people you know are like that. Of my older friends and relatives, there’s a small majority who are tolerant lefty types and a small number who lived the majority of their lives accepting the modern tolerant world who have now become a bit horrible and intolerant in their old age. it’s a shame because they used to be such nice blokes, and still are if you can keep them away from political discussions.
The current use of "boomer" refers to a state of mind, not exclusively an age thing. There are a lot of middle aged white blokes on here (you included) who are nowhere near "ok boomer" territory. Then there are others (tekkytyke, nudge) who fit it bang on
I think that the difference partly is nowadays the millennials are offended by almost everything, and therefore view what we see as normal or funny as right wing or bigoted. I suppose that in many things it depends where you set the bar.
It's more a case of what you're saying or doing whilst at the bar. If you're trying to grope the pretty barmaid whilst making racist comments about the skin colour and ethnic background of the waitress you're probably going to offend those who think it's wrong to do so.
Of course you are, I’ll give you an example. Family friend shopping in Goole last week commented to her millennial son how good she thought it was that the store they were in employed a staff member who obviously had Tourettes. The Millennial was instantly offended that his mother would be so discriminatory in pointing out the lads disability. She wasn't being But thats how he saw it cos theyre offended at everything.
In your mind where is the threshold of acceptable views and comments? Also I can't be the only one thinking it's weird that a mother would run home and start slagging her son off to her friends.
Have to disagree with just about every point you make there. I find that the most racist age group I come across are the 20-40 age group I.e not boomers. Just look who lead the racist chants at football and the Tommy Robinson followers. Had it easy - I beg to differ. Those born early 50s generally had no car, no phone no telly, no fridge, no annual holiday but didn't moan about it we just got on with it. Theres a perception by us old uns that the young uns are wannabes who want everything now and do nowt but moan and vice-versa with millennials that us old uns are grumpy old right wing racist gits. I think neither are true and these perceptions are the minority who get the publicity. I must mix in different circles to you because the majority of my boomer mates are good people who have a laugh, care about the world and are more inclined to listen to different viewpoints
I’m really interested to understand how you think the world was easier for younger adults in your point 3. Have you thought of option 4? The education is much better now? Ignorance and the media perpetuated such views. Just watch ‘til death us do part! You couldn’t really choose your news or media. But as the OP said, these same people are the ones who got us here... I’m not in the age bracket btw..
That's the key part though I think, the chants and Tommy Robinson thing. In my experience the older generation will openly stand there and completely sober make comments that are just horrible really and think nothing of it regardless of the audience. Those in the age range you describe tend to be more led by peers sort of thing. They keep quite in general but then when drunk or Inca group suddenly become racist. That's what makes me wonder if it's simply a case of the older generation not caring what people think of them because they feel they've earned the right to say it? In other words could it be that the percentage of people is the same but it's just a willingness to say it in conversation increases with age?
I think that is what people are getting wrong. Expressing it that they are themselves offended rather than saying that could be offensive and you'd rather not hear it. 'millennials' aren't offended by everything but they are more conscious of what could, can and will cause offense. Those of us lucky enough to be given confidence by their parents won't be afraid to point it out either. (Note. Most definitely a millennial, now aged 30)
