I'm getting fed up with younger people (teens to ~20 years old) lecturing older people about our failings on the environment, Brexit etc and how we've created a problem that 'their generation' will be left to deal with. Even the politicians are at it, saying we need to 'pay more now' to ensure future generations aren't left to foot the bill.
You see it quite frequently now e.g. on political debate shows and the news. A teenager will say along the lines of 'I'm 17. It's older people that have caused the current climate crisis but it's my and future generations that will have to deal with the consequences.' Or 'I'm 17, I was too young for the Brexit vote and I'm disgusted that older people have voted us into this situation.' Or 'I'm 17, I was too young for the (Scottish) independence vote last time round. It's only right that I should now have a say.'
It's obviously great that young people are interested in politics, the environment etc, however I do wonder what they class as 'old' when they refer to older people usually in a negative way. It wouldn't surprise me if they consider anyone 40+ as old. Further, for those of us that are 40+, we've still theoretically got decades of life ahead of us, so to an extent (with near-medium term things) we also have to deal with them whether good or bad.
Also, there is part of me that thinks 'ah, the ignorant bliss of youth.' Many (most) of these people have yet to deal with the realities of life. It's fine to chastise 'older people' for perceived wrongdoings when you've yet to be faced with making decisions as an adult.
Finally, they (all of us actually) seem to conveniently forget we are all benefiting in various ways because of sociopolitical and industrial decisions made over past decades. It's easy with hindsight to say things like 'the industrial revolution has a lot to answer for!!!' but surely most of us in the developed world have benefitted from such points in history?
In summary, I would say to young people those of us aged 40+ still have decades to live. Most of us have been contributing to society for years and have earned the right to vote and make decisions. They themselves might be faced with difficult decisions as they get older and discover life isn't quite that straightforward.
You see it quite frequently now e.g. on political debate shows and the news. A teenager will say along the lines of 'I'm 17. It's older people that have caused the current climate crisis but it's my and future generations that will have to deal with the consequences.' Or 'I'm 17, I was too young for the Brexit vote and I'm disgusted that older people have voted us into this situation.' Or 'I'm 17, I was too young for the (Scottish) independence vote last time round. It's only right that I should now have a say.'
It's obviously great that young people are interested in politics, the environment etc, however I do wonder what they class as 'old' when they refer to older people usually in a negative way. It wouldn't surprise me if they consider anyone 40+ as old. Further, for those of us that are 40+, we've still theoretically got decades of life ahead of us, so to an extent (with near-medium term things) we also have to deal with them whether good or bad.
Also, there is part of me that thinks 'ah, the ignorant bliss of youth.' Many (most) of these people have yet to deal with the realities of life. It's fine to chastise 'older people' for perceived wrongdoings when you've yet to be faced with making decisions as an adult.
Finally, they (all of us actually) seem to conveniently forget we are all benefiting in various ways because of sociopolitical and industrial decisions made over past decades. It's easy with hindsight to say things like 'the industrial revolution has a lot to answer for!!!' but surely most of us in the developed world have benefitted from such points in history?
In summary, I would say to young people those of us aged 40+ still have decades to live. Most of us have been contributing to society for years and have earned the right to vote and make decisions. They themselves might be faced with difficult decisions as they get older and discover life isn't quite that straightforward.
