The Generation Gap on DU is real

[Caliman73]

375. There is definitely an age, and thus priority gap.

People at different stages of life, and who grew up with different technologies and different customs are not going to use the same tools, language, or have the same priorities.

People can definitely get defensive about their actions, their life experiences, etc... It goes both ways.


I am curious about a statement you made regarding "climate change". Which young climate activists are being called "terrorists"?

If you are talking about people who deface the Mona Lisa or other art work to get attention for climate change. I wouldn't call them "terrorists" I would call them stupid for doing something that will bring about attention to them for being destructive and NOT AT ALL for climate change.

Blow up an oil tanker (don't!) or damage property of Exxon (I am obligated to say ... don't) to bring attention to climate change. Certainly some will still call you a terrorist, as terrorism is the use of violence and destruction to incite fear in order to push a political agenda. Damaging the property of polluters however, makes sense and may garner SOME support rather than just pissing people off by damaging cultural iconography.

The generation gap has always existed. Younger people tend toward direct actions, and may be seen as being rash rather than engaging in the system we have for making political change. While young people voted in greater numbers recently, there is still a pitifully low percentage of eligible young voters (18-25) that vote in elections, run for office, etc.. I also know that young people tend to think that electoralism brings no real change (and there is definitely truth to that idea), especially when money from the wealthiest people is given to both major parties and they are lobbied to exempt certain industries, groups, etc... from meaningful change. When the average House race is costing millions of dollars, the average Senate race 10's to 100's of millions, and the Presidency upwards of a billion or more.

Human beings are wired to see the world from their own experiences. You are right that we should take time to try to see it from the perspective of other people. That TOO works both ways.