In the past, you've roasted the youth for not being involved. Now they are and you call them stupid

What do you want from us?

I'm 30 - on the cusp of young-adult and middle age. I am getting sick and tired of being told that young people are stupid, gullible or shallow when they get involved in politics and support a candidate.

The media, the Democratic Party and people at DU have spent years bashing the youth for not being involved enough, and I had to put up with that even though I was involved. Now that young people are more active in this election season, the message has changed - young people still suck because when they support a candidate it must be because their too young or stupid to know the facts, they are just sucked in by sensationalism, etc.

I'm getting really tired of constantly being bashed by you people, by the media and by the Democratic Party. Yeah, I'm 30 now and starting to not "count" as youth anymore. But its been going on for a long time. What really makes me angry is this - here's what I've done in my youth:

-- earned a bachelor's degree and will be receiving my master's degree in social work shortly
-- run a state-wide political campaign
-- worked for the American Civil Liberties Union
-- Read 119 books on Politics, Economics, Globalization, International Political Theory
-- Been asked to speak or serve as panelist for statewide public policy conferences of state activist organizations

To name a few things.

When you keep saying that I must support Barack Obama because I'm stupid and sucked in by hype, or that I'm part of the blind "American Idol" culture that is shallow and ignorant I really, really, really just want to tell you to go fuck yourself. Its insulting, its age-discriminatory, and its wrong.

So - stop it. Stop making sweeping generalizations about "the youth." PLEASE. Either that, or don't wonder why they don't stay more involved in the process.

...'til the "youth generation" tell you to go fuck yourself.

Karma, baby, karma. It's coming your way, sooner than you think.

You're bitter.

I'm only supporting Hillary because I'm old and afraid of change. Or at least that's what I've been told. :shrug:

:grouphug:

dupe.

sorry I couldn't resist! :D only kidding!

:shrug:

How do you call the kids you raised stupid and gullible. :shrug:

I'm proud that my generation raised such a great generation. At least we did one thing right.

As you get older, you will find two kinds of older people: Mentors and Detractors.

Mentors understand that we reach an age where we have to hand over to younger people the reins of control and power, in politics, in business, even in personal matters. The measure of a person is how well they accept and navigate their own winding down process.

If a person is unwilling to voluntarily transfer power when age advances, he or she will have it taken more aggressively from them. We can go easy or go hard, but we all have to accept that there is a time when someone else drives.

Don't get discouraged by the Detractors. They're angry about something that has absolutely nothing to do with you. Focus on the good things you want to do, and dismiss such cranky criticisms as a function of the lack of personal happiness of the person making them.

I am gratified to see many new faces involved in the political process this year. I would not care if they are campaigning for a dust rag, as long as they participate. I've been involved in politics since I turned 18. I'm 51 now. Some of my dearest friends are "twenty-somethings." I devalue NO ONE because of their age--younger, older--no one. One thing I am tired of is the "you people" type posts. So - stop it. Stop making sweeping generalizations about "older people." PLEASE.

...it is sloppy I admit.

Of course there are many, many, many people who are not taking a bad attitude about increased youth participation.

But I am upset about a "trend" here.

Hope that is more precise.

devalue your council because of your age. It is their problem, not yours. I WELCOME the all the participation in the political process that ALL THE CANDIDATES have inspired. Everyone's opinion is valid. Everyone's. And at this time I'd like to thank George W. Bush* and Dick Cheney* for showing politically apathetic Americans truly how rank and fetid the American political arena can become when we treat democracy as a spectator sport.

30 IS MIDDLE AGED??????? Wheel me off to the home and I'll support Obama from there.:rofl:

...without qualifying it somehow.. I think people are thinking of like young twentysomethings when they say that.

I heart Hanna Montana baby.. when are the New Kids on the Block coming in concert? Is Family Ties coming on soon?

Wow. I still love my Care Bear sheets. ;)

I suppose from the math standpoint, the average age we live is under 90 years, and if the life is divided between youth, middle age, and senior years, each being of equal duration, we'd see that 30 is the cusp of middle age.

That would be my story if I had said 30 is middle aged.

These days anybody over 35, 40 tops, needs to be thrown into the Soylent Green hoppers because they're "in the way" of the new revolution. Obama by virtue of his cherished status is given absolution.

not many of us feel that way, but there seems to be a general lack of civility among some posters here lately.

As for me, I have two grandchildren who will be voting this fall, one for the first time, and I'm extremely proud of both of them.

The more progressives, regardless of their age or candidate, involved in the political process, the better for all of us.

Heidi (who used to be 30)

P.S. Ever notice how the folks who smear ya for being young are only too happy to take your money or vote when you're _their_ consumer? Ever have one of them say, "Nope. You're only 30 -- not old enough/experienced enough/informed enough to buy my services/products/candidate"? I bet not.

I'm thrilled to see the 'youth' come out this election and get involved even more than they did 4 years ago. And I'm tired of the generalizations as well -- that Obama supporters are just behind him because of some cult of personality, and Clinton supporters are all older and/or women who HAVE to support her because she's a woman. I always vote for the candidate who best represents my views. Of course, in this election, it's the lesser of two evils for me, as I was really hoping Edwards could have stayed in the race. My 41 year old boyfriend is also an Obama supporter, after initially supporting Kucinich.

I rarely even read GD-P, there is so much hate and bashing going on in here, but I saw your thread and had to let you know not all of us 'old folk' are as you have experienced here. :)

OUR voices.
Guess what? WE STILL DO.

And some of us think the candidate closer to OUR experiences is the better one.

I have to realize that EVERYTHING that is wrong in our country today happened ON MY WATCH! I am delighted to see so many young folks stepping up to the plate! Whether you're 18 or an 'almost middle-aged' 30 I hope y'all do a better job of holding our nation to the great standards it was meant to have than we did! Far be it from me to complain about your choices or methods.
MORE POWER TO YA!
:toast:

Indeed, our generation did neglect our duties as citizens and voters. I am thrilled that our youth have found a reason to participate. For that reason alone I would support Sen. Obama.

Indeed, our generation did neglect our duties as citizens and voters. I am thrilled that our youth have found a reason to participate. For that reason alone I would support Sen. Obama.

Indeed, our generation did neglect our duties as citizens and voters. I am thrilled that our youth have found a reason to participate. For that reason alone I would support Sen. Obama.

Personally, I think it was awesome.

They delivered when other younger voters in the past would not. They work hard, they know the issues and what I find is endearing from most that I have met is that they respect older supporters as well.

I've seen them in action. They actually show up when they say they will! What a concept...

Thirty is middle aged?

:rofl:

We can't win.. either way we're to stupid or to naive.

Nevermind that our parents had a similar feeling about JFK, and it was fine back then, but now we're just "dreamers".

I see CHARACTER as the most important factor in determining a political candidate. Candidates can say they will do anything or everything.. but it's believing in ones character to actually make those words come true.

Hillary & Barack are saying almost identicle things regarding what they will do when they win the white house. I'm being naive and stupid to believe in Obama's character over Hillary's. Oh well - i'm still voting for him.

Where would this world be without dreamers who could imagine a world other than the one they were born into? I'm an old person and I still dream...of a better world and peace.

I couldn't be prouder of the current generation who says enough, already, it's time to take charge of an out of control situation and save the nation.

God bless all of you whippersnappers :patriot:

There are people who have nothing better to do with their lives than type offensive, bitter, hateful, defeatist bullshit all day, every day. It makes them feel influential because they think they can make you feel bad or give up. Their negativity is their own punishment.


You have the right/duty to do what YOU need to do. If anyone says otherwise, tell them to fuck off. Whether these cynical bastards like it or not, people of all ages are doing good things every day and making a difference, and these bashers obviously are not. These defeatists are ashamed to admit just how irrelevant they really are.


Keep on keeping on.

who, back in the 60's, used to talk about not trusting anyone over 30, while the "adults" couldn't stand us hippies and our long hair and our commie attitude. So it's not surprising some of the same generational friction is occurring now. But what I think is so interesting, and so excellent, is that young people are finally getting involved. For the last 5 years this old hippie has been going to various antiwar events and almost everybody else had gray hair, too. There were all these grandparents with their "Stop the War" signs and hardly any young people. And we lamented that here we were, 40 years later, doing just what we did in college only with bad knees and bifocals, and where the hell were the kids?

So now Obama has managed to get them motivated and excited, and they're coming out in droves for him, and amazingly, some of the old folks, apparently having completely forgotten what they did 40 years ago, are now griping that they are just a bunch of naive, inexperienced college kids who have been seduced by a cult leader! Such bullshit. The thing is, these young people are going to have to live for many years with the consequences of whatever happens next. I'm delighted that they are taking control of what will be their world, not ours. More power to them.

Its frustrating that there are so many people who just want to beat others down. Myself... Ive recently adopted a new attitude toward people like that. Fuck em. Dont let 'em get to you. Thats what they want. :hug:

It is wonderful to see the "younger generation" becoming energized and excited about participating in the political process.

Recommended.

Can you cite some examples?

"And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through


Don't tell them to grow up and out of it

Where's your shame, you've left us up to our necks in it."

- David Bowie

(and don't get upset, the people who are abusing the youth vote, once identified with those lyrics)

I have not seen anyone "constantly being bashed by you people" for years.

I have not seen people called "stupid, gullible or shallow when they get involved in politics and support a candidate." But I did read YOUR post and have now seen someone who should take his own advice and "Stop making sweeping generalizations".

After almost a whole two months here, you claim to know what DUers have "spent years" doing. I think it is apparent who is doing the generalizing and bashing here. If you are "sick and tired" of "people at DU" and "really, really, really just want to tell you to go fuck yourself", perhaps it is understandable why someone might judge that you could use a bit more maturity.

I would suggest confronting and responding directly within a thread to any poster who makes comments that you find objectionable, rather than starting a new thread in order to call out DU as a whole ("you"), and making broad accusations about what DU has "spent years" supposedly doing. I must say, "Its insulting". "So - stop it. Stop making sweeping generalizations".

I haven't heard any of that here

:rofl:

I'm sure they still feel that way. ;-)

Frankly, while I understand your frustation, most 'older' people out in the real world are happy to have young people involved.

Don't take your cues about how 'society' feels from DU. And if you are just limiting your comments to DU, I'll bet most DU'ers agree with you.

Same thing with the "cult" slur.

This is the country with the oldest surviving democracy, and one of the lowest voter turnouts.

Anybody telling you that there's something wrong with being excited and motivated in voting should be ashamed and ignored.

That is why these tactics are so repugnant. We have seen all the things that Bush did to suppress vote used by the Clinton campaign. We have seen the attempts to spread disinformation, to simply LIE about Obama's positions in mail out to people late in the process. They're dirty tricks, and we Democrats have fought them since the 1950s. Now we see them from someone who wants to be the party nominee and won't even reveal her tax returns.

Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton. Bush and Bush Lite ain't getting it.

telling me 50 is the new 40

WTF is going on with this age spatiality thing?

Dang...feeling older then dirt these days.

First of all, check the time of the post -- 4am. I'm sorry my language was perfectly precise, but I was a little tired, I'm not perfect.

Second, it bothers me when I feel like responders use a technical flaw in the wording of the argument to play "dumb" about an obvious issue.

Of course, absolutely, without question, it is not my intention to imply that all people here are taking this attitude.

So fine, I accept that - I made an error in the technical wording of my post. Allow me to clarify, and don't let a technicality distract you from the actual point.

After about my fifteenth thread of youth insults in the last two days, I decided that I felt like there was a nasty trend developing here that isn't right. Is it everyone? Of course not. But it's enough to be disturbing.

Clear?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4526770&mesg_id=4534212

Case in point.

Start reading through the responses.

Is it ALL of DU? No.

Is it rampant enough to be insulting and problematic?

Yup.