Brickbats for boomers in awful article

ruggedtoast

Rinoa wrote: »

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Which tells you everything you need to know about Guardian readers.

It tells you that a large number of people are fed up with boomers?

Boomers will rely on these people to fund their retirements. A serious pr job is needed.

People think I am anti boomer. This couldn't be farther from the truth. I am a friend to the boomer, a boomer prophet, beseeching the boomer to change his ways before judgement day comes.

Graham_Devon

ukcarper wrote: »

I don't see that divide but if you and the others feel so strongly about it perhaps you should form a political party and try and do something about. But I suspect the vast majority of the younger generation do not blame boomers in general for the position we now find ourselves in.

No one is apportioning blame. We need to get that right from the outset.

What we are seeing though, and this article, which doesn't speak on behalf of every boomer, probably the very few, is an overwhelming sense of entitlement, with the "because I've earnt it" line.

It's not surprise, therefore, to see the comments written, many of which I agree with.

We've had many a boomer thread on here, many boomers suggesting "why should I give up my bus pass....why should I give up my winter allowance.....tax people more...I paid in, I paid for your schooling boy".

There is an obvious growing divide between generations. While the older generation is in many parts of the media quick to blame the young for not working hard enough and whinging, the older generation are quick to protect the benefits for everyone, just because they are old and have paid in.

The comments are real. They come after a particularly bad article shedding the pensioner in bad light overwhelmed with an entitlement. As I say, this article probably doesn't speak for most, but it does get peoples backs up.

All this "why should we pay for it, why should we lose our benefits" is only fuelling the fire.

No one can blame pensioners, or indeed anyone of any age for the position they find themselves in due to factors outside of their control. But we can get a little annoyed when one particular section of society appears to be ring fenced against nearly every downside, when infact, that particular group are sitting at the top of the pile in terms of how they benefitted from the mess.

the_flying_pig

Rinoa wrote: »

It tells me a lot of ill educated people...

what, you mean doctors?

Rinoa

ruggedtoast wrote: »

It tells you that a large number of people are fed up with boomers?

Boomers will rely on these people to fund their retirements. A serious pr job is needed.

People think I am anti boomer. This couldn't be farther from the truth. I am a friend to the boomer, a boomer prophet, beseeching the boomer to change his ways before judgement day comes.

You'd be better off beseeching the young to use their money wisely.

Not !!!!ing £150 up against the wall every weekend would be a start.

ILW

I would guess that most of the moaners are graduates who think they should have the same opportunities as the grads of 30 years ago. What they do not take into account is that a degree has been greatly devalued and in many cases is now worth no more than 5 or 6 O levels were 30 years ago.

Mr._Pricklepants

ruggedtoast wrote: »

It tells you that a large number of people are fed up with boomers?

No, it tells me a large number of people are looking for a scapegoat.
It's common during economic downturns.

Let's blame the immigrants when I can't get a job, let's blame the oldies when I can't get a cheap house.

ukcarper

Graham_Devon wrote: »

No one is apportioning blame. We need to get that right from the outset.

What we are seeing though, and this article, which doesn't speak on behalf of every boomer, probably the very few, is an overwhelming sense of entitlement, with the "because I've earnt it" line.

It's not surprise, therefore, to see the comments written, many of which I agree with.

We've had many a boomer thread on here, many boomers suggesting "why should I give up my bus pass....why should I give up my winter allowance.....tax people more...I paid in, I paid for your schooling boy".

There is an obvious growing divide between generations. While the older generation is in many parts of the media quick to blame the young for not working hard enough and whinging, the older generation are quick to protect the benefits for everyone, just because they are old and have paid in.

The comments are real. They come after a particularly bad article shedding the pensioner in bad light overwhelmed with an entitlement. As I say, this article probably doesn't speak for most, but it does get peoples backs up.

All this "why should we pay for it, why should we lose our benefits" is only fuelling the fire.

No one can blame pensioners, or indeed anyone of any age for the position they find themselves in due to factors outside of their control. But we can get a little annoyed when one particular section of society appears to be ring fenced against nearly every downside, when infact, that particular group are sitting at the top of the pile in terms of how they benefitted from the mess.

I think your problem is you take what boomers think from certain sections of the media.

As an example I was out with a few friends earlier in the week and unusually the conversation turned to property and most agreed that it would not concern them if the value of their houses fell as they had no intention of selling them.

Although my children are in their 30s and are better of than I was at their age i know quite a few young people in thier early 20s who work
very hard.

I think I've said before I think the employment situation for people in their early 20s and under is very bad. But trying to lay the blame on one generation is no help.

ukcarper

Mr._Pricklepants wrote: »

No, it tells me a large number of people are looking for a scapegoat.
It's common during economic downturns.

Let's blame the immigrants when I can't get a job, let's blame the oldies when I can't get a cheap house.

To be fair I don't think it's that large most young people I know are working hard and trying to make the most of the situations they find themselves in.

Mr._Pricklepants

ukcarper wrote: »

To be fair I don't think it's that large most young people I know are working hard and trying to make the most of the situations they find themselves in.

Of course, I also know youngsters who are well educated, decent job, good prospects, I didn't mean to generalise.

StevieJ

ruggedtoast wrote: »

It tells you that a large number of people are fed up with [STRIKE]boomers[/STRIKE] their parents?

Boomers will rely on these people to fund their retirements. A serious pr job is needed.

People think I am anti boomer. This couldn't be farther from the truth. :rotfl:.

A cracking post, I just amended it slightly.