A question for those 40 yrs old and younger.

[luckyexpat]

I'm at a real disadvantage. I have no idea what the everyday life of people under 40 yrs. old is like. I'm pushing 70. I haven't lived in the states for over 12 yrs, and I don't have any children. I really feel out of the loop. I have or in some cases had conservative friends. They are all in my age range. We used to be able to avoid politics, but it seems like every subject circles back to right wing talking points. I honestly don't think I've become more liberal since my first time voting for McGovern, but my conservative friends seem to be consumed with politics with an almost hatred for the left. One friend I still have went to Woodstock and had hair to the middle of his back until 1980. He now carries a gun everywhere he goes and it's nearly impossible to have a phone conversation. I ask about the weather and I have to listen (without a single word in response) to how climate change is a hoax. A woman friend is truly a wonderful person. She had, or maybe still has a magnetic photo of Reagan on her refrigerator, but we avoided politics and even vacationed together. She had some recent health issues. I asked her how things were going (my bad...I didn't specify her health) and she went on a tirade about Biden already causing the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. One more final example: I ask a old buddy if he's taking safety precautions for the Corona virus and I get 5 minutes of how masks don't work, China is completely at fault, and then it segues to people defecating in the streets. I'm not even talking about friends I've had since Little League that have become reborn Christians or Evangelicals, and have told me I am doomed to damnation. I least they promise to pray for me. Sooo, my question for the under 40's is, "Are you having similar experiences with your friends?" I'm curious, because I'm thinking that older people don't have as many things to talk about, especially now with Covid in the mix, and that has contributed to this political polarization. But is this mostly a generational thing, OR is it just me??

[luckyexpat]

1. Thanks

Over 350 views and not a single reply. Thanks for nothing ya slackers. (Sarcasm)

[Celerity]

2. The Brainwashing of My Dad (2015 so pre Trump, whichs shows it is NOT just that fucker) is a

great documentary about the RW hate machine and how it has impacted your age cohort (and other, but especially Boomers and before).

The Brainwashing of My Dad


I am 24yo, but only lived in the US for a couple years as an adult (I was born in Los Angeles, but we moved back to London, where I was raised, when I was less than 2yo) so I am not in the 'real life face to face' position to truly answer your question. I skipped grades in primary and secondary school, so most of my closest friends are 3 to 6 years older than me. Overall I get on best with 2nd half Millennials (say born 1988/89 and up) and Zennials (what I am, those born 1992/93to 1997/1998). The differences in a few years now seem to make a bigger difference than before. I see a larger difference between myself and a person born in 2002 or so as opposed to me and a person born 6 years earlier, in 1990. Some of that, I fully admit, is simply due to lack of adult experience in the person born in 2002.

RW brainwashed assholes in the US and the UK seem very similar to me on many points, and a lot of that is due to the RW media and internet/social media infrastructure harmonising the propaganda. The US ones are often far less on events going on outside the nation through. I am just gobsmack at the provincialism exhibited by a staggeringly huge amount of the US populace, especial the rural parts. I would go completely fucking mental if we had to live out in the middle of nowhere in a Red State. Probably would be instantly in real physical danger as well (I am a mixed race married lesbian who takes no shit from berks, I am not so good at suffering bullies, racists, homophobes, and fools). Dozens (hundreds probably) of the stories told on here about interactions with RW Q-MAGAts and other assorted rotters makes me SO grateful I have to barely put up with that shit in my real life.

Sorry I could not answer your question better.

[luckyexpat]

5. Thanks for the recommendation

of The Brainwashing of My Dad. I've seen it mentioned before and you've motivated me to check it out.

[harumph]

3. I'll bite.

I'm over 40 - in fact, 56. White people (primarily men) mid-fifties and up seem to be the demographic for Trumpers. I live in a major metropolitan area and very few people casually encountered are Trumpers. In fact, I'd guess only about 10% or so.
IMO, it depends on where you live. My close friends some of which are mid-forties, are predominantly liberal. They're also college educated with about a third having advanced degrees. Evangelicals...don't get me started. My oldest daughter is almost 30 and
I know that most of her colleagues do not support Trump's actions. Though they might lean slightly socially conservative - they
still embrace science. I really don't know what's up with all the conspiracy bullshit in right wing circles. Many people just aren't that smart. The not-so-smart-ones are led by the most execrably cynical people imaginable for obvious reasons.

[luckyexpat]

4. Your closest friends

are predominantly liberals, but what about your conservative friends? Have you noticed them becoming more radical?

[Karadeniz]

6. Many posters have noticed that. The conservative brain doesn't like to change. The conservative

Brain digs in against facts that don't reinforce its beliefs. So, in a social climate like this, conservatives are sort of programmed to go further right, into radical.

[luckyexpat]

7. Ok, but

does this apply to younger liberals and their moderate conservative friends? I'm sorry if it seems like a stupid question, but friendships weren't precluded by politics when I was younger. God, just typing that aged me ten years.

[Karadeniz]

13. I don't know if younger liberals and moderate conservatives are friendly. It probably depends a lot

On where they get their information or if they decide to not discuss politics. The problem is that the US no longer has a conservative party, so I don't know where a young mod.con. belongs. The GOP groups geared for the younger crowd, that I've heard of, follow Trump ism. It would make sense to assume that the political gulf that now exists between the parties in general would have to exist between members of the younger generation. Until the propaganda media can somehow be reined in, the gulf will remain. It's one thing to have different ideas about al Qaeda...do they hate Americans or US interference... but there's no crossing the gulf with someone who says that terrorists never flew a plane into the Pentagon or who thinks NY Muslims by the thousands celebrated 9/11.

[FakeNoose]

8. Sorry I can't answer your questions

I'm about your age - 69 and I'll turn 70 in March. If anything, I've become more liberal over the years, not less. I grew up in the all-white suburbs of the Midwest, and I never met a jewish or black person until I moved to Upstate New York in my early 20's. My grandparents were proud Republicans, not sure how my parents voted but probably my Dad was a Republican for most of his life. Since I became of legal voting age in 1972 I've never voted for a Republican.

I could go on, I could tell you that I'm living in Pittsburgh in a neighborhood that's 50% black and 50% white. Many of my closest friends are immigrants, some are refugees from World War II or something equally awful. But hey, that's not what you're asking about. I've carefully chosen many wonderful friends over the years who have opened my eyes to a lot of things. I'm a liberal because I could never live with myself if I ever voted for a Republican.

My son is now 50 and he grew up even more liberal than I, so maybe he's the one who opened my eyes. If I ever come in contact with a Republican I wouldn't choose their friendship, but I would perhaps be respectful and try to get away as quickly as possible. It's the activities we gravitate to, and the friendships that we cultivate. Those are the things that define us.

[luckyexpat]

9. See!

You weren't even sure how your parents voted. Neither was I. We were told not to talk about politics and religion. I'm certain some of my best friends voted differently than me, but politics and religion weren't the wedge issues they are today. I'm hoping that younger people aren't having to limit their friendships to like-minded people because of polarization.

[MarcATL]

10. I'm in my mid 40s

It's probably an older thing where they can't help but to talk about politics.

However, all Republicans are sick and radicalized.

Conservatism rots the brain. It's a sickness.

[angstlessk]

11. I would say 'todays' republicans

cause many years ago dems and repubs used to get along.

Ginrich changed all that by declaring the opposition was demonic.

[Rhiannon12866]

14. I'm not under 40, but I've noticed it, too

I still manage to get to a couple of very small AA meetings during this pandemic and discussing politics is definitely frowned on there. But at the women's meeting there's been a lot of infighting over mask wearing - and here in New York, masks are required everywhere. And at the other meeting, the guy who leads the meeting (maybe in his 50s?) has stated that he won't get the vaccine and just last week complained that Biden is killing jobs. *sigh*

I do discuss politics with those I'm friends with, all ages, and they would fit in here on DU - and I'm including my long-time dentist and her 23-year-old assistant.

[blueniteflower]

15. Im almost 35

I turn 35 this year. Most of my friends are extremely liberal like me, and all very highly successful too. However, despite living in a very liberal state (MA) our city is older adults and so my town is full of conservatives. Thankfully my direct neighbor is a liberal, but we see Trump signs all through town. I try my best to ignore their rhetoric, and this past year, we ended up creating a safe space for diversity and inclusion forum in our town. In terms of family, like you, we have very nice family members who sadly got sucked into the right-wing media. We avoid talking about politics thankfully. Funny enough, somewhat of a punishment, but we were going to name our daughter after one of them but found out just in time she voted for Trump and did not believe women or POC could be leaders. Anyway, that’s my experience. I feel I have to avoid the other side for my sanity, can’t argue with disinformation and stay calm.

[panader0]

16. Well, I'm 70 but in my mind I'm still 26. Does that count?

Luckily, I have four kids younger than 40 and they try to keep me in the loop.
It doesn't really work......

[captain queeg]

17. I'm an engineer. They tend to be conservative, but not stupid

Very few trumpers in my office.