Is it me or does the world have more anarchists these days?

[LuvOrlando]

I made the mistake of paying attention to the news again, when will I learn?

As I listened a bit it occurred to me that a lot of what I am hearing is pushing social instability, as soon as one thing is gained another kookier new thing bubbles up and the only thing that is a constant is the seemingly apoplectic ranting.

So then I wondered why, and then I wondered if maybe the ranting itself is the point.

What if all the issues people rant about these days have nothing to do with the issues at all and the goal is more about destabilizing things?

What if we can't have peace because the lack of peace is the purpose? Now I need a ibuprofen.

Thoughts?

 

[sam_gordon]

I suggest reading this thread... https://www.disboards.com/threads/are-we-angrier-as-a-country-us.3918199/

 

[BrianL]

I actually disagree with your premise. It seems to me that more people, particularly younger people, lean more toward hard authoritarian rule rather than anarchy. They want things to be regulated more heavily, including speech, maybe even thought. It seems the less freedom is the order of the day for these folks, not more.

 

[JaxDad]

The people I’ve seen pushing for anarchy often seem like the least prepared to actually deal with it. They would be victims of their own cause.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I actually disagree with your premise. It seems to me that more people, particularly younger people, lean more toward hard authoritarian rule rather than anarchy. They want things to be regulated more heavily, including speech, maybe even thought. It seems the less freedom is the order of the day for these folks, not more.

Not to be a wiseacre or anything, but do you actually know any young people?

And by know I mean do you know them in a dynamic where you are not in a leadership role? Kids afraid of authoritarian power will go along with almost anything so your data could be skewed based on your role in the power structure.

 

[LuvOrlando]

The people I’ve seen pushing for anarchy often seem like the least prepared to actually deal with it. They would be victims of their own cause.

I agree wholeheartedly. People pushing to deconstruct a system seldom have the capacity to build something better in its place. Tend to be severely short-sighted with a woefully misguided sense of their own abilities as an architect. It is much easier to demolish than build, any fool can hit a button.

 

[easyas123]

I actually disagree with your premise. It seems to me that more people, particularly younger people, lean more toward hard authoritarian rule rather than anarchy. They want things to be regulated more heavily, including speech, maybe even thought. It seems the less freedom is the order of the day for these folks, not more.

I've noticed similar from some of the young adults in my life.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I actually disagree with your premise. It seems to me that more people, particularly younger people, lean more toward hard authoritarian rule rather than anarchy. They want things to be regulated more heavily, including speech, maybe even thought. It seems the less freedom is the order of the day for these folks, not more.

Scary scary stuff!

 

[BrianL]

Not to be a wiseacre or anything, but do you actually know any young people?

And by know I mean do you know them in a dynamic where you are not in a leadership role? Kids afraid of authoritarian power will go along with almost anything so your data could be skewed based on your role in the power structure.

I don't mean kids, I mean like just a generation behind me. I really have no role on any power structure.

 

[Jangles]

I think that there are young people who have never been told ‘no’, never sat at the family table and listened to polite debates and people amicably expressing differences of opinion. They don’t know how to cope with and properly respond to people whose views are different to their own, so they fall back on trading insults, personal attacks, being offended and ‘cancelling’. They talk but they don’t listen, hear, weigh up and consider. It’s like a stuck record.
My Grandfather on one side was an aristocrat and my other Grandfather a communist, trade unionist coal miner; polar opposite sides of the political spectrum. I recall discussions over supper being ‘lively’ but no one raised their voice, used foul language or stormed off, and evenings always ended on good terms with a fond farewell. They would never change each other’s opinions but they both listened respectfully and valued what the other said.
Oddly, for all the noise today’s young generation makes, they don’t seem as knowledgeable or interested in world affairs or politics as my generation. I spent my student years protesting and marching for various causes; it was the norm for students of my era, but you don’t really see it nowadays.

Maybe the old adage, ‘empty vessels make the most noise’ holds some truth.

 

[maltdizzy]

We live in a post-modern society with an infinitely-faceted media. YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, podcasts, cost-cutting media outlets reliant on crowd-sourced material, etc. made it so many more opportunities for voices and opinions to be heard for better or worse. A lot of good can and has come from giving a louder voice to those who have been previously overlooked...but it also means giving voice to crackpots like Flat-Earthers. People seeking out confirmation bias news just compounds the problem (like the generational bias and stereotypes creeping into this thread).

 

[LuvOrlando]

I should probably say I never meant young people. @BrianL went in that direction so I accompanied him in his thought, like you do in conversation, but I personally didn't at all mean young people in the Original Post.

In fact, I actually think it is older people who are running amok trying to demolish things, I don't think younger people (20's and younger) are in play at all. Seems young people are just trying to study the game thay are stumbling into, this was not and is not their domain, they are too young and this particular vib has been growing a long time.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I don't mean kids, I mean like just a generation behind me. I really have no role on any power structure.

Without context I can't follow, what is behind you? Hipsters? Millennials?

 

[Jangles]

Without context I can't follow, what is behind you? Hipsters? Millennials?

I wonder what I am? Maybe just old. Is there a list with ages?

 

[LuvOrlando]

I wonder what I am? Maybe just old. Is there a list with ages?

LOL, the whole idea behind grouping generations comes from the field of marketing, where the gold was hidden in trying to influence a target customer based on age. That's why you see certain commercials based on certain demographics. Hot cars were aimed at guys with a midlife crisis, Spanks aimed at women of the same age. One wouldn't really try to see Depends to a bunch of teens, nor would you really try to sell skis to a retirement community. Of course, there are outliers of both and everything, but marketing isn't looking for outliers. A smart business wouldn't chase down outliers, that is foolish at best and could damage a brand at worst.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think that there are young people who have never been told ‘no’, never sat at the family table and listened to polite debates and people amicably expressing differences of opinion. They don’t know how to cope with and properly respond to people whose views are different to their own, so they fall back on trading insults, personal attacks, being offended and ‘cancelling’. They talk but they don’t listen, hear, weigh up and consider. It’s like a stuck record.

Where have I seen that lately? Oh wait - here!

 

[maltdizzy]

I wonder what I am? Maybe just old. Is there a list with ages?

It is important to note that people argue over many of the dates. Some are pretty set to milestones — the Lost Gen/Greatest Gen splits at being too young to legally enlist in WWI, the Greatest Gen/Silent Gen splits at being too young to legally enlist in WWII, and the Baby Boomers start in 1946 because 9 months after the end of WII — but many are more fluid.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Thinking on this topic I am remembering back to the age of punk with the A in a circle as a logo, not an asperand. I always took it all to be a generalized commentary about subculture and defiance, dark but but facetious. To me it was a certain sort of brand of the Pistols I guess, but maybe it was not hyperbole and they were growing something, or intended to & maybe something of those seeds took root? Hmm, that was in the very early 80's.

 

[Jangles]

Thinking on this topic I am remembering back to the age of punk with the A in a circle as a logo, not an asperand. I always took it all to be a generalized commentary about subculture and defiance, dark but but facetious. To me it was a certain sort of brand of the Pistols I guess, but maybe it was not hyperbole and they were growing something, or intended to & maybe something of those seeds took root? Hmm, that was in the very early 80's.

That’s sort of what I mean about previous generations being interested in politics and world affairs. There were lots of protest songs (and I could understand the words).

 

[RamblingMad]

Check out Rabbit Hole on Paramount+.