I think a good strategy for talking to young people is to focus on the political *issues* rather than the larger world of politics. Ask them what the issues they care about most are and see what they say. The media does such a good job muddying the waters between the two parties by pretending that things like the candidate's age or fundraising numbers are the defining features of the race. But when you focus on the issues, there's this huge chasm between the parties, and the Dems are usually on the popular side.
Like abortion rights? Well, every Supreme Court justice appointed by a Democrat voted to keep them. Want help with your student loans? Biden is trying to forgive loans while the GOP sues to stop him. Like the environment? Biden passed the most consequential climate legislation bar none while Republicans want more coal. Worried about the state of the world? Biden has been a solid leader keeping things on course while the GOP's solution to every geopolitical problem is literally to say that Trump's toughness will magically solve it.
I don't think you have to pummel people, but there's nothing wrong with stating the facts in a direct way. And the facts skew Democratic, which is why Republicans are always so desperate to stop people from considering the race in these kinds of terms (they usually succeed, thanks to a complicit media).
I think that's good advice. Actual issues are to the GOP what strings of fresh garlic are to vampires. Most of the younger set who sort of support them probably have little idea what the Republicans stand for. In truth, all they stand for is saluting Donald Trump. And a few things like "drill, baby, drill." A person ought to be embarrassed to be caught supporting almost any Republican as things currently stand.
Ta, Sara. Remember Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart's Rally for Sanity and/or Fear? I went to DC for it because it seemed like the perfect opportunity to talk to young people about voting.
MWNSCAADOS, I feel it. My younger two seemed to be allergic to graduation ceremonies and I missed getting the public recognition of them and me. I'm cheering you on for being awesome! 🎉🎊🎆
I graduated 52nd - in my class #53 didn't pass and had to repeat senior year. I'm not a good student but I did pass - I have never been a good student and probably never will be since I am now 75 and have to let go of a batchlers degree dream. I was so very grateful to have gotten out
Fine. If neither of the two major party candidates gives The Youth a sense of existential dread, then they can abstain. As long as they know that Trump sold the West Bank to Miriam Adelson. But whatever.
I am an Old with middle-AGED (not middle schools) kids, and we all have too much stuff! We are all gradually shifting to gifts like nice dinners out, maybe token useful things like socks, activities together (botanic gardens, the zoo, etc.) and such. These are so much more pleasant than the anxiety of what to do with things you don't want and don't need.
That's great advice re the party! Kids are a handful but they are really a small part of your whole life as you (hopefully!) have them for 18 or 19 years and then you get another 30-40 to yourself...
I object to the 30-40 years to myself statement! I’ve already had around 10, but I plan to get at least another 40 in, maybe more! Live long enough to be that crotchety old man everyone jokes about, that’s my intent!!
I work in insurance claims, including cases where people's homes have been damaged by flood (often a plumbing mishap) or explosions and fires (careful with that electricity and natural gas, y'all). I'm continually astounded by how much stuff people have. All this stuff, and not only would it mean nothing to anyone else, it often seems as though it really doesn't mean that much to the people whose stuff it is.
The cases are always sad, when you see how people's lives have been upended and their homes wrecked. Sometimes I'll get a case like one I've been working on lately where this entire big house burned to the ground. Everything in it was destroyed, including all the gewgaws from a couple lifetimes of assembling collectible items of at least some passing historical interest.
And guns. You would not believe how many guns some people have. It is not unusual for a respectable bourgeois fellow, of some success and acceptable indebtedness, to have a domestic arsenal of dozens of firearms.
And then there are the pets. Very few of the fire cases I work on include any serious injury to people, but often a pet is lost. And I don't mean they go missing. I mean they couldn't get out in time.
One reason I insist on some kind of pet door. I get anxious if I leave them with no way to get out if they need to. Also I'm lazy so I dont have to be the pet butler.
It's good they have an escape hatch. Sometimes they get so freaked out that they won't try to escape -- they'll try to hide somewhere in the house. This is particularly true of cats.
I know someone who's house recently burned to the ground while they were at work. They had 2 dogs that didn't get out. They were far more devastated by the knowledge their dogs burned to death in the fire than the loss of 30 years worth of stuff.
I have a lot of irreplaceable stuff that my mom made before she passed away 34 years ago. I've shed the stuff over the years that wasn't as meaningful and now what I have left are things I love - stained glass lamps she made for people, a quilt she made for me, a sweater she knitted herself that I appropriated. I'll be crushed if anything happens to those, because I can't get them back. But anything else - clothes, books, cars - those are replaceable.
"𝐼𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑦?" Speak to them as adults. Listen more than talk. Acknowledge concerns. Offer perspective in small doses. Never get into a 'who has/had it worse pissing match.
yes but the minute one of the little shits pulls the " I need something to vote for, not against" bs line, know that you are dealing with a willful idiot and stop wasting your time
While most people respect my "here's a list of charities that I suppory in lieu of gifts" wishes, my wife absolutely HATES it and insists on getting me things....
So did I, after carrying petitions door-to-door to get signatures to convince Congress that 18-year-olds deserved the right to vote. I've never missed a D primary or a general since. Voting must not be every four years!
Yes--the age dropped to 18 JUST inn time for us to express how we felt about Tricky Dick. And my folks were also overcome with joy at the huge number of brand-new Democrats in Mass!!!!
I was working at an environmental engineering firm. I voted against Reagan. He was the enemy. He was a fucking disaster. A bunch of my engineer compatriots voted for him. Just like we talk about today, they were committed to voting against their own interests. But you know, the dirty commies in Central America.....
Parents are notoriously difficult to purchase gifts for. People spend a lot of time and effort because they want to give meaningful gifts. Meaning gets in the way of intent and leads to gift paralysis. Invite your Dad/Mom to dinner, buy them a bottle of nice wine or whatever they drink, buy them a board game with an invite to play it, etc.
"Just don’t get arrested for streaking through the neighbors’ yards after the spicy margs hit."
Don't tell me what to do SARA.
I think a good strategy for talking to young people is to focus on the political *issues* rather than the larger world of politics. Ask them what the issues they care about most are and see what they say. The media does such a good job muddying the waters between the two parties by pretending that things like the candidate's age or fundraising numbers are the defining features of the race. But when you focus on the issues, there's this huge chasm between the parties, and the Dems are usually on the popular side.
Like abortion rights? Well, every Supreme Court justice appointed by a Democrat voted to keep them. Want help with your student loans? Biden is trying to forgive loans while the GOP sues to stop him. Like the environment? Biden passed the most consequential climate legislation bar none while Republicans want more coal. Worried about the state of the world? Biden has been a solid leader keeping things on course while the GOP's solution to every geopolitical problem is literally to say that Trump's toughness will magically solve it.
I don't think you have to pummel people, but there's nothing wrong with stating the facts in a direct way. And the facts skew Democratic, which is why Republicans are always so desperate to stop people from considering the race in these kinds of terms (they usually succeed, thanks to a complicit media).
I think that's good advice. Actual issues are to the GOP what strings of fresh garlic are to vampires. Most of the younger set who sort of support them probably have little idea what the Republicans stand for. In truth, all they stand for is saluting Donald Trump. And a few things like "drill, baby, drill." A person ought to be embarrassed to be caught supporting almost any Republican as things currently stand.
Ta, Sara. Remember Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart's Rally for Sanity and/or Fear? I went to DC for it because it seemed like the perfect opportunity to talk to young people about voting.
Dear Mother there,
Just let them know that if they think that HS sucked, work is all that on steroids.
Every shitty thing that people did in school becomes the model for how they do the rest of life
MWNSCAADOS, I feel it. My younger two seemed to be allergic to graduation ceremonies and I missed getting the public recognition of them and me. I'm cheering you on for being awesome! 🎉🎊🎆
I graduated 52nd - in my class #53 didn't pass and had to repeat senior year. I'm not a good student but I did pass - I have never been a good student and probably never will be since I am now 75 and have to let go of a batchlers degree dream. I was so very grateful to have gotten out
I never thought of that! The thankfulness to be done with a miserable experience almost certainly informed my kids as well.
I did not demand photographs of the party if the lady actually has it, but I want you to know that I do expect them to be sent to me privately.
I think if the kid bitches you tell ‘em they’re welcome to join but everyone over 40 will be topless.
I loved your answer to that mom, that was exactly what I was thinking when I read your letter to her.
I hope the girls do a Slip n Slide and Jell-O shots!
Fine. If neither of the two major party candidates gives The Youth a sense of existential dread, then they can abstain. As long as they know that Trump sold the West Bank to Miriam Adelson. But whatever.
All the youths are entitled to my damned opinion. Listen the fuck up, whippersnappers!
I am an Old with middle-AGED (not middle schools) kids, and we all have too much stuff! We are all gradually shifting to gifts like nice dinners out, maybe token useful things like socks, activities together (botanic gardens, the zoo, etc.) and such. These are so much more pleasant than the anxiety of what to do with things you don't want and don't need.
especially clothes that don't fit
That's great advice re the party! Kids are a handful but they are really a small part of your whole life as you (hopefully!) have them for 18 or 19 years and then you get another 30-40 to yourself...
I object to the 30-40 years to myself statement! I’ve already had around 10, but I plan to get at least another 40 in, maybe more! Live long enough to be that crotchety old man everyone jokes about, that’s my intent!!
I work in insurance claims, including cases where people's homes have been damaged by flood (often a plumbing mishap) or explosions and fires (careful with that electricity and natural gas, y'all). I'm continually astounded by how much stuff people have. All this stuff, and not only would it mean nothing to anyone else, it often seems as though it really doesn't mean that much to the people whose stuff it is.
The cases are always sad, when you see how people's lives have been upended and their homes wrecked. Sometimes I'll get a case like one I've been working on lately where this entire big house burned to the ground. Everything in it was destroyed, including all the gewgaws from a couple lifetimes of assembling collectible items of at least some passing historical interest.
And guns. You would not believe how many guns some people have. It is not unusual for a respectable bourgeois fellow, of some success and acceptable indebtedness, to have a domestic arsenal of dozens of firearms.
And then there are the pets. Very few of the fire cases I work on include any serious injury to people, but often a pet is lost. And I don't mean they go missing. I mean they couldn't get out in time.
One reason I insist on some kind of pet door. I get anxious if I leave them with no way to get out if they need to. Also I'm lazy so I dont have to be the pet butler.
It's good they have an escape hatch. Sometimes they get so freaked out that they won't try to escape -- they'll try to hide somewhere in the house. This is particularly true of cats.
Too true.
I know someone who's house recently burned to the ground while they were at work. They had 2 dogs that didn't get out. They were far more devastated by the knowledge their dogs burned to death in the fire than the loss of 30 years worth of stuff.
*shudder*
My claim will be for the 15,000 litres of artisanal kerosene I was storing in my basement
I'm in the stuff shedding process right now.
Or the pets couldn't get out at all. Pet doors people. Please never leave an animal indoors with no escape hatch.
I have a lot of irreplaceable stuff that my mom made before she passed away 34 years ago. I've shed the stuff over the years that wasn't as meaningful and now what I have left are things I love - stained glass lamps she made for people, a quilt she made for me, a sweater she knitted herself that I appropriated. I'll be crushed if anything happens to those, because I can't get them back. But anything else - clothes, books, cars - those are replaceable.
"𝐼𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑦?" Speak to them as adults. Listen more than talk. Acknowledge concerns. Offer perspective in small doses. Never get into a 'who has/had it worse pissing match.
yes but the minute one of the little shits pulls the " I need something to vote for, not against" bs line, know that you are dealing with a willful idiot and stop wasting your time
While most people respect my "here's a list of charities that I suppory in lieu of gifts" wishes, my wife absolutely HATES it and insists on getting me things....
How come no one ever argues about Dukakis losing in 1988?
Too soon, man. Too soon.
It's easy to say what could have won the thing when the election's close.
When the election is a one-sided slaughter like that, the number of things you'd have to change to get a different result could fill a library.
It was the photo op with the tank. There is no making that go away.
I'm surprised tfg's campaign hasn't made any attempt to put him behind the wheel of anything for a photo op.
YES.
I'm going to vote. I've always voted. I always figured, if you don't vote, you can't brag or complain later. Life would be so empty.
It's a duty. So I always vote.
I've voted in every Presidential election since I was old enough, and have voted in every election possible for about the last 25 years.
1972 for me. I got to vote against NIXON!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Massachusetts, The One and Only." Shithead Nixon won the rest of the states.
So did I, after carrying petitions door-to-door to get signatures to convince Congress that 18-year-olds deserved the right to vote. I've never missed a D primary or a general since. Voting must not be every four years!
Yes--the age dropped to 18 JUST inn time for us to express how we felt about Tricky Dick. And my folks were also overcome with joy at the huge number of brand-new Democrats in Mass!!!!
Same here. Except the MA part. :)
I haven't missed casting my ballot in an election since I registered to vote in 1982.
My primary regret as a US voter was not having been born a year earlier so that I could've cast a meaningful vote AGAINST Ronald Reagan in 1980.
I was working at an environmental engineering firm. I voted against Reagan. He was the enemy. He was a fucking disaster. A bunch of my engineer compatriots voted for him. Just like we talk about today, they were committed to voting against their own interests. But you know, the dirty commies in Central America.....
Parents are notoriously difficult to purchase gifts for. People spend a lot of time and effort because they want to give meaningful gifts. Meaning gets in the way of intent and leads to gift paralysis. Invite your Dad/Mom to dinner, buy them a bottle of nice wine or whatever they drink, buy them a board game with an invite to play it, etc.