Do older people have the same attitudes towards the environment as young people?

Question

Do older people have the same attitudes towards the environment as young people?

Answer 1

i dont think older people give a c**p or about anything  and some young friends sometimes doent care too.

Answer 2

not usually ,alot of us are caught up in the rat race keepin up w/the kardashians and cant see the nose on the end of our face.

Answer 3

It depends on the country. Depends whether people are urban or rural.

In developed countries, the young have received environmental teaching in primary schools, that most of the older (70-80 years, born in the 1920-1930s) did not even thought about.

Answer 4

No seems like younger people are more inclined to join some s**y movement rallying against the man with little knowledge about reality. Older people are more burdened with real knowledge which identify such actions as costly and pointless,

Answer 5

With age comes wisdom. The "raging granny' Betty K told me of the "grandmother hypothesis" - I'll try to explain well, as I understand it.

Women stay alive and active after menopause, which is rare for mammals. So "grandmotherhood" is a crucial development of our species. By remaining active after menopause, ancestral grandmothers were able to channel their energy into helping their daughters’ children. Betty has likened this to being guardians of the earth - that the grandmothers are trying to provide for the future children.

I have attended many meetings, sat on a couple of blockades, and met many dedicated people who are passionate about the future of the planet. 90% of these people are over the age of 50. I am often one of the youngest people active (except for my preschoolers who have to come with me!)

I'm 34. I think young people are concerned about different aspects of the environmental movement - probably recycle, talk green, that sort of thing - but overall I think that perhaps they are caught up in chasing the elusive consumer dream, raising families, working, making money etc. I'm not judging, I'm trying to say that while the passion of youth makes people very opinionated, it seems that it is the older generation who actually do something about it.

Caveat emptor, this is only one woman's experience.

Answer 6

im prrety sure day do

Answer 7

Hello Mr.Ray

Now a days Both Senior Citizen and Children are having the same attitute towards Environment.

Only Teenage Boy/Girls are enjoying their Teeage. They are bothering little only. Because their age is like that. they interested in Film/chating/Roamming/Loving/Dancing.

When they become 30 or 35 years they will bother about Environment.

Also it varry from Urban to Village. If you go to remote village in India Enviromental/O-zone/Globe Warming knowledge is medium. But TV/Radio/Poster is making awarness about Eco/Environment System

Answer 8

Short answer....no.

Example:

My Father-in-Law was born during the Great Depression. He saves all sorts of items and can keep tractors running with a rubberband, some chewing gum, and a prayer.

However he and his wife think nothing of using poison for weeds and insects, and well as chemicals for fertilizers. After all they grew up in the age where antibiotics were discovered, and mankind was going to rule the earth via the use of chemicals. They were raised with the idea the chemicals were good, but also with the idea of waste not, want not, use it up, wear it out, or do without.

Then there's my generation (X). Heck toss it out...you can always buy a new one....but for God sakes don't use any chemicals or anything un-natural!

~lol~ How much more oposite could it be? I try to draw the best from both...use it up, wear it out, ect, and use no chemicals.

~Garnet

Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

Answer 9

older people have more concern for the environment

Answer 10

I'm going answer this as if you had specified "in America," since that's all I know.

This is a very broad question and depends largely on individuals. I'd say that there are certain ideas blocking a healthy environmental attitude in both groups, and these ideas need to be overcome.  The problem is that many environmental movements and announcements these days target what is construed as a "general" audience and, therefore, do not reach a large chunk of either group.  In fact, many of them reach only those who already have a highly developed environmental ethic, which doesn't help things at all.

In any case, I think that in the older generations (and this is a HUGE generalization!), the attitude is that we have been doing what we have been doing for decades and the world is still here, so why should we worry?  In many cases the cliche that older people are unwilling to change their ways because they have been doing things in one way for so long is true, and this applies to the environment as well as cooking, cleaning, driving and so on.

I think that in younger generations, as the attitudes of the 1980s make their comeback, it is most acceptable to not care or to be entirely ignorant of environmental issues.  As an undergraduate I find it disturbing the number of people around me who are still willing to take the "easy route" around EVERY environmental issue.  You would be amazed at how many people just toss their trash on the ground or throw recyclables in the trash without a second glance.  That gives me little hope that they bother to turn out the lights in their homes or try to drive less.  

Then, of course, there is a middle generation, the baby boomers who have not quite reached the stager of "older."  And they seems to have the best developed environmental ethic (as a group).  I think that's due to the social and political environment in which they were raised, and I think certain aspects of that environment are due for a comeback.

Answer 11

Age is a state of mind until you walk past a mirror and are reminded of your reality. I know of young people with old age mentalities, and old people with fresh ideas...

It would help us to answer your question if you stated what you thought the difference between the old and young attitudes were.

80% of the American population claims to be pro environment, so what demographic accounts for the anti environmental portion of the population may be the best path to persue for the insight you seem to seek.