Guess what? Next week, I'm going to petition Skinner in GD for an "Under 30" Forum!

[Bicoastal]

It stems from the fact that I recently (rather innocently) mentioned my age (25) in a GDP thread and got a stream of nasty comments from people saying I was too young and stupid to know what I was talking about. I admit, my life experience isn't what it could be yet, but I do keep up with the issues. But then, things got REALLY confusing when people either leaped to my defense or challenged my opinion, and I had no idea how old any of them were. For the first time in a while, I felt kind of marginalized.

So I looked, and sure enough--there's no real place for us young 'uns on this site as of right now. The Seniors have their own forum. Baby Boomers get their own forum and then some--Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, etc. But where do I go to talk about issues with people I KNOW are roughly my own age? The Daily Show/Colbert Report Forums? I'm well aware we're a minority here, unlike a place like Daily Kos, but a whole lot of us have joined up recently due to exciting recent events (check my join date--the evening of the 2006 election) and I think we deserve representation at DU. Since when have Democrats shied away from embracing minority groups?

Well, that was just practice--I may incorporate some of this into next week's OP. Anybody who's up right now--whaddya think? I volunteer to be a Moderator. If Skinner does it, it'll be a blast!

[Radical Activist]

1. nice idea

[Adsos Letter]

2. Sounds like a good idea...

FWIW, I think a 25 year old is quite capable of making informed political decisions. My daughter is 26, and I know how well-informed she keeps herself.

Good Luck!

[murielm99]

3. That is a great idea.

I saw that thread. I hope some of this nastiness goes away after the primaries. It did last time.

But I still think your idea would fill a need here.

[MonkeyFunk]

4. will you check my ID at the door?

[Bicoastal]

5. Yes, but only to make sure you can buy us beer...

...kidding!

Hopefully, it'd be a popular place in general, but everyone would be treated with respect. I think we WOULD assume you were our age unless you state otherwise, but that can't be much different than what goes on at the forums for Seniors and Boomers.

[MonkeyFunk]

7. Buy your own damned beer!

Unless you spent all your money on ecstasy and Nirvana CDs.

[xchrom]

8. nirvana?!?! -- ok -- i'm older than you

and i know that is so yesterday.

of course i don't know who's right now though.

[MonkeyFunk]

9. yeah

but I was thinking of 30 year olds, not 18 year olds.

[xchrom]

10. i think it's scary to think nirvana isn't news now.

it all goes by in the blink of an eye.

[MonkeyFunk]

11. Heh

I still think of Billy Joel as that new up-and-comer.

[xchrom]

12. bobby sherman -- but don't tell anybody.

[Jamastiene]

21. Dayum, you are an older fart than I am then...

*whispers* by maybe a couple years. *whistles innocently*

[Jamastiene]

20. Kids nowadays dont listen to Nirvana, do they?

I thought they listened to that Britney Spears girl. Then again, what do I know? :shrug:

[MonkeyFunk]

25. no

but somebody who's 30 would've.

Do they still do ecstasy?

[Jamastiene]

6. That is a good idea.

Sometimes, us old farts can be rather cynical while younger people can still be rather idealistic or at least not so cynical yet. Hell, who knows? Maybe your generation has it in you to do what the boomers and genx couldn't finish. I mean both generations started out right, then sort of fell away from the idealism and hopes we had when we repeatedly got defeated and got more of the same old same old.

I think it is a good thing to be able to talk to people our own age, that includes us old farts AND the younger crowd. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try to talk to each other too sometimes.

But yeah, sounds like a good idea to me. Propose it. according to the DU rules and you should be good to go. :thumbsup:

[TZ]

13. Are we talking chronological or emotional age

Bicoastal, there are people in that forum who act like petty 4 year olds. I have a good internet friend whom is 19 yet you would never know it from talking to him..a lot of people think he is closer to 40 from his maturity level!
This whole thing about being "too young" to know what you are talking about is complete and utter bullshit. And a form of bullying. I am 38 so maybe I am not old enough either?
Really, don't let that bother you. My 19 year old friend is actually the terror of the R/T forusm (as in, don't challange him or you are going to look silly).
I suppose you could form a group for under 30's but why isolate yourselves like that? There are a lot of younger people here, but I think they get intimidated by the behavior you mention. I think you should continue to post in GDP and set an example for others.
Have you talked to Ava on this board? She's I think 17 or 18 and is one of the most accomplished anti-war activist here.

My 2 cents

[Callalily]

14. I'm sad that you got lambasted

just for your age. Clearly discrimination on GDP posters part. :hug:

[CreekDog]

15. I'm sorry, you can only suggest new forums if you are over 30

:hi:

[Midlodemocrat]

16. Kids these days. They're soooo cute.

:P

[meegbear]

17. He used to cut my lawn ...

he was a very nice boy.

[Midlodemocrat]

18. Pretty sure I chased him off my lawn once or twice.

[Jamastiene]

23. I think I have several of his baseballs that landed in my yard.

I'm the Creepy Woman with all the cats (All Three) who comes running out with a broom anytime I sense a kid has stepped on one of "my" blades of grass in my yard. And I can sense them great too. After all, I have triffids and I have attuned my ears to their conversations on how to take me over.

Naturally, I ALWAYS know when some unsuspecting kid gets close. How do I know? The triffids AND the Meanest Insects in the World(All Three)™ all live in my "yard" and they start chanting "Fresh meat! Fresh meat! Fresh meat!"

[Perry Logan]

19. We will need chaperons for this forum.

[Chan790]

22. I love the idea.

I'd only be a member for the next 11 months though. :( Can I have a painfully-immature exception? I act like I'm 15 most of the time. I work with a staff of co-workers whose median age is 23, it keeps me young. Your issues are my issues. Your cultural references are mine. I suspect that's actually true of most late-20's, early-30's though and more true at DU than most places. Perhaps attaching an age to it is not a great idea...rather calling it something like the "Young DU" forum and using a self-selecting criterion?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

24. Can I join?

But you might have to point it out to me. After all, I'm just a dumb under-30-year-old.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go drink paint thinner. :silly:

[MissMillie]

26. If it's any consolation

Any time I make a statement in GD, there's SOMEONE who feels the need to attack. And it's been a long time since I was your age.

There are people over there, not all of them but enough of them to make a difference, who are just there for a fight.

:hug:

Your perspective of life is no less valid due to your age. In fact, I'm proud that there are young people who ARE paying attention and are active politically. It's been about 40 years since that's been true.

[raccoon]

27. Makes sense to me. nt

[electron_blue]

28. Seniors and boomers have their own forums???

I had no idea.

[ZombieNixon]

29. I like that idea.

I get sick of the crap that younger people sometimes get in GD. (No, don't ask me for examples, folks, just accept that it happens. Bicoastal's experience is a good example.)