snowflakes

Politics are irrelevant? I'll get in trouble with the grammarians.........

I understood the term 'snowflake' to refer to children previously known as 'mummy's little darlings' or 'little individuals'. Those who are never, ever responsible for their own misdemeanours.

It's an odd term, though, or does no-one else agree? As I pointed out, a snowflake is unique (not just thinks it is!), put together with other snowflakes can form a formidable 'weapon' and, together with millions or billions of others, could become a dangerous avalanche.

I'd never really heard of it and wouldn't refer to anyone I know of the younger generation as a 'snowflake' although I have heard the 40 somethings use the terms 'flaky' (is that the same?) or 'ditsy' about others.

Is calling people snowflakes - well, is it Banter?
well, I would have thought so - the reply could be 'Yes, I am because I'm beautiful and unique'.

I think I understand it better now ( not sure though).
As one of the older Grans on here, who lived through and remember WW2, I sometimes read moans and groans about some trifling thing - not just on this forum - and think how would they cope if they had real problems?
But I don't say owt, we should be grateful those wartme experiences haven't been repeated. Snowflakes as a consequence.
I don't mean really tragic family situations btw - to me those are always in the same category as wartime experiences.

Exactly Fennel

"Snowflake as a slang term involves the derogatory usage of the word snowflake to make reference to people. Its meaning has varied, but may include a person who has an inflated sense of their own uniqueness, has an unwarranted sense of entitlement, or is easily offended and unable to deal with opposing opinions."

Must admit the definitions have made me smile because I recognise these people.

I suspect we all do. No on here invented the definition so I am surprised one or two people are getting a bit hot under the collar.

People like this tend to be young and they abound. Go to any University town!

^ but may include a person who has an inflated sense of their own uniqueness,^
I see the connection

I'm unique, there is no-one else like me, am I a snowflake?

But are you an inflated snowflake, Jalima, or just an ordinary flat one that melts in the heat? And if a snowflake is inflated with hot air, does it melt instantly?

I do melt in the heat Elegran - but only physically. When arguments become heated I can become mentally stronger! Until things become ridiculous, that is.

Usually I am happily laid back, like a snowflake wafting slowly down to earth

They've been shielded from views and perspective that persuade right of center ...

What does that actually mean?

I don't know GracesgranMK2, it sounds rather American to me
center ?

you missed out the the fact that they are perceived to behave like this by older right wing women and are absolutely right to be offended by the way they are treated and patronised by said women.
I don't understand that either.
but then I've never really come across the term as GN and FB are probably the only sites I frequent.

I imagine that, just like everything to do with generations, there are as many or as few who find parts of life difficult as there ever were.

Many more are faced with leaving home and starting out on their own at university than ever were in the past. When many of us were young the majority, particularly women, went from parental home to married home with nothing in between.

Even moving some distance from home for work was much more unusual and vast swaths of the population didn't expect to do that.

Different times and different ways of coping with different problems but please, one generation is not better or worse than another, they just learn to fit the circumstances they grow up in - and who brought them up?

It doesn't even seem to be a complete sentence does it Jalima. It almost looks as if it has been copied and pasted and a bit missed out in the process. Strange but it doesn't seem to have stopped the discussion

Ive seen the term snowflake used, and have assumed that in the same way that snowflakes are delicate and easily destroyed, some youngsters need to be treated very sensitively, and nothing must disturb or alarm them. They must be protected from even minor inconveniences.

Except they are not are they pensionpat. That is a bit like thinking all those who grew in the 50s lived like the Famous Five.

I do think that each generation - that is the whole generation - can be described by the greatest thing that influenced the world around them but that doesn't mean they are all the same or, as I have said, all different in personality from other generations. I only describes the era they grew up in. Calling them Millennials will give you a handle on what surrounded that generation just as calling my generation Baby Boomers give you an idea of the influences on that generation but tells you nothing about them.

When anyone gets to the point of calling them the Snowflake generation as if they were all the same I would part company with them. They are no more the same than all the grannies on Gransnet are all the same. It is unhelpful.

I am sure there have been threads on here before about the snowflake generation. Those who say they have never seen it before on here just need to search for it. You might even find you have contributed to the threads.

The technical term is selective amnesia

I don't think this thread is about a snowflake generation It is about "What is a snowflake?" There have always been snowflakes. They have had different labels, but the characteristics were the same. They were/are usually produced by parents who shielded them from anything less than a perfect life, and witheld from them any responsibility for tyheir own decisions and actions.

I've mostly seen the term snowflake applied to young university students who want to shut down free speech. They disrupt debates where someone they disagree with is due to speak and they shout so that the debate can't take place. The reason they shout down the debate? — because a point of view with which snowflakes disagree is "violence" against them.

They apply the same rule to, for instance, the gory bits in Shakespeare—very damaging for their young minds to have to read or hear real literature that isn't ’nice'.

I do understand their feelings. I cannot bear to watch actual violence on screen, even when I know it is just drama. I avoid watching such rather than demanding that it be not allowed.

There is such an incident reported as happening at St. John's College, Oxford just recently. People opposed to abortion arranged a speaker. One minute into the speech anti-abortionists began to shout. They reportedly continued to shout for forty minutes until they were removed by police. Police were called because college security couldn't get them to shut up and listen or leave.

Whatever one's views about abortion, someone who is opposed to it has as much right to speak publicy (does in an Oxford college count as public?) about their views as someone who wants abortion 'on demand'. Issues that provoke strong feelings should be debated openly.

Snowflakes disagree.

It’s in everyday use on Mumsnet. Generally used by younger people about a minority of younger people displaying an “entitled” attitude. Probably coined by younger people. Quite a useful and descriptive word, imho. Nothing to do with right or left and nothing to get het up about.

Anti-abortionists I meant anti-prolifers

Jargon glitch.

Think how much damage an avalanche makes.

I think snowflake is an odd term to use.
Snowflakes are beautiful, especially under a microscope and yet every one is different.
Put together they literally change mountains. They are just as strong when metlted and move everything in their path.
Nothing can stand up to an avalanche or the torrents caused by melted snow.