snowflakes

38 degrees - the angle at which a pile of snowflakes becomes an avalanche.

Not meant to be silent Jalima but influenced by growing up in the days when children where "seen and not heard", i.e., "silent". Also seen as the group not in the war but growing up during it. Sometimes called Traditionalists.

Interesting. I never knew I was meant to be Silent - nobody told me.

I am taking note and will now log off

the dates remain very much the same as they are influenced by major cultural, political, and economic events.

I don't think the generation names are 'internet jargon' as they are used in Psychology and behavior management and, I have a feeling, in marketing too.

This is an example of names that are used.

The Lost Generation/The Generation of 1914: 1890-1915
The Interbellum Generation: 1901-1913
The Greatest Generation: 1910-1924
The Silent Generation: 1925-1945
Baby Boomer Generation: 1946-1964
Generation X (Baby Bust): 1965-1979
Xennials - 1975-1985
Generation Y/The Millennials/Gen Next: 1980-1994
iGen/Gen Z: 1995-2012
Gen Alpha: 2013-2025

Depending on who you reference the names can be different but the date remain very much the same as they are influenced major cultural, political, and economic events.

Although some do refer to those born either side of 2000 as "the snowflake generation" it is unhelpful and pejorative. The idea of understanding 'a generation' is about understanding the greatest influences on their younger years and therefore giving us understanding about how they will behave in a given set of circumstances.

Exactly - it's divisive and lazy and deflects from serious debate and analysis.

I haven't really seen it and perhaps a riposte such as 'millions of snowflakes can move mountains' - or just ignore if it is aimed at you.

I don't particularly like the use of 'Gen Y' - who coined all these generational terms, was it to set one generation against another?

I agree Jalima that words and phrases like baby boomer etc are just as unacceptable as snowflake in their different ways. Baby boomer as you say does not describe a whole generation but I do wonder if there is something more 'lip curling' and disdainful about the use of snowflake? Snowflake has been used derogatorily on here no matter who says otherwise- I don't care about its use on MN - and I don't think it should be - whether its aimed at young people or other GNers,

what happened there?
it wouldn't post
sorry, being a bit 'wafty'

The technical term is selective amnesia
That would seem to describe DH, although the GP did describe it as 'selective hearing'
He is not young btw.

But neither is 'baby boomer' because it lumps a whole generation of people with differing education/personalities/lives/expectations etc all together as well.

Or 'helicopter parents' etc etc.

They all seem to be internet jargon and, if used more on MN than here, then who is accusing whom of being 'snowflakes'


The technical term is selective amnesia
That may describe DH quite well, although the GP described it as 'selective hearing'.
He is not one of the younger generation.

Flaky is quite a different concept from snowflake. And the latter has been used on GN in a derogatory fashion to criticise not only the young but other GNers. It would be nice if we could just agree that its not a good word to use, full stop.

I've never heard the term used, either on GN or in general. I have though often heard people described as flakey and have used that term myself to describe someone rather pathetic who can't deal with the least little adversity that life throws at you.

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.

Think how much damage an avalanche makes.

Anti-abortionists I meant anti-prolifers

Jargon glitch.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The technical term is selective amnesia

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.

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.

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.

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